Analysis and optimization of ARQ protocols for imperfect feedback channels

Automatic request for repetition (ARQ) protocols are typically analyzed without consideration of constraints imposed by the feedback channel. There may be cases in which a more accurate analysis is desirable, e.g., for mobile radio applications, where errors in the feedback channel as well as bandwidth and power constraints often cannot be ignored. A general framework for including these assumptions is developed and used to analyze the resulting performance of three standard ARQ protocols, stop-and-wait (SW), go-back-N (GBN), and selective repeat (SR). A numerical example is given to indicate how the analytic procedure may be used in practice.