Throughput efficiency of opportunistic network coding in wireless networks

Network coding is a promising technology which can improve the network resource utilization and network throughput effectively. Because of the broadcast procedure for network coded packet and the different link qualities between destination nodes and relay node, the selection of destination node as the configuration standard for the broadcasting of network coded packet gives direct effect towards network performance. In this paper, we propose a system throughput efficiency evaluation model for the application of network coding in wireless networks and the corresponding node selection principle for achieving maximum system throughput efficiency in the procedure of broadcasting network coded packet. Based on our system throughput efficiency model, we analyse the impacts of different link adaptive technologies on system throughput efficiency and compare the average system throughput efficiency under different link adaptive schemes. The numerical result shows that the link adaptive scheme can improve system efficiency, especially there are a great number of nodes. Meanwhile, the proposed throughput efficiency model could always assist in maximizing the system efficiency when different link adaptive technologies are used.