Diversity ALOHA - A Random Access Scheme for Satellite Communications

A generalization of the slotted ALOHA random access scheme is considered in which a user transmits multiple copies of the same packet. The multiple copies can be either transmitted simultaneously on different frequency channels (frequency diversity) or they may be transmitted on a single high-speed channel but spaced apart by random time intervals (time diversity). In frequency diversity, two schemes employing channel selections with and without replacements have been considered. In time diversity, two schemes employing a fixed number of copies or a random number of copies for each packet have been considered. In frequency diversity, activity factor-throughput tradeoffs and in time diversity, delay-throughput tradeoffs for various diversity orders have been compared. It is found that under light traffic, multiple transmission gives better delay performance. If the probability that a packet fails a certain number or more times is specified not to exceed some time limit (realistic requirement for satellite systems having large round trip propagation delay), then usually multiple transmission gives higher throughput.