Multi-Cell MIMO Cooperative Networks: A New Look at Interference

TLDR

In dense networks, interference limits capacity, and multi‑cell cooperation can dramatically improve system performance. The paper reviews multi‑cell MIMO cooperation theory and techniques, examines practical integration, and proposes several promising research directions. By jointly processing user data at multiple base stations, the techniques exploit inter‑cell interference to emulate a large virtual MIMO array, and the paper discusses the underlying theory, coding, and practical aspects.

Abstract

This paper presents an overview of the theory and currently known techniques for multi-cell MIMO (multiple input multiple output) cooperation in wireless networks. In dense networks where interference emerges as the key capacity-limiting factor, multi-cell cooperation can dramatically improve the system performance. Remarkably, such techniques literally exploit inter-cell interference by allowing the user data to be jointly processed by several interfering base stations, thus mimicking the benefits of a large virtual MIMO array. Multi-cell MIMO cooperation concepts are examined from different perspectives, including an examination of the fundamental information-theoretic limits, a review of the coding and signal processing algorithmic developments, and, going beyond that, consideration of very practical issues related to scalability and system-level integration. A few promising and quite fundamental research avenues are also suggested.