Optical satellite networks

Several nongeosynchronous satellite constellation networks providing broad-band access to end-users are currently under development. The use of multigigabit laser intersatellite links (ISLs) is the enabling factor for routing traffic through the spare segment and creating a global space-based optical backbone network. Optical networking techniques based on wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) ISLs and wavelength routing can allow by-pass of the transit traffic significantly simplifying routing decisions and minimizing processing delays. The paper examines the characteristics of these networks and investigates the applicability of various optical networking schemes based on single hop and multihop approaches. Single hop can be adopted in medium earth orbit (MEO) systems consisting of 10 to 15 satellites whereas double-hop schemes based on the matrix lightpath allocation approach are suited for constellations up to 100 satellites, covering the requirements of most of the proposed low earth orbit (LEO) systems. Multihop will be required for some of the very large in number of satellites constellations. Statistical multiplexing of the transported traffic over the ISLs appears to be a necessary condition to achieve an efficient utilization of the satellite resources. Traffic routing has to take into account the impact of the varying range of the interorbit ISLs on the propagation delays. Although maximum leverage of the technologies developed for fiber optic WDM networks should be made, the technologies to be employed on board the satellites have to be space-qualified that may limit the applicability of some otherwise high-efficiency components     

双层卫星网络QoS路由算法研究

具有星际链路的双层通信星座网络可为全球提供宽带实时多媒体通信服务,路由算法设计是其中关键技术之一。本文详细介绍了由低轨卫星与中轨卫星构成的空间信息通信网双层星座系统体系结构,提出了一种新的具有QoS保证的双层卫星网络路由算法。仿真结果表明提出的路由算法可以满足系统的QoS业务要求的延迟、丢包率与抖动等指标。     

基于流量预测的物联网卫星节点动态缓存分配路由策略

针对低轨物联网卫星系统的路由问题,提出了基于流量预测的物联网卫星节点动态缓存分配路由策略。首先,分析低轨卫星覆盖区域内业务分布的时空特性,提出了端到端流量预测方法。然后,根据流量预测结果,提出了动态缓存分配路由策略。卫星节点通过对星间链路的流量负载进行周期性监测,动态分配与邻居节点间各条星间链路的缓存资源,分为初始化和系统运行2个阶段。同时,提出了节点拥塞时的业务分流及数据分组转发策略,通过比较排队时延和转发时延的大小,决定数据分组是否需要进行重路由。仿真结果表明,所提路由策略有效地降低了分组丢失率及平均端到端时延,改善了业务在全网的分布情况。     

基于迁移深度强化学习的低轨卫星跳波束资源分配方案

针对低轨(LEO)卫星场景下,传统资源分配方案容易造成特定小区资源分配无法满足需求的问题,该文提出一种基于迁移深度强化学习(TDRL)的低轨卫星跳波束资源分配方案。首先,该方案联合星上缓冲信息、业务到达情况和信道状态,以最小化卫星上数据包平均时延为目标,建立支持跳波束技术的低轨卫星资源分配优化模型。其次,针对低轨卫星网络的动态多变性,该文考虑动态随机变化的通信资源和通信需求,采用深度Q网络(DQN)算法利用神经网络作为非线性近似函数。进一步,为实现并加速深度强化学习(DRL)算法在其他目标任务中的收敛过程,该文引入迁移学习(TL)概念,利用源卫星学习的调度任务快速寻找目标卫星的波束调度和功率分配策略。仿真结果表明,该文所提出的算法能够优化卫星服务过程中的时隙分配,减少数据包的平均传输时延,并有效提高系统的吞吐量和资源利用效率。     

A dynamic even distribution resource scheduling mechanism combined with network coding for inter-LEO satellite networks

Resource scheduling mechanism of LEO satellite networks is the key to determining communication efficiency. Facing the LEO satellite networks with the dynamic topology changes, varying service requirements, and intermittent inter-satellite links (ISLs), the state-of-the-art cannot achieve high resource efficiency under both heavy and burst traffic loads, and the applicability of parameters design is insufficient under intermittent ISLs. Considering this, we propose a dynamic even distribution mechanism combined with network coding DENC. This novel mechanism obtains the service requirements and allocates resources dynamically through the even distribution algorithm to balance network maintenance overhead and resource waste and improves the success probability of transmission based on network coding to balance retransmission and redundancy. In this paper, we establish performance analysis models to optimize the parameters such as maintenance frequency and coding coefficient. Besides, we construct a system-level simulation platform. Mathematical and simulation results indicate that the resource efficiency of EMNC can be improved by more than 48% compared with SAHN-MAC, ICSMA, CSMA-TDMA, and HTM when all nodes have service needs, and the ISL outage rate is 20%. As the outage probability of ISL increases and the proportion of nodes with service requirements decreases, the performance advantage of EMNC becomes more apparent.     

