Finite Blocklength Analysis of Multiple Access Channels with/without Cooperation

Motivated by the demand of reliable and low latency communications, we employ tools from information theory, stochastic processes and queueing theory, in order to provide a comprehensive framework regarding the analysis of a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) network with bursty traffic, in the finite blocklength regime. Specifically, we re-examine the stability conditions of a noncooperative TDMA multiple access channel, evaluate the optimal throughput, and identify the optimal trade-off between data packet size and latency. The evaluation is performed both numerically and via the proposed approximations that result in closed form expressions. Then, we examine the stability conditions and the performance of the Multiple Access Relay Channel with TDMA scheduling, subject to finite blocklength constraints, by applying a cognitive cooperation protocol that assumes relaying is enabled when sources are idle. Finally, we propose the novel Batch-And-Forward (BAF) strategy, that can significantly enhance the performance of cooperative networks in the finite blocklength regime, as well as reduce the requirement in metadata. The BAF strategy is quite versatile, thus, it can be embedded in existing cooperative protocols, without imposing additional complexity on the overall scheme.