Centralized Versus Distributed Routing for Large-Scale Satellite Networks

TL;DR

This paper compares centralized and distributed routing in large-scale satellite networks, analyzing their performance in terms of throughput and delay under different network dynamics and buffering scenarios.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive analysis of the tradeoffs between centralized and distributed routing schemes in satellite networks, considering network dynamics and buffer presence.

Findings

Distributed routing outperforms centralized routing in highly dynamic networks.

Distributed routing achieves lower delays with the same throughput when buffers are present.

In networks without buffers, distributed routing yields higher throughput.

Abstract

An important choice in the design of satellite networks is whether the routing decisions are made in a distributed manner onboard the satellite, or centrally on a ground-based controller. We study the tradeoff between centralized and distributed routing in large-scale satellite networks. In particular, we consider a centralized routing scheme that has access to global but delayed network state information and a distributed routing scheme that has access to local but real-time network state information. For both routing schemes, we analyze the throughput and delay performance of shortest-path algorithms in networks with and without buffers onboard the satellites. We show that distributed routing outperforms centralized routing when the rate of changes in the network link state is comparable to the inherent propagation and transmission delays. In particular, we show that in highly dynamic networks without buffers, the distributed scheme achieves higher throughput than a centralized scheme. In networks with buffers, the distributed scheme achieves lower delays with the same throughput.