The intensity matching approach for tractable performance evaluation and optimization of cellular networks is introduced. It assumes that the base stations are modeled as the points of a Poisson point process (PPP) and leverages stochastic geometry for system-level analysis. Its rationale relies on observing that system-level performance is determined by the intensity measure of transformations of the underlaying spatial PPP. By approximating the original system model with a simplified one, whose performance is determined by a mathematically convenient intensity measure, tractable yet accurate integral expressions for computing area spectral efficiency and potential throughput are provided. The considered system model accounts for many practical aspects that, for tractability, are typically neglected, e.g., line-of-sight (LOS) and non-LOS propagation, antenna radiation patterns, traffic load, practical cell associations, and general fading channels. The proposed approach, more importantly, is conveniently formulated for unveiling the impact of several system parameters, e.g., the density of base stations and blockages. The effectiveness of this novel and general methodology is validated with the aid of empirical data for the locations of base stations and for the footprints of buildings in dense urban environments.

In this paper, a new mathematical framework to the analysis and optimization of wireless-powered cellular networks is introduced. The proposed approach leverages stochastic geometry for system-level analysis of cellular networks, by modeling base station locations as points of a Poisson point process. The trade-offs emerging from simultaneous wireless information and power transfer are characterized through the joint cumulative distribution function of average harvested energy and average rate, which is conveniently formulated in terms of an easy-to-compute two-fold integral. The analysis shows that an optimal operating point for system-level optimization exists, as well as that network densification and directional beamforming constitute essential enablers for enhancing the performance. Finally, the fundamental trade-offs emerging in wireless-powered cellular networks are quantified through the concept of feasibility regions.

The Equivalent-in-Distribution (EiD)-based approach to the analysis of Single-Input-Single-Output (SISO) cellular networks has recently been introduced [1]. Its rationale relies upon formulating the aggregate other-cell interference in terms of an infinite summation of independent and conditionally distributed Gaussian Random Variables (RVs). This approach leads to exact integral expressions of the error probability for arbitrary bi-dimensional modulations. In this paper, the EiD-based approach is generalized to the performance analysis of multi-user Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO) cellular networks, which use Zero-Forcing (ZF) precoding for transmission over Rayleigh fading channels. In the presence of othercell interference and noise, the error probability is formulated in terms of a twofold integral. In interference-limited cellular networks, the mathematical framework simplifies to a single integral expression. The mathematical analysis is substantiated with the aid of extensive Monte Carlo simulations and the performance of multi-user MIMO cellular networks is discussed.

Due to the increasing heterogeneity and deployment density of emerging cellular networks, new flexible and scalable approaches for their modeling, simulation, analysis and optimization are needed. Recently, a new approach has been proposed: it is based on the theory of point processes and it leverages tools from stochastic geometry for tractable system-level modeling, performance evaluation and optimization. In this paper, we investigate the accuracy of this emerging abstraction for modeling cellular networks, by explicitly taking realistic base station locations, building footprints, spatial blockages and antenna radiation patterns into account. More specifically, the base station locations and the building footprints are taken from two publicly available databases from the United Kingdom. Our study confirms that the abstraction model based on stochastic geometry is capable of accurately modeling the communication performance of cellular networks in dense urban environments.

In this paper, a tractable mathematical framework for the analysis and optimization of two-hop relay-aided cellular networks is introduced. The proposed approach leverages stochastic geometry for system-level analysis, by modeling the locations of base stations, relay nodes and mobile terminals as points of homogeneous Poisson point processes. A flexible cell association and relay-aided transmission protocol based on the best biased average received power are considered. Computationally tractable integrals and closed-form expressions for coverage and rate are provided, and the performance trends of relay-aided cellular networks are identified. It is shown that coverage and rate highly depend on the path-loss exponents of one- and two-hop links. In the interference-limited regime, in particular, it is shown that, if the system is not adequately designed, the presence of relay nodes may provide negligible performance gains. By capitalizing on the proposed mathematical framework, a system-level and interference-aware optimization criterion of the bias coefficients is proposed. Numerical results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed system-level optimization to enhance the coverage probability in the interference-limited regime. The presence of relays, on the other hand, is shown to have a limited impact on average/coverage rate under the same assumptions.

The equivalent-in-distribution (EiD)-based approach to the analysis of single-input-single-output (SISO) cellular networks for transmission over Rayleigh fading channels has recently been introduced [1]. Its rationale relies upon formulating the aggregate other-cell interference in terms of an infinite summation of independent and conditionally distributed Gaussian random variables (RVs). This approach leads to exact integral expressions of the error probability for arbitrary bi-dimensional modulations. In this paper, the EiD-based approach is generalized to the performance analysis of multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) cellular networks for transmission over Rayleigh fading channels. The proposed mathematical formulation allows us to study a large number of MIMO arrangements, including receive-diversity, spatial-multiplexing, orthogonal space-time block coding, zero-forcing reception and zero-forcing precoding. Depending on the MIMO setup, either exact or approximate integral expressions of the error probability are provided. In the presence of other-cell interference and noise, the error probability is formulated in terms of a two-fold integral. In interference-limited cellular networks, the mathematical framework simplifies to a single integral expression. As a byproduct, the proposed approach enables us to study SISO cellular networks for transmission over Nakagami-m fading channels. The mathematical analysis is substantiated with the aid of extensive Monte Carlo simulations.

In this paper, we provide mathematical frameworks to the analysis of amplify-and-forward dual-hop cooperative relaying protocols in the presence of Nakagami-m fading and additive Gaussian noise at the relay, as well as additive Gaussian noise and symmetric alpha-stable interference at the destination. Quasi-static and fast-varying interference scenarios are investigated, which arise, e.g., when either the same or different interferers are active during the broadcast and relaying phases, respectively. A maximal ratio combining demodulator is studied, by assuming that the aggregate interference is either unknown (interference-oblivious) or can be estimated (interference-aware) at the destination. Closed-form expressions of the end-to-end moment generating function are provided, and the achievable diversity order is studied for different setups. The diversity order is shown to depend on the path-loss exponent of the interfering network. Under the assumption that the transmit-powers of cooperative and interfering networks are independent, it is proved that the interference-aware maximal ratio diversity combiner is capable of achieving second-order diversity only asymptotically, as the amplitude path-loss exponent tends to one.

In this paper, we study amplify-and-forward dual-hop cooperative relaying protocols in the presence of Rayleigh fading, additive noise at the relay, as well as additive noise and symmetric alpha-stable interference at the destination. A quasi-static interference scenario is considered, which arises, e.g., when the same interferers are active during broadcast and relaying phases. At the destination, a maximal ratio combining demodulator is developed and studied, by assuming that the aggregate interference can be estimated, i.e., interference-aware design. A closed-form expression of the end-to-end moment generating function is provided and the achievable diversity order is studied. Two main results emerge from the paper: 1) if the ratio of the transmit-powers of cooperative and interfering networks is a constant, the diversity order is equal to 1 and 2) if the transmit-power of the interfering network is a constant, the diversity order is equal to 1 + 1/bI, where bI> 1 is the amplitude path-loss exponent. In the latter case, thus, second-order diversity is achieved asymptotically, as the amplitude path-loss exponent tends to one. Mathematical frameworks and findings are validated with the aid of Monte Carlo simulations.