Computer Networks 129 (2017) 392–398
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Computer Networks
journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/comnet
Resource management for future mobile networks: Architecture and
technologies
Yujie Li
a
, Zhibin Gao
a , ∗
, Lianfen Huang
a
, Xiaojiang Du
b
, Mohsen Guizani
c
a
Department of Communication Engineering, Xiamen University, China
b
Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Temple University
c
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Idaho
a r t i c l e i n f o
Article history:
Received 15 December 2016
Revised 26 February 2017
Accepted 6 April 2017
Available online 7 April 2017
Keywords:
5G
Resource management
Cloud-based user-centric network
Interference management
a b s t r a c t
Compared to fourth-generation (4G) cellular systems, fifth-generation (5G) wireless communication sys-
tems face ever-increasing demand for spectral efficiency, energy, high data rates, and throughput as re-
quired by new devices and applications. To address these challenges, 5G wireless networks must adopt
ultra-dense and heterogeneous networks (HetNet), which render interference and resource management
(RM) even more challenging than they are today. In this article, we first review various 5G wireless net-
work architectures proposed in the literature before discussing key 5G wireless technologies for RM. We
focus specifically on RM research, which includes spectrum assignment, resource and channel allocation,
power control, and interference management based on user-centric cell schemes. Finally, we present a
cloud-based user-centric network architecture with emphasis on the networks formation, RM, and inter-
ference signal joint-processing via cluster technology to provide higher throughput.
©2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
1. Introduction
In order to meet the demands of future networks and the
pursuit of higher performance for mobile communications, a se-
ries of groups such as the International Mobile Telecommunica-
tion (IMT) System for 2020 and Beyond (IMT-2020), the Interna-
tional Telecommunication Union (ITU) under the United Nations
in 2012 [1] , the Mobile and Wireless Communications Enablers for
the Twenty-twenty Information Society, and the 5G Infrastructure
Public Private Partnership have officially presented the 5G mobile
network and standardization aspects thereof. The current goal is
to reach a consensus on demand and index and to achieve unity
in concept, prototype, and views on key technologies. Compared to
3G and 4G, 5G represents a series of innovative technologies with
an emphasis on integrity and comprehensiveness to advance and
complement existing systems. Wireless access technologies includ-
ing 3G, 4G, and WI-FI remain essential components of 5G [2–4] .
Most mobile communications industries have begun to express
consonant opinions of emerging 5G technologies. A recent ITU-
Radiocommunication Sector Draft Recommendation [5] on IMT-
2020 notes that the wireless spectrum resource requirements for
∗
Corresponding author.
E-mail addresses: liyujie@stu.xmu.edu.cn (Y. Li), gaozhibin@xmu.edu.cn (Z. Gao),
lfhuang@xmu.edu.cn (L. Huang), dxj2003@hotmail.com (X. Du), mguizani@ieee.org
(M. Guizani).
5G wireless networks are primarily a result of growing demand
for system capacity that accompanies a variety of new application
scenarios. 5G technical requirements include peak data transmis-
sion rates greater than 10 Gbps, village edge data transmission
rates of at least 100 Mbps, and a 1 millisecond end-to-end de-
lay. The Draft Recommendation also identifies three key usage sce-
narios for 5G: (1) enhanced mobile broadband; (2) ultra-high re-
liable and low-latency communication; and (3) massive machine-
type communications. The imminence of these scenarios presents
fundamental challenges [6] for existing cellular networks, including
but not limited to growth capacity requirements, higher data rates,
heavy network traffic, excellent end-to-end performance, user cov-
erage in hot-spots and crowded areas, lower latency, and increased
energy consumption.
To address these challenges, 5G wireless networks are expected
to adopt a multi-tier heterogeneous architecture to enhance co-
ordinated multipoint transmission (CoMP) or reception, wherein
devices communicate directly (i.e., either machine-to-machine or
device-to-device (D2D)) to serve user equipment (UE) with dif-
ferent quality-of-service (QoS) or quality-of-experience (QoE) re-
quirements. Damnjanovic et al. [7] discusses an alternative strat-
egy, where low power nodes are overlaid within a macro network
based on different access technologies. The macro base station (BS)
is based on cellular technology, and low power access points rely
on WLAN or local IP access. When numerous devices are accessed
via ultra-dense networking, effective interference management and
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.comnet.2017.04.007
1389-1286/© 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.