Low-Complexity Distributed Algorithms for Uplink CoMP in Heterogeneous LTE Networks

Coordinated multi-point transmission (CoMP) techniques are being touted as enabling technologies for interference mitigation in next generation heterogeneous wireless networks (HetNets). In this paper, we present a comparative performance study of uplink (UL) CoMP algorithms for the 3GPP LTE HetNets. Focusing on a distributed and functionally-split architecture, we consider six distinct UL-CoMP algorithms: 1. Joint reception in the frequency-domain (JRFD) 2. Two-stage equalization (TSEQ) 3. Log-likelihood ratio exchange (LLR-E) 4. Symmetric TSEQ (S-TSEQ) 5. Transport block selection diversity (TBSD) 6. Coordinated scheduling with adaptive interference mitigation (CS-AIM) where JRFD, TSEQ, S-TSEQ, TBSD and CS-AIM are our main contributions in this paper, and quantify their relative performances via the post-processing signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio distributions. We also compare the CoMP-specific front-haul rate requirements for all the schemes considered in this paper. Our results indicate that, with a linear minimum mean-square error receiver, the JRFD and TSEQ have identical performances, whereas S-TSEQ relaxes the front-haul latency requirements while approaching the performance of TSEQ. Furthermore, in a HetNet environment, we find that CS-AIM provides an attractive alternative to TBSD and LLR-E with a significantly reduced CoMP-specific front-haul rate requirement.