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 especia lly in sparsely populated areas. Unlike fixed terrestrial networks, ongoing calls may be dropped if satellite channels are shadowed. Therefore, in mos t LEO satellite communication networks more than one satellite needs to be simultaneously visible in order to hand over a call to an unshadowed satell ite when the communicating satellite is shadowed. In this paper, handover c haracteristics for fixed terminals (FTs) in LEO satellite communication net works are analysed. The probability distribution of multiple satellite visi bility is analytically obtained and the shadowing process of satelites for FTs are modelled. Using the proposed analysis model, shadowing effects on t he traffic performance are evaluated in terms of the number of intersatelli te and interbeam handovers during a call. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & S ons, Ltd.