Simulation Modeling and Performance Evaluation of Multiple Access Protocols

This paper presents an object-oriented simulation model that can be used to evaluate the perfor mance of MAC (Multiple ACcess) protocols. It is intended for satellite communication networks in which the propagation delay plays a major role on the performance of the communication channel. The model has been used to evaluate the perfor mance of multiple access protocols for NASA's Mars Regional Network in the Martian environ ment with some specific requirements. These re quirements include protocol robustness, stringent use of power and buffer memory, channel stabil ity, and low complexity of the control algorithm. The simulation model can accommodate different classes of MAC protocols including fixed assign ments, demand assignments, random access, hy brid of random access, and adaptive protocols. While the simulation model has been developed to evaluate the MAC protocols for the Martian envi ronment, it is intended to accommodate other multiple access protocols with different require ments.