Performance analysis of networks of low-earth-orbit satellites with integrated voice/data traffic

Abstract

The uplinks and downlinks of all satellites in the network considered use Code-Division Multiple-Access (CDMA) with direct-sequence spread-spectrum (DS/SS) signaling. Double coverage is assumed (i.e., two satellites are in sight of all users at all times) and this is explored to mitigate the effects of shadowing on voice and data users. The performance measures of the LEO system evaluated are the average blocking probability and the average throughput of voice traffic as well as the average throughput of data traffic. In analysis the effects of CDMA on packet reception are described by both a threshold model and a graceful degradation model.<>