| Channel access in a multi-access network lends itself to modeling using a decision theoretic approach from the field of Artificial Intelligence. We introduce a model that yields a channel allocation mechanism that is autonomous, distributed, adaptive to network loading, and utility maximizing. Agents in network elements employ this model to control transmission access such that they continue to transmit successfully while improving overall transmission success of other network elements. Our model employs a hybrid Time Division Multiplexing method of transmission. We employ a decision theoretic network based on microeconomic principles to aid the agent in channel allocation within a fictitious transmission economy. Because our decision network maximizes utility in a market oriented economic model of the transmission network, we believe that efficient medium utilization is a natural outcome in our model. |
