Optimal Power Allocation Policy over Two Identical Gilbert-Elliott Channels

Abstract: We study the fundamental problem of optimal power allocation over two identical Gilbert-Elliott (Binary Markov) communication channels. Our goal is to maximize the expected discounted number of bits transmitted over an infinite time span by judiciously choosing one of the four actions for each time slot: 1) allocating power equally to both channels, 2) allocating all the power to channel 1, 3) allocating all the power to channel 2, and 4) allocating no power to any of the channels. As the channel state is unknown when power allocation decision is made, we model this problem as a partially observable Markov decision process(POMDP), and derive the optimal policy which gives the optimal action to take under different possible channel states. Two different structures of the optimal policy are derived analytically and verified by linear programming simulation. We also illustrate how to construct the optimal policy by the combination of threshold calculation and linear programming simulation once system parameters are known.