Semi-Markov multistate modeling of the land mobile propagation channel for geostationary satellites

This paper describes a new semi-Markov propagation channel model for land mobile satellite systems using geostationary satellites. The multistate model switches between propagation states representing line-of-sight, shadowing, or blockage of the signal. The duration of times spent in each state follow probability distributions recommended by the radiocommunication sector of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU-R). The actual parameters to be used with the ITU-R distributions were modified and fitted to observed data. The open-area state durations follow a power-law distribution, while the state durations for both the shadowed and the blocked states follow a lognormal distribution. Parameters for both two- and three-state models are extracted from an L-band measurement campaign performed by Inmarsat in the United Kingdom. Propagation channel models characterizing the fading within the open, shadowed, or blocked propagation states are described as well. The semi-Markov models represent an improvement over the more commonly used Markov models where the duration in each state follows an exponential distribution. The new model enables more accurate prediction and simulation of system performance and availability.