Nonlinear cooperative dynamics in distributed power control for wireless networks

Power-controlled multiple access (PCMA) is a class of distributed algorithms for transmitter power control (TPC) in wireless networks. In this paper, we develop and evaluate a continuous analog (fluid model) of the discrete version of PCMA in order to clearly demonstrate PCMA´s capability to, without centralized coordination, induce a network behavior akin to time-division multiple access (TDMA), which we call “induced” TDMA (iTDMA). This analysis allows us to provide new insights into the throughput improvements of PCMA over the classical and widely-used Foschini-Miljanic (FM) constant signal-to-interference algorithm for distributed TPC, particularly in high-interference channels. Furthermore, this fluid model shows that PCMA´s iTDMA behavior is fundamentally tied to the functional form of the central PCMA equation, and that PCMA holds significant potential for various types of interference-limited wireless networks.