An uplink non-orthogonal multiple-access communication system is developed for heterogeneous non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) that employ both low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations and high-altitude platforms (HAPs) as relays with hybrid automatic repeat request capabilities. The system is designed as a random-access and interference-resistant network to support low-rate users. A common waveform and frequency band is used for all uplink transmissions (whether the transmitter is a user terminal or a HAP). Both theoretical and simulation-based performance analysis results are provided as a function of user transmit power and packet arrival rates for channels with interference. The use of HAP relays is shown to significantly improve throughput and reduce queue size relative to direct transmission to the LEO satellites, especially for the case of low-power users in high interference environments.

Packet acquisition for a time-frequency hopped asynchronous random multiple access (RMA) system is investigated. A novel analytical approach to performance evaluation is provided, which enables the waveform designer to quickly evaluate the network performance as various waveform design and RMA protocol parameters and are chosen. The results show that the network throughput is estimated and upper-bounded by the acquisition performance. The performance evaluation procedure is broadly general, allowing for variations in waveform parameters, network topology, network population and population heterogeneity (in, e.g., rate, transmit power, and medium access behavior). To illustrate the accuracy of the analytical results, simulations are performed over a wide range of waveform, RMA protocol and network parameters.

Wireless communication channels may change greatly from one transmission to the next, due to variations in propagation loss and interference. The use of fixed transmission parameters for such channels results in wasted energy when channel conditions are good. Adaptation of the power, code rate, and symbol rate reduces energy consumption and interference caused to other systems. Such adaptation requires information about the characteristics of the channel, which is more difficult to obtain in a packet radio network (PRN) or other mobile ad hoc network than in a typical cellular communication system. We develop methods for providing partial information about the channel state from three statistics that are derived by different subsystems in the receiving terminals of a direct-sequence spread-spectrum PRN. We present and evaluate a protocol that uses this information to adapt the transmission parameters in response to changes in interference and propagation conditions in the network. The performance of the new adaptive-transmission protocol is compared with a system with fixed transmission parameters and with an adaptive protocol that is furnished with perfect knowledge of the channel state at the completion of each transmission.

The frequency diversity of multicarrier direct-sequence signaling can potentially offer robust performance in frequency-selective channels. The paper focuses on the acquisition of multicarrier signals in channels containing fading and partial-band interference. The maximum-likelihood decision rule for parallel acquisition in frequency-selective fading and partial-band interference is derived. Several simpler, near-optimal decision rules are also discussed. The performance of these decision rules is compared to that of equal-gain combining for multicarrier acquisition. Results show that the decision rules designed specifically for partial-band interference give significantly better performance. Methods of acquisition with a limited number of correlators are also discussed. Finally, the potential benefits of estimating the signal strength on each subcarrier prior to acquisition are examined.