Energy-aware design of inter-relay cooperation for distributed relaying networks

We consider distributed relaying networks using space-time block codes (STBC) to exploit cooperative diversity. In order to mitigate the impact of error propagation for Decode-Forward (DF), an inter-relay cooperation (IRC) scheme is proposed that allows message exchanges between the relays based on punctured channel codes. Specifically, one of the error-free relays broadcasts punctured bits as side information to help failed relays to re-decode. Consequently, only relays capable of successful decoding transmit to the destination using STBC. Furthermore, an energy model for relays is introduced, so that the proposed IRC scheme can be evaluated with respect to throughput and energy consumptions for transmission, baseband and RF circuit at all relays. Simulation results show the superior performance using IRC, which should be properly designed under the influence of energy considerations.