Efficient Integration of IP-Based Terrestrial and Satellite Systems: ARQTechniques and Inter-Segment Handover

Abstract

A satellite communication system is an excellent candidate to provide broadband integrated Internet services to globally scattered users. The inter-operation between a satellite system and the existing terrestrial Internet infrastructure introduces new challenges at different layers. Automatic Repeat reQuest (ARQ) techniques have been introduced at radio link layer to improve the performance of Transport Control Protocol (TCP)/IP over wireless terrestrial links, but these techniques are usually dismissed in presence of high latency links such as satellite links. In this paper, we will show that a truncated power control can effectively improve the trade-off delay-residual error after retransmissions and makes ARQ techniques a feasible solution for error control in satellite links. Furthermore, mobility management issues in presence of satellite diversity are addressed. Performance of an Inter-Segment Hand-Over (ISHO) procedure, in terms of propagation delay, will be carried out through simulation for different space segment configurations.