Resource allocation for multi-hop cooperative MIMO systems in Ad Hoc networks

Cooperative MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) allows multiple nodes to emulate antenna arrays and transmit or receive cooperatively. This has the ability to increase the capacity for future wireless communication systems and it is particularly suited for Ad Hoc networks. In this study, based on our analysis of the Shannon capacity limit of cooperative MIMO transmission, we have derived an optimal resource allocation strategy and thus obtained the optimized end-to-end throughput of a multi-hop cooperative MIMO system. The analysis shows that with an optimal resource allocation, the end-to-end throughput can be increased in average by more than 20% when compared with an equal allocation of resources among each hop.