Stochastic Approximation Methods for Decentralized Control of Multiaccess Communications

Strategies based on stochastic approximation are suggested for controlling the transmission probabilities of stations sharing a collision access communication channel. Examples include strategies based on acknowledgment feedback only, and strategies suitable for frequency-hopped spread spectrum channels. The strategies provide for the incorporation of priorities among the stations. A Lyapunov-like function is constructed to prove global stability of the ordinary differential equation which is approximated by the system, and a design methodology based on minimizing a cost function is given. Preliminary results on transmission control in a nonbroadcast network are presented.