A Minimum Connected Dominating Set Based Multicast Routing Algorithm in Hybrid LEO/MEO/GEO Constellation Network

Multicast capability could provide excellent distribution services for globally scattered users in a multi-layer satellite network with global coverage. In this paper, we proposed a distributed routing algorithm for a hybrid LEO/MEO/GEO satellite constellation network based on a time-evolving Minimum Connected Dominating Set (MCDS) algorithm, which is constructed in a serial of slotted topology snapshots. The simulation results show that, the proposed routing algorithm could find an end-to-end route with less costs both in single and multiple time slots than the minimal spanning trees (SMT) algorithm, by making a trade-off between end-to-end hops and total path cost.