Network performance evaluations for Ku band mobile satellite communications system based on Shinkansen railroad's propagation conditions

Abstract

This paper presents the network performance of our Ku band mobile satellite communications system under actual Shinkansen railroad propagation conditions. First, satellite visibility were judged by examining the obstacles obscuring the satellite in video taken by a small CCD camera with a fish-eye lens that was placed under the roof window of the Shinkansen High-Speed Multiple Inspection Train. After obtaining satellite visibility data, the statistical features of the obstacles affecting satellite visibility were analyzed. Based on these data, we clarified the optimum design parameter of layer-3 diversity, which is a diversity reception scheme for selecting IP packets (layer 3) as a shadowing countermeasure technology. The network throughput for all Tokaido Shinkansen routes was simulated on the test bed by using the satellite visibility data. The effectiveness of the shadowing countermeasure technology is discussed in relation to these throughput results.