Multiple Access for Wireless Packet Networks

Abstract

Wireless networking is approaching a new era. Existing wireless networks are usually implemented primarily for voice-type continuous traffic. However, due to the wide application of mobile computing devices, wireless packet networks will become a common scenario in future integrated service networks, as third generation wireless networks primarily support both voice and data applications. This situation makes an long-existing problem, that of multiple access, especially important in future wireless packet networks. This paper summarizes a series of studies on this subject and tries to reach a conclusion to fill the gap between information theoretic studies and practical protocol designs from the proposed universal view of multiple/random access protocols.