Bounds for Queue Lengths in a Contention Packet Broadcast System

A finite number of users communicating through a broadcast channel is considered. Each user has a buffer of infinite capacity, and a user randomly accesses the channel (ALOHA-type protocol). Moreover, only one packet per user might be sent in an access time. Both symmetric and asymmetric models are considered; that is, we assume either indistinguishable or distinguishable users. An exact analysis of the queue lengths in that type of system is not now available, and therefore, based on some algebraic studies, we shall present some lower and some upper bounds for the average queue lengths. These bounds are quite tight for a small number of users and acceptable for a wide range of input parameters in the symmetric case. In the asymmetric case the bounds are acceptable only for light input traffic and a small number of users.