Power allocation algorithm for a cooperative MIMO system based on minimum energy consumption

The power allocation for a decode-and-forward cooperative multiple input multiple output (MIMO) system was investigated. According to bit error rate analysis and energy gain performance, an optimal power allocation algorithm, which is based on the golden section iterative method, and two simplified allocation algorithms were proposed to minimize the total transmition power of the source and relay nodes on the premise of satisfying a certain bit error rate. Quasi-static, flat fading channels were considered and power was allocated according to instantaneous channel state information. Theoretical analysis and computerized simulation show that the optimal power allocation algorithm based on the golden section iterative method can obtain a high-accuracy optimal solution with little iteration; the two simplified algorithms' energy gain performances are close to the optimal power allocation algorithm, and their complexity is reduced greatly.