QoS-aware multicast routing protocol for triple-layered LEO/HEO/GEO satellite IP networks

In this paper, for the sake of better global coverage, we introduce a novel triple-layered satellite network architecture including Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO), Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO), and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite layers, which provides the near-global coverage with 24 hour uninterrupted over the areas varying from 75° S to 90° N. On the basis of this architecture, we propose a QoS-aware multicast routing protocol (QAMRP) for satellite IP networks using the logical location concept to isolate the mobility of LEO and HEO satellites. Furthermore, aiming to minimize the multicast tree cost, we present a least cost tree (LCT) strategy to construct the multicast tree under the condition that the QoS requirements, i.e., delay and available bandwidth bound, are guaranteed. Simulation results demonstrate that the feasibility and performance benefits of the proposed QAMRP in terms of the end-to-end tree delay, the tree cost, and the failure ratio of multicasting connections by comparison with the conventional shortest path tree (SPT) strategy.