Optimal sequential transmission over broadcast channel with nested feedback

TL;DR

This paper develops optimal strategies for sequentially transmitting information over a broadcast channel with nested feedback, minimizing distortion in a decentralized setting with three decision makers.

Contribution

It introduces a new framework for designing optimal encoding and decoding strategies in broadcast channels with nested feedback, applicable to real-time and information theoretic scenarios.

Findings

Derived structure of optimal encoding and decoding strategies.

Applicable to finite horizon real-time communication.

Framework generalizes to various broadcast channel configurations.

Abstract

We consider the optimal design of sequential transmission over broadcast channel with nested feedback. Nested feedback means that the channel output of the outer channel is also available at the decoder of the inner channel. We model the communication system as a decentralized team with three decision makers---the encoder and the two decoders. Structure of encoding and decoding strategies that minimize a total distortion measure over a finite horizon are determined. The results are applicable for real-time communication as well as for the information theoretic setup.