An Integrated Medium Access Control and Traffic Management Architecture for DVB-RCS SkyplexNet Satellite Systems

Abstract

The growing development of standard Internet services and the emerging exploitation of several broadband multimedia contents disclosing in the last years, significantly promoted scenarios where Satellite Networks can play key roles. Several satellite networks are currently implemented according to the Digital Video Broadcasting-Return Channel via Satellite (DVB-RCS) standard, assuming to operate with a transparent satellite and an hub-centric (star) network topology. The present work addresses the SkyplexNet (SKN) system: an advanced Broadband Satellite Network for meshed connectivity developed by Alenia Spazio, within the framework of ESA Artes 3 --- Line 1 Program, according to the DVB-RCS standard with duly extensions for the on-Board multiplexing capability of the Skyplex Units currently embarked on HotBird VI and W3A satellites. In this paper an architecture design study aiming at integrating the Medium Access Control (MAC) and Traffic Management (TM) functionality in a DVB-RCS like Network is presented. The envisaged Traffic Management schemes shall enable the SKN System to guarantee an adequate support of various Quality of Service (QoS) requirements and their application according to pre-defined Traffic Profiles established at connection set up phase with the support of physical medium access management functions. The functional architectures studied for the SKN Inter-Working Layer, from Internet protocols to SkyplexNet ones, and the SKN MAC layer have been also analysed on the interoperability level of these layers in order to deploy such functions as SKN connection mapping, packet scheduling and Bandwidth on Demand (BoD) policies. In this paper two different schemes of Traffic Management and MAC are presented reporting a detailed analysis of advantages and drawbacks of both approaches to be taken into account for future SkyplexNet system implementations.