Space-Air-Ground Integrated 6G Wireless Communication Networks: A Review of Antenna Technologies and Application Scenarios

A review of technological solutions and advances in the framework of a Vertical Heterogeneous Network (VHetNet) integrating satellite, airborne and terrestrial networks is presented. The disruptive features and challenges offered by a fruitful cooperation among these segments within a ubiquitous and seamless wireless connectivity are described. The available technologies and the key research directions for achieving global wireless coverage by considering all these layers are thoroughly discussed. Emphasis is placed on the available antenna systems in satellite, airborne and ground layers by highlighting strengths and weakness and by providing some interesting trends in research. A summary of the most suitable applicative scenarios for future 6G wireless communications are finally illustrated

Radio Resource Management Techniques for Multibeam Satellite Systems

Next-generation of satellite communication (SatCom) networks are expected to support extremely high data rates for a seamless integration into future large satellite-terrestrial networks. In view of the coming spectral limitations, the main challenge is to reduce the cost per bit, which can only be achieved by enhancing the spectral efficiency. In addition, the capability to quickly and flexibly assign radio resources according to the traffic demand distribution has become a must for future multibeam broadband satellite systems. This article presents the radio resource management problems encountered in the design of future broadband SatComs and provides a comprehensive overview of the available techniques to address such challenges. Firstly, we focus on the demand-matching formulation of the power and bandwidth assignment. Secondly, we present the scheduling design in practical multibeam satellite systems. Finally, a number of future challenges and the respective open research topics are described.Comment: Submitted to IEEE Communications Letter

A methodology to benchmark flexible payload architectures in a megaconstellation use case

International audienceThis paper proposes a methodology to benchmark satellite payload architectures and find the optimal trade-offs between high flexibility and low complexity. High flexibility would enable the satellite to adapt to various distributions of user terminals on the ground and fulfill the data rate demand of these users. Besides, low complexity is required to keep satellite networks competitive in the context of emerging 5G networks. To estimate the flexibility of a payload, an indicator to characterize the non-uniformity of user distributions is proposed. Each benchmarked payload may be characterized by a graph relating the throughput to this parameter further denoted mu. The payload provides the same throughput trends for different scenarios of user distributions with the same mu parameter. As a consequence, the average capacity of the system may be estimated by (a) calculating the probability distribution of mu over the orbit and (b) integrating the throughput based on this payload response. It thus results in a straightforward way for benchmarking payloads directly on an estimation of the averaged capacity, accounting for the user distribution over the earth. A simulation platform has been developed to characterize the payload throughput including the implementation of a resource allocation algorithm that accounts for constraints of various payloads. Using this definition and the developed tool, we benchmark a bent-pipe architecture, a beam hopping architecture and a hybrid beam-steering architecture for a LEO megaconstellation use case. The methodology showcases the interest for investigating different payload architectures depending on realistic traffic scenario analysis

Distributed Massive MIMO for LEO Satellite Networks

The ultra-dense deployment of interconnected satellites will characterize future low Earth orbit (LEO) mega-constellations. Exploiting this towards a more efficient satellite network (SatNet), this paper proposes a novel LEO SatNet architecture based on distributed massive multiple-input multiple-output (DM-MIMO) technology allowing ground user terminals to be connected to a cluster of satellites. To this end, we investigate various aspects of DM-MIMO-based satellite network design, the benefits of using this architecture, the associated challenges, and the potential solutions. In addition, we propose a distributed joint power allocation and handover management (D-JPAHM) technique that jointly optimizes the power allocation and handover management processes in a cross-layer manner. This framework aims to maximize the network throughput and minimize the handover rate while considering the quality-of-service (QoS) demands of user terminals and the power capabilities of the satellites. Moreover, we devise an artificial intelligence (AI)-based solution to efficiently implement the proposed D-JPAHM framework in a manner suitable for real-time operation and the dynamic SatNet environment. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work to introduce and study DM-MIMO technology in LEO SatNets. Extensive simulation results reveal the superiority of the proposed architecture and solutions compared to conventional approaches in the literature.Comment: arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:2106.0983

