To Code or Not To Code in Multi-Hop Relay Channels

Multi-hop relay channels use multiple relay stages, each with multiple relay nodes, to facilitate communication between a source and destination. Previously, distributed space-time coding was used to maximize diversity gain. Assuming a low-rate feedback link from the destination to each relay stage and the source, this paper proposes end-to-end antenna selection strategies as an alternative to distributed space-time coding. One-way (where only the source has data for destination) and two-way (where the destination also has data for the source) multi-hop relay channels are considered with both the full-duplex and half duplex relay nodes. End-to-end antenna selection strategies are designed and proven to achieve maximum diversity gain by using a single antenna path (using single antenna of the source, each relay stage and the destination) with the maximum signal-to-noise ratio at the destination. For the half-duplex case, two single antenna paths with the two best signal-to-noise ratios...

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2008
• Where: CORR
• Authors: Rahul Vaze, Robert W. Heath Jr.
• Keywords: CORR 2008, Diversity Gain, Education, Relay, Relay Stage