Throughput improvement for cell-edge users using selective cooperation in cellular networks

Cooperative transmission schemes are used in wireless networks to improve the spectral efficiency. In a multi-cell environment, inter-cell interference degrades the performance of wireless systems. In this paper, we study the downlink capacity of edge users in a cellular network and see whether base station cooperation improves the spectral efficiency. The base-stations coordinate their transmission to the two cell-edge users in order to improve their Signal-to-interference-noise ratio (SINR) and throughput. Selective Cooperation, where the selection criteria is based on throughput, is proposed. The capacity achieved through Cooperation is shared equally among the cell-edge users. Results show that, the proposed hybrid scheme, provides a better result compared to full-time cooperation. Finally, an example from UMTS is presented. ©2008 IEEE.