Characterization of a transoceanic aircraft delay tolerant network

Abstract

In this paper we analyze a large scale delay tolerant network (DTN) of transoceanic aircraft. We assume that each airplane in our network is equipped with a simple communication system based on IEEE802.11b/g, with a communication link of around 20 km. The characterization of this large aeronautical DTN will be used to choose routing strategies for passenger or company data, only through the contacts between airplanes, in order to use this network as a cheaper alternative to other communications systems, or as backup when no other communication systems are available. Instead of relying on synthetic data, we carry our analysis from the actual traces of 2,550 trans-Atlantic flights in the ns-3 simulator, to provide a detailed study of the network connectivity and mobility metrics (node degree, clustering, any contact time and inter any contact time). The impact of other parameters (such as radio coverage) on the network is also analyzed.

Methodological evaluation of architectural alternatives for an aeronautical delay tolerant network

“…For the validation of our results we will use the realistic scenario proposed on our previous paper [8], fully described in Section 3.…”

“…In this section we recall our scenario from [8,11] and proceed to describe the methodology used to define the network model and its characteristics. This model has been implemented using the ns-3 simulator [28] and currently represents the different features of the network in great detail, from link layer to application layer, including a custom mobility model and the routing protocols.…”

“…A much more detailed analysis and characterization of the network topology may be found in our previous work [8]. In the following sections we focus our study on a network configuration based on 50 km radio links, which displays higher connectivity values but remains within the parameters commonly seen in DTN network scenarios.…”

“…Looking for a cheaper solution than those based on radio links with high coverage or satellite links, we proposed in LCN (Local Computer Networks) 2013 [8] a new approach based on aircraft equipped with IEEE802.11b/g communication links of only 50 km. This limited range led to a network with a reduced node degree, fully in line with the characteristics of Delay Tolerant Networks (DTNs) [9,10].…”

“…Section 2 presents the background and previous work on Aeronautical Adhoc Networks, on performance evaluation of DTN over realistic scenarios, and on the use of graph analysis on such networks. In Sections 3 and 4 we provide a comprehensive description of our previous papers [8,11]. In Section 5 we present the new architecture, the two types of nodes which compose it, and the characteristics of the new scenario.…”