Random access wireless networks with controlled mobility

Abstract

This paper considers wireless networks where messages arriving randomly (in time and space) are collected by a mobile receiver. The messages are transmitted to the mobile receiver according to a random access scheme and the receiver dynamically adjusts its position in order to receive these messages in minimum time. We investigate the use of wireless transmission and controlled mobility to improve the delay performance in such systems. In particular, we characterize the tradeoff between wireless transmission and physical movement of the mobile receiver. We derive a lower bound for the delay in the system and show how it is affected by different communication parameters. We show that the combination of mobility and wireless transmission results in a significant improvement in delay as compared to a system where wireless transmission is not used.