Analysis of a media access protocol for wireless messaging systems

In this paper, we analyze the throughput performance of a wireless media access protocol taking into account the effect of capture in the presence of Rayleigh fading. For efficient access on the uplink (mobile-to-base), the protocol makes use of the uplink channel status information which is conveyed to the mobile through a busy/idle flag on the downlink (base-to-mobile link). The uplink is slotted such that each slot duration is equal to one ATM cell duration. Each message generated at the mobiles is assumed to consist of a multiple number of ATM cells. Analytical estimates of throughput are derived for capture under slow fading and i.i.d. fading conditions. Throughput estimates obtained through simulations at various Doppler bandwidths validate the analysis.