Adaptive Coexistence of Delay-Sensitive and Delay-Tolerant MTC Devices: A Control-Theoretic Approach

We consider future cellular networks and study the coexistence of delay-sensitive (DS) and delay-tolerant (DT) devices in machine-type communication (MTC). DS devices require to minimize access delay for their low delay requirements; in contrast, DT devices have flexible delay constraints. For reducing access delay, we extend fast retrial idea in the data transmissions when a group of preambles is divided into two subsets to support the time-varying nature of the traffic from DS devices. We focus on the stability dynamics by design-we derive convergence conditions by using a control-theoretic approach in terms of variation in the 1) arrival rates; 2) buffer sizing at the devices; 3) number of preambles; and 4) number of DS devices. More importantly, we discover a novel adaptive algorithm that dynamically allocates the number of preambles for DS, thus guaranteeing stability by design. We validate our findings with extensive simulations. Besides, we develop a novel framework that describes how the control theory idea can be applied to address the issue of tracking the buffers and handling coexistence in such a diverse network environment under realistic application constraints. Our extension to the control-theoretic idea predicts whether the overall system is stable, i.e., whether data flows are desynchronized. Given the data flows are desynchronized, small buffers are always sufficient. Our approach shows that a smaller DS buffer often promotes desynchronization-a virtuous cycle.

Automated summary

In this study, we investigate the coexistence of delay-sensitive and delay-tolerant devices in machine-type communication (MTC) in future cellular networks. We propose an extension of the fast retrial idea to reduce access delay for delay-sensitive devices. Using a control-theoretic approach, we analyze the stability dynamics and develop an adaptive algorithm to allocate the number of preambles for delay-sensitive devices. Our findings are validated through extensive simulations. Furthermore, we introduce a novel framework that applies control theory to address buffer tracking and coexistence in diverse network environments under realistic application constraints. The extension of the control-theoretic idea predicts system stability and promotes desynchronization with smaller delay-sensitive buffers.