Random Access With Multi-Packet Reception SUBMITTED TO THE IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS

The queuing performance of a finite-user slotted-Aloha type random access protocol with multipacket reception capability at the base station is considered. The system evolution under this protocol can be described by a finite dimensional Markov chain, which is not amenable to analysis due to complex interactions between user queues. A “user-centric” analysis approach is proposed, which focuses on the evolution of the one-dimensional Markov chain associated with the queue of a typical user in the system, assuming that all other users are in “steady-state”. While the approach is quite general, this paper addresses the special case of identical users with Bernoulli arrivals in order to obtain insightful analytical expressions for various quantities of interest (throughput, average delay etc.). Both static and Rayleigh faded wireless channels are studied, under suitable assumptions on the underlying power control mechanisms. Sufficient stability conditions as well as asymptotic performance measures in the infinite power and infinite user regime are derived for both cases. The fundamental throughput versus power trade-off inherent in the protocol is established.