Error Probability Bounds for Multiuser Detection in Cooperative Cellular Networks

We present new analytical expressions for optimal multiuser detection in the uplink of a cellular network with base station cooperation. We consider a cooperative multicell scenario where multiple base stations jointly detect the signals from multiple users distributed throughout the network. For such a network, we derive new upper and lower bounds on the uncoded bit error probability (BEP) with independent Rayleigh fading and arbitrary path loss between the users and the base stations. Our analytical results are further simplified to produce closed-form bounds on the BEP when the path loss from a given user to each base station is distinct. We demonstrate that the lower bound is accurate at low signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) while the upper bound is accurate at medium to high SNRs.