Relay Technologies for WiMax and LTE-Advanced Mobile Systems

Devdatta Ambre

Abstract-- IEEE 802.16j and 3GPP LTEAdvanced standards are the next generation wireless communications system that provides considerable increase in data throughput than the previous 3G communication system. To achieve these throughput requirements and provide better quality of service, these standards have opted for relay technology for signal transmission over the conventional direct transmission. This paper presents an overview of the relay technologies used in the two standards. By Matlab simulation, the reduction in transmission power level using Simple Relay is shown, comparing to the conventional Direct transmission method. I. Introduction

rate wireless access to far-reached place of the coverage area. To enable rapid and cost effective deployment of the network infrastructure the IEEE has made amendments in 802.16j framework, which focuses [3] on enhancements to OFDMA physical layer and MAC layer to enable operation of a Mobile multi-hop relay system (MMR) using relay stations. MMR would allow base stations without an E-1 or T-1 backhaul connections (i.e. RS) to communicate with base stations that have link connections with some portion of the air link bandwidth. The relay stations (RS) would help to forward user information from neighboring mobile station (MS) to a local e-node-B (eNB- base stations with integrated Radio network controllers)/ base stations (BS). The MMR can effectively extend the signal and service coverage of a BS and enhance the overall throughput performance of a wireless communication system. 1. Relay Types and benefits The Relay technologies have been used in earlier wireless carrier systems e.g. repeaters. Relay technique was used to increase the coverage to a potential coverage hole due to urban clutter. Relays were used to better coverage inside a building by providing In-build solutions with installing low capacity BS for the building connected to Master BS. But in WiMax and 3GPP standards, to meet the data rate requirements

The IEEE 802.16j (WiMax), IEEE 802.16m and 3GPP LTE advanced are the next generation (4G) mobile communication systems that meet the requirements of International Telecommunication Union (ITU), for the 4G systems. According [1] to the ITUs requirements, the 4G systems should support peak data rates of 100 Mbps and 1 Gbps, respectively, in high speed mobility environments (up to 350 kmph) and stationary or pedestrian environments (up to 10 kmph). In order to meet the requirements on higher wireless access data rate and better quality of service (QOS), the LTE and WiMax operators would need to increase the density of Base Stations to provide high data

the relay technique is even used inside the BS coverage area. This method helps in increasing the throughput along with reducing the required transmission power level for the signal to reach from BS to MS, which we have shown in Matlab simulation. Along the lines, that relays are deployed to provide coverage inside the BS coverage area and to extend the BS coverage beyond its coverage borders, relays are distinguished in two types 1) Type-I (or non-transparency , NT-RS) RS and Type-II (or transparency, T-RS) RS which are shown in figure below.

the RS is used to relay the traffic signal between BS and MS. Such a mode helps in improving the throughput within the coverage cell, compared to the case without RS [1]. For the different 802.16j and 3GPP standards the types are given different notations of Transparent/non-transparent and I & II, respectively 2. Transmission Schemes The two standards, have mainly proposed three transmission schemes [1] for the processing of the signals at the RS, while also trying to avoid the processing delay. Amplify and Forward (AF) This scheme is known as simple relay and is mostly used to increase the coverage area. In AF scheme, the RS amplifies the received signal from BS and forwards it to MS. It has a very short processing delay.

[1] Network scenario for Type-I and Type-II

Fig: I

Type-I RS (or NT-RS for 802.16j standard) provide coverage to MS i.e. beyond or at the edge of BS coverage area. It contributes to the overall system capacity and enables communication ser-vices and better data throughput to a MS at the edge of a cell. The BS and MS in Type-I relay have no direct connection and the transfer of preamble and other control information are sent through RS along with traffic signals. In Type-II (or T-RS), the RS is placed within the particular BS cell coverage area. In this relay mode [3] the base stations control information can reach the MS but

Selective Decode and Forward (DCF) In this scheme, [1] the RS decodes (channel decoding) the received signal from the BS. The RS checks, whether the decoded data is correct using cyclic redundancy check, and if correct performs channel coding and forwards the new signal to MS. DCF effectively avoids error propagation, but has a long processing delay. Demodulation and Forward (DF): The RS demodulates the receiving signal from the BS and modulates and forwards the signal to MS. It has simple operation and low processing delay, but is unable to avoid error propagation.

