Performance comparison of different dynamic channel allocation techniques for mobile satellite systems

Dynamic Channel Allocation (DCA) techniques permit a high resource utilization in cellular networks and are able to adapt themselves in the presence of rapid variations of traffic loads offered to the cells. Therefore, they are particularly suitable for Mobile Satellite Systems (MSSs). This paper compares the performance of several DCA solutions that are based on the evaluation of a cost function in terms of both quality of service parameters (i.e., blocking probabilities) and signaling load to be supported by the system. Both GEostationary Orbit (GEO) and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) MSSs have been considered. A particularly interesting DCA solution is proposed that tries to serve a new call attempt in a cell where no channel is available by means of a channel reconfiguration in an interfering cell. Handover requests that do not attain immediately service can be queued for a maximum time in order to enhance system performance.