Connection-based media access for multichannel local and metropolitan area networks

A media access technique called MICON (Migratory Connection-Based Media Access) is presented for broadband local and metropolitan area networks. In the technique proposed, CSMA/CD (carrier-sense multiple access with collision detection) is combined with a dynamic channel assignment scheme applied to multichannel network architectures. By virtue of a controlled migration of users the channel selection scheme achieves dynamic load balancing in connection environments. The 1-persistent mode of MICON is presented. An analytic model is developed by incorporating an extension of S.S. Lam's (1980) assumption for single-channel CSMA/CD to the multichannel case. The throughput-delay performance predicted by the model is found to be in close agreement with the results obtained by simulating MICON for single-connection environments.<>