| In this dissertation, several signaling protocols in relay networks are proposed and analyzed to improve the throughput and/or reliability of wireless networks.;In the first part of this dissertation, a new relay channel model is proposed and analyzed that supports a mixture of relayed and non-relayed messages. This model not only subsumes previous relay models, but also allows for an analysis of the tradeoff between relayed and private messages. The second part of this dissertation has the aim of improving the spectral efficiency of half-duplex relay systems, in multi-relay scenarios. This is accomplished by the design of methods and protocols employing opportunistic relay selection with limited feedback. The third and final part of this dissertation investigates the role of a multi-antenna relay in multi-user networks with cross-interference, also known as interference networks. Several strategies at the relay are investigated to manage the interference at the receivers and improve the overall quality of communication. |
