QFAF: Enable QUIC with Feedback-Based Adaptive FEC in LEO Satellite Networks

Low Earth Orbit Satellite Networks (LEOSN) are emerging as promising providers of high-quality, low-latency services for global communications, offering extensive coverage and substantial backhaul capacity. However, due to factors such as rapid movement, frequent antenna switching, multipath propagation, and shadowing effects, LEOSN often encounter dynamic high packet loss, resulting in reduced throughput and increased latency. In this paper, we propose a Feedback-Based Adaptive Forward Error Correction scheme for QUIC (QFAF) to tackle these challenges and enhance transmission performance. QFAF dynamically integrates In-Window FEC packets (IW-FEC) and End-Window FEC packets (EW-FEC) based on feedback regarding packet reception status, aiming to minimize decode delay and retransmissions. Experimental results in the LEOSN environment demonstrate that QFAF significantly enhances throughput and reduces effective delivery delay.