Subcarrier allocation based Simultaneous Wireless Information and Power Transfer algorithm in 5G cooperative OFDM communication systems

Self-sustainable communications are highly vital for large amounts of mobile terminals in the Fifth Generation (5G) communication systems. Simultaneous Wireless Information and Power Transfer (SWIPT) makes it possible that terminal transfers information while prolonging battery life by harvesting Radio Frequency (RF) energy. Though the traditional sub-carrier allocation based SWIPT algorithm in OFDM communication systems can optimize resource allocation, the receiver often cannot achieve higher information decoding rate when the channel condition of direct transmission deteriorates. In view of this situation, a sub-carrier allocation based SWIPT algorithm in 5G cooperative OFDM communication systems is proposed in this paper. The amplify-and-forward protocol is adopted by relay node which transmits information from source node to destination node by using a part of its sub-carriers. The remaining sub-carriers are used for energy harvesting. On the premise of minimum threshold of harvested energy, the sub-carrier and power allocations at relay node are optimized by establishing and solving the corresponding optimization model. Simulation results reveal that the proposed algorithm not only achieves the optimal sub-carrier and power allocations, but also improves information decoding rate with fast converging speed.