Group-Based Uplink OFDMA Random Access Algorithm for Next-Generation WLANs

Abstract

The traditional wireless local area network(WLAN) standard, IEEE 802.11, adopts carrier sense multiple access/collision avoidance(CSMA/CA) mechanism to allow a single user to compete for channel access. The upcoming WLAN standard, IEEE 802.11ax, combines orthogonal frequency division multiple access(OFDMA) technology with random access, and use Uplink OFDMA Random Access(UORA) technology as uplink random access. Therefore, UORA which allow multiple users to access channel at the same time can improve the utilization of network resources. Although UORA technology in IEEE 802.11ax has the advantage of low signaling overhead, when the number of users of network is large, the increase of random access collisions will lead to the decrease of network throughput. Therefore, we propose a group-based UORA method. As a central scheduling node, Access Point(AP) divide Stations(STAs) and resources to groups and sets different GroupID for different groups. STAs can only access resources with the same GroupID randomly. The validity of group-based UORA method is verified by mathematical model analysis and simulation. The network throughput of our group-based UORA is higher than that of the original UORA in IEEE 802.11ax, so it has great practical significance.