The performance of layered broadcast with superposition coding

Abstract

In wireless broadcast system, where feedback is limited and channel state information is only available at the receiver side, layered broadcasting approach has been proposed to fully utilize the channel resources by providing different levels of service quality to users with different channel conditions. However, no upper bound has been given yet to show how the layered broadcast scheme will outperform the conventional broadcast (CB) scheme. In this paper, system average achievable rate (SAAR) is defined as the mean achievable rate of all users within the coverage. Based on continuum superposition coding (SC) with infinite layers, the upper bound of the SAAR of layered broadcasting is given by the derivation of the optimal power distribution function among the superposed layers. The results show that, by promoting the experience of stronger users (users with better channel conditions) without seriously degrading the performance of weaker users (users with worse channel conditions), layered broadcasting approach greatly increases the average system performance. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.