Downlink Throughput Driven Channel Access Framework for Cognitive LTE Femto-Cells

This paper proposes an optimized sensing based channel access framework for the LTE cognitive femto-cells, with an objective of maximizing the femto-cells downlink throughput. Cognitive femto-cells opportunistically transmit on the macro-cell channels when they are free of use. Those free channels are located by means of spectrum sensing using energy detection. Moreover, periodic sensing is adopted to detect any changes of the sensing outcomes. The maximum attainable femtocell downlink throughput varies with the macro-cell channel occupancy statistics. Therefore, the LTE macro-cell occupancy is empirically modeled using exponential distributions mixture. The LTE cognitive femto-cell downlink throughput is maximized by compromising the transmission efficiency, the explored spectrum opportunities and the interference from the macro-cell. An analytical solution for the optimal periodic sensing interval that maximizes the throughput is found and verified by simulations. The obtained results show that there is indeed a single periodic sensing interval value that maximizes the LTE cognitive femto-cell downlink throughput. At the peak of the macro-cell traffic, our framework increases the femto-cell throughput by ≃ 15% compared to the senseless case. The impact of the available number of channels for opportunistic access is studied and no significant impact is found for more than three channels.