Q-Win – A New Admission and Handoff Management Scheme for Multimedia LEO Satellite Networks

Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite networks are deployed as an enhancement to terrestrial wireless networks in order to provide broadband services to users regardless of their location. In addition to global coverage, these satellite systems support communications with hand-held devices and offer low cost-per-minute access cost, making them promising platform for Personal Communication Services (PCS). LEO satellites are expected to support multimedia traffic and to provide their users with the negotiated Quality of Service (QoS). However, the limited bandwidth of the satellite channel, satellite rotation around the Earth and mobility of end-users makes QoS provisioning and mobility management a challenging task. One important mobility problem is the intra-satellite handoff management. The main contribution of this work is to propose Q-Win, a novel call admission and handoff management scheme for LEO satellite networks. A key ingredient in our scheme is a companion predictive bandwidth allocation strategy that exploits the topology of the network and contributes to maintaining high bandwidth utilization. Our bandwidth allocation scheme is specifically tailored to meet the QoS needs of multimedia connections. The performance of Q-Win is compared to that of two recent schemes proposed in the literature. Simulation results show that our scheme offers low call dropping probability, providing for reliable handoff of on-going calls, good call blocking probability for new call requests, while maintaining bandwidth utilization high.     

基于IEEE802.11的星间链路最短接入时延退避算法

为满足空间信息网络低轨卫星用户多址接入骨干中继卫星的访问需求,基于IEEE 802.11机制,提出最短接入时延退避算法（Delay-Optimal Backoff,DOB）,可解决大时空尺度条件下,传统二进制退避算法（Binary Exponential Backoff,BEB）造成的网络平均接入时延高和吞吐量低的问题.根据用户卫星与中继卫星的相对位置特性,设定中继卫星通信窗口,利用通信窗口内不同用户卫星数量时用户接入时延与平均接入请求概率的变化关系,确定最短接入时延条件下用户平均接入请求概率,实现动态调整碰撞窗口大小.研究结果表明,该算法使网络接入时延较BEB算法平均降低了10s,饱和吞吐量提升一倍,归一化业务量阈值比BEB算法增加至0.6,网络多址接入性能显著提高.     

网络间智能业务分担算法

In recent years, wireless communication sys-tems have experienced tremendous growth in data traf-fic. Many capacity-enhancing techniques are applied to elevate the gap between the amount of traffic and net-work capacity, and more solutions are required to mini-mize the gap. Traffic allocation among multiple net-works is regarded as one of the most effective methods to solve the problem. However, current studies are una-ble to derive the quantity of traffic that each network should carry. An intelligent traffic allocation algorithm for multiple networks is proposed to obtain the optimal traffic distribution. Multiple factors affecting traffic dis-tribution are considered in the proposed algorithm, such as network coverage, network cost, user habit, service types, network capacity and terminals. Using evalua-tions, we proved that the proposed algorithm enables a lower network cost than load balancing schemes. A case study of strategy making for a 2G system refarming is presented to further illustrate the applicability of the pro-posed algorithm. We demonstrated that the new algorithm could be applied in strategy making for telecommunica-tion operators.     

