Publications Journal article · Delay-tolerant networks · 2026

Contact Plan Design for Cross-Linked GNSSs: An ILP Approach for Extended Applications

Huan Yan, Juan A. Fraire, Ziqi Yang, Kanglian Zhao, Wenfeng Li, Xiyun Hou, Haohan Li, Yuxuan Miao, Jinjun Zheng, Chengbin Kang, Huichao Zhou, Xinuo Chang, Lu Wang, and Linshan Xue

IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems, vol. 62, pp. 6751–6770, 2026

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Abstract

Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSSs) employ intersatellite links (ISLs) to reduce dependence on ground stations, enabling precise ranging and communication across satellites. Beyond their traditional role, ISLs can support extended applications, including providing navigation and communication services to external entities. However, designing effective contact plan design (CPD) schemes for these multifaceted ISLs, operating under a polling time-division duplex framework, remains a critical challenge. Existing CPD approaches focus solely on meeting GNSS satellites' internal ranging and communication demands, neglecting their extended applications. This article introduces a CPD scheme capable of supporting extended GNSS ISLs. By modeling GNSS requirements and designing a tailored service process, our approach ensures the allocation of essential resources for internal operations while accommodating external user demands. Based on the BeiDou constellation, simulation results demonstrate the proposed scheme's efficacy in maintaining core GNSS functionality while providing extended ISLs on a best-effort basis. In addition, the results highlight the significant impact of GNSS ISLs in enhancing orbit determination and clock synchronization for the Earth–Moon libration point constellation, underscoring the importance of extended GNSS ISL applications.

Cite

DOI 10.1109/taes.2026.3671753

BibTeX

@article{DBLP:journals/taes/YanFYZLHLMZKZCWX26,
  author  = {Huan Yan and Juan A. Fraire and Ziqi Yang and Kanglian Zhao and Wenfeng Li and Xiyun Hou and Haohan Li and Yuxuan Miao and Jinjun Zheng and Chengbin Kang and Huichao Zhou and Xinuo Chang and Lu Wang and Linshan Xue},
  title   = {Contact Plan Design for Cross-Linked GNSSs: An {ILP} Approach for Extended Applications},
  journal = {IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems},
  volume  = {62},
  pages   = {6751--6770},
  year    = {2026},
  doi     = {10.1109/taes.2026.3671753}
}

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