Mathematical analysis of energy efficiency optimality in multi‐user OFDM systems

The strong need and global interests for green communications necessitate the maximum reduction of energy consumption. Hence, one of the major challenges is to optimize the resource allocation and to improve the energy efficiency in an orthogonal frequency division multiple access system. In this paper, we analyze the energy‐efficient resource allocation problem mathematically. Our analytical results show that the optimal resource allocation can be achieved by primarily assigning the user with either the best channel gain or the least optimal power. Furthermore, our detailed case studies show that such analytical results are consistent with the best result obtained from the exhaustive search method. This means that the proposed approach can provide quick and better resource allocation. It can be expected that real‐time in situ optimal resource allocation can be achieved by extending the current methodology. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.