Robust game-theoretic algorithms for distributed resource allocation in wireless communications

The predominant game-theoretic solutions for distributed rate-maximization algorithms in Gaussian interference channels through optimal power control require perfect channel knowledge, which is not possible in practice due to various reasons, such as estimation errors, feedback quantization and latency between channel estimation and signal transmission. This thesis therefore aims at addressing this issue through the design and analysis of robust gametheoretic algorithms for rate-maximization in Gaussian interference channels in the presence of bounded channel uncertainty. A robust rate-maximization game is formulated for the single-antenna frequency-selective Gaussian interference channel under bounded channel uncertainty. The robust-optimization equilibrium solution for this game is independent of the probability distribution of the channel uncertainty. The existence and uniqueness of the equilibrium are studied and sufficient conditions for the uniqueness of the equilibrium are provided. Distributed algorithms to compute the equilibrium solution are presented and shown to have guaranteed asymptotic convergence when the game has a unique equilibrium. The sum-rate and the price of anarchy at the equilibrium of this game are analyzed for the two-user scenario and shown to improve with increase in channel uncertainty under certain conditions. These results indicate that the robust solution moves closer to a frequency division multiple access (FDMA) solution when uncertainty increases. This leads to a higher sum-rate and a lower price of anarchy for systems where FDMA is globally optimal. A robust rate-maximization game for multi-antenna Gaussian interference channels in the presence of channel uncertainty is also developed along similar principles. It is shown that this robust game is equivalent to the nominal game with modified channel matrices. The robust-optimization equilibrium for this game and a distributed algorithm for its computation are presented and characterized. Sufficient conditions for the uniqueness of the equilibrium and asymptotic convergence of the algorithm are presented. Numerical simulations are used to confirm the behaviour of these algorithms. The analytical and numerical results of this thesis indicate that channel uncertainty is not necessarily detrimental, but can indeed result in improvement of performance of networks in particular situations, where the Nash equilibrium solution is quite inefficient and channel uncertainty leads to reduced greediness of users.