Combination of multiple-input-multiple-output and non-orthogonal multiple access (MIMO–NOMA) is a promising multiple-access technology, which can greatly improve spectral efficiency and reduce latency. Among major topics of MIMO–NOMA, an interesting one is how to construct suitable multiuser codes for MIMO–NOMA. In previous works, multiuser codes require to be redesigned when the number of users, transmit antennas, or receive antennas change. Therefore, the previous design methods are too complicated to be applied to MIMO–NOMA. To solve this problem, in this study, the authors first propose a simple multiuser detector (MUD) that detects the signal for each user by regarding the superimposed signal from the other users as interference. Then, based on extrinsic information transfer analysis for the MUD, they propose three criteria to simplify the code design, which copes with the changes of user number and antenna configuration. Moreover, when user number is large, each user requires a low-rate code to overcome the severe multiuser interference. On the basis of the proposed criteria, they design a low-rate repetition-aided irregular repeat-accumulate (Rep-IRA) code for MIMO–NOMA with different numbers of users and antennas, which can achieve low complexity with the aid of repetition.
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