Energy efficient multi-hop communication using partial network coding with cooperation

In this paper we present a decentralized, energy efficient strategy called partial network coding with cooperation (PNC-COOP) for multi-hop wireless communication. It is a cross-layer design that combines opportunistic network coding and decode-and-forward cooperative diversity. By applying the proposed technique to the nodes in the network based on the opportunity provided, the saving of transmitted energy, especially at intermediate nodes, can be considerable. In particular, this approach can be proven to be very useful in networks whose nodes are energy-limited.