Performance analysis of hierarchical cellular networks with queueing and user retrials

How to efficiently utilize the scarce radio channel resource while maintaining the desired user-perceived quality level and improved network performance is a major challenge to a wireless network designer. As one solution to meet this challenge in cellular mobile networks, a network architecture with hierarchical layers of cells has been widely considered. In this paper, we study the performance of a hierarchical cellular network that allows the queueing of both overflow slow-mobility calls (from the lower layer microcells) and macrocell handover fast-mobility calls that are blocked due to lack of free resources at the macrocell. Further, to accurately represent the wireless user behaviour, the impact of call repeat phenomenon is considered in the analysis of new call blocking probability. Performance analysis of the hierarchical cellular structure with queueing and call repeat phenomenon is performed using both analytical and simulation techniques. Numerical results show that queueing of calls reduces forced call termination probability and increases resource utilization with minimal call queueing delay. It is also shown that ignoring repeat calls leads to optimistic estimates of new call blocking probability especially at high offered traffic. Copyright (C) 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.