Sending a bivariate Gaussian source over a Gaussian MAC with unidirectional conferencing encoders

We consider the problem of transmitting a bivariate Gaussian memoryless source over a two-user additive Gaussian multiple-access channel with unidirectional conferencing encoders. Here, prior to each transmission block Encoder 1 is allowed to communicate with Encoder 2 via a unidirectional noise-free bit-pipe of given capacity. We extend the vector-quantizer scheme suggested by Lapidoth-Tinguely, for the case without conferencing, to the case with unidirectional conference and derive an achievable rate-distortion region. We compare the performance of the suggested vector-quantizer to that of the optimal scheme for lossless transmission when the capacity of the conference link is large.