On Fair and Efficient Power Control in CDMA Wireless Data Networks

We consider the uplink power control problem in a single cell, multi-user, CDMA wireless data system and formulate it as a cooperative game. We use the Nash bargaining solution concept, in order to determine the socially optimum solution, which is both Pareto efficient and fair. In our formulation, the BS plays the role of the arbitrator, Le., solves the power control problem, and broadcasts the relevant information to all users in order to enforce convergence to the optimal operating point. The comparison of the cooperative scheme to the non-cooperative scheme shows significant reduction in the transmission power of the mobile terminals.