A distributed channel allocation strategy based on a threshold scheme in mobile cellular networks

We propose a distributed channel allocation algorithm based on a threshold scheme (D-CAT) for mobile cellular networks. A cell employs two thresholds, a light and a heavy thresholds, to classify its interference cells in the system into three categories: light, moderate, and heavy cells. Using such a threshold scheme, how many free channels and from where a heavy cell needs to import is clearly determined so that a heavy cell can import free channels as many as possible during one channel acquisition process in order to satisfy its channel demand. This mechanism results in a low overhead cost for message transmission between the cells for acquiring free channels and simplifies the channel allocation mechanism. Simulation experiments and analyses show that D-CAT causes much lower overhead cost of message transmission than the other versions of distributed channel allocation strategies and provides a call blocking probability comparable to an efficient centralized channel allocation strategy.