Performance evaluation of a finite buffer generalized selective repeat ARQ scheme for satellite communications

This article presents a new generalized selective repeat automatic repeat request (ARQ) scheme for error control in broadcast and point-to-point satellite communication systems. In the proposed scheme, each bit in a packet is repeated m times consecutively to increase the transmission reliability. Finite capacity buffers have been assumed at the earth stations. The throughput, theoretically derived for the proposed scheme, is optimized with respect to the number of copies transmitted per bit. A suitable algorithm to adaptively choose this number in relation to the transmission channel propagation conditions can also be used. In comparison with classical and modified versions of the selective repeat ARQ scheme as described in the literature, the proposed scheme provides enhanced throughput, especially with poor channel conditions and a high number of receiving earth stations.