Analysis of Client Relay Network with Opportunistic Cooperation

In this work, we consider a client relay wireless system, where users cooperate to send uplink data packets. We focus on the simplest, but realistic network topology and derive the primary performance metrics, including throughput, mean packet delay, and energy efficiency. Importantly, our model enables opportunistic reception and transmission of relay packets thus allowing for many useful insights into realistic network performance. We conclude that opportunistic behavior is crucial for both spectral efficient and energy efficient system operation.