Potential Applications of Active Antenna Technologies for Emerging NASA Space Communications Scenarios

AbstractThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is presently embarking on the implementation of far-reaching changes within the framework of both space and aeronautics communications architectures. For example, near earth relays are looking to transition from the traditional few large geostationary satellites to satellite constellations consisting of thousands of small low earth orbiting satellites while lunar space communications will require the need to relay data from many assets distributed on the lunar surface back to earth. Furthermore, within the aeronautics realm, satellite communications for beyond line of sight (BLOS) links are being investigated in tandem with the proliferation of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) within the urban air mobility (UAM) environment. In all of these scenarios, future communications architectures will demand the need to connect and quickly transition between many nodes for large data volume transport. As such, NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) has been heavily investigating the development of low cost phased array technologies that can readily address these various scenario conditions. In particular, GRC is presently exploring 5G-based beamformer technologies to leverage commercial timescale and volume production cycles which have heretofore not existed within the frequency allocations utilized for NASA applications. In this paper, an overview of the potential future applications of phased arrays being envisioned by NASA are discussed, along with technology feasibility demonstrations being conducted by GRC implementing low cost, 5G based beamformer technologies

Dynamic frequency assignment for mobile users in multibeam satellite constellations

Els nivells de flexibilitat i escalabilitat mai vistos de la propera generació de sistemes de comunicació per satèl·lit exigeixen nous algorismes de gestió de recursos que s'adaptin a contextos dinàmics. El futur entorn dels serveis de comunicació per satèl·lit estarà definit per un nombre més gran d'usuaris, una gran part dels quals correspondrà a usuaris mòbils com avions o vaixells. El repte addicional que introdueixen aquests usuaris és abordar la incertesa espai-temporal que es presenta en forma de retards, canvis en la seva trajectòria, o tots dos. Atès que els usuaris mòbils constituiran un segment important del mercat, els operadors de satèl·lits prioritzen l'aprofitament dels avançats sistemes digitals per desenvolupar estratègies flexibles d'assignació de recursos que siguin robustes davant de les bases d'usuaris dinàmiques. Un dels problemes clau en aquest context és com gestionar l'espectre de freqüències de manera eficient. Mentre que nombroses solucions aborden escenaris d'assignació de dinàmica freqüències, el nivell addicional de complexitat que presenten els usuaris mòbils no ha estat prou estudiat, i no és clar si els nous algorismes d'assignació de freqüències poden abordar la incertesa espai-temporal. Concretament, sostenim que els canvis inesperats en la posició dels usuaris introdueixen noves restriccions en l'assignació de freqüències que els algoritmes la literatura podrien no ser capaços de complir, especialment si les decisions s'han de prendre en temps real i a escala. Per solucionar aquesta limitació, proposem un algorisme de gestió dinàmica de freqüències basat en programació lineal entera que assigna recursos a escenaris amb usuaris tant fixos com mòbils, tenint en compte la incertesa espai-temporal d'aquests últims. El nostre mètode inclou tant la planificació a llarg termini com l'operació en temps real, una sinergia que no ha estat prou explorada per a les comunicacions per satèl·lit i que és crítica quan s'opera sota incertesa. PLos niveles de flexibilidad y escalabilidad nunca vistos de la próxima generación de sistemas de comunicación por satélite exigen nuevos algoritmos de gestión de recursos que se adapten a contextos dinámicos. El futuro entorno de los servicios de comunicación por satélite estará definido por un mayor número de usuarios, una gran parte de los cuales corresponderá a usuarios móviles como aviones o barcos. El reto adicional que introducen estos usuarios es abordar la incertidumbre espacio-temporal que se presenta en forma de retrasos, cambios en su trayectoria, o ambos. Dado que los usuarios móviles constituirán un segmento importante del mercado, los operadores de satélites dan prioridad al aprovechamiento de los avanzadas sistemas digitales para desarrollar estrategias flexibles de asignación de recursos que sean robustas frente a las bases de usuarios dinámicas. Uno de los problemas clave en este contexto es cómo gestionar el espectro de frecuencias de forma eficiente. Mientras que numerosas soluciones abordan escenarios de asignación dinámica de frecuencias, el nivel adicional de complejidad que presentan los usuarios móviles no ha sido suficientemente estudiado, y no está claro si los nuevos algoritmos de asignación de frecuencias pueden abordar la incertidumbre espacio-temporal. En concreto, sostenemos que los cambios inesperados en la posición de los usuarios introducen nuevas restricciones en la asignación de frecuencias que los algoritmos la literatura podrían no ser capaces de cumplir, especialmente si las decisiones deben tomarse en tiempo real y a escala. Para solventar esta limitación, proponemos un algoritmo de gestión dinámica de frecuencias basado en la programación lineal entera que asigna recursos en escenarios con usuarios tanto fijos como móviles, teniendo en cuenta la incertidumbre espacio-temporal de estos últimos. Nuestro método incluye tanto la planificación a largo plazo como la operación en tiempo real, una sinergia que no ha sido suficientThe unprecedented levels of flexibility and scalability of the next generation of communication satellite systems call for new resource management algorithms that adapt to dynamic environments. The upcoming landscape of satellite communication services will be defined by an increased number of unique users, a large portion of which will correspond to mobile users such as planes or ships. The additional challenge introduced by these users is addressing the spatiotemporal uncertainty that comes in the form of delays, changes in their trajectory, or both. Given that mobile users will constitute an important segment of the market, satellite operators prioritize leveraging modern digital payloads to develop flexible resource allocation strategies that are robust against dynamic user bases. One of the key problems in this context is how to manage the frequency spectrum efficiently. While numerous solutions address dynamic frequency assignment scenarios, the additional layer of complexity presented by mobile users has not been sufficiently studied, and it is unclear whether novel frequency assignment algorithms can address spatiotemporal uncertainty. Specifically, we argue that unexpected changes in the position of users introduce new restrictions into the frequency assignment, which previous algorithms in the literature might not be able to meet, especially if decisions need to be made in real-time and at scale. To address this gap, we propose a dynamic frequency management algorithm based on integer linear programming that assigns resources in scenarios with both fixed and mobile users, accounting for the spatiotemporal uncertainty of the latter. Our method includes both long-term planning and real-time operation, a synergy that has not been sufficiently explored for satellite communications and proves to be critical when operating under uncertainty. To fulfill the problem’s scope, we propose different strategies that extend a state-of-the-art frequency management algOutgoin

