Great Expectations: the Value of Spatial Diversity in Wireless Networks
Great Expectations: The Value of Spatial Diversity in Wireless Networks SUHAS N. DIGGAVI, MEMBER, IEEE, NAOFAL AL-DHAHIR, SENIOR MEMBER, IEEE, A. STAMOULIS, MEMBER, IEEE, AND A. R. CALDERBANK, FELLOW, IEEE Invited Paper In this paper, the effect of spatial diversity on the throughput The challenge here is that Moore’s Law does not seem to and reliability of wireless networks is examined. Spatial diversity apply to rechargeable battery capacity, and though the den- is realized through multiple independently fading transmit/re- sity of transistors on a chip has consistently doubled every ceive antenna paths in single-user communication and through independently fading links in multiuser communication. Adopting 18 mo, the energy density of batteries only seems to double spatial diversity as a central theme, we start by studying its every 10 years. This need to conserve energy (see [2] and ref- information-theoretic foundations, then we illustrate its benefits erences therein) leads us to focus on what is possible when across the physical (signal transmission/coding and receiver signal signal processing at the terminal is limited. Throughout this processing) and networking (resource allocation, routing, and paper, we use the cost and complexity of the receiver to applications) layers. Throughout the paper, we discuss engineering intuition and tradeoffs, emphasizing the strong interactions be- bound the resources available for signal processing. Wireless tween the various network functionalities. spectrum itself is a valuable resource that also needs to be conserved given the economic imperative of return on multi- Keywords—Ad hoc networks, channel estimation, diversity, fading channels, hybrid networks, information theory for wireless billion-dollar investments by wireless carriers [1].
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