Proportional Fair Resource Scheduling for Cell-Edge Users in O-RAN-Based Small-Cell Networks

This paper introduces a novel strategy for radio resource scheduling in a Coordinated Multi-Point (CoMP) Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) environment, particularly under the constraints of a non-ideal fronthaul. We propose a comprehensive three-phase scheme, which includes the selection of Cell Edge Users (CEUEs), DPS-based clustering and switching, and a weighted mechanism for Proportional Fair (PF)-based radio resource allocation. Using a modified Vienna 5G system-level simulator, we conducted a series of detailed simulations to validate our approach in a real-world scenario. The simulation results reveal significant enhancements in both the throughput performance of CEUEs and the overall user average throughput. Furthermore, our approach demonstrates substantial improvements in the fairness index, thereby underscoring its potential to significantly improve the efficiency and user experience within 5G networks.