Satellite-Based Communications Security: A Survey of Threats, Solutions, and Research Challenges

Satellite-based Communication systems are gaining renewed momentum in Industry and Academia, thanks to innovative services introduced by leading tech companies and the promising impact they can deliver towards the global connectivity objective tackled by early 6G initiatives. On the one hand, the emergence of new manufacturing processes and radio technologies promises to reduce service costs while guaranteeing outstanding communication latency, available bandwidth, flexibility, and coverage range. On the other hand, cybersecurity techniques and solutions applied in SATCOM links should be updated to reflect the substantial advancements in attacker capabilities characterizing the last two decades. However, business urgency and opportunities are leading operators towards challenging system trade-offs, resulting in an increased attack surface and a general relaxation of the available security services. In this paper, we tackle the cited problems and present a comprehensive survey on the link-layer security threats, solutions, and challenges faced when deploying and operating SATCOM systems.Specifically, we classify the literature on security for SATCOM systems into two main branches, i.e., physical-layer security and cryptography schemes.Then, we further identify specific research domains for each of the identified branches, focusing on dedicated security issues, including, e.g., physical-layer confidentiality, anti-jamming schemes, anti-spoofing strategies, and quantum-based key distribution schemes. For each of the above domains, we highlight the most essential techniques, peculiarities, advantages, disadvantages, lessons learned, and future directions.Finally, we also identify emerging research topics whose additional investigation by Academia and Industry could further attract researchers and investors, ultimately unleashing the full potential behind ubiquitous satellite communications.Comment: 72 page