ARNS: a new link layer protocol

Abstract

A new link-layer communications protocol is presented for a packet switched, low-altitude, multiple-satellite network. The adaptive receive node scheduling (ARNS) protocol accommodates large numbers of low-cost satellites in nongeosynchronous orbits where global synchronization is not possible, as well as numerous terminals. Theoretical analysis and computer simulation of the protocol show that a satellite operating at a throughput of 1 Mb/s and maintaining simultaneous crosslinks with four neighboring satellites realize an average delay per packet of 11 ms. The 95% of delay figure is 22 ms.<>