A simple cooperative diversity method based on network path selection is proposed, which selects the best relay from a set of M available relays to provide diversity gains proportional to the number of relays. The method uses local channel measurements to select the best relay without requiring topology information or explicit communication among relays. It achieves the same diversity-multiplexing tradeoff as more complex protocols, making it suitable for implementation in existing radio hardware. The scheme is analyzed for various wireless channel statistics and shown to perform well in both Rayleigh and Ricean fading environments. The method is compared to geometric approaches and other relay selection strategies, demonstrating its effectiveness in reducing collision probability and improving reliability. The scheme is also shown to simplify cooperative diversity protocols, particularly those involving non-orthogonal transmissions. The method uses instantaneous channel conditions to select the best relay, which is then used for cooperation between the source and destination. The scheme is analyzed for performance in terms of collision probability and diversity-multiplexing tradeoff, showing that it can achieve high performance with minimal overhead. The method is applicable to a wide range of wireless communication scenarios and is particularly effective in environments with varying channel conditions.A simple cooperative diversity method based on network path selection is proposed, which selects the best relay from a set of M available relays to provide diversity gains proportional to the number of relays. The method uses local channel measurements to select the best relay without requiring topology information or explicit communication among relays. It achieves the same diversity-multiplexing tradeoff as more complex protocols, making it suitable for implementation in existing radio hardware. The scheme is analyzed for various wireless channel statistics and shown to perform well in both Rayleigh and Ricean fading environments. The method is compared to geometric approaches and other relay selection strategies, demonstrating its effectiveness in reducing collision probability and improving reliability. The scheme is also shown to simplify cooperative diversity protocols, particularly those involving non-orthogonal transmissions. The method uses instantaneous channel conditions to select the best relay, which is then used for cooperation between the source and destination. The scheme is analyzed for performance in terms of collision probability and diversity-multiplexing tradeoff, showing that it can achieve high performance with minimal overhead. The method is applicable to a wide range of wireless communication scenarios and is particularly effective in environments with varying channel conditions.