Publication

Abstract : In this work, the authors have explored the average bit error rate (BER) and ergodic capacity (EC) of a frequency‐selective channel consisting of multi‐hop and multi‐branch (MHMB). Each hop consists of multiple paths and signal travels in successive hops using decode and forward (DF) relaying. The channel is assumed to be log‐normal distributed. Numerical integration (NI) formulations based on the Gauss‐quadrature rule representation of the moment generating function of log‐normal distribution have been derived for both average BER and EC for multi‐hop and MHMB cooperative communication framework using maximal ratio combining and selection combining (SC) techniques at receiver. Results are obtained for a variable number of hops and branches. Excellent matching between Monte Carlo simulation and NI plots validate the accuracy of the proposed formulations. The contribution of this work to the existing research scenario is two‐fold: (i) to the best of the authors' knowledge, this is a first attempt to study a generic MHMB framework of a log‐normal distributed frequency‐selective channel. (ii) DF which is a more practical relaying protocol has not been explored till date for analysis of a log‐normal distributed MHMB network. Both of these aspects make this work pertinent.