Stable throughput analysis for a cooperative WLAN with primary and secondary users

In this paper, we propose a new scenario in order to increase the total throughput of a WLAN. In this scenario, some secondary users (SUs) are considered in a primary WLAN such that SUs cooperate with primary users (PUs) in transmitting the primary packets. Each SU sends its packets as well as the primary packets collided at the access point, but overheard successfully at the SU, by random access the primary WLAN. We show that SUs cooperation is able to compensate their adverse effect in the WLAN, so total throughput in the WLAN increases without a significant degrading effect for the stability region of PUs. To this end, we use an analytical model based on open queueing networks. By solving the related traffic equations we are able to derive the stability region for primary and secondary users. In the last part of the paper we will show that how and when cooperation is beneficial for both PUs and SUs and confirm our analytical results by simulations.