Queueing analysis of DTN protocols in deep-space communications

Delay/disruption tolerant networking (DTN) [1] is proposed as an internetworking architecture for reliable data delivery despite a long propagation delay and/or lengthy link disruptions. DTN targets challenging networking environments where traditional networking protocols such as the terrestrial Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) typically do not work effectively. The challenging problem of mission control and data delivery in space communications is a typical application scenario of the DTN technology. Reliable and highly efficient data delivery of DTN relies heavily on the bundle protocol (BP) [2]. BP is intended to establish an overlay network that is able to withstand intermittent data link connectivity in the delivery of DTN data units, termed bundles. BP adopts a store-and-forward mechanism and a custody transfer option for transmission reliability.