一种低轨卫星通信的定时提前计算方法

低轨(LEO)卫星网络作为地面网络的重要补充,是未来天地一体化网络的重要组成部分。由于LEO卫星的高移动速度以及星地通信的大传播距离造成了高传播时延,因此需要新的针对LEO卫星星地通信背景的上行链路的定时提前量(TA)的计算策略。本文基于LEO卫星的星地通信场景,介绍了TA及其在协议中的规定,并针对LEO卫星的特点,提出一种LEO卫星通信的定时提前计算方法。通过仿真分析验证了所提方案的有效性,为LEO卫星星地通信系统的设计提供了参考。     

Performance evaluation of LEO satellite constellations with inter-satellite links under self-similar and Poisson traffic

A real-time simulation study for the evaluation of traffic flow in low earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations, used for the interconnection of high-speed networks, is presented in this paper. The proposed model simulates the traffic process end to end at the packet level, supporting successfully the implementation of self-similar traffic sources, a modelling approach that has been considered more realistic than the well-known Poisson, for real-time communications. An in-depth study for the establishment of inter-satellite links (ISLs) and the design of the terrestrial and space segments is presented and the performance of the integrated system is evaluated in terms of delay and throughput parameters. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ka频段下多波束卫星通信的资源分配

建立Ka频段多波束卫星通信系统模型,提出基于信干噪比（ SINR, Signal to Interference plus NoiseRatio）的功率和载波资源联合自适应分配的算法。对提出的联合分配算法和传统的固定分配算法下通信系统的功率增益、通信满意度、频谱效率性能指标进行仿真以及对比。仿真结果表明,功率和载波联合分配算法的功率增益、通信满意度、频谱效率的值都有所提高并且明显优于传统分配算法,为多波束卫星通信系统资源分配的研究提供一定的理论基础。     

Priority‐based adaptive routing in NGEO satellite networks

In a non‐geostationary satellite constellation with inter satellite links (ISLs), there could be many shortest paths between two satellites in terms of hop count. An efficient routing algorithm should effectively use these paths in order to distribute traffic to ISLs in a balanced way and to improve the performance of the system. This paper presents and evaluates a novel priority‐based adaptive shortest path routing (PAR) scheme in order to achieve this goal. PAR sets the path towards the destination in a distributed manner, using a priority mechanism depending on the past utilization and buffering information of the ISLs. Moreover, to avoid unnecessary splitting of a flow and to achieve better utilization of ISLs, enhanced PAR (ePAR) scheme is proposed. This paper evaluates performance of the proposed techniques by employing an extensive set of simulations. Furthermore, since there are a number of ePAR parameters that should be adjusted depending on the network and traffic characteristics, a detailed analysis of ePAR scheme is provided to form a framework for setting the parameters. This paper also includes a method for adaptation of the proposed algorithms to minimum‐delay path routing. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

一种基于地理位置信息的LEO/Ad Hoc双模网络路由协议

基于终端的LEO/Ad Hoc网络双模组网模型,分析在LEO卫星通信系统业务溢出情况下地面终端组织Ad Hoc网络的路由查找算法问题,提出一种利用高层LEO卫星通信系统供给的地理信息和信令支持下的路由算法(Geographic Location Based Route,GLBR),通过仿真实验验证了其有效性。     

SS/TDMA scheduling for satellite clusters

The authors present a novel approach to the optimal time-slot assignment problem for a general satellite-switched time-division multiple-access (SS/TDMA) satellite cluster with intersatellite links (ISLs) interconnection. The proposed allocation algorithm accounts for the following: systems with any number of satellites; each satellite covers an arbitrary number of zones; no onboard buffering at the satellites; and ISLs with arbitrary capacities. They present an analogy between the satellite cluster scheduling problem and the modified openshop scheduling problem. Using this analogy the authors introduce a heuristic algorithm and an optimal branch-and-bound algorithm. They investigate the performance of the proposed heuristic both by theoretical bounds and by comparing the simulation results produced by the heuristic with the optimal results. In all cases the heuristic algorithm results are within 10% of the optimum     

Efficient dynamic channel allocation techniques with handoverqueuing for mobile satellite networks

Efficient dynamic channel allocation techniques with handover queuing suitable for applications in mobile satellite cellular networks, are discussed. The channel assignment on demand is performed on the basis of the evaluation of a suitable cost function. Geostationary and low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites have been considered. In order to highlight the better performance of the dynamic techniques proposed, a performance comparison with a classical fixed channel allocation (FCA) has been carried out, as regards the probability that a newly arriving call is not completely served. It has also been shown that a higher traffic density, with respect to GEO systems, is manageable by means of LEO satellites     

Analysis of handover characteristics in shadowed LEO satellite communication networks

