Radio resource management across multiple protocol layers in satellite networks: a tutorial overview

Abstract

Satellite transmissions have an important role in telephone communications, television broadcasting, computer communications, maritime navigation, and military command and control. Moreover, in many situations they may be the only possible communication set-up. Trends in telecommunications indicate that four major growth market/service areas are messaging and navigation services (wireless and satellite), mobility services (wireless and satellite), video delivery services (cable and satellite), and interactive multimedia services (fibre/cable, satellite). When using geostationary satellites (GEO), the long propagation delay may have great impact, given the end-to-end delay user’s requirements of relevant applications; moreover, atmospheric conditions may seriously affect data transmission. Since satellite bandwidth is a relatively scarce resource compared to the terrestrial one (e.g. in optical transport networks), and the environment is harsher, resource management of the radio segment plays an important role in the system’s efficiency and economy. The radio resource\ud management (RMM) entity is responsible for the utilization of the air interface resources, and covers power control, handover, admission control, congestion control, bandwidth allocation, and packet scheduling. RRM functions are crucial for the best possible utilization of the capacity. RRM functions can\ud be implemented in different ways, thus having an impact on the overall system efficiency. This tutorial aims to provide an overview of satellite transmission aspects at various OSI layers, with emphasis on the MAC layer; some cross-layer solutions for bandwidth allocation are also indicated. Far from being an exhaustive survey (mainly due to the extensive nature of the subject), it offers the readers an extensive bibliography, which could be used for further research on specific aspects

SDN/NFV-enabled satellite communications networks: Opportunities, scenarios and challenges

“…Therefore, in order to provide further bandwidth adaptation flexibility in the satellite access subsystem, it is necessary to couple SDN control with the RRM functions of the satellite hub (RRM covers interface management, power control, fading mitigation, handover, admission control, congestion control, bandwidth allocation, and packet scheduling). In this case, a vertical cross-layer integrated management architecture [22] could be considered as most relevant since various OSI layers information (L1 up to L7) can be integrated in the management and control.…”

QoS Requirements For Multimedia Services

“…An acceptable delivery delay is 30 s. Table 3.4 compares the applications on the basis of the service class and the associated delay requirement [8].…”

Evaluation of rate compatible block turbo codes for multimedia application in satellite communication network

“…The hybrid ARQ is a classic example of a cross-layer approach, where end to end data reliability is provided by a combination of the physical layer, data link layer, and transport layers [4]. The authors in Reference [2] conducted a numerical analysis of the cross layer integration of adaptive modulation and coding (AMC) with ARQ over a terrestrial wireless channel, and revealed that retransmissions in the data link layer relieve stringent error control requirements at the physical layer.…”

“…Mobile satellite systems will be fully integrated within 4G systems, playing important roles in the areas where terrestrial communications infrastructure is very expensive and impractical or satellite communications may be the only solution, due to the wide area coverage, reconfigurability, and multicast capabilities [4]. In this sense, maintaining the compatibility with terrestrial systems is another important issue.…”

“…Radio resource management for satellite networks including some cross-layer solutions was discussed in a tutorial sense in Reference [4]. Because satellite bandwidth is a relatively scare resource, the adoption of highly efficient modulation and coding schemes to countermeasure various channel impairments is mandatory in the physical layer aspects.…”