PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OF IDLE-SIGNAL CASTING MULTIPLE-ACCESS (ICMA) PROTOCOLS UNDER PURE RAYLEIGH FADING AND NO CAPTURE

Markov chain models are used to derive the average stationary throughp ut and delay performance of Idle-Signal Casting Multiple Access (ICMA) , with and without Failure Detection (/FD), protocols which are suitab le for use in mobile packet radio local area networks, where propagati on impairments are prevalent. The models consider the effects of pure Rayleigh fading on channel access and packet transmission. Numerical r esults, validated by computer simulations, are obtained that enable a quantitative study of the performance of the protocols. It is found th at the performance of the ICMA/FD protocol is affected more significan tly by fading on the base-to-mobile channel than is the performance of the ICMA protocol. In addition, performance improves with larger pack et sizes eventhough such packets are more vulnerable to failure due to fading.