JOURNAL OF COMPUTING, VOLUME 3, ISSUE 3, MARCH 2011, ISSN 2151-9617

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Enhancing Capacity of IEEE 802.16j Mobile

Multi-hop Networks by two-player Game
Theory Model
Venus Marza, Hamidreza Navidi

Abstract—Primary goal of game theoretical approach is making accurate predictions in strategic situations. IEEE 802.16j Mobile
Multi-hop Networks can be formed as tree structures which contains subscriber stations (SS), relay stations (RS), and base stations
(BS). In this paper, we propose a 2 player game theory model to maximize upward capacity links. Here, (Mobile/Fixed) Relay Stations
(RS) or Subscriber Stations (SS) simulated as players in game and they try to send their message to BS as way that uplink capacity is
improved. So players should cooperate with each other and track the Nash equilibrium in each state of tree structure game model.

Index Terms—IEEE 802.16j Networks, Game-Theory Models, Nash Equilibrium, Uplink Capacity.

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1  Introduction
I EEE 802.16 provides wireless services in a metropolitan
scale. The challenge in such networks’ deployment not
only is wide coverage, but also is achieving the
maximum capacity. IEEE 802.16j Multi-hop Relay (MR)
standard [1] proposed to meet such challenges in network
deployment. In IEEE 802.16j systems, relay stations are
responsible for relaying control messages and data
packets between BSs and SSs. Each SS can be connected to
the BS directly or through the RSs. One of the main issues
in IEEE 802.16j MR network is that which RS should be
selected that high performance will be achieved.
By cooperative relaying, several RS can cooperate with a
given source node in the transmission of its data to a far
away destination [2]. Cooperative communication and
using Multi-hop Relay has considerable improvement in
bit error rate, QoS parameters [3], throughput [4, 5],
coverage [6], capacity [7] and reducing overhead [8] in
802.16 networks.
Various works has been done to improve network
capacity in IEEE 802.16j. For Instance, Ref. [9] proposes a
new concept for integrating multi-hop communication
into the mobile WiMAX frame structure and evaluates the
WiMAX Relay network capacity in there different frame
structures for various configurations and services. E.
Visotsky et al. [10] develops one-dimensional and two-
dimensional model relay-enhanced 802.16e system and
estimates the capacity gains via analysis and numerical
optimization. Hua Wang et al. [11] only focus on the
uplink capacity of relay-enhanced system and they
proposed joint algorithm to determine the bandwidth
distribution between the access zone and the relay zone,
————————————————
 Venus Marza, PhD student of Science and Research Branch of Tehran
Islamic Azad University
 Dr. Hamidreza Navidi, Head of Mathematics Department of Shahed
University, P.O. Box: 18151-159, Zip Code: 1417953836, Tehran, Iran.
Tel: (+98)21- 51212629, 51212600 Fax:(+98)21- 51212601
and to derive the Erlanger capacity region of the system.
A new schema for locating and selecting the optimal RS,
which incorporate link adaptation technology with the
objective of maximizing total capacity, is proposed by Yu
Ge et al. [7] in 2010. However, in our paper, the two-
player game model is explored to achieve maximum end-
to-end capacity for SSs. It should be noted that IEEE
802.16j Multi-hop Mobile Networks has distinction points
for two hop relaying message [1] which is determined
based on the empirical measurements and specific path
loss model. These points specify that single hop is better
or two hop relaying, however, in this paper we determine
that by tracking Nash Equilibrium.
The rest of the paper is organized as follows: Section 2
specifies our usage transport system model in IEEE
802.16j. Section 3 describes how the capacity can be
optimal in highway with mobile pattern. In section 4, we
proposed two-player game based on the theoretical
analysis of section 3. The last section, section 5, concludes
the paper and describes potential future research.
2  Generic Model Description  
Tree structure of an IEEE 802.16j Multi-hop Relay
network consists of three entities: BS, RS, SS or Mobile RS.
Such MR formations allow one or more RSs deployed
between BSs and SSs to extend coverage and performance
advantages in an access network. One of the main usage
models in IEEE 802.16j is in transport systems, such as
highways, railways, and inland navigation (Figure 1). The
common characteristic of these systems is mobility in
their terminals, whereby equipped with an SS or a mobile
RS.
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power function by using curve fitting software. Using the

fitted power function R(X) = AXB to express rate-range
relationship [13], it is more tractable to find a generic
form solution in the optimization problem.
One-hop capacity between the BS and RS is called C1 and
can be modeled as , and X1 is the image of
the distance between that RS and BS, d1, on the highway
segment. So it’s obvious that . The same
pattern can be described for one-hop capacity between
the RS and SS which is called C2 and can be modeled
as , and X2 is the distance between that RS
and SS. Note that A1≠A2 and B1≠B2 in these two functions.
In real systems, the parameters A1, A2, B1, and B2 are
known and can be used for case study.

Fig 1: The MR network in the transport system 4  Two­Player Games Model  

In this model, each RS (either mobile or fixed) or SS is
In this paper, highway mobile patterns are considered as defined as players. Each player can choose one of two
point of view of capacity analysis. Here, we assume that strategies: send its message by itself to BS (one-hop) or
the BS has sufficient battery but RSs and SSs have some relay its message to another node and ask it to send
limitations to relay messages. RS is responsible for the message to BS (two-hop).
relay message. The same responsibility is defined for SSs
in addition to their own works such as sensing,
BS
processing and so on. Besides, MR-BS provides
connectivity, management, and control of RSs and SSs.
Link capacity is one of the main parameters that should CB
be considered in the deployment of RSs. The IEEE 802.16j CA
adopts an adaptive modulation and coding (AMC)
scheme [12], which is one of the link adaption techniques
for adaption of link transmission rates to different RS RS
channel conditions. CB’
Fig 3: one-hop vs. two-hop relaying capacity

3  Capacity  Study  in  Highway  with  The rule is that whenever players’ batteries are lower
Mobile Pattern   than a determinant threshold, they conceal their real
For each of mobile RS or fixed RS or SS pairs, following capacity and announced misleading one to other players.
schemas is assumed. The BS is fixed and any RSs directly It’s obvious that the advertised capacity should be so
or through the other RSs can connect to BS. RSs can be much lower than the real one, and as this way other
either fixed and mounted on towers and lamp posts, or players do not choose mentioned path. Therefore, the
mobile and carried by terminals. suitable proposed value for misleading capacity is zero
which is assumed in this paper.

