Semi-analytic approach to evaluate performance of a precoded multiuser cooperative scheme

This paper addresses the problem of transmitting data to multiple mobile stations using a decode-and-forward strategy. Precoding vectors are used in relays to cancel out multiple access interference at the mobile stations. Statistical distribution of signal to noise ratio (SNR) is approximated by an expectation maximization algorithm. Based on this distribution, system performance is evaluated for low and high SNR. Simulation results confirm the analytic calculations and show that the maximum diversity advantage can be obtained, which is the product of the number of antennas at each relay by the number of relays minus the total number of system constraints.