SATSIX

SATSIX is a demonstration of IPv6 integration of hybrid satellite and Wireless local loop (WLL) and is funded by the Sixth Framework Programme through Information Society Technologies. The project will help in the implementation of the European Space Policy and the i2010 European Initiative. cite web|url= http://www.ist-satsix.org/DOC/SatSix-4000-v1-0.pdf |title=D4000-1 Dissemination and Use plan| accessdate=2008-05-21 |publisher=Information Society Technologies ] The consortium believes satellite systems can drive IPv6 implementation and deployment, providing a native solution for geographically separated users. cite web|url= http://www.ist-satsix.org/DOC/D4000-2_final_v1-0.pdf|title=D4000-2 Standardisation impact report (Intermediate) | accessdate=2008-05-21 |publisher=Information Society Technologies] The consortium is actively participating in the standardization activities and include Broadband Satellite Multimedia (ETSI BSM), Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB), and Internet Engineering Task Force(IETF).

Consortium

* Thales Alenia Space, France
* Telespazio (TPZ), Italy
* CNRS/LAAS (LAAS), France
* University of Rome (UoR), Italy
* SINTEF (STI), Norway
* University of Surrey (UNIS), United Kingdom
* University of Aberdeen (UoA), United Kingdom
* Telefónica I+D (TID), Spain
* Alcatel Alenia Space Espana (AASE), Spain
* B2I (B2I), France
* Systek (STK), United Kingdom
* Hispasat SA (HAS), Spain
* University of Vallodolid (UVA), Spain
* Hungaro Digitel Plc (HDT), Hungary

Goals

The project has two goals
*1. Lower broadband satellite access costs by development of new satellite access techniques and integrating with wireless local loop (WiFi and WiMax)
*2. Develop recommendations, test beds, trial networks, show satellite broadband access with networks based on IPv6, and support new multimedia applications

The concept of the project will first be validated in simulation, followed by emulation, live experimentation with end-to-end applications, promoted by information dissemination and training.

= Expected Results cite web|url= http://www.ist-satsix.org/DOC/SATSIX%20-%20D3000-11_vf-01.pdf|title=3000-11 Exploitation Plan| accessdate=2008-05-21 |publisher=Information Society Technologies ] =

*Impact of integration of IPv6 protocol into DVB-S2/DVB-RCS
*Integration of dynamic multicast service into satellite networks
*Security features for satellite network applications (Key management, DRM, …)
*Definition, selection and validation of header compression techniques
*Integration of mobility management into satellite networks
*Integration of innovative applications into satellite network
*Definition of inter-networking aspects [Sat + WiFi, Sat + WiMax, …]
*Definition of hybrid satellite systems [OBP + Transparent payload]
*Integration of innovative applications into satellite networks
*Definition of QoS for different scenarios
*Critical path validation through emulated and live test beds
*Provide recommendation to standardization bodies

= Scenarios =

The project will leverage existing satellites in the Ku/Ka radio frequency band and will create several application perspectives of space based and terrestrial based systems.

1. Corporate applications on DVB-RCS transparent access platform – uses a DVB-RCS star network
*Multicast support
*Security implementations
*Mobility enhancements for telecommuters
*Quality of Service
*Collaborative Working
*Videoconferencing
*Live/Real-time encoding video and streaming2. Collective Access Terminal on DVB-RCS transparent access platform – sharing of satellite communications with wireless local loop (WiFi or WiMAX). The WiFi and WiMAX connection to a Satellite Termineal (ST) is considered a LAN while any local loops are considered as sub_LAN and therefore all traffic must pass through a Satellite Gateway. cite web|url= http://www.ist-satsix.org/DOC/SATSIX-D1000-3_Final_v1.0.zip |title=D1000-3 Collective access terminal scenario | accessdate=2008-05-21 |publisher=Information Society Technologies ]
* eGovernment
* Internet Banking
* E-mail
* Web
* Audio, video streaming
* IP phone
*e-Learning
*Games
*Tele-Medicine 3. Corporate applications on DVB-RCS regenerative access platform - uses a DVB-RCS mesh network
* Enhanced Quality of Service and Multicast functionality
* Network Address Translation (NAT), security enhancements
* Multi-conferencing, E-Learning, Video on Demand, Digital TV
* Virtual Private Network (VPN)4. Residential applications on DVB-RCS transparent access platform – related to the goals to reach residential users and compete with solutions similar to ADSL and cable solutions with three services; Telephonic, internet, and television.

Three areas of focus for mobility include;
* Discrete Mobility – The ability for a user to move from one location to another location
* Continuous Mobility – The ability in a rural location
* Seamless Mobility – User moving between satellite and local networks

Emulation

The project will emulate a complete DVB-RCS/DVB-S2 satellite system and validate performance, simplicity, and usability along with access. Areas to emulate include encapsulation protocols such as DVB-RCS/DVB-S2/AAL5, Internet Protocol version 4 and 6, Quality of Service including HDLB and SIP proxies, Mobile IPv6 support, and multicasting. cite web|url= http://www.ist-satsix.org/DOC/D3000-2_final_v1.pdf |title=Emulation testbed implementation (1st Phase) Validation document | accessdate=2008-05-21 |publisher=Information Society Technologies ]

Architecture

Two types of architecture were implemented, the Transparent Star and the Regenerative Mesh/Star while using IPv6/DVB-S. The WiFi and WiMAX terrestrial links access the satellite link at Return Channel Satellite Terminal (RCST).

