Objective
Main Objective
SUMO aims to identify and demonstrate generic approaches to UMTS service support and network control, focusing on the satellite segment. The issues addressed are especially:
-interoperability between complementary satellite systems (e.g. LEO & GEO) both real and simulated, as well as with terrestrial core networks (e.g. B-ISDN)
-automatic selection of alternative access network resources in an integrated UMTS system (i.e. different satellite or terrestrial networks) depending on services and mobile environments (e.g. urban, rural, )
-advanced S-UMTS services based on, for example:
a. bandwidth-on-demand flexibility of communications channels for application services
b. definition of the common signalling for service and network control between different access schemes (e.g. CDMA & FDMA) according to GRAN concepts.
The project will create an advanced satellite-based UMTS testbed to demonstrate the above techniques by combining and improving two ACTS testbeds developed in the SINUS and TOMAS projects.
Technical Approach
SUMO will develop advanced service provision and interworking on the testbed for use in a range of integrated multi-satellite and terrestrial UMTS service trials. The main technical developments will be:
-a UMTS Application Adapter, which provides interworking between multimedia applications and the mobile terminal (MT) and provides service and application control. Its architecture will comprise three parts: a user call control interface, an interworking layer consisting of the network and service control entities (software modules) and a UMTS adaptation layer subdivided in two parts: one independent of the mobile terminal connected consisting of bearer control software complemented by a Winsock 2.0 standard interface and one, terminal dependent, consisting of a set of network drivers,
-advanced S-UMTS service provision. The above network and service control functions provide automatic application-dependent resource selection and (user) bandwidth on demand. The above bearer control software will also select the available network access (LEO, MEO, GEO or terrestrial),
-a Generic Radio Access Network (GRAN) concept, compliant with the ETSI/ITU approach, which separates the radio dependent and radio independent protocol layers. The TOMAS mobile terminal, not designed with GRAN in mind, will be updated by adopting and configuring the SINUS radio-independent layers and developing a (GRAN) adapter to its radio dependent ones (represented by its FDMA physical layer and its equivalent MAC layer),
-other testbed equipments or adaptations required by the trials, including a satellite interference simulator to take into account inter-satellite interference imposed by different competing satellite systems and a signalling adapter to provide the mobility features within the B-ISDN core network.
Summary of Trial
The diagram below shows the testbed equipment to be used in all three trial configurations. The trials are scheduled (provisional date) for the last quarter of '99 in Bremen. Access to the Bremen city ATM network and to the ESA EMS satellite will also be arranged.
SUMO overall Testbed Architecture
Trial Configuration (1)
This will involve the connection of an application (H.324M) through an integrated network including simulated LEO, MEO and GEO satellite systems and interworking through a B-ISDN network. The satellite simulator will be enhanced to include inter-satellite interference that may occur in next-generation systems. CDMA satellite access will be used.
The objective of this trial is evaluation of H.324M performance using bandwidth-on-demand over S-UMTS features and in simulated environments (including Satellite Interference emulation).
Trial Configuration (2)
The satellite channel emulator of the first configuration will be replaced by an existing (live) GEO satellite system with FDMA access. Thus the second trial configuration will use FDMA + GEO satellite physical layers with the LAC + higher layers from the CDMA trial 1, plus the integration of UMTS signalling (including call control, radio resource management, inter-segment hand-over etc.) developed for CDMA/GRAN within the FDMA access scheme of the GEO satellite.
The main objectives are to validate the GRAN concept for different satellite access schemes, using several mobile multimedia transmission standards and applications (MPEG-4, H.324M e.g. conferencing and information retrieval applications).
Trial Configuration (3)
The GEO satellite system will be added in parallel to the first trial configuration and, if feasible, the CDMA access scheme will be implemented over a live GEO channel, in parallel to an emulator channel.
The objectives are to demonstrate:
-inter-constellation (GEO-LEO or GEO-MEO) satellite resource selection,
-validation of the Satellite Simulator for GEO by use of CDMA transmission over a live link.
Expected Achievements
-interworking and integration of satellite-oriented UMTS testbeds
-comprehensive testing of a range of mobile multimedia services through LEO, MEO and GEO configurations and under realistic communication conditions (simulated and live environments)
-QoS measurements using the above applications under a range of trial network configurations: e.g. BER, delay, service reliability and availability (blocking) and hand-over transparency
-demonstration and evaluation of advanced S-UMTS features: service integration, service-dependent resource selection and bandwidth-on-demand.
Expected Impact
-Encouragement of and contributions to S-UMTS standards,
-Major advances in the state of the art of integrated S-UMTS services
-Significant gain in expertise bolstering European competitiveness in the technology of advanced mobile satellite telecommunications.
Main contributions to the programme objectives:
Main deliverables
Satellite UMTS Application Adapter that facilitates the adaptation between multimedia applications and virtually any kind of telecommunication network
Contribution to the programme
Facilitate seamless services provision for a diversity of services in complex communications environments that includes various satellite and fixed networks
Key Issues
-Demonstration of multimedia applications in an end to end integrated UMTS network consisting of satellite network access, using complementary satellite systems in parallel (e.g. LEO and GEO), and a terrestrial B-ISDN core network
-Development of an S-UMTS GRAN terminal prototype, according to the Intelligent Network model, offering advanced services (bandwidth on demand and service-dependent resource selection)
-Evolution towards a generic S-UMTS terminal by development and installation of application adapter software, running simultaneously with the application
Fields of science
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftware
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringvehicle engineeringaerospace engineeringsatellite technology
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringinformation engineeringtelecommunications
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
CSC - Cost-sharing contractsCoordinator
92737 Nanterre
France