Error aware distributed space-time decoding for regenerative relay networks

In this paper, we examine distributed space-time decoding structure for regenerative wireless relay networks. Given the demodulation error at the regenerative relays, we provide a general framework of error aware distributed space-time decoding at the destination, where the receiver is assumed to know the demodulation error probability at relays. Considering the high computational complexity of optimal Maximum Likelihood (ML) decoder, we also propose two low-complexity decoding structures, Max-Log decoder and Max-Log-Sphere decoder. Simulations show that error aware distributed space-time decoding can improve system performance greatly without high system overload, and Max-Log decoder and Max-Log-Sphere decoder can efficiently reduce decoding complexity with neglectable performance degradation.