Analysis and Optimization of Cache-Enabled mmWave HetNets with Integrated Access and Backhaul

Abstract: In milimeter wave heterogenous networks with integrated access and backhaul (mABHetNets), a considerable part of spectrum resources are occupied by the backhaul link, which limits the performance of the access link. In order to overcome such backhaul "spectrum occupancy", we introduce cache in mABHetNets. Caching popular files at small base stations (SBSs) can offload the backhaul traffic and transfer spectrum from the backhaul link to the access link. To achieve the optimal performance of the cache-enabled mABHetNets, we first analyze the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) distribution and derive the average potential throughput (APT) expression by stochastic geometric tools. Then, based on our analytical work, we formulate a joint optimization problem of cache decision and spectrum partition to maximize the APT. Inspired by the block coordinate descent (BCD) method, we propose a joint cache decision, spectrum partition and power allocation (JCSPA) algorithm to find the optimal solution. Simulation results show the convergence and enhancement of the proposed algorithm. Besides, we verify the APT under different parameters and find that the introduction of cache facilitates the transfer of backhaul spectrum to access link. Jointly deploying appropriate caching capacity at SBSs and performing specified spectrum partition can bring up about 90% APT gain in mABHetNets.