Virtual Full-Duplex Relaying in a Buffer-Aided Multi-Hop Cooperative Network

In this paper, we propose a virtual full-duplex (VFD) multi-hop cooperative relaying network using buffer-aided halfduplex (HD) relays. Firstly, for a given multi-hop network, the links are partitioned into three groups and then information is transmitted over a single time slot using two selected best links, which enhances the network coverage and reliability of the system. The Markov chain approach is used to analyze the state transition matrix which models the evolution of buffer states. An analytical expression of steady state probability is obtained, using which the outage probability of the system is evaluated. Numerical results validate our analytical findings and it shows that the proposed relaying scheme offers a better outage performance as compared to that of the conventional buffer-aided max-link relay selection scheme in a multi-hop communication system.