Multi-streaming multi-homing delay tolerant network protocol

An apparatus for deep space communication, the apparatus comprising:

• one or more processing devices;
• a first transceiver coupled to the one or more processing devices and configured to transmit and receive signals over a first communication link;
• a second transceiver coupled to the one or more processing device and configured to transmit and receive signals over a second communication link;
• one or more mass storage devices coupled to the one or more processing devices;
• and
• one or more memory devices coupled to the one or more processing devices, wherein the one or more memory devices includes instructions which, when executed by the one or more processing devices, cause the one or more processing devices to:
• generate a first packet;
• assign a first priority level to the first packet;
• assign the first packet to a first stream of a plurality of streams based on a rule specifying that packets of the first priority level are to be assigned to the first stream;
• select at least one communication link from a plurality of communication links for transmission of the first packet, wherein select is a function of a rule specifying which one or more communication links a packet of stream is to be transmitted over;
• and
• transmit the first packet over the at least one communication link;
• generate a plurality of packets;
• assign each of the plurality of packets to a stream of the plurality of streams;
• if all communication links for transmission of one or more packets of the plurality of packets are unavailable, determine whether to store or discard the one or more packets, wherein determine whether to store or discard the one or more packets includes determine as a function of a stream to which the packet is assigned, wherein determine whether to store or discard the one or more packets includes determine as a function of a quantity of storage space available in the mass storage device;
• store a first at least one packet in a mass storage device, wherein the first at least one packet is stored with an indication of the stream assigned thereto;
• discard a second at least one packet;
• and
• retrieve the first at least one packets from the mass storage device and transmit the first at least one packets if a communication link for transmission of the first at least one packet becomes available.

A non-transitory a processor-readable medium including instructions which, when executed by a processing device, cause the processing device to:

• generate a first packet of a first type;
• assign the first packet to a first stream of a plurality of streams based on a rule specifying that packets of the first type are to be assigned to the first stream;
• select at least one communication link from a plurality of communication links for transmission of the first packet, wherein select is a function of a rule specifying which one or more communication links a packet of stream is to be transmitted over;
• and
• transmit the first packet over the at least one communication link;
• generate a plurality of packets;
• assign each of the plurality of packets to a stream of the plurality of streams;
• if all communication links for transmission of one or more packets of the plurality of packets are unavailable, determine whether to store or discard the one or more packets, wherein determine whether to store or discard the one or more packets includes determine as a function of a stream to which the packet is assigned, wherein determine whether to store or discard the one or more packets includes determine as a function of a quantity of storage space available in the mass storage device;
• store a first at least one packet in a mass storage device, wherein the first at least one packet is stored with an indication of the stream assigned thereto;
• discard a second at least one packet;
• and
• retrieve the first at least one packets from the mass storage device and transmit the first at least one packets if a communication link for transmission of the first at least one packet becomes available.