Cross-layer adaptive resource allocation for OFDM systems with hybrid smart antennas

Orthogonal frequency division multiplex (OFDM) has become one of the most popular air-link technologies for future broadband wireless communications. To further improve its bandwidth efficiency and system performance, adaptive resource allocation and smart antenna techniques have been widely used in the OFDM system. However, the use of fully adaptive beamforming in an OFDM system significantly increases the complexity of the medium access control layer design and thus affects the implementation of adaptive resource allocation. A novel cross-layer adaptive resource allocation strategy with hybrid adaptive array and switched-beam smart antennas suitable for the OFDM systems has been proposed. With the help of different smart antennas schemes based on different users' quality of service requirements, the strategy effectively reduces the complexity of adaptive resource allocation in an OFDM system, while still maintaining a satisfactory system performance.