Minimal Energy Routing for Deep Space Satellite Networks

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to find out a packet routing algorithm for link error rate aware satellite networks, achieving minimal network energy utilization. The existing energy aware routing protocols typically select routes that minimize the total transmission power over the satellites of the path, but do not consider the retransmissions that may be needed. A new protocol considering the link error rates in route selections for satellite networks is required. In our approach of data routing, the effective total transmissions and the energy required for these transmissions is considered. The simulator developed in C#.NET was designed and programmed to simulate and analyze the proposed link error rate aware routing protocol performance. Satellite network models for the simulation were developed using BRITE, a topology generator framework. Simulations are performed and the algorithm performance is analyzed in terms of energy load balance and schedule lengths.