Modeling and simulation for delay estimation of a generic packet transferred in a satellite data network

Abstract

This article presents the findings of a simulation model designed to elucidate the delays experienced within a satellite data communication network. This study addresses a condition that needs to be sufficiently explored in previous research: the impact of the hub load variation in communication delays, in addition to including the success probability in the transmission of packets. The analysis focuses on Geostationary orbit (GEO) satellites, using the Ku-band, as this approach was the first one to be available commercially in the realm of satellite communications and sometimes, the only option in places where the local infrastructure is poorly developed or even unavailable. This simulation model estimates the average response time for a generic packet (“ping”) to travel through this network and its probability distribution in the total delay. This analysis considered some fixed and predefined values, such as the outbound carrier rate, the packet size, the satellite delay, and also some others that are influenced by the condition of the equipment, citing as example the hub processing load, service time, the probability of success in transmission, hub queue, etc. The Monte Carlo simulation model results indicated that 90% of the delay is below the Mean + 1σ, whose approximately value is 1.6 s.