Using wireless interference to advantage
As demand for high-speed reliable communication increases, network design is moving beyond the point-to-point approach that sought to minimise interference of transmitted information over wireless channels. With the latter being reliant on the performance of point-to-point links, attention is turning to cooperative strategies that actually aim to exploit rather than suppress interference. The 'Cooperation strategies in wireless networks: Relaying, feedback and conferencing' (RFC) project is investigating the benefits of employing such a novel approach, and promises improved rates, reliability and energy efficiency in networks. Focusing on relaying, feedback and conferencing as the broad categories of such strategy, the EU-funded research team has already made significant discoveries with positive implications for the future design of wireless networks. Work on the so-called multiple-access channel with multiple relays (MACMR) indicated the potential for considerable performance improvement by letting relays interact with each other. Other study investigations have pointed to a strong motivation for incorporating relaying and feedback, deemed the most important cooperation types, into wireless networks. RFC project results are also making headway in the characterisation of sufficient and necessary conditions for reliable communication. Study outcomes have the potential to raise the bar on new wireless standards and optimal network design for enhanced communication.