Fig 2: Adaptive Transmission in Highway Mobility

In Fig. 2 [1], distances to H are shown by gi (i=1, 2, …) and

these points are boundaries where transmission modes
are switched, it’s obvious that these distances can be
calculated as
The original empirical rate-range data is fitted onto a
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O
A A
B B B B
Fig 4: Tree structure for 2-player Game
RSs or SSs are expressed their straight capacity between
them and BS to their rivals (as Fig.3). In tree structure of the
Fig 4, player A starts the game but he doesn’t know his
position in the tree. The left position is whenever CAB is
lower than CB and it means that relaying the B’s message by
A is more beneficial for B than sending the message by
himself. On the contrary the right position represents that
sending the B’s message in straight way is more logical than
send it to A and ask it to relay the message to the BS.
In both of the right and left case, player A can tell truth and
declare his real capacity or because of power limitations can
tell lie and conceal his real capacity to other rivals. Whenever
player A expresses his capacity whether true or false, player
B can trust to A’s statement or not trust to him.
In this paper following notations are used:
True: Player A expresses his real capacity to other players
False: because of power limitations, player A tries to deceive
his rival and announces capacity which is much lower than
real one (as mentioned above zero is suitable value). So, CAB’
< CAB.
Trust: player B accept the player A’s statement.
Not Trust: player B does not accept player A’s statement.
CAB’: false capacity announced by A for relaying message by
him
CAB: valid capacity for relaying B’s message by A
CA: straight capacity between A and BS for sending message
CB: straight capacity between B and BS for sending message
CB’: straight capacity between A and B for forwarding message
It can be deduced that . This capacity should
be compare with CB, and as this way player B can decide
whether he sends its message himself or ask player A to
relay it. In addition, player B should note that maybe
player A doesn’t declare CAB and instead inform him C’AB.
Player A’s payoff specified as Table 1.
38
TABLE 1
STARTER PLAYER PAYOFF IN THE GAME
Player A Reason and Situation
Payoff
A tells lie and B doesn’t trust him and relays its’
-1 message by A. As this way, A’s battery decreases much
more and it’s not desirable. It can be done for any
reason.
A tells truth, because he doesn’t have any energy
0 constraint. So independent that B trusts him or not he
gain zero, since it doesn’t matter for him to relay B’s
message.
A tells lie and B trust it. It’s favorite for him because he
+1 lose his battery posterior.
Payoff in their strategies is calculated according to
utilized capacity for relaying message. For any two
players (fixed RS / mobile RS / SS), one of the following
scenarios is happened. The first four strategies are in left
position which CAB < CB, and the next four strategies are
in right position which CAB > CB.
Case 1: A tells truth and B trusts him. The payoff is
Case 2: A tells truth but B doesn’t accept his statement.
The payoff is .
Case 3: A tells lie and B trusts him. The payoff is
.
Case 4: A tells lie and B doesn’t trust him. The payoff is
.
Case 5: A tells truth and B trusts him. The payoff is
.
Case 6: A tells truth but B doesn’t accept his statement.
The payoff is .
Case 7: A tells lie and B trusts him. The payoff is
.
Case 8: A tells lie and B doesn’t trust him. The payoff is
.
In the first four cases, the C’AB < CAB < CB relation is
indefeasible. Note that case 6 is not happened anymore,
because relaying message by A improves the capacity and
it’s no reason for B to relay message by himself, thereby
B’s behavior is against his goal. It’s noteworthy to point
that A does not know that in which branch of the tree
structure of Fig.4 exists and B does not know his position
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too. 802.16j Relay Networks with Adaptive Modulation and Coding”, IEEE
Finding the optimum solution in network by using the Communications Society, ICC 2009.
Linear Programming approach is not useful anytime, [12] Y. Thomas Hou, H. D. Sherali, S. F. Midkiff, “On Energy Provisioning
because finding optimum solution is not guaranteed that and Relay Node Placement for Wireless Sensor Networks”, IEEE
in that point we have Relay Station (RS). Transactions on wireless communications, Vol. 4, No. 5, Sep 2005.
[13] D.Cox, H.Lee, “Physicalrelationships”, IEEEMicrowaveMagazine, 9 (4):
89–94, Aug 2008.
5  Conclusions and Future works  
Primary goal of IEEE 802.16j MR networks is that which
RS selected that high performance is obtained. So, not
only coverage is issue in such networks, but also
maximum capacity should be achieved in message
relaying. In this paper, the game theory approach is
proposed to find optimal RS by using the Nash
Equilibrium in each state of the game. As this way, the
end-to-end link capacity is enhanced in IEEE 802.16j MR
network. The proposed pattern can be applied to any
transport mobile structure such as highways, railways,
and inland navigation.
This paper is just focused on two-hop relaying message in
two-player game structure model, it can be extended to n-
hop relaying in our future works. In addition, common
power source of mobile relay stations is battery which is
finite, and relay transmission in networks is energy
constrained. However, this issue partially considered in
this paper but it should be perused by more details as a
significant parameter in future structure game models.

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