Throughput optimal control of cooperative relay networks

We give a model for cooperative communication in a parallel relay network that includes the stochastic arrival of packets and queueing. Exogenous arrivals at both the non-relay and the relay nodes are allowed. For this model, we provide a throughput optimal network control policy which stabilizes the network for any vector of arrival rates in its stability region. This policy generalizes the maximum differential backlog policies, taking into account potential cooperative gains in the network. Some structural properties of this policy are also discussed