ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on Network Coding. It introduces several approaches to coding at the physical layer as well as packet-level coding for space links implementing the Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems protocol stack. Besides providing fundamentals about the underlying theory and principles, a dedicated focus is directed to the approaches' application in the delay-tolerant networks (DTN) domain. The chapter discusses basic terminology and points out selected advantages of network coding in DTN. It also discusses the underlying mathematical domain: Finite Fields. There are two core benefits of applying network coding in contrast to plain packet forwarding or source-based coding approaches, resulting in some application contexts: An increase in throughput and an increase in reliability. Further advantages discussed in the state of the art are aspects such as an increase in security or a reduction in complexity. The chapter concludes with a brief focus on implementation aspects and practical considerations of network coding in DTNs, including a concrete case study.
