Slotted ALOHA Simulation

Created by Julio Aráuz, Copyright 2025

McClure School Ohio University

Instructions:

  • Use the sliders to change the probability of transmission and the number of nodes in the simulation.
  • When a node transmits, a green circle is present.
  • Each slot is marked as being (E)mpty, (S)uccessful transmission, (C)ollision.
  • The reset count sets all metrics back to zero.
  • The figure shows the efficiency of slotted ALOHA for the selected parameters.
  • The moving green dot on the figure displays the current value of the efficiency.
  • Efficiency $=N \times p \times {(1-p)}^{N-1}$
  • The maximum efficiency for a given $N$, ocurrs when $p=\frac{1}{N}$. When $N \rightarrow \infty$, the maximum efficiency approaches $\frac{1}{e}$.
  • The simulation can be paused and restarted by pressing the space bar.

Assumptions:

  • All nodes have frames ready to be sent.
  • All frames have the same size
  • Nodes transmit frames at the beginning of a slot.
  • The number of nodes in the simulation is $N$.
  • Nodes transmit a frame with probability $p$.
  • If a collision occurs, all nodes learn about it.

An excellent discussion of slotted and unslotted ALOHA can be found in

Computer Networking by J. Kurose and K. Ross