Design of Terrestrial-Satellite Hybrid Communication Networks.

In a hybrid communication system, comprising both satellite and terrestrial networks, part of the network topology is adaptable. The availabiltiy of adaptable topology and alternate routing in such networks provides the designer with considerable freedom to insure satisfactory network and point-to-point grades of service. The complexity inherent in such a design problem is discussed. A heuristic algorithm--which can be implemented on a digital computer--for designing hybrid networks with the aim of reducing all node-to-node grades of service below a prescribed value is given. Several topics of further research are presented. Author