Quality of Service (QoS)

With the hybrid networks of satellite and Wireless local loop (WLL), proper Quality of Service (QoS) is necessary for SIP negation and the forwarding of the mobile packet streams. Currently, the mobile IP routing decision algorithms do not consider the resources such as network bandwidth and with each node change, the parameters will change.

Interaction between the Wireless local loop (WLL) and the satellite links introduce two issues, overriding of QoS parameters previously negotiated by SIP and the second is traffic directed to a satellite node my not accept due to saturated queues. cite web|url= http://www.ist-satsix.org/INNSS07/Interworking%20Wimax%20Final.pdf|title=Interworking Strategy between DVB-RCS and WiMAX | accessdate=2008-05-21 |publisher=Telespazio ]

The inclusions of mobility have significant impacts to QoS management and provisions. The mobility architecture can be based on QoS server, agent, or awareness applications alonge with enchancing SIP proxies. Recommendations included active sessions negotiating for QoS along the new route as part of handover procedures.

Protocols

Several different protocols are used in the network architectures and the consortium is involved in continued development of the standards. Several standards include MIPv6, HMIPv6, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), Unidirectional Lightweight Encapsulation (ULE), Generic Stream Encapsulation (GSE)

Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)

This protocol is an application-layer signaling protocol based on a client-server architecture. User agents (UA) originate and terminate sessions. The Localization Servers (LS) locate the User Agents (UA) while the Registrar Servers (RS) provide databases in which the location of the user is stored and modified, then the Proxy Servers (PS) relay requests to another server. cite web|url= http://www.ist-satsix.org/INNSS07/SATSIX_mobility_architecture_performance.pdf|title=SATSIX Mobility Architecture and its performance evaluation | accessdate=2008-05-21 |publisher=SINTEF ]

ULE/DVB

The DVB standard uses the MPEG-2 Transport Stream, 188 bytes plus a 4 byte header, in order to carry audio and video packetized streams. The DVB group has several standards to encapsulate IP datagrams within the MPEG-2 Transports Stream, Multiprotocol Encapsulation (MPE) and Ultra Light Encapsulated (ULE). MPE header totals 8 bytes with an additional 4 byte CRC with an additional LCC/SNAP header which notifies different types of Ethernet payloads. ULE header consists of 4 bytes and the MPE ULE uses a 4 byte CRC. cite web|url=http://www.telenor.no/broadwan/BROADWAN_CD/Publications/Collini-Nocker_IPv6_ULE_OCG_May2005.pdf |title=Efficiency of IPv6 Encapsulation with ULE/DVB |accessdate=2008-05-21 | Paris-Lodron University]

Multicasting

* Remote subscription - mobile node joins a multicast group via a local multicast router using a Care-of-Address instead of a Home Address.
* Home Subscription - mobile node joins the group, send and receive packets from its Home Agent through bidirectional tunneling.
* Multicast Listener Discovery (MLD) - mix of Remote and Home subscription where a Multicast Agent near the Home Agent network joins the multicast session on behalf of mobile node in the visiting network then forwards traffics to attached mobile nodes.

Related Projects

*BRAHMS
*ICEBERGS
*IBIS
*SATIP6
*SATLIFE
*SATNEX

Further reading

* [http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc3828.txt/ RFC 3828 - The Lightweight User Datagram Protocol (UDP-Lite)]
* [http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc4326.txt/ RFC 4326 - Unidirectional Lightweight Encapsulation (ULE) for Transmission of IP Datagrams over an MPEG-2 Transport Stream (TS)]
* [http://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc4340.txt/ RFC 4340 - Datagram Congestion Control Protocol (DCCP)]
* [http://arjuna.sathiaseelan.googlepages.com/SATSIXANETWORKARCHITECTUREFORNEXTGEN.doc/ SATSIX: A Network Architecture for Next Generation DVB-RCS Systems]

References

External links

* [http://www.ist-satsix.org/ SATSIX ] - official website
* [http://www.sintef.com/ SINTEF] - official website
* [http://www.thalesaleniaspace.com/ Thales Alenia Space] - official website
* [http://www.surrey.ac.uk/ University of Surrey] – official website
* [http://www.abdn.ac.uk/ University of Aberdeen] – official website
* [http://www.telefonica.com/home_eng.shtml Telefonica ] -company website (English-language pages)
* [http://www.systek.com/ Systek] – official website
* [http://www.hispasat.com/default.aspx?sectionsId=1&lang=en/ Hispasat] - official website
* [http://www.universityofvalladolid.uva.es/ University of Valladolid] – official website