Game theory and the design of self-configuring, adaptive wireless networks

Game theory provides a wealth of tools that can be applied to the design an d operation of communications systems. In this article, we provide a brief introduction to game theory. We then present applications of game theory to problems in random access and power control. In the case of random access, we examine the behavior of selfish users in a simplified Aloha system; sur prisingly, rational selfish users do not implement the "always transmit" st rategy that one might expect. In the case of power control, we show that ga me theoretic techniques can yield an optimal operating point without the in tervention of an external controller.