The DCF scheme [1] is identified to achieve a better throughput improvement, compared to AF and DF. 3. Cooperative Relaying Diversity [4] techniques are used to achieve signal improvement by using multiple paths between transmitter and receiver. IEEE 802.16j [2] has introduced an optional feature of cooperative diversity, to use the multiple RS antennas and BS available within the cell coverage area. The 802.16 standard provides three mechanisms for cooperative diversity. a) Cooperative Source Diversity using antennas distributed among RS and BS to transmit identical signal simultaneously in time and frequency. b) Cooperative transmit diversity using pre-defined space time codes distributed among RSs and BS and c) Cooperative hybrid diversity, which is a combination of the above two mechanisms. 4. Relay Path Selection In a network of multiple RS and multiple MS units in each cell, the important aspect is to select appropriate RS to transmit signals in able to achieve better throughput along with low processing delay. The pairing scheme also serves the purpose of the RS routing selection method in more than two hop routing. Hence, the two standards have provided two types of pairing schemes for Relay selection. The selection is done by using channel and location information. 4.1 Centralized Pairing Scheme In a Centralized pairing scheme [1], the BS serves as a central node to collect the required channel and location information

from all RSs and MSs units within the cell. The channel and location information is periodically updated and reported to the BS. Using the information, the BS generates a matrix C with i and j rows corresponding to MS IDs and RS IDs. The matrix elements represents the achievable data rate when the ith MS is served/paired with jth RS. If the MS is not served by the RS the corresponding row and column are set to zero, otherwise, Ci,j is calculated between the instantaneous channel conditions. The Centralized pairing scheme is developed for multiple RS and single MS scenario and vice-versa. In this scenario, once an RS selects an MS unit, it cannot serve any other MS. The BS sets all corresponding rows to zero. This avoids the MS to attempt to connect an already serving RS. The values of matrix C are constantly updated to check for non-serving RS. The overall throughput for the served MS units is calculated by adding together all serving elements in matrix C. The Centralized pairing scheme is mainly used for two hop relays and in typeII relay mode, due to its periodic information exchange. 4.2 Distributed Pairing Scheme In a Distributed pairing, the RS selects its own MS units and its serving RS in more than two hop relay system. It gathers local channel information from neighboring MSs & RS and from serving BS. Each RSs of a particular serving BS uses a common communication channel.

since smaller hops are favorable as it increases delay. Path cost = (Link Throughput/Hop count) [5] The best path is selected i.e. the path maximum value among the calculated costs, since it provides the higher link throughput. Both Centralized pairing scheme and distributed pairing schemes are able to increase the probability of network connection, hence increases the traffic and are also able to provide maximum throughput. II. Simulation Results A Matlab simulation was performed to demonstrate the reduction in transmission power level in simple two-hop relay compared to conventional line of sight transmission. The Matlab codes for two cases are provided in Appendix A. Case 1: Calculation of transmission power level over a fixed distance between BS and MS, while RS is placed at variable distance.

[5] Relay network entry scenario

Fig: II

As distributed pairing schemes are used in more than two hop relay connections, it also serves the purpose of path selection. The channel information is sent through UCD messages. The UCD [6] message is an uplink channel descriptor which is broadcasted by the BS at a periodic interval in order to provide burst profiles (physical parameter sets) that can be used by uplink physical channels. For RS routing selection purpose, the UCD messages contain link available bandwidth, SNR and Hop count. The latency or delay in routing depends on these parameters. Each RS sets its own path metric table using the parameters in UCD message. Figure II demonstrates how the relay station selects its routing path in distributed pairing scheme. The RS sets the metric path table using the information of neighboring RS sent by the serving BS of the respective neighboring RS. Using the path metric table, the RS calculates the cost of each route dividing the link throughput by hop count,

Fig: III

The calculations were performed for receiving power level of -30 dBm with pathloss exponent 4. The values were taken over a distance of 0 to 2000 meters. The result in figure III shows that using a simple Relay reduces the transmission power level between BS and MS. The minimum power level in this ideal case is obtained, when the RS is placed at the halfway distance between BS and MS.

The result in fig IV shows that there is considerable reduction in total transmitted power level, when simple relay is used, when the mobile is in motion moving away from BS. III. Conclusion and Summary The Relay Technology to be used in the WiMax and LTE networks provides better performance compared to conventional transmission methods, in terms of increase in coverage capacity, achievable peak data rate and reduction in power level. Thus, the cost effective Relay technique is a better alternative for signal transmission to meet the requirements of high data rate and QOS in advanced mobile systems. For future we would like to demonstrate the power consumption level in DCF and to simulate effects of noise in our current simulation results. The current results are based on ideal noise free environments.

Case 2: Based on the study in [6], to demonstrate the reduction in transmission power level by using the simple relay compared to direct line of sight transmission, when the MS is in motion away from BS.

