Access point selection based on beacon signals in optical satellite networks

Megasatellite constellations (MSCs) represent the forefront of satellite network development, encompassing a vast network of interconnected low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. The satellites in MSCs will be interconnected with laser links, capitalizing on the laser’s impressive bandwidth and robust security features. This interconnectivity enables the provision of high-bandwidth and low-latency Internet services on a global scale. However, LEO satellite networks exhibit high dynamics, especially between satellite nodes and ground nodes. This poses challenges to the high-bandwidth communication capabilities and quality of service in satellite networks. In such cases, the selection of different satellite access points will significantly affect the performance of the communication. This paper proposes an access point selection algorithm that chooses access satellites based on information from the satellite’s beacon signals, achieving lower service latency and handover times. The algorithm innovatively leverages the regularity of the inter-satellite topology in large-scale satellite networks to evaluate access points, resulting in the selection of preferred access points. Simulation results show that the algorithm achieves access satellite service performance that reduces service latency by 13% and handover frequencies by 40% compared to random access satellite selection.