The project has developed a new IP over DVB encapsulation to provide Internet services over DVB broadcast networks. The current common encapsulation, Multiprotocol Encapsulation (MPE), while providing basic services, adds non-necessary overhead to the IP packet while not fully supporting the IP requirements for next generation networks. Amongst those is the support to the IP version 6 (IPv6) packets, dynamic address resolution and quality of service. Based on the existing Internet Drafts (IDs) of the IP over DVB mailing list, the project has provided a full implementation, from software to satellite demonstration of the new Simple and Ultra Light (ULE) encapsulations on the forward channel using realistic traffic models and service scenarios. In addition, to fully provide a full networking solution, the study has also evaluated the encapsulation on the return channel. This has looked at performance and address quality of service issues. Since network performance cannot be abstracted from the network architecture the study has also evaluated a number of realistic end user scenarios. Hence the result of the study has provided a comprehensive assessment of the new encapsulation and provides a roadmap for future implementation.
The advantages of ULE compared to MPE could be verified in theory, simulation and implementation. It showed that ULE has got the following characteristics:
Based on the study proposal, and the work performed, the main goals of the project have been achieved, namely:
The project was split between tasks for standardisation support and the implementation of ULE into existing hardware. The Implementation of the encapsulation(s) has been performed for:
Project completed. Contract Change Notice was approved with the following topics: