A potential game approach for uplink resource allocation in a multichannel wireless access network

We consider a resource allocation problem in a multichannel wireless access system being shared by several users for uplink transfer of elastic traffic. Each user can allocate its resources (e.g., radios, antennas or power) to one or more of the carriers. In this network scenario we consider a problem of noncooperative allocation of resources by the users, with each user's objective being to maximize its own utility. We apply the theory of potential games to solve this problem by transforming it into an equivalent global optimization one. We obtain structural properties of the equilibrium policies using tools from Schur concave stochastic orders. Finally, we propose a totally distributed algorithm that converges to a Nash Equilibrium of the system.