Distributed Space-Time Coding of Over-the-Air Superimposed Packets in Wireless Networks

TL;DR

This paper introduces a cooperative transmission scheme using distributed space-time coding for over-the-air superimposed packets, enhancing throughput and decoding performance in wireless networks.

Contribution

It proposes a novel scheme combining superimposed packet transmission with distributed space-time coding without prior decoding at relays.

Findings

Significant throughput improvements shown in simulations.

Enhanced decoding performance due to diversity gain.

Effective in low SNR conditions.

Abstract

In this paper we propose a new cooperative packet transmission scheme that allows independent sources to superimpose over-the-air their packet transmissions. Relay nodes are used and cooperative diversity is combined with distributed space-time block coding (STBC). With the proposed scheme the participating relays create a ST code for the over-the-air superimposed symbols that are received locally and without proceeding to any decoding step beforehand. The advantage of the proposed scheme is that communication is completed in fewer transmission slots because of the concurrent packet transmissions, while the diversity benefit from the use of the STBC results in higher decoding performance. The proposed scheme does not depend on the STBC that is applied at the relays. Simulation results reveal significant throughput benefits even in the low SNR regime.