EC ENGR132B-HW #2 UCLA Fall 2019 Prof.

Izhak Rubin

Problem 1
A multiplexer serves to multiplex flows generated by N terminals across a 40
Mbps communication link. The traffic flow generated by each terminal alternates
(independently of the other terminals) between periods of activity (active modes)
during which the station generates message data at a constant rate of 2 Mbps and
periods of inactivity (inactive modes) during which the station generates no data.
The activity duty cycle of each station is equal to 10%.

(1) Assume that a fixed-assigned time division multiplexing (TDM) scheme is used
by the multiplexer. Calculate the maximum number (N ) of terminals that the
multiplexer can support.

(2) Assume now that the multiplexer is loaded by traffic generated (in a statis-
tically independent fashion) by 6N terminals (where N is equal to the value
computed in (1)). The multiplexer changes its scheme, using now statistical
TDM multiplexing operation. Calculate the probability that more than N users
are simultaneously active. NOTE: As an approximation, you can model the
aggregate traffic generated by 6N terminals by a Gaussian distribution.

Problem 2
A coin is flipped until at least two tails occur. Define two random variables X and
Y to be the trial numbers at which the first tail and the second tail occur. Assume
that at any trial, the probability that a head occurs is p ∈ (0, 1).

(a) Find the joint probability P (X = m, Y = n).

P
(b) Verify that your answer in (a) is valid by checking P (X = m, Y = n) = 1.
m,n

(c) Calculate P (Y = X + 2) using the joint probability derived in (a).

Problem 3
Two DTEs are communicating via modems and RS-232C interfaces over a half
duplex link. Data transmission is one directional with each message of length M .
After a message is transmitted, the sender waits for a CTS message of length na before
sending another message. Assume error-free operation and the following parameter
values:

• R (line bit rate) = 15 Kbps

• M (message length) = 800 bits (all data bits)

• nh (overhead in each message packet) = 20 bits

• na (acknowledgement length) = 20 bits

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EC ENGR132B-HW #2 UCLA Fall 2019 Prof. Izhak Rubin

• tp (propagation time in one direction) = 2 msec

Minimum transition time between states (1,2) and (1,0) (CTS delay) is equal to
10 msec at message transmitting end, and 20 msec at message receiving end (CTS
transmitting end). All other delays during message transmission and reception are
assumed to be negligible. For the stated conditions, determine the effective data rate
in bps.

Problem 4
A large number of users share a multiple access signalling wireless communications
channel for the transmission of their signalling message packets. Each packet contains
exactly 1200 bits. The transmission data rate across the shared communications
channel is equal to 10 Mbps. A slotted ALOHA multiple access protocol is used by
the user devices in sharing the channel. The throughput rate across the channel was
measured to be equal to 2.8 Mbps.

(1) Calculate the loading rate of the channel, including successful and colliding
transmissions, identifying the average number of packets transmitted across the
channel per unit time (expressing it in packet/sec and in bits/sec).

(2) Determine the average number of times that a packet is transmitted across the
channel until it is successfully received.

(3) Assume that following a successful transmission of a packet, a PACK (positive

ACK) packet is received in 0.2 msec. If no such reception takes place, the packet
is retransmitted after an additional average time period of 0.5 msec. Calculate
the average time elapsed from the time that a packet is first transmitted to the
time that it is successfully received at the intended receiver (assuming a sending
station to be at close distance from the intended receiving station so that the
propagation delay is neglected).

Problem 5
Two sensor devices are polled by a managing station (controller) across a wireless
multiple access channel. The transmission data rate across the channel is equal to
1.2 Mbps. A hub (central) polling scheme is used. The controller polls the devices in
an alternate fashion. The time it takes the controller to prepare and send a polling
message to a device, and for the intended device to receive and process it, is equal to
0.25 msec. A polled device will have a single packet, which contains 1200 bits, ready
for transmission across the channel with probability 10%. Otherwise, the device is
idle, and it will respond to the controller that it has no packets to transmit. The
controller will receive this response after a delay of 0.15 msec. It will then proceed to
poll the other sensor device. If a polled device has a ready packet, it will proceed to

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EC ENGR132B-HW #2 UCLA Fall 2019 Prof. Izhak Rubin

transmit it and then will send a notification to the controller that its transmission has
been completed, which will be received at the controller after a delay of 0.15 msec.

(1) Calculate the average polling cycle time, measuring the time elapsed from the
instant the a device is polled to the instant that a device is polled again.

(2) Calculate the throughput rate of the system, expressed in packets/sec and in
bits/sec.