Two-tier User Association and Resource Allocation Design for Integrated Satellite-Terrestrial Networks

TL;DR

This paper develops a novel two-tier user association and resource allocation framework for integrated satellite-terrestrial networks, addressing the challenges of satellite mobility and optimizing network capacity through an iterative algorithm.

Contribution

It introduces an iterative approximation and relaxation-based algorithm for optimal user association, sub-channel, power, and bandwidth allocation in satellite-terrestrial networks.

Findings

Effective optimization of user association and resource allocation.

Improved load balancing and network capacity.

Rapid convergence of the proposed algorithm.

Abstract

This paper presents a study of an integrated satellite-terrestrial network, where Low-Earth-Orbit (LEO) satellites are used to provide the backhaul link between base stations (BSs) and the core network. The mobility of LEO satellites raises the challenge of determining the optimal association between LEO satellites, BSs, and users (UEs). The goal is to satisfy the UE demand while ensuring load balance and optimizing the capacity of the serving link between the BS and the LEO satellite. To tackle this complex optimization problem, which involves mixed-integer non-convex programming, we propose an iterative algorithm that leverages approximation and relaxation methods. The proposed solution aims to find the optimal two-tier satellite-BS-UE association, sub-channel assignment, power and bandwidth allocation in the shortest possible time, fulfilling the requirements of the integrated satellite-terrestrial network.