The SkyplexNet, a new satellite network with traffic control and distributed network management

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Tomasicchio, Giuseppe

Affiliations: Alenia Spazio, Via G.V. Bona 85, 00156 Rome, Italy Tel.: +39 064151483; Fax: +39 064151297; E‐mail: g.tomasicchio@roma.alespazio.it

Abstract: The SkyplexNet system, developed in the framework of an ARTES‐3 line 1 ESA project, implements an innovative Ground Segment solution based on the ‘Skyplex on‐board multiplexer’. The networking aspects related with the Skyplex technology, the TDMA operation mode, the DVB compliance and finally the bandwidth on‐demand allocation scheme make SkyplexNet a cost effective satcom solution addressing properly the specific market. With reference to such features, this paper presents the technological aspects of an innovative Ground Segment architecture based on the ‘Skyplex on‐board multiplexer’. The intrinsic capability of Skyplex to uplink several client stations operating in SCPC or TDMA, implies the need to define a clear overall paradigm to coordinate the access to the space resources as well as the control and management of the Skyplex network. In this paper an overall description of the SkyplexNet system and of the typical service exploitation scenarios for broadband multimedia services is given. A specific analysis on the traffic control paradigm and distributed network management architecture adopted in the satellite system is furtherly detailed.

Journal: Space Communications, vol. 16, no. 4, pp. 227-241, 2000