Optimal Rate for Joint Source-Channel Coding of Correlated Sources Over Orthogonal Channels

Joint source-channel coding of multiple correlated sources transmitted over orthogonal channels is considered. Two optimization problems related to coding schemes are formulated: maximal common rate, and maximal sum rate. These two problems model different power saving situations in energy-constrained wireless sensor networks. Solutions of these problems for an arbitrary number of sources are described, and some specific examples are given.