Joining optimization in reliability, transmission rate and power consumption in the cooperative relay networks is addressed in the paper. Formulas of reliability, transmission rate and power consumption are analyzed, and two optimization models proposed: maximization of network utility model depending on reliability and transmission rate, and minimization of power consumption. To implement compromise among
reliability, transmission rate and power consumption, a cross-layer optimization model is proposed to combine
network utility and power consumption. With the Lagrangian decomposition method, a distributed algorithm
is developed to solve the joining optimization problem. The algorithm can achieve tradeoff between reliability
and transmission rate by changing a factor ?. Further adjustment of the tradeoff factor in the joining optimization
model leads to a tradeoff between network utility and power consumption. Simulation results show
that the proposed algorithm is effective to achieve a tradeoff among reliability, transmission rate and power
consumption.