Enhancing satellite broadcasting services using multiresolution modulations (original) (raw)

Digital video broadcasting-return channel via satellite linear modulation with turbo coding

International Journal of Satellite Communications and Networking, 2013

The digital video broadcasting, return channel via satellite second generation (DVB-RCS2) linear modulation scheme offers significantly better performance than that of the first generation (DVB-RCS) both at the physical layer and at the link layer. The DVB-RCS2 design allows for optimizing the link margin by implementing adaptive coding and modulation (ACM) in the return link, controlled by the central system controller, resembling the ACM as supported for the DVB-S2-based forward link. The gain of the return link ACM complements performance improvements at layers 1 and 2. The performance enhancement of the DVB-RCS2 comes with a higher computational complexity compared with that of the DVB-RCS but mainly at the gateway, whereas the computational load increase of the terminal is minimal.

Suitability of DAMA and Contention-Based Satellite Access Schemes for TCP Traffic in Mobile DVB-RCS

IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology, 2000

The problem of optimizing access and bandwidth sharing among Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connections in the mobile digital video broadcasting return channel via satellite (DVB-RCS) is tackled in this paper. After sketching the general system architecture, we explicitly deal with the dynamic assignment of bandwidth to TCP connections on the return link, which is accomplished by a network control center (NCC) placed onboard the satellite. Mobile users access the satellite in multifrequency time-division multiple access (MF-TDMA), whereas they receive data from the NCC in time-division multiplexing (TDM). Two different techniques, based on deterministic and random access, are compared in terms of bandwidth usage and average completion time per connection, when the mobile user acts as both server and client. In the server case, to increase the TCP throughput, both packet-level forward error correction (FEC) on data sent by mobile users and a duplicated and delayed acknowledgment technique for TCP acknowledgment traffic from the NCC to the mobile users are applied. An analysis of the packet losses and a simulation campaign of file transfers by employing a realistic channel model has been carried out. The results of the analysis show the convenience of adopting a technique, in addition to the optimal data redundancy in different cases, such as the server or client role of users, their willingness to pay, the file size, and the environment type.

Novel Resource Allocation Technique for DVB-RCS Compliant Satellite Terminals

Satellite communication is advantageous for several reasons such as broad coverage, small installation time of remote user sites, and network services in inhospitable terrains, where installing terrestrial infrastructure is costly. With the advent of broadband multimedia satellites such as Ku and Ka band satellites, multimedia services to the satellite terminals are gaining momentum. Digital Video Broadcast Return Channel via Satellite (DVB-RCS) is an open standard developed by ETSI which has further standardized, commercialized and solved the problem of inter-operability of Ku Band satellite terminals. Satellite bandwidth is scarce therefore treated as precious resource. In the present paper, authors aim to develop and realize the resource allocation techniques in return link channel for DVB-RCS compliant satellite terminals. The paper provides method for giving preference to real time application in terms of early processing of allocation request generated against the real time tr...

Performance evaluation of selected Transmission Control Protocol variants over a digital video broadcasting-second generation broadband satellite multimedia system with QoS

International Journal of Communication Systems, 2013

This paper presents an analysis of several Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) variants working over a digital video broadcasting-second generation (DVB-S2) satellite link with the support of the Differentiated Services (DiffServ) architecture to provide quality of service (QoS). This analysis is carried out using the NS-2 simulator tool. Three TCP variants are considered: SACK TCP, Hybla TCP, and CUBIC TCP. These TCP variants are taken as a starting point because they have proven to be the most suitable variants to deal with long delays present in satellite links. The DVB-S2 link also introduces the challenge of dealing with variable bandwidth, whereas the DiffServ architecture introduces the challenge of dealing with different priorities. In this paper, we propose a DiffServ model that includes a modified queuing mechanism to enhance the goodput of the assured forwarding traffic class. This modified DiffServ model is simulated and tested, considering the interaction of the selected TCP variants. In addition, we present evaluation metrics, significant simulations results, and conclusions about the performance of these TCP variants evaluated over the proposed scenario. As a general conclusion, we show that CUBIC TCP is the TCP variant that shows the best performance in terms of goodput, latency, and friendliness.

Using DVB-S2 adaptive coding and modulation for the provision of satellite triple play services

IEEE Communications Magazine, 2000

The outstanding spectrum efficiency of DVB-S2 along with its adaptability and configurability makes it a very promising technology for next generation satellite communications. This article discusses the application of the Adaptive Coding and Modulation (ACM) feature of DVB-S2 in the provision of satellite triple play services over an interactive DVB-S2/DVB-RCS network, in order to compensate for fluctuations in propagation conditions. A cross-layer resource management system is proposed in order to adapt the system to such fluctuations and improve its overall efficiency. Based on area-specific attenuation models, an efficiency study is presented, showing considerable capacity gains over static transmission schemes (DVB-S and DVB-S2 CCM).

Dynamic resource allocation based on a TCP-MAC cross-layer approach for DVB-RCS satellite networks

International Journal of Satellite Communications and Networking, 2006

Satellite communication networks can provide multimedia broadband services to fixed and mobile users in several scenarios where terrestrial networks are not present or where they need to be complemented. Moreover, satellite links can be useful to bypass crowded terrestrial networks, thus helping in reducing congestion. In such a scenario, characterized by a high propagation delay and a radio channel affected by losses, standard bandwidth allocation schemes prove to be inefficient when Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) is running. Hence, we propose a novel resource allocation scheme based on the cross-layer interaction between TCP and Medium Access Control (MAC) layers. The interest is here in achieving an efficient transfer of files by means of the FTP application protocol. Our scheme permits to avoid network congestion, to reduce the average file transfer time and to achieve a fair sharing of resources among competing flows. The allocation technique has been applied to an Interactive Satellite Network (ISN) based on the DVB-RCS standard with a group of fixed satellite terminals, which communicate with a Network Control Center (NCC) through a geostationary bent-pipe satellite, according to a classical star topology. Results are obtained through a network simulator.

Resource optimization over DVB-RCS satellite links through the use of SPDY

2014 12th International Symposium on Modeling and Optimization in Mobile, Ad Hoc, and Wireless Networks (WiOpt), 2014

SPDY is a recent Web technology aimed to improve webpages load time and resource utilization, through the implementation of: multiplexing and prioritization of webpage objects, header compression, resource pushing and encryption. Most of these techniques are already implemented in Performance Enhancing Proxies (PEPs), which are adopted in geostationary satellite systems to optimize TCP-based application performance. Thus, SPDY is expected to provide benefits for satellite communications resource management. This paper provides a careful assessment of SPDY performance over satellite links, compliant to DVB-RCS standard, with return link resources assigned on demand through a Demand Assignment Multiple Access (DAMA) method. Such a reference scenario constitutes a challenging communication environment due to both the limited return link bandwidth and the relatively high latency. Performance evaluation has been carried out through a satellite network emulator, which reproduces physical layer satellite impairments, while running real implementations of both TCP/IP stack and SPDY.

Satellite Media Broadcasting with Adaptive Coding and Modulation

International Journal of Digital Multimedia Broadcasting, 2009

Adaptive Coding and Modulation (ACM) is a feature incorporated into the DVB-S2 satellite specification, allowing real-time adaptation of transmission parameters according to the link conditions. Although ACM was originally designed for optimizing unicast services, this article discusses the expansion of its usage to broadcasting streams as well. For this purpose, a general crosslayer adaptation approach is proposed, along with its realization into a fully functional experimental network, and test results are presented. Finally, two case studies are analysed, assessing the gain derived by ACM in a real large-scale deployment, involving HD services provision to two different geographical areas.