User Oriented Modeling and Simulation in LEO Satellite Networks

Modeling and simulation is a very powerful tool for the traffic analysis and performance evaluation in communication networks. LEO (low earth orbit) satellite system is so complex and dynamic that it is very difficult to find a mathematical model to describe it. In this paper, a novel modeling and simulation method has been proposed for LEO satellite communication networks. Different from the traditional method focused on the packet generation, our model framework is “user oriented” with several layers which can reflect the behavior of users in the network. Layers offer services to the higher layer and require services from the layer below. Such a “user oriented” top-down manner has a great superiority in describing complex communication system. This approach is then demonstrated on modeling ISL traffic load in LEO satellite communication networks. By this way we get an estimation of the ISL traffic load for different number of users with various traffic characteristics. Furthermore this can be a very useful reference for system design.