ISAC-Powered Distributed Matching and Resource Allocation in Multi-band NTN

2025-12-02

AI Summary

To address the challenges of massive user scales, sub-6 GHz spectrum scarcity, and rain-induced attenuation impairing link reliability in non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellite networks—particularly at K-band and above—this paper proposes an Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC)-driven distributed multi-band coordination framework. The framework jointly incorporates atmospheric environment sensing, dynamic satellite–cell association, and S/K-band cooperative resource allocation, enabling multi-satellite, multi-beam coordination and dynamic beam hopping. Its key innovation lies in deep coupling of communication and sensing to enable real-time channel state estimation under rain attenuation and adaptive resource scheduling, thereby overcoming the robustness limitations of conventional single-band systems. Experimental results demonstrate a 73% improvement in average user throughput over standalone S- or K-band systems, significantly enhancing spectral efficiency and operational reliability of multi-band non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) under adverse weather conditions.

Technology Category

• Multiagent Systems: Coordination and Collaboration
• Planning, Routing, and Scheduling: Optimization of Spatio-temporal Systems
• Search and Optimization: Distributed Search

Application Category

• Systems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Data management and stream processing for Web, mobile and wireless applications
• Semantics and Knowledge: Methods to enhance, augment, integrate or synergize semantic models such as knowledge graphs and LLMs
• Social Networks and Social Media: Social media analysis through the lenses of networks

Abstract

Scalability is a major challenge in non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellite networks due to the massive number of ground users sharing the limited sub-6 GHz spectrum. Using K- and higher bands is a promising alternative to increase the accessible bandwidth, but these bands are subject to significant atmospheric attenuation, notably rainfall, which can lead to degraded performance and link outages. We present an integrated sensing and communications (ISAC)-powered framework for resilient and efficient operation of multi-band satellite networks. It is based on distributed mechanisms for atmospheric sensing, cell-to-satellite matching, and resource allocation (RA) in a 5G Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) wide-area scenario with quasi-Earth fixed cells and a beam hopping mechanism. Results with a multi-layer multi-band constellation with satellites operating in the S- and K-bands demonstrate the benefits of our framework for ISAC-powered multi-band systems, which achieves 73% higher throughput per user when compared to single S- and K-band systems.

Problem

• Enhances scalability in NGSO satellite networks
• Mitigates atmospheric attenuation in higher frequency bands
• Optimizes cell-to-satellite matching and resource allocation

Innovation

• ISAC framework for multi-band satellite networks
• Distributed atmospheric sensing and resource allocation
• Beam hopping with quasi-Earth fixed cells