Resource Allocation Strategies in Uplink SC-FDMA Wireless Networks

Summary

Single-Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA) has been adopted for uplink transmission in contemporary mobile standards owing to its low peak-to-average power ratio and efficient spectral usage. Resource allocation in SC-FDMA uplinks centres on the assignment of contiguous subcarriers, power control and scheduling in order to maximise throughput, ensure fairness among users and meet stringent Quality of Service (QoS) requirements. Key strategies include subcarrier mapping schemes—localized mapping for high robustness in fixed conditions and interleaved mapping to exploit frequency diversity—and sophisticated scheduling algorithms that respect the contiguity constraint while balancing cell-edge and central users. Power allocation mechanisms, notably fractional power control, aim to mitigate inter-cell interference in heterogeneous deployments of macrocells and small cells. Cross-layer approaches have integrated channel state information, user mobility patterns and traffic priorities to deliver opportunistic yet fair resource distribution. As 5G and beyond systems evolve, uplink SC-FDMA research continues to address the challenges of ultra-reliable low-latency communications, massive machine-type connectivity and the efficient co-existence of diverse radio access technologies.

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Resource Allocation Strategies in Uplink SC-FDMA Wireless Networks publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in resource allocation strategies in uplink sc-fdma wireless networks across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Single-Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA): A multiple access scheme that applies discrete Fourier transform spreading to maintain single-carrier properties while allocating orthogonal subcarriers to users.

Resource Block (RB): The smallest contiguous time-frequency unit assigned to a user in SC-FDMA, typically comprising a group of subcarriers over one time slot.

Contiguity Constraint: A requirement that each user’s allocated subcarriers form an uninterrupted block in frequency to preserve single-carrier transmission characteristics.

Fractional Power Control: A power allocation strategy that partially compensates for path loss, thereby limiting interference and extending coverage in heterogeneous network scenarios.

Spectral Efficiency: The net data rate transmitted per unit bandwidth, reflecting how effectively the system utilises available spectrum.

References

  1. Heterogeneous networks: Fair power allocation in LTE-A uplink scenarios. PLOS ONE (2021).
  2. MECC scheduling algorithm in vehicular environment for uplink transmission in LTE networks. International Journal of Electrical and Computer Engineering (IJECE) (2019).
  3. SC-FDMA UPLINK SYSTEM IN HEAVILY FADED AREAS WITH LOW SIGNAL-TO-NOISE RATIO. Advances in Electrical and Electronic Engineering (2023).

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