Performance analysis of decode and forward cooperative networks over asymmetric fading channels

The selection cooperation performance of a cooperative communication network over asymmetric independent and non-identical distributed fading channels was analyzed, where source-relay channels experience Rician fading and relay-destination channels experience Rayleigh fading. The decode and forward (DF) protocol was adopted and the Nth best relay was selected from M available relays. First, the probability density function (PDF) for the instantaneous signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) at the destination was derived. Then, it was used to derive the expressions for channel capacity and the average symbol error rate (SER). The results hold for arbitrary M or N. Finally, the simulations were carried out to verify the correctness of the theoretical analysis. The results show that the parameters of the second hop are critical factors of the system.