Computationally Efficient MIMO HSDPA System-Level Modeling

Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) techniques are regarded as the crucial enhancement of todays wireless access technologies to allow for a significant increase in spectral efficiency. After intensive research on single link performance, the third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) integrated a spatial multiplexing scheme as MIMO extension of High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA). Despite the scientific findings on the link-level performance of MIMO techniques, many questions relevant for the design and optimization of cellular networks remain unanswered. In particular, it has to be identified whether, and to which amount, the predicted MIMO link-level performance gains can be achieved in an entire network. In this paper, we present a computationally efficient link-to-system level model for system-level evaluations of MIMO HSDPA and an exemplary embedding in a MATLAB-based system-level simulator. The introduced equivalent fading parameter structure allows for a semianalytic physical-layer abstraction with high prediction accuracy and simultaneous moderate complexity.