Two time variant models for satellite channels

The authors consider different methods to design mathematical models for a satellite channel. These channel models, being based on homogeneous Markov chains, are used as a basis for evaluations of the open systems interconnection (OSI) layer 2 protocols. The parameter design of the models is based on measured block error probabilities, obtained by the German PTT on the Olympus 20/30 GHz channel. Since the block error rate is one of the most important issues for a satellite channel, the modeling is based on block oriented data transfers. The authors compare block error probabilities of Gilbert's and Fritchman's models with two new generative time variant models. The first is a one-dimensional Markov chain called the time variant (TV) model and the second is a two-layer Markov model called the two-layer time variant model (TLTV). Analyses and simulations show that the TLTV model exhibits the best results.<
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