Buffer-Aware and Delay-Sensitive Resource Allocation in the Uplink of 3GPP LTE Networks

In this study, resource allocation problems in uplink transmissions of long term evolution (LTE) networks involving single-carrier frequency division multiple access were addressed and a two-stage process for obtaining solutions was proposed. In the first stage, a buffer-aware (BA) scheme that allocates resources according to users’ buffer statuses is used to simultaneously reduce wastage of system resources and improve the throughput of each user. In the second stage, a BA-scheme-based enhanced algorithm is used for considering the delay-sensitive (DS) characteristics of packets. Simulations were conducted to compare the performance of the proposed BA and DS resource allocation algorithm with that of other approaches. The results show that the proposed algorithm can effectively improve the aggregate throughput and reduce both the packet loss rate and average packet delay in comparison with other schemes, thus enhancing the overall uplink efficiency of LTE networks.