Fig: IV

The calculations with the same parameters as case 1 to receive power level of -30 dBm at MS. The RS was placed at 400 meters from BS. The location of MS is changed further away from BS, for each calculation.

References [1] Yang Yang, Relay Technologies for WiMax and LTE-Advanced Mobile Systems, Communications Magazine, IEEE, October 2009 [2] Steven W. Peters, The future of WiMax: Multihop Relaying in IEEE 802.16j Communications Magazine, IEEE, January 2009 [3] Mustafa Ergen, Mobile Broadband: Including WiMax and LTE, Springer publications [4] Vijay Garg, Wireless Communications and Networking, Morgan Kaufmann Publishers

[5] Sojeong Ann, A Path selection method in IEEE 802.16j Mobile Multi-hop relay Networks, Computer Society, IEEE, 2008 [6] Jee Young Song, Power Consumption Reduction by Multi-hop Transmission in Cellular Networks, IEEE, 2004

Appendix A: MATLAB Code Simulation 1: To demonstrate the effects of using relay transmission method over direct line of sight method on the transmission power required to provide a receiving power level of -30 dBm at the mobile station.
function power close all; % Part 1: No-Relay Transmitted power Pr = 10^-3; % Rx. power requirement of the M.S dt = 2000; % Fixed distance from B.S to M.S y=4; % Pathloss exponent in urban areas Ptbm = Pr*(dt^y); % Calculate power transmitted in No relay system PtbmdB = pow2dB(Ptbm) % Convert Milli Watts into dB norelay=PtbmdB; contnplot=0:1:2000; % For continuous graph % Part 2: Relay Transmitted Power (Two-hop transmission) dr = 0:50:2000 % distance at which RS is placed between BS & MS for count1=1:41 % To calculate multiple values of Tx. Power Ptb(count1)= (Pr*((dr(count1))^y)); % Calc. Tx Pwr from BS to RS Ptr(count1)= (Pr*((dt-dr(count1))^y)); % Calc. Tx Pwr from RS to MS Ptm(count1)=Ptb(count1)+ Ptr(count1); % Calc. total Tx Pwr PtmdB(count1)= pow2dB(Ptm(count1)) % Convert Milli Watts into dB Ptmin=min(PtmdB) % Find the minimum Tx. pwr % find the distance at which minimum Tx. Pwr is achieved if PtmdB(count1)== Ptmin dmin = dr(count1); end end % Part 3: Plot the graph figure, hold on xlabel('Distance'); ylabel('Tx Power in dBm'); title('Tx. Power v/s distance') xlim([0 2000]); ylim([80 110]); p1=plot(dr,PtmdB,'ro-'); p2=plot(contnplot,norelay); p3=plot(dmin,Ptmin,'*'); legend('Simple Relay', 'No Relay' , hold off;

% To plot the graph at the same plot

% Plot the graph for Tx. Pwr in No Relay % Plot the graph for Tx. Pwr in Relay Tx. % To plot the Min. Tx. Pwr in Relay Tx. 'Optimum Power level');

Simulation 2: To observe the trend of transmission power level, due to change in location of MS, between direct line of sight and Simple relay method.

function transmission close all; % Part 1: No-Relay Transmitted power Pr = 10^-3; % Rx. power requirement in milli watts of the M.S dt = 500:100:2000; % Range of distance between B.S to M.S y=4; % Pathloss exponent in urban areas for count1=1:16 Ptd(count1) = Pr*(dt(count1)^y); % Calculate power transmitted in No relay system PtddB(count1) = pow2dB(Ptd(count1)) % Convert Milli Watts into dBm end % Part 2: Two Hop transmission dr = 400 % Fixed distance at which RS is placed between BS & MS for count1=1:16 % To calculate multiple values of Tx. Power Ptb(count1)= (Pr*((dr^y))); % Calc. Tx Pwr from BS to RS Ptr(count1)= (Pr*((dt(count1)-dr)^y)); % Calc. Tx Pwr from RS to MS Ptm(count1)=Ptb(count1)+ Ptr(count1); % Calc. total Tx Pwr PtmdB(count1)= pow2dB(Ptm(count1)) % Convert Milli Watts into dBm end %Part 3:Plotting the graph figure, hold on plot xlabel('Location of Mobile station'); ylabel('Tx Power in dBm'); title('Tx. Power v/s distance') xlim([0 2200]); ylim([60 130]); plot(dt,PtddB,'ro-'); system plot(dt,PtmdB,'ko-') Relay legend('No Relay', 'Simple Relay'); hold off;

% To plot the graph at the same

% To plot the result of No relay % To plot the result of Simple