Backscatter-Aided Cooperative Relay Communications in Wireless-Powered Hybrid Radio Networks

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Abstract
Wireless backscatter communications has been introduced as a promising technique for data transmissions without a conventional energy supply from a battery or power outlet. It shares some similarity with RF energy harvesting powered wireless transmissions. Many benefits can be achieved when both techniques are integrated. In this article, we introduce the concept of a hybrid radio that is an integrated design of wireless-powered active RF communications and backscatter communications. We then discuss a few use cases of hybrid radio networks to suggest potential applications and to improve network performance. Furthermore, we consider a specific case in which hybrid radios act as passive relays to assist active RF communications. The passive relays backscatter the RF signals from the source to the receiver which, by experiments, shows to improve the transmission rate due to the enhanced multi-path diversity gain. We also introduce an optimization to quantify the performance improvement achievable by the radios' cooperation in the hybrid radio network.

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