A Cross-Layer Framework for Overhead Reduction, Traffic Scheduling, and Burst Allocation in IEEE 802.16 OFDMA Networks

IEEE 802.16 OFDMA downlink subframes have a special 2D channel-time structure. Allocation resources from such a 2D structure incurs extra control overheads that hurt network performance. Existing solutions try to improve network performance by designing solely either the scheduler in the MAC layer or the burst allocator in the physical layer, but the efficiency of overhead reduction is limited. In the paper, the authors point out the necessity of 'Co-designing' both the scheduler and the burst allocator to efficiently reduce overheads and improve network performance. Under the PUSC model, they propose a cross-layer framework that covers overhead reduction, real-time and non-real-time traffic scheduling, and burst allocation.