Short packet communication in IoT networks: performance analysis

In this paper, we investigated the block error rate (BLER) performance of a wireless powered communication network (WPCN) employing short packet communication (SPC). In this system, a source node harvests energy from a dedicated power beacon and utilizes the harvested energy to transmit short packets to a destination equipped with multiple antennas. We adopt a time-switching (TS) protocol for energy harvesting and information transmission. To enhance the reliability of the communication link, selection combining (SC) is employed at the receiver. We derive a closed-form expression for the average BLER, taking into account the impact of key system parameters such as the time-switching ratio, energy harvesting (EH) efficiency, and the number of receive antennas. Our analytical results, validated through Monte Carlo simulations, reveal the interplay between these parameters and their influence on the BLER performance. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the design and optimization of WPCNs for reliable short packet transmission in various emerging applications, particularly those with stringent energy and latency constraints.