Analysis on dynamic of node storage in space delay/disruption tolerant networking

Delay/Disruption Tolerant Networking (DTN) architecture is expected to play a promising role in future deep space missions. Scientific data interactions over space DTN involve several hops inevitable, since simultaneous and direct connectivity among all intermediate nodes are becoming more difficult in space scenarios. Therefore, the characteristics and capabilities of the node storage are vital factors for the quality of data delivery over space DTN. This paper proposes an analytical framework based on multi-dimension Markov chain to evaluate the dynamic on storage of intermediate nodes in space DTN. According to the proposed framework, we develop a delay model and consequently a success probability model for bundles delivery over space DTN, both of which are dependent closely on the sojourn time in node storages. The numerical results show that: a) dividing source-file data into bigger bundles can bring longer high-storage-occupancy time on intermediary nodes; b) the shorter storage occupation time of node is more susceptible to the bundle sizes than to LTP segment sizes. c) the delivery success probability of the bundles is more dependent on smaller DTN bundles than on LTP segment sizes given the constrains on Time-to-live of bundles in space missions.