Martingales-Based ALOHA-Type Grant-Free Access Algorithms for Multi-Channel Networks with mMTC/URLLC Terminals Co-Existence

Abstract

As a simple single-phase transmission strategy, grant-free access is believed to be an effective way to guarantee the stringent quality of service (QoS) requirements for ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLCs). However, unless a theory-based fine evaluation on dynamic delay, we cannot hope to overcome the natural defects of random access and so effectively utilize the time-frequency resources. In this paper, we propose a novel multi-channel ALOHA-type (M-ALOHA) grant-free access algorithm for heterogeneous machine type communication (MTC) networks with URLLC-type terminals and delay-tolerant massive MTC (mMTC)-type terminals co-existence. Firstly, we construct a statistical service model characterizing the transmission rate of each terminal with joint consideration of the features of M-ALOHA access scheme, short packet transmissions and frequency-selective fading channel. Then, taking the great advantages of service-martingales theory in random queuing analysis, we present an ingenious delay analysis and obtain the martingales-based formulation of delay-bound violation probability, where the sporadic feature of MTC traffic arrival is carefully addressed. Finally, the M-ALOHA algorithm is formulated as a system throughput maximization problem subject to martingales-based statistical delay-QoS and the total bandwidth of system. The problem is solved by the proposed bi-objective multi-variable-grey wolf optimizer (BOMV-GWO) algorithm. As a result, we obtain the access probability for each terminal and the optimal parameters for the system design, including the number of sub-channels, the bandwidth for each sub-channel and the packets transmission rate. Simulation results demonstrate that the performance of our M-ALOHA algorithm is favorable.