Cooperative multiple access channels: Achievable rates and optimal resource allocation

We investigate the multiple access channels (MAC) where sources can cooperate via half-duplex relaying and refer to it as cooperative MAC channels (CMAC). Assuming perfect channel state information (CSI) at the transmitters and the receivers, we determine the bounds on the achievable rate region of a Gaussian CMAC channel and an inner bound on the outage capacity region of a fading CMAC channel. Based on superposition modulation, a half-duplex cooperative relay scheme with optimal resource allocation is proposed to achieve the bounds of capacity region. Analytical results and simulation results show that the achievable rate region of a Gaussian CMAC channel is larger than that of a Gaussian MAC channel with direct transmission (DT) schemes. But they have the same achievable sum rate. Moreover, the proposed scheme can provide higher outage capacity region than DT schemes in a fading MAC channel due to the fact that sources can share the resources with each other to reduce outages.