Service-Aware User Association and Resource Allocation in Integrated Terrestrial and Non-Terrestrial Networks: A Genetic Algorithm Approach

In 6G networks and beyond, multiple radio access networks (RANs), including; the satellite, high altitude platforms, low altitude platforms, and the terrestrial network, will co-exist. These networks are characterized by different capabilities and limitations in meeting the envisioned 6G contrasting...

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Main Authors: Denise Joanitah Birabwa, Daniel Ramotsoela, Neco Ventura
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IEEE 2022-01-01
Series:IEEE Access
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9904576/
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author Denise Joanitah Birabwa
Daniel Ramotsoela
Neco Ventura
author_facet Denise Joanitah Birabwa
Daniel Ramotsoela
Neco Ventura
author_sort Denise Joanitah Birabwa
collection DOAJ
description In 6G networks and beyond, multiple radio access networks (RANs), including; the satellite, high altitude platforms, low altitude platforms, and the terrestrial network, will co-exist. These networks are characterized by different capabilities and limitations in meeting the envisioned 6G contrasting user requirements. Therefore, associating users with the appropriate radio access network (RAN) in such an integrated network is rigorous and complex. In this work, the user association and resource allocation problem is formulated as a multi-objective optimization problem (MOOP), aiming to maximize data rate while minimizing mobility-induced handoff in the integrated network. Moreover, the problem is formulated in such a way as to prioritize the service provisioning of mission-critical users. The weighted sum method is adopted to simplify and transform the MOOP into a single-objective optimization problem (SOOP). In order to solve the formulated NP-hard SOOP, a genetic algorithm (GA) whose fitness value is based on the user’s service group is proposed. The performance of the proposed algorithm is evaluated by comparing it to the optimal solution, the greedy signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) based association, and the random user association algorithms. Simulation results show that as the number of access nodes in the network increases, the GA’s spectrum efficiency (SE) remains within 0.4% of the optimal solution. Moreover, the GA outperforms all three schemes in user acceptance ratio (AR) and handoff probability.
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spelling doaj.art-89e3ab4d542a4041988da19b554fa7f62022-12-22T03:32:17ZengIEEEIEEE Access2169-35362022-01-011010433710435710.1109/ACCESS.2022.32103279904576Service-Aware User Association and Resource Allocation in Integrated Terrestrial and Non-Terrestrial Networks: A Genetic Algorithm ApproachDenise Joanitah Birabwa0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9477-1556Daniel Ramotsoela1Neco Ventura2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9743-0319Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South AfricaDepartment of Electrical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South AfricaDepartment of Electrical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South AfricaIn 6G networks and beyond, multiple radio access networks (RANs), including; the satellite, high altitude platforms, low altitude platforms, and the terrestrial network, will co-exist. These networks are characterized by different capabilities and limitations in meeting the envisioned 6G contrasting user requirements. Therefore, associating users with the appropriate radio access network (RAN) in such an integrated network is rigorous and complex. In this work, the user association and resource allocation problem is formulated as a multi-objective optimization problem (MOOP), aiming to maximize data rate while minimizing mobility-induced handoff in the integrated network. Moreover, the problem is formulated in such a way as to prioritize the service provisioning of mission-critical users. The weighted sum method is adopted to simplify and transform the MOOP into a single-objective optimization problem (SOOP). In order to solve the formulated NP-hard SOOP, a genetic algorithm (GA) whose fitness value is based on the user’s service group is proposed. The performance of the proposed algorithm is evaluated by comparing it to the optimal solution, the greedy signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) based association, and the random user association algorithms. Simulation results show that as the number of access nodes in the network increases, the GA’s spectrum efficiency (SE) remains within 0.4% of the optimal solution. Moreover, the GA outperforms all three schemes in user acceptance ratio (AR) and handoff probability.https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9904576/RAN user associationresource allocationterrestrial networksnon-terrestrial networksgenetic algorithm
spellingShingle Denise Joanitah Birabwa
Daniel Ramotsoela
Neco Ventura
Service-Aware User Association and Resource Allocation in Integrated Terrestrial and Non-Terrestrial Networks: A Genetic Algorithm Approach
IEEE Access
RAN user association
resource allocation
terrestrial networks
non-terrestrial networks
genetic algorithm
title Service-Aware User Association and Resource Allocation in Integrated Terrestrial and Non-Terrestrial Networks: A Genetic Algorithm Approach
title_full Service-Aware User Association and Resource Allocation in Integrated Terrestrial and Non-Terrestrial Networks: A Genetic Algorithm Approach
title_fullStr Service-Aware User Association and Resource Allocation in Integrated Terrestrial and Non-Terrestrial Networks: A Genetic Algorithm Approach
title_full_unstemmed Service-Aware User Association and Resource Allocation in Integrated Terrestrial and Non-Terrestrial Networks: A Genetic Algorithm Approach
title_short Service-Aware User Association and Resource Allocation in Integrated Terrestrial and Non-Terrestrial Networks: A Genetic Algorithm Approach
title_sort service aware user association and resource allocation in integrated terrestrial and non terrestrial networks a genetic algorithm approach
topic RAN user association
resource allocation
terrestrial networks
non-terrestrial networks
genetic algorithm
url https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9904576/
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AT necoventura serviceawareuserassociationandresourceallocationinintegratedterrestrialandnonterrestrialnetworksageneticalgorithmapproach