Joint channel network decoding for the two-source two-relay network

In this paper, we study the performance of network-coded cooperative wireless networks with channel coding over each wireless links. As a case study, the two-source two-relay network is considered and the performance vs. energy-efficiency trade-off of various network code designs (offering both equal and unequal error protection capabilities) over fast- and slowly-varying fading channels is studied. Furthermore, the performance of Maximum-Likelihood (ML-) optimal and low-complexity (Cooperative Maximal Ratio Combining, C-MRC) decoders at the destination are compared. Our analysis suggests that the performance vs. energy-efficiency trade-off of this network topology strongly depends on the inherent diversity and coding gains of both channel and network codes.