Distributed orthogonal and quasi-orthogonal space-time block code with embedded AAF/DAF matrix elements in wireless relay networks with four relays

We consider cooperative networks of one source, four relays, and one destination. Each of them has a single antenna. The four relays use a proposed full rate distributed quasi orthogonal space time block code (DQOSTBC) scheme. If the channel state between the source and a relay is above a threshold, we select the elements of the DQOSTBC matrix to be the decode-and-forward (DAF) type; if it is below the threshold, the corresponding elements are the amplify-and-forward (AAF) type. Thus the proposed scheme is a DQOSTBC matrix with embedded adaptive DAF/AAF elements. The bit error rate (BER) simulation results show that the proposed DQOSTBC is approximately 7 dB better than the traditional DQOSTBC (all matrix elements are fixed as DAF type) at a BER of 10-3 because traditional DQOSTBC loses full diversity due to errors in the information received. The proposed DQOSTBC is about 3 dB better than the rate 1/2 DOSTBC also proposed with adaptive DAF/AAF matrix elements at a BER of 10-3 at the same spectral efficiency of 2 bits/s/Hz.