Utility-Energy Efficiency Oriented User Association with Power Control in Heterogeneous Networks

TL;DR

This paper proposes an alternating optimization algorithm to improve utility-energy efficiency in heterogeneous networks, transforming a complex nonconvex problem into convex subproblems for better network utility per power consumed.

Contribution

It introduces a novel optimization method using Lagrangian dual analysis to enhance utility-energy efficiency in HetNets, addressing nonconvexity and coupling issues.

Findings

Algorithm converges to a local optimum.

Significant performance improvement shown in simulations.

Effective handling of nonconvex optimization problem.

Abstract

This letter investigates optimizing utility-energy efficiency (UEE), defined as the achieved network utility when consuming a unit of power, rather than a typical energy efficiency metric, in a heterogeneous network (HetNet). To tackle the nonconvexity of the problem due to integer constraints and coupled variables, we devise an alternating optimization algorithm. It applies Lagrangian dual analysis with auxiliary variables, which successfully transforms each subproblem to a convex one with efficient solutions. The proposed algorithm is consequently guaranteed to converge to a local optimum with noticeable performance gain via simulation verifications.