Reliable Physical Layer Network Coding
24 Jan 2011-Vol. 99, Iss: 3, pp 438-460
TL;DR: Reliable physical layer network coding takes this idea one step further: using judiciously chosen linear error-correcting codes, intermediate nodes in a wireless network can directly recover linear combinations of the packets from the observed noisy superpositions of transmitted signals.
Abstract: When two or more users in a wireless network transmit simultaneously, their electromagnetic signals are linearly superimposed on the channel. As a result, a receiver that is interested in one of these signals sees the others as unwanted interference. This property of the wireless medium is typically viewed as a hindrance to reliable communication over a network. However, using a recently developed coding strategy, interference can in fact be harnessed for network coding. In a wired network, (linear) network coding refers to each intermediate node taking its received packets, computing a linear combination over a finite field, and forwarding the outcome towards the destinations. Then, given an appropriate set of linear combinations, a destination can solve for its desired packets. For certain topologies, this strategy can attain significantly higher throughputs over routing-based strategies. Reliable physical layer network coding takes this idea one step further: using judiciously chosen linear error-correcting codes, intermediate nodes in a wireless network can directly recover linear combinations of the packets from the observed noisy superpositions of transmitted signals. Starting with some simple examples, this paper explores the core ideas behind this new technique and the possibilities it offers for communication over interference-limited wireless networks.
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2,415 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors proposed a new strategy, compute-and-forward, that exploits interference to obtain significantly higher rates between users in a network by decoding linear functions of transmitted messages according to their observed channel coefficients rather than ignoring the interference as noise.
Abstract: Interference is usually viewed as an obstacle to communication in wireless networks. This paper proposes a new strategy, compute-and-forward, that exploits interference to obtain significantly higher rates between users in a network. The key idea is that relays should decode linear functions of transmitted messages according to their observed channel coefficients rather than ignoring the interference as noise. After decoding these linear equations, the relays simply send them towards the destinations, which given enough equations, can recover their desired messages. The underlying codes are based on nested lattices whose algebraic structure ensures that integer combinations of codewords can be decoded reliably. Encoders map messages from a finite field to a lattice and decoders recover equations of lattice points which are then mapped back to equations over the finite field. This scheme is applicable even if the transmitters lack channel state information.
1,159 citations
TL;DR: It is proposed that PNC is not just for wireless networks; it can also be useful in optical networks, and an example is provided showing that the throughput of a passive optical network could potentially be raised by 100% with PNC.
297 citations
Cites background from "Reliable Physical Layer Network Cod..."
...R) from Ps n s n Y([], []| )12R . From Ps n s n Y([] []| )12⊕ R , the ML s12[] []nsn⊕ can then be obtained. To our best knowledge, the ultimate capacity region of this kind of design is unknown. Ref. [90] contains a rather approachable treatise on the use of nested lattice code for reliable PNC. In [91], an algebraic approach was taken and a class of PNC-compatible lattice partitions was found. The co...
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01 Jan 1978
272 citations
TL;DR: A general framework is developed for studying nested-lattice-based PNC schemes-called lattice network coding (LNC) schemes for short-by making a direct connection between C&F and module theory and several generalized constructions of LNC schemes are given.
Abstract: The problem of designing new physical-layer network coding (PNC) schemes via lattice partitions is considered. Building on a recent work by Nazer and Gastpar, who demonstrated its asymptotic gain using information-theoretic tools, we take an algebraic approach to show its potential in non-asymptotic settings. We first relate Nazer-Gastpar's approach to the fundamental theorem of finitely generated modules over a principle ideal domain. Based on this connection, we generalize their code construction and simplify their encoding and decoding methods. This not only provides a transparent understanding of their approach, but more importantly, it opens up the opportunity to design efficient and practical PNC schemes. Finally, we apply our framework for PNC to a Gaussian relay network and demonstrate its advantage over conventional PNC schemes.
233 citations
Cites background from "Reliable Physical Layer Network Cod..."
...We focus on the problem faced by a receiver node of decoding one or more linear combinations of simultaneously transmitted messages, as it is at the heart of any system employing physical-layer network coding (see [24] for such a discussion)....
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...A recent survey of C&F can be found in [24]....
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References
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TL;DR: This final installment of the paper considers the case where the signals or the messages or both are continuously variable, in contrast with the discrete nature assumed until now.
Abstract: In this final installment of the paper we consider the case where the signals or the messages or both are continuously variable, in contrast with the discrete nature assumed until now. To a considerable extent the continuous case can be obtained through a limiting process from the discrete case by dividing the continuum of messages and signals into a large but finite number of small regions and calculating the various parameters involved on a discrete basis. As the size of the regions is decreased these parameters in general approach as limits the proper values for the continuous case. There are, however, a few new effects that appear and also a general change of emphasis in the direction of specialization of the general results to particular cases.
