Transmit Power Aware Proportional Fair Scheduling Algorithm in LEO Satellite Communication System

The integration of satellite communication systems is gaining prominence in the 5G New Radio (NR) system, particularly for achieving widespread wireless coverage in fifth or next-generation wireless networks. The 3rd Generation Partnership Project initiated the study of satellite communication in Release 15, established the initial standard for satellite communication in Release 17, and has continually enhanced the standard. With the commencement of Release 19 in 2024, one of the focal points is uplink throughput enhancements in the NR Non-Terrestrial Network (NR NTN). Uplink signals in satellite communication encounter significant path loss. They are constrained by limited transmission power, affecting the quality and performance of these signals and preventing the provision of high-data-rate services. An effective scheduling algorithm is imperative to address this challenge and meet the data rate requirements outlined by the International Telecommunication Union Radiocommunication (ITU-R). This paper introduces the Transmit Power Aware Proportional Fair (TPA-PF) scheduling algorithm for low earth orbit satellite communication systems. The proposed algorithm incorporates considerations of uplink transmit power and power headroom reports to determine the optimal number of resource allocations. Simulation results demonstrate the substantial improvement in user throughput and spectral efficiency achieved by the proposed scheduling algorithm, meeting the ITU- R requirements.