A Resource Allocation Scheme in Heterogeneous Multi-system Satellite Network with Beam-hopping

The emerging architecture in the next generation of mobile networks leverages the coexistence of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and Geostationary Orbit (GEO) satellites in a heterogeneous network. This setup not only offers seamless coverage but also enhances user rates. Nevertheless, the efficient allocation of onboard resources, particularly spectrum resources, poses a significant challenge due to their scarcity in such heterogeneous satellite coexistence networks. A practical solution is found in the use of beam hopping (BH) technology. This technology enables multi-beam satellites to serve users using fewer beams than traditional spot-beam systems. This paper proposes a resource allocation strategy for the heterogeneous LEO-GEO coexistence satellite network. We formulate this resource allocation strategy as a joint optimization problem. Due to the complexity of the system arising from the coupling of multiple variables, we break down the original problem into two manageable sub-problems. The first addresses user association, subcarrier, and power allocation and employs a standard convex optimization algorithm for a solution. The second tackles the illuminated beam selection issue, with a genetic algorithm (GA) providing a solution. The effectiveness of our proposed scheme is established through simulation experiments, demonstrating clear performance gains.