Ziel
The overall objective of TOMAS is to define, perform and evaluate trials related to the development and application of S-UMTS. The TOMAS project offers a trial platform to other projects open for the integration and testing of S-UMTS components and applications under development. Configurable communication channels supporting ISDN and ATM mode with transfer rates up to 2 Mbps are envisaged. The objectives in detail are:
Realisation of a trial platform based on the satellite universal mobile telecommunication system (S-UMTS) concept for application in various domains.
Establishment of inter-trial links and integration of individual project results according to the requirements of the trials. The practical implementation of advanced communication technology and mutual usage of R&D results, developed in RACE and existing ACTS as well as ESA activities will be stimulated by the inter-trials.
Performance of trials on real business cases.
Identification of generic requirements for the implementation of S-UMTS services and the development of consolidated technical guidelines in the context of Integrated Broadband Communication (IBC).
Cost-Benefit Analysis of S-UMTS according to the requirements, particularly of small and medium sized enterprises (SME).
Workshops and training courses for the promotion, exploitation, diffusion and exchange of experience in the context of S-UMTS.
The main achievements of the first project year were:
Specification of joint trials with other (ACTS) projects
Successful execution of first integration trials with MOMUSYS
Future achievement will be:
Implementation of a S-UMTS platform for transfer rates of 1-2Mbits/s
Performance of a sequence of trials which demonstrate functionality and benefit of S-UMTS
Generic requirements for S-UMTS components and services will be defined and proposed to incorporate in the relating standards.
Expected Impact
The linkage between the R&D/trial activities will have major impact on the development of technical guidelines by the cooperating projects or TOMAS itself. The results of TOMAS will be particularly relevant for the ISO MPEG4 and ETSI SMG 5 standardisation in the area of mobile multimedia satellite communication with high bit rates.
Main contributions to the programme objectives:
Main deliverables
A broadband mobile satellite access platform, composed of L band terminal, Inmarsat capacity and interconnection with ISDN made available to other projects for running pilot experiments.
Contribution to the programme
Demonstration of wide band capabilities of GEO satellites at L band and compatibility of novel technologies such as MPEG 4 in a satellite context.
Technical Approach
Tranparent space segment capacity in the L-Band is provided for the TOMAS trials via Inmarsat and ESA-EMS geostationary satellites. With the Inmarsat system an almost global coverage is given.
The mobile TOMAS satellite terminals consist of highly portable modified digital Inmarsat B/M Mobile Earth Stations (MES) with own modem and control devices adapted to the requirements of the trials.
The multimedia functionality builds on adapted H.32M/MPEG-4 MOMUSYS multimedia terminals. They are implemented in standard PC notebooks. User interfaces and functionality will be adapted to the specific needs of the end users.
An interconnection of the notebook multimedia terminal to the satellite prototype terminal, still requiring a direct line of sight to the satellite, can be realised by cable or a cordless radio system (xS-UMTS).
Asymmetric information rates from 8 Kbps up to 1 Mbps are provided. Forward and return link data rates are independent. High speed transmissions can also be combined with voice-band channels in the other direction. The information rates can be changed on demand.
The mobile satellite link is interconnected to world-wide switched networks via multiplexed ISDN basic rate lines. Inverse multiplexing using a proprietary protocol or BONDING is applied to connect the fixed earth stations to the terrestrial network. For high data rate applications an interconnection of the EMS Fixed Earth Station with the ATM City Network in Bremen is envisaged. Thus ATM applications via mobile satellite services are possible.
TOMAS does not limit inter-trial linking to the applications domain providing the core TOMAS pilot services. Services, network, and enabling technologies-orientated projects are invited to implement their results, thereby enhancing the trial platform in order to represent the state of the art in S-UMTS development. The required integration work, e.g. for concepts, components or equipment, forms part of the TOMAS work. As such, the trial platform provides a unique infrastructure to integrate network, service and applications components developed by different projects in different frameworks in a common S-UMTS demonstrator environment.
Besides of the system integration, evaluation and demonstration tasks, TOMAS devotes own resources to the areas:
Implementation and adaptation of tele services in compliance with guidelines developed by the ACTS Project MOMUSYS.
Implementation of advanced air interface for high speed multimedia satellite services. Results of the ACTS projects MOMUSYS regarding adaptive source and channel coding as well as from SINUS regarding air interface simulation tools will be applied as far as possible. Furthermore, guidelines developed by the ACTS projects FRAMES and SECOMS will be taken into consideration, however, limited by the constraints imposed by the existing trial space segment
Summary of Trial
It is the intention of the consortium to implement following type of joint trials:
Application-orientated (trials in day-to-day business)
Service-orientated
Network and enabling technology-orientated.
Trials should not only involve participants and projects from the ACTS programme but also encourage joint trials of ACTS projects with other National and European R&D projects.
During the first project phase joint trials with the ACTS projects MOMUSYS, MICC, SINUS and ASPeCT as well as with ESA have been specified. These trials will be mainly performed in the period July 1997 to July 1998.
Key Issues
With the technical approach and the trial platform provided TOMAS intends to promote the development, implementation, and testing of S-UMTS components and services. Furthermore, TOMAS tries to stimulate the usage of mobile multimedia communication in different application areas like construction industry or distributed manufacturing. Wherever possible, end users running applications in their day-to-day business should be involved. User requirements will be investigated on technical and organisational level.
Wissenschaftliches Gebiet
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28195 Bremen
Deutschland