Software Defined Space-Air-Ground Integrated Vehicular Networks: Challenges and Solutions

TLDR

The article proposes a software‑defined space‑air‑ground integrated network architecture to support diverse vehicular services seamlessly, efficiently, and cost‑effectively. The architecture employs a layered structure, slices legacy resources for isolation, pools resources into a dynamic space‑air‑ground pool managed by hierarchical controllers, and is demonstrated through a case study.

Abstract

This article proposes a software defined spaceair- ground integrated network architecture for supporting diverse vehicular services in a seamless, efficient, and cost-effective manner. First, the motivations and challenges for integration of space-air-ground networks are reviewed. Second, a software defined network architecture with a layered structure is presented. To protect the legacy services in the satellite, aerial, and terrestrial segments, resources in each segment are sliced through network slicing to achieve service isolation. Then available resources are put into a common and dynamic space-air-ground resource pool, which is managed by hierarchical controllers to accommodate vehicular services. Finally, a case study is carried out, followed by discussion on some open research topics.