We consider a system of parallel servers handling users of various classes, whose service rates depend not only on user classes, but also on the set of active servers. We investigate the stability under two types of allocation strategies: (i) server assignment where the users are assigned to servers based on rates, load, and other considerations, and (ii) coordinated scheduling where the activity states of servers are coordinated. We show how the model may be applied to evaluate the downlink capacity of wireless data networks. Specifically, we examine the potential gains in wireless capacity from the two types of resource allocation strategies.
Keywords Load balancing · Coordinated scheduling · Cellular networksWe investigate the stability of a fairly general system of parallel servers handling users of various classes. The service rate of a user depends not only on the class of the user and the server involved, but also on the set of active servers. Users of the various classes enter the system according to some stationary ergodic processes and leave the system after having been served. We focus on two types of coordinated resource allocation strategies: (i) server assignment and (ii) coordinated scheduling.The motivation for server assignment arises from the natural principle that the overall performance may be improved by optimizing the allocation of users to servers. This may be S. Borst ( ) Alcatel-Lucent Bell Labs,