Efficient Networking and MAC Techniques in Next Generation Interactive Broadband Satellite Networks

Status

Completed
Status date

2011-09-22
Activity Code

1D.008

Objectives

Interactive broadband satellite networks targeting consumer and business applications have to meet many stringent requirements and constraint to be competitive with respect to terrestrial broadband networks:

Ability to deliver to end-users the same experience as terrestrial access networks at an affordable cost,
Seamless integration with internet,
Interoperability between subsystems manufactured by different vendors.

This project studies the efficient networking and MAC techniques that are able to satisfy these requirements in interactive broadband satellite systems (DVB-RCS NG, VSAT, Mesh).

The project takes the DVB-RCS NG commercial requirements as initial point and then, reviews the current status of the Higher Layers for Satellite (HLS) specifications for Interactive Broadband Satellite systems. The main target is to obtain specific recommendations, and perform several efficiency evaluation tasks that will derive a new set of recommendations to complete the standardization.

The first objective of the project is the development of recommendations for the following aspects of DVB-RCS NG:

Multi vendor interoperability across higher layers of interactive broadband satellite networks,
Optimisation of HLS techniques (in terms of throughput, quality of experience, responsiveness),
Seamless integration with terrestrial access networks, development of OSS interfaces and associated management & control framework,
Efficient integration of Random Access (RA) with DAMA particularly for SCADA and large consumer networks.

The second objective is to assist the Agency in the DVB-RCS NG standardization process regarding the above mentioned HLS and MAC aspects: firstly, in the form of contributions to the TM-RCS group, and secondly with white papers and contributions to other standardization groups and General Stakeholders in Broadband Interactive satellite systems. Once the RCS2 HLS normative specification is closed, the focus will move to recommendations to be included in the guidelines document(s) of RCS2.

The recommendations will be supported by performance and functional evaluation, using network simulation tools (e.g., OPNET, OMNET, NS2) and protocol and systems simulation tools (Rational ROSE) to help identify the optimal solution.

Challenges

Efficient networking and MAC techniques in Next Generation interactive broadband satellite networks addressing:

QoS differentiation, PEPs, header compression,
Interoperability between vendors,
Integration with terrestrial infrastructures and service management and control interfaces,
Efficient MAC techniques for MF-TDMA DAMA with Random Access mechanisms.

Benefits

At no time in history have telecommunications and networking standards and guidelines been more important. Such standards and rules are being developed by a range of IP networking standardisation bodies in order to allow high quality communications and rapid interconnections of different media. The correct definition of the Higher Layer Satellite for interactive satellite broadband satellite networks (not only DVB-RCS2) will be crucial to ensure satellite systems become an integral part of the all-IP network.

The work to be performed in this project will produce a series of white papers describing provision of efficient networking and MAC techniques that satisfy key commercial requirements for the satellite interactive network such as the interoperability among different manufacturers, seamless integration with terrestrial networks, achieving a user experience close to those terrestrial access networks, and costs reduction to make satellite services affordable for consumers. These will be appropriate to a range of satellite systems and will be made available to the wider community. It will apply these results to derive specific recommendations to assist the Agency support for the to the TM-RCS group for the completion of the normative documents.

Features

Efficient networking and MAC techniques in Next Generation interactive broadband satellite networks.

Set of Higher Layer Satellite (HLS) techniques

Optimization of HLS techniques:
- QoS strategy,
- New routing,
- Performance enhancement functions (PEP, HC).
Interoperability, cost reduction, interest for operators and subscribers,
Converged all-IP communication and service infrastructure: seamless integration with terrestrial networks,
Management satellite network signalling framework and interaction with terrestrial management systems,
Introduction of Random Access (RA) and Efficient integration of MF-TDMA DAMA and RA.

Outputs

White papers and contributions to standardization groups.

Plan

The work will be performed during 12 months and is divided into four separate Work Packages (WPs):

WP1000 derives the detailed networking architectures for the DVB-RCS NG systems with consequent implications to the system specification.
WP2000 reviews DVB-RCS NG draft contributions and working documents made by the TM-RCS WG at the time this activity starts. The scope of the selected draft contributions includes HLS and the integration of Random Access (RA) with DAMA mechanisms.

The output of the WP1000 and WP2000 will propose enhancements in key areas with target objectives and priorities for the work in DVB-RCS NG HLS.

WP3000 will investigate and propose enhancements for the key HLS and RA-DAMA integration issues that were approved by the Agency at the end of MR1. The output of this task will combine generic recommendations on the use of upper layer and MAC solutions. These recommendations will include the definition of the necessary protocols, interfaces, MIB objects, and state machines. Also, the proposed techniques and solutions will be subjected to functional validation and performance evaluation via simulation. The source code and/or configuration files for simulators employed in the performance evaluation will also be provided.
Finally, WP4000 will provide recommendations in support of the DVB-RCS NG standardisation activity and propose recommendation for further activities. To this end this WP will include technical contributions and discussions being made within TM-RCS WG and presentations at TM-RCS meetings, supported by workshops as appropriate.