Iteration-based identification of faulty links in LEO/MEO satellite communication networks

Satellite systems are going to be an important part of the future personal communication infrastructure. The first-generation candidates for satellite personal communication networks (S-PCN) will rely on low earth orbiting (LEO) and medium earth orbiting (MEO) constellations. For LEO satellite systems employing intersatellite links (ISLs), we present a iteration-based algorithm to identify faulty links, which applies to a satellite network assuming a connection-oriented network structure, e.g., ATM or ATM-type switches on-board satellites. In the algorithm a management satellite can autonomously and real-time identify a ranked list of the most probable failed network links through building discrete-time dynamic virtual topology graph (DT-DVTG), then testing can be used to quickly pinpoint the actual faulty links. The performance of the algorithm is evaluated through simulations.