Distributed IP-layer dynamic bandwidth management for satellite broadband networks

Broadband communication via satellite systems finds applications in several contexts where other technologies are not available, or economically not convenient. Examples are remote (or disaster struck) areas and ships. The higher costs and lesser capacity of satellite systems compared to broadband terrestrial access, impose to improve flexibility in bandwidth management and dynamic allocation, especially on the shared return link. This result is typically achieved thanks to a Bandwidth on Demand (BoD) mechanism, implemented by the Satellite Operator (SO), which is in general not accessible or adjustable by the final user or by the Network Operator (NO). At present there are no suitable solutions allowing to support dynamic bandwidth allocation, in coexistence with BoD, by NO at network layer neither in this scenario or in terrestrial systems. In this paper an approach to overlay an IP-layer bandwidth management on top of BoD is presented, aimed to optimize satellite channel utilization fulfilling specific requirements of the NO, which are not addressed by existing platforms or architectures. Analysis and simulation activities to validate this approach have been performed, and a pilot system has been implemented in a vessel-based scenario.