DTN-Based Nanosatellite Architecture and Hot Spot Selection Algorithm for Remote Areas Connection

Abstract

To extend the network coverage to rural and remote areas, there are different solutions with their advantages and disadvantages. We propose to use a nanosatellite network and to exploit the ability to cope with large delays and disruptions provided by the Delay and Disruption Tolerant Networking (DTN) paradigm. The connection from remote areas is managed through ground stations called cold spots that collect data from rural nodes and address them to the nanosatellites. Nanosatellites carry and download data to hot spots that address them to the Internet destinations. On the reverse direction, Internet data are addressed to hot spots, uploaded on nanosatellites and delivered to the rural destinations through cold spots. The problem of choosing the "optimal" hot spot where to address data from the Internet source is important because a wrong choice could lead to large delivery delays. In this paper, we propose "gRANteD": a Nanosatellite-DTN Network for rural and remote areas. gRANteD includes "HotSel", a hot spot selection algorithm to minimize the delivery time of all data destined to rural users. The performance evaluation is carried out through a DTN module which implements gRANteD and HotSel, within the framework of Network Simulator 3 (NS3).

Convergence of Satellite and Terrestrial Networks: A Comprehensive Survey

“…Thus they are in general used for small and dedicated missions rather than the larger constellations. For example, the nanosatellite CubeSat [89], which requires 0.1% of the cost of a classical LEO satellite, is utilized for Earth observation tasks. As we investigate in the literatures, there is a trend to operate more researches on nanosatellite networks.…”

Nanosatellite-5G Integration in the Millimeter Wave Domain: A Full Top-Down Approach

“…Simultaneous end-to-end connectivity is hence not required, thus making the DTN solution specifically suited for integrated nSAT-5G communication networks. In the small satellite context, a DTN-based architecture has been proposed in [23], as a possible solution for integrating nSAT networks and terrestrial infrastructures to extend Internet connectivity to rural and remote areas. Equipping satellites with inter-satellite links (ISLs) can further contribute to improve the network performance, without making the DTN paradigm pointless.…”

From Connectivity to Advanced Internet Services: A Comprehensive Review of Small Satellites Communications and Networks

“…(i) A user at a cold spot node issues data in a bundle (such as an email message or an HTTP proxy query). The node queues the bundle up for transmission to the next courier that flies overhead [48].…”