Caching in Heterogeneous Satellite Networks with Fountain Codes

TL;DR

This paper analyzes fountain code-based caching in heterogeneous satellite networks, deriving expressions for backhaul transmission rates and comparing performance with MDS code schemes.

Contribution

It introduces a fountain code caching scheme for satellite networks and provides analytical bounds on its backhaul transmission rate.

Findings

Fountain code caching reduces backhaul transmissions.

Performance similar to MDS code-based caching.

Derived tight upper bounds on transmission rate.

Abstract

In this paper we investigate the performance of caching schemes based on fountain codes in a heterogeneous satellite network. We consider multiple cache-aided hubs which are connected to a geostationary satellite through backhaul links. With the aimof reducing the average number of transmissions over the satellite backhaul link, we propose the use of a caching scheme based on fountain codes. We derive a simple analytical expression of the average backhaul transmission rate and provide a tightupper bound on it. Furthermore, we show how the performance of the fountain code based caching scheme is similar to that of a caching scheme based on maximum distance separable codes.