Optimized Resource Allocation Scheme for Multiple Multicast Groups over the Integrated Satellite-5G System

The integration of satellite system into the fifth-generation (5G) access networks enables ubiquitous coverage for the terrestrial networks. The multicast capability of the satellite system is considered as an essential component in delivering multimedia content. However, improving the resource utilization of multicast groups with multiple services has become an urgent problem due to the limited bandwidth of satellite-to-ground links. To improve the overall throughput in the multiple multicast groups transmission scenario, we propose a novel Resource Allocation Scheme among Multiple Multicast Groups (RAMG). The proposed RAM G is a two-step resource allocation scheme consisting of the pre-allocation based on different services and the optimal subgroup configuration in a single multicast group. Specifically, the RAMG firstly performs the pre-allocation according to the ideal data rate (IDR) of multicast groups, and then exploits the best subgroup configuration in each group to improve the overall aggregate data rate (ADR). Numerical results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm has better performance than other benchmark algorithms in terms of the average ADR, spectral efficiency, and users satisfaction of all multicast groups users in three common environments respectively.