Hybrid ARQ Combined With Distributed Packet Space-Time Block Coding for Multicast Power-Line Communications

In this paper, hybrid ARQ (HARQ) is realized together with distributed packet space-time block coding in order to provide reliable multicast communications over inhome and inbuilding power-line networks. Two HARQ algorithms are examined and their performance is demonstrated via simulations. The proposed retransmission scheme utilizes information from previous transmissions, since the HARQ algorithms update their parameters according to the experienced transmission conditions. Results show that the combination of a physical-layer technique, such as space-time coding, with data-link layer HARQ provides significant gain regarding throughput and mean delay.