In the near future, low earth orbit (LEO) satellite communication networks will partially substitute the fixed terrestrial multimedia networks especially in sparsely populated areas. Unlike fixed terrestrial networks, ongoing calls may be dropped if satellite channels are shadowed. Therefore, in most LEO satellite communication networks more than one satellite needs to be simultaneously visible in order to hand over a call to an unshadowed satellite when the communicating satellite is shadowed. In this paper, handover characteristics for fixed terminals (FTs) in LEO satellite communication networks are analysed. The probability distribution of multiple satellite visibility is analytically obtained and the shadowing process of satelites for FTs are modelled. Using the proposed analysis model, shadowing effects on the traffic performance are evaluated in terms of the number of intersatellite and interbeam handovers during a call. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Satellite constellation of MEO and IGSO network routing with dynamic grouping

Because inter‐satellite links (ISLs) among the distributed satellite nodes can be used to support autonomous control in satellite system operation to reduce dependency on the ground stations, it becomes a popular communication paradigm for the future satellite systems. However, this introduces great technical challenges, particularly for routing protocol to support such space communication system. Facing the challenges, we present out study of routing technology in this paper tailored for satellite network of MEO (Table 1) and IGSO with ISLs in addition to satellite–ground links. The study aims to explore the routing strategies and algorithms of satellite network based on the evolution law of network topology to provide reference design for data exchange in autonomous satellite system. A comprehensive investigation, ranging from the analysis of relevant factors affecting data exchange in satellite networks to the primary application and resource constraints in designing satellite routing strategy, has been conducted. Our main contribution is to propose an on‐demand computing and caching centralized routing strategy and algorithm on the satellite network. The routing strategy and algorithm is designed for satellite network topology dynamic grouping. The route calculation for user data transmission is divided into three phases: direction estimation, direction enhancement, and congestion avoidance. The strategy and algorithm provide significant advantages of high efficiency, low complexity, and flexible configuration, by which the satellite networks can provide the features of flexible configure, efficient transferring, easy management, structural survivability, and great potential in scalability. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Handover Strategy in the LEO Satellite-Based Constellation Networks with ISLs

A new handover strategy named minimal-hops handover(MHH) strategy for the lowearth orbit(LEO) satellite constellations networks equipped with inter-satellite links(ISLs) is proposed.MHH strategy,which is based on the hops of the end-to-end connection paths and makes good use of theregularity of the constellation network topology,can appropriately combine the handover procedure withrouting and efficiently solve the inter-satellite handover issue.Moreover,MHH strategy can providequality of services(QoS) guarantees to some extent.The system performances of the MHH strategy,suchas time propagation delay and handover frequency,are evaluated and compared with that of otherprevious strategies.The simulation results show that MHH strategy performs better than other previoushandover strategies.     

Proposal and performance evaluation of an efficient multiple-access protocol for LEO satellite packet networks

This paper deals with a modified version of the packet reservation multiple-access (PRMA) protocol suitable for integration of real-time (voice) and best effort (data) traffic in low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communication systems. The proposed scheme differs from previous alternatives on the method adopted to handle access requests for voice and data terminals, and to transmit data messages. An analytical approach is proposed and validated in the case of voice and classical (i.e., geometric distributed) data traffic in order to derive system performance in terms of mean data message delay and voice packet dropping probability. However, in order to better highlight the advantages of the proposed approach typical interactive and background traffics types have been also considered. Performance comparisons with previous proposed PRMA protocols for voice and data transmission in LEO satellite communication systems are also shown in order to highlight the better behavior of the proposed scheme. Finally, a brief discussion concerning the extension of the proposed S-PRMA protocol to the case of different satellite communication systems is also provided.     

低轨卫星移动通信系统接入方案

在低轨卫星移动通信系统中,由于卫星和移动用户间的相对运动使得呼叫切换频繁发生.为了降低星间切换请求到达率,减小系统切换开销,本文在距离优先接入方案基础上进一步提出了两种接入策略:覆盖时间优先方案和仰角加权的覆盖时间优先方案.构造了非均匀分布全球话务密度模型.并参照某实际系统参数,对不同接入方案准则下的全球话务服务进行了系统仿真,得到了相应的系统性能参数.