SAT04-4: A New Algorithm for Handover Management in LEO Satellite Networks

Handover management in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite networks is a challenging task for supporting global mobile communication. A major problem with LEO satellites is their higher speed relative to terrestrial mobile terminals, which move at lower speeds but at more random directions. In this paper we propose a new LEO handover management algorithm, which utilizes the inter-satellite links and buffering capability of LEO satellites aiming at decreasing latency, data loss, and handover blocking probability. This is achieved by the newly introduced Billboard Manager which is used for location updates of mobile users and satellites. The Billboard Manager makes the proposed handover model much more flexible and easier than the current solutions, since it is a central server and supports the management of the whole system. To show the performance of the proposed algorithm, we run an extensive set of simulations both for the proposed algorithm and well known handover management methods as a baseline model. The simulation results show that the proposed algorithm is very promising for seamless handover in LEO satellites.