Future mobile communication systems will be characterized by the integration of several networks at the system level. Therefore, the satellite component and the terrestrial one will use as far as possible the same protocols. Accordingly, this paper investigates the possibility of using the packet-reservation multiple-access (PRMA) technique as a medium access control protocol for low-Earth orbit-mobile satellite systems (LEO-MSS's). A modified version of the PRMA protocol, named PRMA with hindering states (PRMA-HS's), is also proposed in order to attain better performance.
Index Terms-Multiple-access schemes, satellite systems, wireless communications.Enrico Del Re (M'78-SM'84) was born in Florence, Italy, in 1947. He received the Dr.Ing. degree in electronics engineering from the University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy, in 1971. Until 1975, he worked in public administration and private firms, where he was involved in the analysis and design of the telecommunication and air traffic control equipment and space systems. Since 1975, he has been with