A Network Coding based DTN Convergence Layer Reliable Transport Mechanism over InterPlaNetary Networks

Abstract

The realization of deep space scientific missions are enabled by the developments in the space technologies. TCP can not provide effective communication service in deep space links because of the long propagation delay and high BERs characteristics.Scientific community propose Delay Tolerant Network (DTN) for resolving the communication problem between earth and other planet. DTN introduces a new layer in the protocol stack called Bundle Layer that is placed between application layer and transport layer.DTN calls the transport protocols that it uses to move data across different networks convergence layers. This study present a novel Network Coding based convergence layer Reliable TransPort mechanism(NC-RTP) in order to provide effective communication service between DTN peers. This mechanism transmit a coded bundle every M original bundles(M is related to the packet error rate of the communication link). The coded bundle is a random linear combination of previous M original bundles. Using coded bundle and (M-1)original bundles, the receiver could decode and generate a single lost bundle of previous M original bundles . In this way, NC-RTP could compensate any single lost bundle in (M+1) transmitted bundles(including M original bundles and 1 coded bundle).Our theoretical and simulation performance evaluation results reveal that NC-RTP can enhance transmit reliability and make file transfered faster.