Tree algorithms for packet broadcast channels

The multiaccessing of a broadcast communication channel by independent sources is considered. Previous accessing techniques suffer from long message delays, low throughput, and/or congestion instabilities. A new class of high-speed, high-throughput, stable, multiaccessing algorithms is presented. Contentions resolving tree algorithms are introduced, and they are analyzed for specific probabilistic source models. It is shown that these algorithms are stable (in that all moments of delay exist) and are optimal in a certain sense. Furthermore, they have a maximum throughput of 0.430 packets/slot and have good delay properties. It is also shown that, under heavy traffic, the optimally controlled tree algorithm adaptively changes to the conventional time-division multiple access protocol.