Analysis of Go-Back-N ARQ in Block Fading Channels

This work analyzes the throughput of Go-Back-N (GBN) in block fading, a model frequently used for slow fading wireless channels. We devise hidden Markov models and block transition probabilities for the block fading channel, allowing us to calculate the throughput of GBN with reliable feedback, as well as unreliable feedback. The advantages of this approach include generality: it applies to two-state as well as multi-state models for forward and reverse channels. Also, the results for both reliable and unreliable feedback are expressed in terms of probability matrices, which can be used as convenient building blocks in the analysis and simulation of larger systems. Simulations verify our analysis.