An Incentive Caching Mechanism in Wireless Networks Based on Stackelberg Game

In this paper, an incentive caching mechanism between multiple mobile network operators (MNOs) and multiple video service providers (VSPs) is proposed to alleviate the traffic burden on the cellular backhaul link. MNOs provide storage space to VSPs and VSPs compete to decide the caching demand amount to improve users' experience. The caching resource allocation problem is formulated as a Stackelberg game, in which MNOs act as leaders and VSPs act as followers. The existence of Nash equilibrium (NE) in followers non-cooperative game is proved. The optimal strategies of MNOs and VSPs are obtained by using distributed iteration algorithm to solve the game problem. Simulation results show that the proposed mechanism could obtain higher revenue than other schemes.