Computing the multiple access rate region for real-world signals

In this correspondence, we address the problem of predicting the usable rates of a multiple access communications channel under real world conditions. In particular, we are interested in channels and communications signals that cannot be easily modeled by the usual Gaussian assumptions, and call for alternative methods of analysis. The examples we use in our development typically involve two communicators, facilitating visualization of the rate regions. These results would be immediately applicable to the situation where a new communicator wishes to enter a channel where another link may be in progress, and needs to devise a strategy to allow each to operate normally. Our results should benefit both the system design of multiple access systems, especially adaptive or cognitive communications systems operating in an ad-hoc multiple access scheme.