Enabling Realistic Cross-Layer Analysis based on Satellite Physical Layer Traces

TL;DR

This paper introduces a tool and methodology for realistic cross-layer performance analysis of satellite communication systems using real physical layer traces, enhancing accuracy over traditional models.

Contribution

It presents the Trace Manager Tool (TMT) for converting satellite physical layer traces into link layer outputs and validates its effectiveness for performance evaluation.

Findings

TMT accurately replicates link layer behavior from real satellite traces.

Different link layer reliability schemes significantly impact TCP performance.

Theoretical models align well with TMT simulation results.

Abstract

We present a solution to evaluate the performance of transport protocols as a function of link layer reliability schemes (i.e. ARQ, FEC and Hybrid ARQ) applied to satellite physical layer traces. As modelling such traces is complex and may require approximations, the use of real traces will minimise the potential for erroneous performance evaluations resulting from imperfect models. Our Trace Manager Tool (TMT) produces the corresponding link layer output, which is then used within the ns-2 network simulator via the additionally developed ns-2 interface module. We first present the analytical models for the link layer with bursty erasure packets and for the link layer reliability mechanisms with bursty erasures. Then, we present details of the TMT tool and our validation methodology, demonstrating that the selected performance metrics (recovery delay and throughput efficiency) exhibit a good match between the theoretical results and those obtained with TMT. Finally, we present results showing the impact of different link layer reliability mechanisms on the performance of TCP Cubic transport layer protocol.