Channel access method


In telecommunications and computer networks, a channel access method or multiple access method allows several terminals connected to the same multi-point transmission medium to transmit over it and to share its capacity. Examples of shared physical media are wireless networks, bus networks, ring networks, hub networks and half-duplex point-to-point links.

A channel-access scheme is based on a multiplex method, that allows several data streams or signals to share the same communication channel or physical media. Multiplexing is in this context provided by the Physical Layer. Note that multiplexing also may be used in full-duplex point-to-point communication between nodes in a switched network, which should not be considered as multiple access.

A channel-access scheme is also based on a Multiple access protocol and control mechanism, also known as media access control (MAC). This protocol deals with issues such as addressing, assigning multiplex channels to different users, and avoiding collisions. The MAC-layer is a sub-layer in layer 2, the Data Link Layer, of the OSI model, and is also part of the Link Layer of the TCP/IP model.

Contents

Fundamental forms of channel access schemes

These are the fundamental forms of channel access schemes:

List of channel access methods

Circuit mode and channelization methods

The following are common circuit mode and channelization channel access methods:

Packet mode methods

The following are examples of packet mode channel access methods:

Duplexing methods

Where these methods are used for dividing forward and reverse communication channels, they are known as duplexing methods, such as:

Hybrid channel access scheme application examples

Note that hybrids of these techniques can be - and frequently are - used. Some examples:

  • The GSM cellular system combines the use of frequency division duplex (FDD) to prevent interference between outward and return signals, with FDMA and TDMA to allow multiple handsets to work in a single cell.
  • GSM with the GPRS packet switched service combines FDD and FDMA with slotted Aloha for reservation inquiries, and a Dynamic TDMA scheme for transferring the actual data.
  • Bluetooth packet mode communication combines frequency hopping (for shared channel access among several private area networks in the same room) with CSMA/CA (for shared channel access inside a medium).
  • IEEE 802.11b wireless local area networks (WLANs) are based on FDMA and DS-CDMA for avoiding interference among adjacent WLAN cells or access points. This is combined with CSMA/CA for multiple access within the cell.
  • HIPERLAN/2 wireless networks combine FDMA with dynamic TDMA, meaning that resource reservation is achieved by packet scheduling.
  • G.hn, an ITU-T standard for high-speed networking over home wiring (power lines, phone lines and coaxial cables) employs a combination of TDMA, Token passing and CSMA/CARP to allow multiple devices to share the medium.

Definition within certain application areas

Local and metropolitan area networks

In local area networks (LANs) and metropolitan area networks (MANs), multiple access methods enable bus networks, ring networks, hubbed networks, wireless networks and half duplex point-to-point communication, but are not required in full duplex point-to-point serial lines between network switches and routers, or in switched networks (logical star topology). The most common multiple access method is CSMA/CD, which is used in Ethernet. Although today's Ethernet installations typically are switched, CSMA/CD is utilized anyway to achieve compatibility with hubs.

Satellite communications

In satellite communications, multiple access is the capability of a communications satellite to function as a portion of a communications link between more than one pair of satellite terminals concurrently. Three types of multiple access presently used with communications satellites are code-division, frequency-division, and time-division multiple access.

Switching centers

In telecommunication switching centers, multiple access is the connection of a user to two or more switching centers by separate access lines using a single message routing indicator or telephone number.

 This article incorporates public domain material from the General Services Administration document "Federal Standard 1037C" (in support of MIL-STD-188).

Categories occuring in the literature

In the literature, several ways of categorizing multiple-access schemes and protocols occur. For example, in [1], five principal types of multiple-access schemes are identified:

In [2], the multiple-access protocols are categorized as follows:

  • Conflict-free access protocols
  • Aloha protocols
  • Carrier Sensing protocols

In [3], the following MAC categories are identified:

  • Fixed assigned: TDMA, FDMA+WDMA, CDMA, SDMA
  • Demand assigned (DA)
    • Reservation: DA/TDMA, DA/FDMA+DA/WDMA, DA/CDMA, DA/SDMA
    • Polling: Generalized polling, Distributed polling, Token Passing, Implicit polling, Slotted access
  • Random access (RA): Pure RA (ALOHA, GRA), Adaptive RA (TRA), CSMA, CSMA/CD, CSMA/CA

See also

  1. ^ Daniel Minoli, Satellite Systems Engineering in an IPv6 Environment, CRC Press, 2009, ISBN 1420078682, 9781420078688
  2. ^ Raphael Rom, Moshe Sidi, Multiple Access Protocols: Performance and Analysis, Springer-Verlag, 1990, Originally from University of Michigan
  3. ^ Kornel Terplan, Patricia Morreale, The Telecommunications Handbook, CRC Press, 2000, ISBN 0849331374, 9780849331374


v • d • e
Channel access methods & Multiple access methods
Channel based
OFDMA • WDMA • SC-FDMA
MF-TDMA • STDMA
W-CDMA • TD-CDMA • TD-SCDMA • DS-CDMA • FH-CDMA • OFHMA • MC-CDMA
 •
 •
Packet based
MACA • MACAW • CSMA • CSMA/CD • CSMA/CA • DCF • PCF • HCF • CSMA/CARP
Delay & disruption tolerant
Duplexing methods
TDD • FDD






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