Two-Way Hybrid Terrestrial-Satellite Relaying Systems: Performance Analysis and Relay Selection

Abstract

The hybrid terrestrial-satellite system is a promising and attractive infrastructure for future communication networks, conceived to provide navigation assistance, wide coverage, and services in tunnel areas. In this paper, we analyze the performance of two-way hybrid terrestrial-satellite relaying systems over generalized fading channels. More specifically, the satellite-relay link is modeled as the κ-μ shadowed fading channel, whereas the user equipment (TIE)-relay link is assumed to follow the Nakagami-m distribution. Despite mathematical intractability, we derive novel and exact outage probability, symbol error probability, and achievable rate expressions in order to tap into hitherto unexplored performance analysis. To obtain better insight into the implications of the channel parameters on the system performance, we also provide asymptotic outage probability expressions at high signal-to-noise ratios. To further improve the system performance, we extend our analysis to a multiple-relay network and propose two relay selection schemes. It is interesting to find that the relay selection scheme of maximizing the received signal power of the satellite can significantly achieve better outage probability performance than that of the Nth worst relay selection scheme for the sake of conserving the satellite's power. Finally, we provide simulation results to verify the accuracy of the derived analytical results.