A multicast routing algorithm for LEO satellite IP networks

Satellite networks provide global coverage and support a wide range of services. Since low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites provide short round-trip delays, they are becoming increasingly important for real-time applications such as voice and video traffic. Many applications require a mechanism to deliver information to multiple recipients. A multicast routing algorithm for datagram traffic is introduced for LEO satellite IP networks. The new scheme creates multicast trees by using the datagram routing algorithm. The bandwidth utilization and delay characteristics are assessed through simulations