Cross-layer design approach for multicast scheduling over satellite networks

In this paper, we propose a cross-layer design approach using perfect prediction-based wireless channel conditions to improve the performance of a multicast packet scheduler over satellite network environments in the downlink transmission. The satellite channels are modeled in single and multi-environments with different values of Rician K factors and its corresponding elevation angle, mean and standard deviation values. From simulation results, the channel state information (CSI) of each user in the multicast group is considered and becomes the condition for the transmission of the multicast packet. We assume the users suffer slow-varying channels such that the CSI update is within the time interval for slot allocation. The result indicates that a positive performance improvement is gained by adopting a cross-layer-design approach in a fading environment. By obtaining the CSI before transmitting multicast flows, the approach reduces unnecessary transmission of background traffic and hence reduces unnecessary resource allocation and retransmission requests.