On Distributed Space-Time Coding

Codes construction for cooperative diversity in ad-hoc networks is considered. In the context of decoded-and-forward strategy, a new class of distributed space-time codes is proposed. This class is tolerant to timing offsets between the different relays, which is crucial for relaying over ad-hoc networks that lack a timing reference. The proposed codes are effective and flexible, enabling use of different signaling constellations, transmission rates, numbers of transmit and receive antennas, and decoders of varying levels of complexity.