Performance analysis of random access multiuser algorithms for packets with different priorities

Each of the generated packets can have two different priorities (high- and low-priority packets). High-priority packets are assumed to have a more restrictive delay requirement than low priority ones. For such a system, the authors propose a class of synchronous random-access algorithms which use a small portion of the channel capacity for the announcements of the existence of high- or low-priority packets. The stability and throughput-delay performances of the algorithms are determined analytically for the cases when one or two minislots are used. Representative performance results are given and compared with a similar algorithm which does not use minislots. The algorithms give a delay advantage to the high-priority packet class without adversely affecting the delays of the low-priority packets. The algorithms use binary C-NC (collision versus noncollision) feedback, and the maximum throughput is 0.487 when two minislots are used