Analysis of handover characteristics in shadowed LEO satellite communication networks

In the near future, low earth orbit (LEO) satellite communication networks will partially substitute the fixed terrestrial multimedia networks especially in sparsely populated areas. Unlike fixed terrestrial networks, ongoing calls may be dropped if satellite channels are shadowed. Therefore, in most LEO satellite communication networks more than one satellite needs to be simultaneously visible in order to hand over a call to an unshadowed satellite when the communicating satellite is shadowed. In this paper, handover characteristics for fixed terminals (FTs) in LEO satellite communication networks are analysed. The probability distribution of multiple satellite visibility is analytically obtained and the shadowing process of satelites for FTs are modelled. Using the proposed analysis model, shadowing effects on the traffic performance are evaluated in terms of the number of intersatellite and interbeam handovers during a call. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.