Abstract :
We introduce the communication situation in which the encoders of a multiple access channel are partially cooperating. These encoders are connected by communication links with finite capacities, which permit both encoders to communicate with each other. First we give a general definition of such a communication process (conference). Then, by proving a converse and giving an achievability proof, we establish the capacity region of the multiple access channel with partially cooperating encoders. It turns out that the optimal conference is very simple.
