A Stackelberg Game Approach to Resource Allocation for IRS-aided Communications

TL;DR

This paper proposes a Stackelberg game-based method for resource allocation in IRS-aided multiuser MISO systems, optimizing beamforming and module activation to enhance network utility while considering operator incentives.

Contribution

It introduces a novel Stackelberg game approach combined with ADMM for joint optimization of transmit and passive beamforming in IRS-assisted networks with operator-based module control.

Findings

The proposed scheme improves utility for both BS and IRS operators.

Numerical results validate the effectiveness of the Stackelberg game approach.

The method efficiently allocates IRS modules and optimizes beamforming in multiuser scenarios.

Abstract

It is known that the capacity of the intelligent reflecting surface (IRS) aided cellular network can be effectively improved by reflecting the incident signals from the transmitter in a low-cost passive reflecting way. Nevertheless, in the actual network operation, the base station (BS) and IRS may belong to different operators, consequently, the IRS is reluctant to help the BS without any payment. Therefore, this paper investigates price-based reflection resource (elements) allocation strategies for an IRS-aided multiuser multiple-input and single-output (MISO) downlink communication systems, in which all transmissions over the same frequency band. Assuming that the IRS is composed with multiple modules, each of which is attached with a smart controller, thus, the states (active/idle) of module can be operated by its controller, and all controllers can be communicated with each other via fiber links. A Stackelberg game-based alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) is proposed to jointly optimize the transmit beamforming at the BS and the passive beamforming of the active modules. Numerical examples are presented to verify the proposed algorithm. It is shown that the proposed scheme is effective in the utilities of both the BS and IRS.