Performance evaluation of channel assignment strategies and handover policies for satellite mobile networks

Handover schemes in satellite networks: state-of-the-art and future research directions

“…Fixed channel allocation schemes have a very simple implementation due to the fixed predefined channel distribution [19]. However, in nonuniform traffic conditions, the implementation becomes complex as a sophisticated network planning is required to assign more capacity to cells when a high traffic rate is expected [20].…”

“…Statistical methods coupled with user behavior model and precise predictions of satellite tracks relative to the earth surface allow general characterization of the traffic load for a particular satellite or spotbeam. In LEO satellite systems with fixed channel allocation schemes expected traffic load varies from time to time and place to place while fixed channel allocation does not, resulting in poor resource utilization [19]. Thus, a number of schemes have been proposed to provide a more suitable solution for resource management in handover schemes.…”

“…In FCA schemes, a set of channels is permanently assigned to each cell, according to the frequency reuse distance [20] [19]. A handover call can only be given a channel if any channel belonging to the set of the cell is available.…”

“…Any cell requiring a channel use a channel from the pool satisfying the channel reuse distance [20] [19]. Allocated channels are removed from the common channel pool during call time.…”

“…Handover requests can also be considered a transferred call for the next cell, requiring allocation of a channel. Based on channel allocation strategies, handover schemes can be divided into three broad categories [19] [20] as follows:…”