Open Access

ARTICLE

An Efficient HAPS Cross-Layer Design to Mitigate COVID-19 Consequences

by Sameer Alsharif^*, Rashid A. Saeed, Yasser Albagory

Department of Computer Engineering, College of Computers and Information Technology, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia

* Corresponding Author: Sameer Alsharif. Email:

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Recent Advances in Intelligent Systems and Communication)

Intelligent Automation & Soft Computing 2022, 31(1), 43-59. https://doi.org/10.32604/iasc.2022.019493

Received 15 April 2021; Accepted 27 May 2021; Issue published 03 September 2021

Abstract

This paper proposes a new cross-layer communication system for the provision of Internet services and applications to mitigate the negative impacts of COVID-19, due to which the massive online demands are affecting the current communication systems’ infrastructures and capabilities. The system requirements and model are investigated where it utilizes high-altitude platform (HAP) for fast and efficient connectivity provision to bridge the communication infrastructure gap in the current pandemic. The HAP is linked to the main server or gateway station located on ground and can provide communication narrow beams towards isolated areas which suffer from poor terrestrial radio coverage or lack of communication infrastructure. The vital e-learning applications using Internet services provision from the proposed HAP system are described and modelled including system adaptation parameters such as the application and physical layers to control the data rates of different e-learning applications and the overall cell data rate. On the other hand, the provision of high-speed Internet services from the proposed system is supported by using adaptive antenna arrays onboard HAP which provides high-gain beams to achieve the required high-quality transmission data rates at the student premises and provides the capability of coverage cell area adaptation for load balancing. The concentric circular antenna arrays with tapered feeding are proposed in this adaptive antenna system to control the cell mainlobe gain and reduce the out-of-coverage radiation as well. In addition, the system feasibility has been proved in two coverage scenarios including single-beam and multibeam HAP communications.

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