Joint channel decoding with feedback power control in sensor networks with correlated sources

In this paper, we derive feedback power control strategies for block-faded multiple access schemes with correlated sources. In particular, upon the derivation of the feasible signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) region for the considered multiple access schemes, i.e., the multidimensional SNR region where error-free communications are, in principle, possible, two feedback power control strategies are proposed: (i) a “classical” feedback power control strategy, which aims at “equalizing” the SNRs at the AP over all communication links, and (ii) an “optimal” feedback power control strategy, which tries to make the network operational point fall in the feasible SNR region at the lowest energy consumption. These strategies will be referred to as balanced SNR and unbalanced SNR, respectively. While they require unlimited power control range at the sources (the sensors), we then propose “practical” implementations by limiting the power control range. We evalute the benefits brought by the use of the proposed feedback power control strategies considering joint channel decoding (JCD) schemes, where the sensors use channel coding and a proper iterative decoding algorithm is considered at the AP. The analysis is carried out considering the use of low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes and a serially concatenated convolutional code (SCCC).