Non-cooperative games for spreading code optimization, power control and receiver design in wireless data networks

This paper focuses on the issue of energy efficiency in wireless data networks through a game theoretic approach. The case considered is that in which each user is allowed to vary its transmit power, spreading code, and uplink receiver in order to maximize its own utility, which is here defined as the ratio of data throughput to transmit power. In particular, the case in which linear multiuser detectors are employed at the receiver is treated first, and, then, the more challenging case in which non-linear decision feedback multiuser receivers are adopted is addressed. It is shown that, for both receivers, the problem at hand of utility maximization can be regarded as a non-cooperative game, and it is proved that a unique Nash equilibrium point exists. Simulation results show that significant performance gains can be obtained through both non-linear processing and spreading code optimization; in particular, for systems with a number of users not larger than the processing gain, remarkable gains come from spreading code optimization, while, for overloaded systems, the largest gains come from the use of non-linear processing. In every case, however, the non-cooperative games proposed here are shown to outperform competing alternatives.