Interference management strategies for multiuser multicell MIMO VLC systems

Abstract

This paper investigates different precoding strategies for rate splitting multiple access (RSMA) in the downlink of multi-cell visible light communication (VLC) networks. Since classical Shannon capacity formula does not hold for VLC, we first provide a lower bound on the channel capacity for RSMA in such interfering networks. Then, we formulate a spectral efficiency maximization problem to jointly find the optimal rate-splitting and transmit precoding. Beside that, since cell-edge users suffer from additional inter-cell interference, we propose to design the precoders of different RSMA signals utilizing coordinated beamforming (CB). Subsequently, aiming to improve the performance of the CB design for RSMA, while maintain a reduced complexity, we introduce two enhanced precoding strategies for RSMA. To the best of the authors' knowledge such a contribution has not been considered before in the open literature. It is shown in the paper that the formulated optimization problem is non-convex and a sub-optimal, yet, a low complexity solution can be obtained efficiently using semi-definite relaxation combined with successive convex approximation. Through analytical results, we illustrate the flexibility and superiority of the proposed precoding strategies for RSMA over conventional coordinated space division multiple access and non-orthogonal multiple access for different scenarios and network loads.