Objective
Main Objective
Over the last two years or so there has been a growing interest in the use of advanced satellite technology to provide multimedia services. Many systems have been proposed and filings for spectrum have been made by a number of sponsoring organisations. As was the case with the mobile telephony satellite systems (e.g. Iridium, ICO, Globalstar), a wide range of orbit classes and technical approaches have been proposed. The work to be performed in the WISDOM project has the principal objects of refining a baseline design, demonstrating the design with a sophisticated end-to-end test bed and seeking to contribute to possible standards for satellite multimedia services.
The system baseline has adopted ATM switching onboard the satellites so that the User Network Interface (UNI) with the ATM network is extended out to the user terminal rather than being at the gateway station. The air interface requires additional coding to achieve the target bit error rate over a satellite link. Onboard the satellite ATM cells are switched between ports connected to particular antenna spot beams or to inter-satellite links
. Services supported by the system range from low data rate telephony like services to high rate services up to 2 Mbit/s for standard terminals and up to 6 MBit/s for larger terminals. The system is designed to deliver bandwidth-on-demand services at competitive prices. Low user charges will be realised by employing advanced digital processing technology in the satellite thereby allowing very high traffic capacities of over 10 GBit/s per satellite. An objective of the WISDOM project is to demonstrate the technology.
Technical Approach
The approach to be taken in the WISDOM project is to firstly elaborate the system design including the space segment, the ground segment and user terminals and the networking architecture. Then the system will be demonstrated by means of a laboratory test-bed which provides an end-to-end system demonstrator. In addition the project will investigate where it might contribute to the establishment of satellite ATM standards. This will demonstrate satellite-user to terrestrial-user connectivity; the system does support satellite-user to satellite-user connectivity.
A laboratory test bed is necessary since the cost and time-scale of using an actual satellite are prohibitive. A satellite payload breadboard will be developed that represents a part of an actual payload but in a way that the results are scaleable. A flight payload would use ASIC technology but this would not be suitable for this project owing to cost and schedule limitations. FPGAs have been selected since these are representative and they are more suited to this development. The satellite air interface will be at intermediate frequency rather than radio frequency but the signal will be modulated according to the system design (i.e. not just at baseband). The air interface will be simulated by a satellite channel emulator development that simulates satellite movement, propagation delay, fading etc.
A user terminal and a gateway (the node between the satellite system and the terrestrial B-ISDN networks) will be designed and developed as major developments in the test bed.
On the networking side work will be performed to enhance the satellite-specific areas.
Summary of Trial
The trial will involve the use of a multimedia application at both ends of the system: at the satellite user terminal and the terrestrial user terminal. The selection of the application will be made during the early stages of the project. Selection criteria include the need to demonstrate more than Constant Bit Rate services (CBR) and a reasonable maximum data rate. The trial will take place at Nortel Technology's premises in Harlow, UK. This site allows access to the terrestrial ATM network needed for the end-to-end demonstration.
It is intended to conduct subjective quality of service tests as well as extensive technical assessment of the demonstrator system.
Expected Achievements
-The development of a system architecture for a satellite multimedia system with onboard ATM switching.
-The design and build of an advanced satellite digital payload processor breadboard that provides a realistic and scaleable model of a flight processor.
- Development of a user terminal and gateway.
-Analysis of performance from a series of trials with the demonstrator.
-Contribution to a satellite ATM standard.
Expected Impact
This project should provide important demonstration and evaluation of the proposed system architecture and also the design of the key technology: the satellite digital processor (ATM switch). This will lead to increased confidence in the design and thereby enhance market opportunities.
Main contributions to the programme objectives:
Main deliverables
Testbed emulating a complete end to end ATM network including a regenerative satellite access at Ka band, with support of broadband applications (videoconference).
Contribution to the programme
Validation of a Ka band system architecture, with challenging functionalities in the satellite access portion, such as Bandwidth on demand management, call admission and control and flow control, and inter-working capability with terrestrial ATM network.
Key Issues
The principal issue is the design of an efficient satellite payload processor that can operate efficiently with realistic traffic scenarios. Congestion control is most important since buffering of cells is more restricted than for terrestrial ATM switches. This project will provide valuable validation of the satellite ATM switch design. The results will enable a good evaluation of the system architecture.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering information engineering telecommunications radio technology radio frequency
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry transition metals
- engineering and technology mechanical engineering vehicle engineering aerospace engineering satellite technology
- natural sciences physical sciences classical mechanics fluid mechanics fluid dynamics
You need to log in or register to use this function
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Data not available
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
Stevenage
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.