Description
This is a former priority 2 activity for which a request for initiation has been received.
Objective: Critical assessment of the state-of-the-art on-board IP routing capabilities. Deriving potential operational scenarios for other on-board L3+ capabilities in various market segments. Develop prototypes for key SW/HW components for higher-layer functionalities on board GEO and non-GEO satellite systems.
Targeted improvements: Standardisation of space communications at IP layer and above. Improved QoS with higher-layer functionalities supported on board satellites. Seamless integration with terrestrial networks. Critical assessment of the state-of-the-art on-board IP routing capabilities. Deriving potential operational scenarios for other on-board L3+ capabilities in various market segments. Develop prototypes for key SW/HW components for higher-layer functionalities on board GEO and non-GEO satellite systems.
Description: On-board handling of higher-layer protocols via an ad hoc router device makes it possible to provide satellite connectivity completely by-passing the (possibly) clogged/compromised terrestrial infrastructure, to facilitate IP mobility, to reduce traffic load on satellite uplinks by deploying IP multicasting on board the satellite, and to provide true packet-by-packet end-to-end connectivity between satellite terminals in meshed configuration or ISL environment. On-board IP routing has been demonstrated with GEO communication satellites outside Europe. The activity shall consider on-board handling of additional protocols at and above IP layer from a system perspective.
In addition to the clear benefits in the governmental/institution satellite systems, there may be benefits in satellite clusters, deep space communications, and TT&C.
The first phase of the activity shall conduct a SWOT analysis for higher-layer protocols on-board GEO and non-GEO satellite networks. Such functionalities include (but are not limited to) traffic shaping & QoS, multicast routing and group management, network coding, security, application acceleration, and delay tolerant networking. Various market segments, constellations, applications, and on-board processing opportunities shall be taken into account. The first phase shall select a set of higher-layer protocols with demonstrable benefits if implemented on-board the satellite.
The second phase of the activity shall conduct an architectural design taking into account both payload and ground segment components with air-to-ground and inter-satellite links. Then, the activity shall develop prototypes of the key SW/HW components for the on-board implementation of the higher-layer functionalities that were selected at the end of the first phase. The development shall adopt standard layer-2 interfaces, and may use simplified emulations in place of layer-2 procedures.
Tender Specifics