Detect-and-forward in two-hop relay channels: a metrics-based analysis

In this paper, we analyze the coded performance of a cooperative system with multiple parallel relays using "Detect-and-Forward" (DetF) strategy where each relay demodulates the overheard signal and forwards the detected binary words. The proposed method is based on the probabilistic characterization of the reliability metrics given under the form of L-values. First, we derive analytical expressions of the probability density functions (PDFs) of the L-values in the elementary two-hop DetF relay channel with different source-relay channel state information assumptions. Then, we apply the obtained expressions to calculate the theoretically achievable rates and compare them with the practical throughput of a simulated turbo-coded transmission. Next, we derive tight approximations for the end-to-end coded bit error rate (BER) of a general cooperative scheme with multiple parallel relays. Simulation results demonstrate the accuracy of our derivations for different cooperation configurations and conditions. © 2010 IEEE.