Age of Information in Network Coded Multicast Networks

We consider the timeliness in delivery of update packets in a two-way relay network with or without employing network coding in multicast transmissions where Age of Information (AoI) is adopted to quantify the timeliness of updates. The expressions for peak and average expected AoIs are analytically derived for both uncoded and network coded transmissions. The effect of network coding on AoI and asymptotic behaviors of the AoI derivations are evaluated. The behavioral analyses of various network parameters are investigated and the effect of each parameter to the AoI difference between coded and uncoded has been derived. Our analysis suggests that the utilization of network coding for multicast transmissions can result in substantial improvements in terms of AoI, with the exception of scenarios in which sensors possess extremely limited computational capabilities.