Design and performance evaluation of a scheme for voice-data channel access in third generation microcellular wireless networks

We propose and evaluate a promising reservation random access (RRA) scheme for integrating voice and data traffic in outdoor microcellular environments. The on/off nature of packetized voice traffic is used to provide voice multiplexing at the talkspurt level, over a time slotted channel with a periodic frame structure. We consider an ideal protocol, a variant of slotted ALOHA, and a collision resolution (splitting) algorithm for the transmission of voice request packets; and, a splitting algorithm for the transmission of data request packers. Analytical results are presented for voice performance measures, such as the steady state packet dropping probability and throughput. Simulations are used to study the steady state voice packet dropping distribution per talkspurt, and to illustrate preliminary voice-data integration considerations.