Asymptotic performance and power allocation of multi-hop relay systems in generalized fading channels

Error performance and power allocation for multi-hop decode-and-forward (DF) systems are addressed. The different channels treated are Rayleigh, Rician, Nakagami-m, and Nakagami-q, and these are collectively referred to as generalized fading. The modulation can be any linear scheme. The asymptotic (high SNR) error rate expression is derivedwhich can incorporate independent and non-identically distributed (i.n.d.) channels in different hops. Power allocation schemes for the source and collaborating nodes are also presented for enhancing the power efficiency of modeled multi-hop performance. Simulations confirm the error expressions, and demonstrate, under considerable assumptions in transmission systems modeling, the performance of a DF multi-hop systems, including with optimal power allocation. The formulation allows (i) the configuration of modeled multi-hop systems from a wide variety of radio links including diversity-enabled ones or non-fading ones, and (ii) the evaluation of their end-to-end, high-SNR, optimized error performance.