A diffusion selection cooperation protocol with ARQ for wireless cooperative networks

For large cooperative wireless networks where direct links are limited in the neighbors of each node, we develop a diffusion automatic repeat request (ARQ) protocol based on selection cooperation. The number of potential relays for selection increases as the ARQ process continues and even the nodes that have no direct link with the source could cooperate with it. We analyze the diversity-multiplexing-delay (D-M-D) tradeoff performance of the protocol and demonstrate that the diffusion results in additional diversity benefit. The proposed protocol is suitable for delay-tolerant networks, such as wireless sensor networks and certain systems with relaxed delay constraints. It can also be used for highly reliable and loose latency services in the networks that support different quality of service (QoS) grade.