Network coding in wireless cooperative networks with multiple antenna relays

Network coding is a technique in cooperative networks by allowing intermediate nodes to mix messages from multiple sources. In this paper, we consider network coding application in wireless multiple access relay channels with and without direct links. The relays are equipped with multiple antennas for both system models. We investigate several different network coding techniques applicable for each system model, including analog network coding (ANC), space-time analog network coding (STANC), physical-layer network coding (PLNC), space-time decode-and-forward (STDF), etc. We describe in details those different schemes in two system models with transmission time slots constraints, and compare the error rate performance. Interestingly, simulation studies show that those schemes with network coding have not better performance than the schemes with decode-and-forward (DF).