ATM-based multimedia communication via NGSO-satellites

Abstract

SUMMARYFuture broadband satellite networks for multimedia will be seamlessly integrated into terrestrial broadband networks which often use asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) and recently also the less complex multi protocol label switching (MPLS) technique as transmission and switching protocol. In light of this, future broadband satellite networks may adopt the ATM transmission scheme and implement ATM or ATM-like switches on board the satellites. However, as compared to communication in fixed networks, satellite communication is characterized by special constraints (e.g. signal delay, channel quality, dynamic network topology) that require novel ATM-based communication technology for satellite systems.This paper presents results from the ATM-Sat project that aims to complete this technically challenging and important R&D task in the cooperation between DLR, Fraunhofer Gesellschaft and Tesat-Spacecom.In brief the following aspects have been addressed in the ATM-Sat project: In particular the ATM-Sat R&D tasks cover the system and protocol architecture, on-board processing, ISL routing, up/downlink and on board ATM resource management (including medium access control),