Cooperation in Wireless Sensor Networks with Intra and Inter Cluster Interference

Abstract

Virtual MIMO configuration, a common model for cooperation in sensor networks, trades off cooperation cost in front of MIMO gains. Most of proposed approaches rely mainly on the fact that cooperation at transmitter side alone seems to be much more powerful than receiver cooperation alone. The scenario that is analysed in this contribution includes the effect of interference of other clusters located closely that clearly degrades whatever cooperation type aforementioned. Under these circumstances, the use of additional sensors at receiver side helps creating a set of virtual beamformers, optimally designed to cancel the undesired signal. So, transmitter cooperation based on Dirty Paper Coding (DPC) strategies to minimize intra-cluster interference and virtual beamformers to minimize inter-cluster interference seems to be a very satisfactory combination.