A new QoS routing protocol for two-tier LEO/MEO satellite networks

Abstract

ABSTRACT The satellite network consumption is related to the amount of the hops of the selected path. The smaller the amount of the hops is, the lower the expense of the network resources is; otherwise, the expense of the network resources is higher. So a new dynamic QoS routing protocol (QRP) which can select path according to the current flow of the network and provide certain QoS (limitation of hops) is presented in this paper. It divides Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites into groups according to the footprint areas of the Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellites in each snapshot period. Based on the information sent by LEO satellites, MEO satellite managers form two topology views separately for each layer, and then send them to their LEO members. The LEO or MEO satellites select path for arrived requests based on the view they own .The snapshot and group decision method is detailed, and the performance of QRP is evaluated through simulations and compared with that of HSRP protocol. Keywords: satellite network, routing protocol, two-tier satellite networks