65,425 citations
Additional excerpts
...bits per channel use [51]....
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TL;DR: Using distributed antennas, this work develops and analyzes low-complexity cooperative diversity protocols that combat fading induced by multipath propagation in wireless networks and develops performance characterizations in terms of outage events and associated outage probabilities, which measure robustness of the transmissions to fading.
Abstract: We develop and analyze low-complexity cooperative diversity protocols that combat fading induced by multipath propagation in wireless networks. The underlying techniques exploit space diversity available through cooperating terminals' relaying signals for one another. We outline several strategies employed by the cooperating radios, including fixed relaying schemes such as amplify-and-forward and decode-and-forward, selection relaying schemes that adapt based upon channel measurements between the cooperating terminals, and incremental relaying schemes that adapt based upon limited feedback from the destination terminal. We develop performance characterizations in terms of outage events and associated outage probabilities, which measure robustness of the transmissions to fading, focusing on the high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) regime. Except for fixed decode-and-forward, all of our cooperative diversity protocols are efficient in the sense that they achieve full diversity (i.e., second-order diversity in the case of two terminals), and, moreover, are close to optimum (within 1.5 dB) in certain regimes. Thus, using distributed antennas, we can provide the powerful benefits of space diversity without need for physical arrays, though at a loss of spectral efficiency due to half-duplex operation and possibly at the cost of additional receive hardware. Applicable to any wireless setting, including cellular or ad hoc networks-wherever space constraints preclude the use of physical arrays-the performance characterizations reveal that large power or energy savings result from the use of these protocols.
12,761 citations
TL;DR: When n identical randomly located nodes, each capable of transmitting at W bits per second and using a fixed range, form a wireless network, the throughput /spl lambda/(n) obtainable by each node for a randomly chosen destination is /spl Theta/(W//spl radic/(nlogn)) bits persecond under a noninterference protocol.
Abstract: When n identical randomly located nodes, each capable of transmitting at W bits per second and using a fixed range, form a wireless network, the throughput /spl lambda/(n) obtainable by each node for a randomly chosen destination is /spl Theta/(W//spl radic/(nlogn)) bits per second under a noninterference protocol. If the nodes are optimally placed in a disk of unit area, traffic patterns are optimally assigned, and each transmission's range is optimally chosen, the bit-distance product that can be transported by the network per second is /spl Theta/(W/spl radic/An) bit-meters per second. Thus even under optimal circumstances, the throughput is only /spl Theta/(W//spl radic/n) bits per second for each node for a destination nonvanishingly far away. Similar results also hold under an alternate physical model where a required signal-to-interference ratio is specified for successful receptions. Fundamentally, it is the need for every node all over the domain to share whatever portion of the channel it is utilizing with nodes in its local neighborhood that is the reason for the constriction in capacity. Splitting the channel into several subchannels does not change any of the results. Some implications may be worth considering by designers. Since the throughput furnished to each user diminishes to zero as the number of users is increased, perhaps networks connecting smaller numbers of users, or featuring connections mostly with nearby neighbors, may be more likely to be find acceptance.
9,008 citations
"Reliable Physical Layer Network Cod..." refers background in this paper
..., [108], non-Gaussian channel models [109], secret messages [110], private messages [111], direct links [112], as well as more than two transmitters [48], [113], [114]. Gupta-Kumar style scaling laws [115] have also been derived for this lattice scheme [116]. We also note that similar lattice-based schemes can increase achievable rates in interference channels [117], [118]. Overall, this nested lattice...
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TL;DR: This work reveals that it is in general not optimal to regard the information to be multicast as a "fluid" which can simply be routed or replicated, and by employing coding at the nodes, which the work refers to as network coding, bandwidth can in general be saved.
Abstract: We introduce a new class of problems called network information flow which is inspired by computer network applications. Consider a point-to-point communication network on which a number of information sources are to be multicast to certain sets of destinations. We assume that the information sources are mutually independent. The problem is to characterize the admissible coding rate region. This model subsumes all previously studied models along the same line. We study the problem with one information source, and we have obtained a simple characterization of the admissible coding rate region. Our result can be regarded as the max-flow min-cut theorem for network information flow. Contrary to one's intuition, our work reveals that it is in general not optimal to regard the information to be multicast as a "fluid" which can simply be routed or replicated. Rather, by employing coding at the nodes, which we refer to as network coding, bandwidth can in general be saved. This finding may have significant impact on future design of switching systems.
8,533 citations
"Reliable Physical Layer Network Cod..." refers background in this paper
...demonstrated that routing is insufficient for this problem and network coding is, in general, required to achieve the multicast capacity [3]....
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...for optimal multicasting over wired networks [3] and has turned out to be quite useful for a wide array of networking scenarios....
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