Resource allocation and error control protocols for real-time communications in satellite networks

This dissertation describes the design and performance evaluation of resource allocation and error control protocols in satellite networks. In mobile satellite networks, connection is frequently disrupted because the satellites are in continuous motion. Hence, a resource allocation technique is required to efficiently utilize the resource and to reduce the handover blocking probability. In this dissertation, two resource allocation protocols are proposed: adaptive dynamic channel allocation (ADCA) and geographical connection admission control (GCAC). The ADCA scheme estimates the number of future handover events based on the user location database and reserves a corresponding number of channels for the future handover events to decrease the overall handover blocking probability. The GCAC technique guarantees handover blocking probabilities of a new call attempt and on-going calls by estimating the future handover blocking performance.; Satellite links are characterized by higher error rate and burstier error pattern than terrestrial wireline networks. Sources of channel impairment include fading, shadowing, and atmospheric conditions. In this dissertation, two error control protocols are proposed to overcome the satellite channel impairment: point-to-point and point-to-multipoint adaptive forward error correction schemes (AFECs). The proposed point-to-point AFEC scheme provides a reliable communication service for real-time traffic by guaranteeing the target packet error rate (PER). Also, the proposed point-to-multipoint AFEC scheme provides a scalable reliable communication service by using multiple multicast channels and a feedback suppression algorithm.