Efficient communications using the meteor-burst channel

This work presents the results of a theoretical study of the meteor-burst channel which illustrates its time-varying bursty nature. In addition, the authors describe an innovative approach to data transmission over meteor-burst systems, i.e. the use of the feedback adaptive variable rate (FAVR) system which allows the maximum amount of information to be transmitted over each meteor-burst channel. For underdense meteor channels the FAVR performance is compared to an optimum system, i.e. a system capable of changing its bit rate instantaneously to channel conditions so as to maintain a constant SNR in each bit, and to a constant optimum rate/burst system. It is shown that when compared to an optimum rate per burst system, FAVR can result in a throughput increase exceeding a factor of 10. It is also shown that FAVR can approach the optimum system performance, although for practical purposes, it appears that 83-88% of optimum is attainable