A Satellite Network Data Transmission Algorithm Based on Adaptive LT Code

Abstract

As an effective supplement to terrestrial communications, satellite communications play an important role in global communications. However, in satellite communication networks, communication resources are limited, data transmission links are unstable, and satellite communication has signal attenuation and transmission delay. How to enable stable and efficient data transmission is a major challenge in satellite communication networks. Data coding plays an important role in satellite communication since it avoids the need of frequent feedbacks in the transmission process, ensures reliable communication, and reduces receiving delays. In a practical satellite network, when the transmission channel condition is unstable, using fixed encoding packet size may lead to prolonged delay and reduce the effective data transmission rate. Therefore, it is particularly important to adaptively adjust the size of encoded packets according to the file size and network environment. In this paper, we propose a satellite network data transmission algorithm based on adaptive fountain codes. The data is transmitted in LT codes. We propose two algorithms, including a two-side-search dynamic iterative algorithm and adaptive packet size encoding transmission algorithm to find the optimal encoding packet size and grouping to minimize the total delay and improve the effective data transmission rate. The simulation results show that the proposed algorithm has a smaller delay and a higher effective data transmission rate than those using the fixed packet size algorithm. When the bit error rate is high, it can also maintain a low delay and a high effective data transmission rate.