Location dependent allocation of timers and buffers at layer-2 in LEO based 5G-NTN

January 1, 2023·
Chandan Kumar Sheemar
,
Sumit Kumar
,
Jorge Querol
,
Symeon Chatzinotas
· 2 min read
Abstract
The integration of Terrestrial Networks (TN) and Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN), primarily utilizing satellites, has gained significant attention due to the potential of NTN to provide widespread coverage. The unique physical layer properties of 5G-NR offer the possibility of direct access to 5G services through satellites. However, the substantial Round-Trip Delays (RTD) associated with NTNs necessitate a re-evaluation of the design of timers and buffers in the radio link control (RLC) and packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layers. This is particularly crucial for regenerative payload satellites with limited computational resources that require optimal utilization of the available resources. This research aims to explore the integration of emerging NTNs with limited resources from a higher-layer perspective. We propose a novel and efficient method for designing the buffers and timers in the RLC and PDCP layers without the need for intensive computations. Since the optimal solution depends on the RTD, which might result to be different for users located at different spots of the satellite beam, a user location-dependent approach is adopted. This approach is particularly relevant for efficiently utilizing the available limited resources and avoiding unnecessary delays in the system. Through simulations, we demonstrate that the proposed methods significantly improve performance in terms of resource utilization and reducing delays.
Type
Publication
IET Conference Proceedings CP873
publication

Abstract & Overview

The integration of Terrestrial Networks (TN) and Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN), primarily utilizing satellites, has gained significant attention due to the potential of NTN to provide widespread coverage. The unique physical layer properties of 5G-NR offer the possibility of direct access to 5G services through satellites. However, the substantial Round-Trip Delays (RTD) associated with NTNs necessitate a re-evaluation of the design of timers and buffers in the radio link control (RLC) and packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layers. This is particularly crucial for regenerative payload satellites with limited computational resources that require optimal utilization of the available resources. This research aims to explore the integration of emerging NTNs with limited resources from a higher-layer perspective. We propose a novel and efficient method for designing the buffers and timers in the RLC and PDCP layers without the need for intensive computations. Since the optimal solution depends on the RTD, which might result to be different for users located at different spots of the satellite beam, a user location-dependent approach is adopted. This approach is particularly relevant for efficiently utilizing the available limited resources and avoiding unnecessary delays in the system. Through simulations, we demonstrate that the proposed methods significantly improve performance in terms of resource utilization and reducing delays.

Publication Metadata

6G-NTN Satellite Communications