Resource Optimization with Interference Coupling in Multi-IRS-assisted Multi-cell Systems

Deploying Intelligent reflecting surfaces (IRSs) to enhance wireless transmission is a promising approach. In this paper, we investigate large-scale multi-IRS-assisted multi-cell systems, where multiple IRSs are deployed in each cell. Different from the full-buffer scenario, the mutual interference in our system is not known a priori, and for this reason we apply the load coupling model to analyze this system. The objective is to minimize the total resource consumption subject to user demand requirement by optimizing the reflection coefficients in the cells. The cells are highly coupled and the overall problem is non-convex. To tackle this, we first investigate the single-cell case with given interference, and propose a low-complexity algorithm based on the Majorization-Minimization (MM) method to obtain a locally optimal solution. Then, we embed this algorithm into an algorithmic framework for the overall multi-cell problem, and prove its feasibility and convergence to a solution that is at least locally optimal. Simulation results demonstrate the benefit of IRS in time-frequency resource utilization in the multi-cell system.