Multiple Access Protocols
single shared communication channel
two or more simultaneous transmissions by nodes: interference
- only one node can send successfully at a time
multiple access protocol:
- distributed algorithm that determines how stations share channel, i.e., determine when station can transmit
- communication about channel sharing must use channel itself!
- what to look for in multiple access protocols:
- synchronous or asynchronous
- information needed about other stations
- robustness (e.g., to channel errors)
- performance