Trace-driven Path Emulation of Satellite Networks using Hypatia

2025-10-30

AI Summary

Existing discrete-event simulators (e.g., Hypatia) struggle to accurately evaluate real-world protocols and applications in LEO mega-constellation networks, exhibiting a substantial fidelity gap between simulation and empirical measurements. To bridge this gap, we propose a trajectory-driven satellite network path simulation–replay architecture: leveraging Hypatia for offline, high-fidelity path modeling and feature extraction to generate reusable end-to-end trajectory files, which are then replayed in real time on actual hardware and software platforms. This tightly couples simulation with network emulation. The architecture supports multi-constellation scenarios and precisely reproduces dynamic network characteristics—including latency, bandwidth, and topology evolution. Experimental evaluation demonstrates a correlation of 0.96 between simulated and replayed results, significantly enhancing the realism and reproducibility of protocol and application assessments in LEO satellite networks.

Technology Category

• Search and Optimization: Sampling/Simulation-based Search
• Planning, Routing, and Scheduling: Replanning and Plan Repair
• Cognitive Modeling & Cognitive Systems: Simulating Human Behavior

Application Category

• Systems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Web performance, measurement, and characterization
• Web Mining and Content Analysis: Web data generation and simulation
• Search and Retrieval-Augmented AI: Web evaluation methodologies and metrics

Abstract

The increasing prevalence LEO satellite mega-constellations for global Internet coverage requires new approaches to evaluate the behavior of existing Internet protocols and applications. Traditional discrete event simulators like Hypatia allow for modeling these environments but fall short in evaluating real applications. This paper builds upon our previous work, in which we proposed a system design for trace-driven emulation of such satellite networks, bridging the gab between simulations and real-time testbeds. By extending the Hypatia framework, we record network path characteristics, e.g., delay and bandwidth, between two endpoints in the network during non-real-time simulations. Path characteristics are exported to Trace Files, which are replayed in real-time emulation environments on real systems, enabling evaluations with real software and human interaction. An advantage of our approach is its easy adaptability to existing simulation models. Our extensive evaluation involves multiple scenarios with different satellite constellations, illustrating the approach's accuracy in reproducing the behavior of satellite networks. Between full simulation, which serves as a baseline for our evaluation, and emulation runs, we observe high correlation metrics of up to 0.96, validating the approach's effectiveness. Challenges such as the lack of emulation-to-simulation feedback and synchronization issues are discussed.

Problem

• Evaluating Internet protocols for LEO satellite mega-constellations
• Bridging simulation and real-time emulation of satellite networks
• Reproducing satellite network behavior using trace-driven emulation

Innovation

• Extends Hypatia framework for satellite network emulation
• Records path characteristics like delay and bandwidth
• Replays trace files in real-time emulation environments