Performance Modeling and Analysis of AF Relaying with Hidden Nodes

Abstract

Abstract-In this paper, we investigate and analyse the performance of amplify and forward (AF) relay system connecting a group of independent sources to their destinations employing a random carrier sense multiple access (CSMA) protocol. The sources are isolated from their destination and the only means for them to communicate with their destination is through the common relay. Sources are arbitrarily distributed around the relay and experience Rayleigh fading channels. This paper develops a new and more accurate model for multiple access interference at both the relay and destination which takes into account random sources location and the effects of fading and thermal noise at both the relay and destination. Moreover, the effect of the hidden nodes on the system performance is considered as a randomly occurring factor. This leads to the derivation of new analytical expressions for the overall spectral efficiency (SE) which can be used to estimate the throughput of the CSMA-based relay in Rayleigh fading channels and to study the impact of the different system parameters on their efficiency. The accuracy of the new mathematical results is confirmed by Monte Carlo simulation.