Modelling and performance evaluation of random access CDMA networks

The objective of this research is to develop a Markovian model in the form of a discrete-time queueing network to assess the performance of random access code division multiple access networks (CDMA). An approximation method called equilibrium point analysis (EPA) has been used to solve the model. The CDMA protocol IS an important application of spread spectrum communications that allows simultaneous transmission of multiple users to occupy a wideband channel with small interference. This is done by assigning each user a unique pseudo noise code sequence. These codes have low cross-correlation between each pair of sequences. Both slotted direct sequence CDMA (DS) and frequency hopping CDMA (FH) are considered with an emphasis on DS-CDMA systems. The EPA method has previously been used to evaluate the performance of other random access systems such as the ALOHA protocol, but has not previously been used in the context of a CDMA protocol. Throughput and mean packet delay of random access CDMA networks are evaluated, since these two measures are usually used in the study of the performance assessment of mUltiple access protocols. The analytical results of the random access model are validated against a discrete-event simulation which is run for large number of slots. The study then proceeds by using the model to examine the effect on performance of introducing error correcting codes to the DS-CDMA systems. Optimum error correcting codes that give the best performances in terms of the throughput and the delay are determined. The perfonnance of random access CDMA systems applied to radio channels, as in packet radio networks, is then studied, and the effect of multipath fading on the perfonnance is evaluated. Finally, the perfonnance of DS-CDMA with different user classes (non-identical users case) is investigated. An extended equilibrium point analysis (EEPA) method has been used to solve the Markovian model in this situation. This extended model is used to assess the effects on perfonnance of the unequal powers due to varying distances of the users to an intended receiver or to a base station (near-far problem).