Meteorburst data communication protocol considerations

The authors detail the protocol considerations relating to the implementation of meteor-burst-based data communications networks. In the design of the meteor-burst protocol, the open systems interconnection (OSI) model for data communication was followed as closely as possible, given the limitation imposed on the protocol by the channel. Due to the particular characteristics of the channel, the data-link as well as the network and transport layers require special tailoring to the purposes of the system. The existing system is essentially a partially interconnected mesh consisting of up to 16 master stations for the upper layer of the network with each master having a star of dedicated remote stations (the lower network). Field trials have been conducted between Johannesburg and Pietermaritzburg (a distance of 480 km) for the past 12 months. Preliminary analysis indicates a throughput improvement on the order of 20% for the use of a selective reject protocol as opposed to the current go-back-N. Limited networking tests have been performed with a three-way network, and the protocol has been verified as robust for both meteor-burst and line-of-sight physical layers