Predictive queueing multiple access-a wireless ATM protocol for multimedia communication

PQMA (predictive queueing multiple access) is a media access protocol for transporting speech, data, and video via indoor wireless channels. The 5-byte ATM header is modified to accommodate a multi-rate packet access protocol with ARQ capability. Similar to ATM, flexible bandwidth assignment is achieved by the use of virtual circuit identifiers. The ATM header contains a prediction field for the base station to schedule subsequent transmission from the mobile. Packet queues are maintained at both the base station and the mobile station. The protocol also has a built in capability for retransmission required for fading channels. Slow frequency hopping is also employed for combating frequency selective fading. The queueing and error performance of PQMA is analyzed and simulated, which demonstrates that PQMA can support multimedia communication for PCS.