Transport Protocol and Resource Management for Satellite Networks: Framework of a Project

The paper describes the protocol definition within the framework of the Project "Transport Protocol and Resource Management for Mobile Satellite Networks", funded by the European Space Agency ESA) and carried out by an Italian group composed of Marconi Mobile, CNIT and Etnoteam. In more detail, the Project is aimed at designing, implementing and testing a protocol stack adapted to the specific characteristics of a satellite communications system. The protocol stack is based on the TCP/IP suite adapted to the channel characteristics. The objective is the optimization of both the transport protocol performance for a satellite network environment and the efficient utilization of network resources. This has been achieved without re-designing the protocol interfaces, so that they will keep the same characteristics of the interfaces currently used. These characteristics should get the target of maximizing the system performance and, in the same time, allow the utilization of standard applications so reaching a high degree of portability. The protocol architecture proposed in the paper is mainly targeted to GEO (Geostationary Orbit) satellite communication systems, where the high round-trip delay heavily affects the system performance, but other environments, as radio-mobile and LEO (Low Earth Orbit) satellite systems, characterized by fading and high bit-error rate, are not excluded. The protocol stack has a high degree of flexibility to allow an efficient adaptation to these characteristics. I