ABSTRACT
This chapter provides introduction to the multiple-access protocols commonly used in multiple-access communication networks. It explores the basic concepts for the analysis of one particular protocol in a mobile radio environment. The chapter discusses some of the protocols commonly employed in multiple access communications networks. The mobile radio system constitutes a typical example of a multiple-access communication network where the control channels are shared by the mobile stations. The chapter focuses on the various access protocols, ranging from the random protocols to the scheduled ones. The performance of the protocols is assessed by their throughput, and special attention is paid to the slotted ALOHA, chosen to be analyzed in a mobile radio environment. The multiple-access protocols are classified according to how much coordination is required to access the shared resources. The ALOHA is the best-known protocol among those belonging to the random access category.
