On the stability of interacting queues in a multiple-access system

The standard discrete-time slotted ALOHA system with a finite number of buffered terminals is considered. The stability (ergodicity) region for this system is known only for the case of two terminals and for the case of any number of symmetric terminals. The stability of the system is studied by means of a simple concept of dominance. It is shown that the stability region for the case of two terminals can be obtained in a simple way. Lower (inner) bounds are obtained for the stability region of the system with an arbitrary finite number of terminals that are tighter than the ones already known. A similarity between these stability results and the achievable region of the no-feedback collision channel is pointed out that suggests a connection between the two problems. >