LEO satellite routing algorithm in software defined space terrestrial integrated network

In modern society, low earth orbit (LEO) satellite network is hosting more and more data services, and better performance is required. Software Defined Network(SDN) is an emerging technology, which separates control plane and forward plane. Controller is responsible for centralized control while network devices for forwarding. In this paper, SDN technology is applied to the LEO satellite network constituting software defined space terrestrial integrated network. Utilizing the advantage of SDN centralize control and the characteristic of LEO satellite network topology, this paper proposes the shortest path algorithm from source satellite to destination satellite. Before the routing starts, the controller computes the shortest path and sends flow table to network devices. The network devices forward packets based on the logical address. Through the comparison of simulation, end-to-end delay, loss packet rate and throughput of the shortest path algorithm are better than other routing algorithms.