Virtual Resource Allocation in Virtualized Small Cell Networks with Physical-Layer Network Coding Aided Self-Backhauls

Virtualized small cell network is a promising architecture which can realize efficient utilization of the network resource. However, conventional full duplex self-backhauls lead to residual self-interference, which limits the network performance. To handle this issue, this paper proposes a virtual resource allocation, in which the residual self-interference is fully exploited by employing a physical-layer network coding (PNC) aided self-backhaul scheme. We formulate the features of PNC as time slot and information rate constraints, and based on that, the virtual resource allocation is formulated as a mixed combinatorial optimization problem. To solve the problem efficiently, it is decomposed into two sub problems, and a two-phase iteration algorithm is developed accordingly. In the algorithm, the first sub problem is approximated and transferred into a convex problem by utilizing the upper bound of the PNC rate constraint. On the basis of that, the convexity of the second sub problem is also proved. Simulation results show the advantages of the proposed scheme over conventional solution in both the profits of self-backhauls and utility of the network resource.