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Tiered clustering-based management architecture in mega-satellite networks

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Abstract

Hybrid orbital networking and the proliferation of satellites raise explosive management complexity in mega-satellite networks (MSNs) and prompt the management architecture to the hierarchy. In this regard, we propose a tiered clustering-based management architecture (TCMA) to realize the high-efficient and low-cost management performance. Specifically, based on the constrained satellite coverage, we derive an expression of the mapping relationship between the required control overhead of the controller interaction, the average path length of the proposed TCMA, and the corresponding number of management tiers and cluster size. The expression can determine the optimal number of tiers of the TCMA by minimizing the required flow table size between controllers, while ensuring high transmission efficiency. We then exhibit the elasticity of the hierarchical TCMA by adding the peer connections at the second-highest management tier to reduce maximum redundant paths. Simulation results verify the effectiveness of the proposed TCMA and illustrate that a 3-tier TCMA is sufficient for thousands of satellites.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported in part by National Key R&D Program of China (Grant No. 2020YFB1806100), National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 62371360, 62121001), Key Research and Development Program of Shaanxi (Grant No. 2022ZDLGY05-02), Young Elite Scientists Sponsorship Program by CAST (Grant No. 2022QNRC001), and Young Talent Fund of Xi’an Association for Science and Technology (Grant No. 095920221337).

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Correspondence to Di Zhou.

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Hao, Q., Zhou, D., Sheng, M. et al. Tiered clustering-based management architecture in mega-satellite networks. Sci. China Inf. Sci. 67, 152301 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11432-023-3937-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11432-023-3937-y

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