Mauro De Sanctis

Satellite Communications Supporting Internet of Remote Things

This paper focuses on the use of satellite communication systems for the support of Internet of Things (IoT). We refer to the IoT paradigm as the means to collect data from sensors or RFID and to send control messages to actuators. In many application scenarios, sensors and actuators are distributed over a very wide area; in some cases, they are located in remote areas where they are not served by terrestrial access networks and, as a consequence, the use of satellite communication systems becomes of paramount importance for the Internet of Remote Things (IoRT). The enabling factors of IoRT through satellite are: 1) the interoperability between satellite systems and sensors/actuators and 2) the support of IPv6 over satellite. Furthermore, radio resource management algorithms are required to enhance the efficiency of IoT over satellite. In this work, we provide an integrated view of satellite-based IoT, handling this topic as a jigsaw puzzle where the pieces to be assembled are represented by the following topics: MAC protocols for satellite routed sensor networks, efficient IPv6 support, heterogeneous networks interoperability, quality of service (QoS) management, and group-based communications.

Energy Efficient Wireless Networks Towards Green Communications

Wireless networks have become an essential part of the modern life. However, currently, 3% of the world-wide energy is consumed by the ICT infrastructures which causes about 2% of the world-wide CO2 emissions. The transmitted data-volume increases rapidly and wireless communications are used extensively while network design rules have practically ignored the energy efficient network design approach to limit CO2 emissions. This approach is currently named Green Communications. Significant energy savings in mobile networks can be expected by defining and standardizing energy efficiency metrics and combining energy aware flexible radios and networks. This paper discusses several techniques such as cross layer approach, multiple antennas, cell size reduction and cognitive radio, from the system-wide energy efficiency point of view, outlining challenges and open issues.

Waveform design solutions for EHF broadband satellite communications

The problematic RF environment experienced by broadband satellite communications at EHF frequency bands, in particular Q/W bands, call for the use of novel waveforms. This paper presents a detailed comparison of several waveforms in presence of nonlinear distortions and typical values of phase noise introduced at Q/W band. Two main types of waveforms have been compared: Constant Envelope multicarrier waveforms (CE-OFDM and CE-SCFDMA) and single carrier impulse-based waveforms (TH-UWB, DS-UWB and PSWF-based PSM). This comparison will allow to draw some practical guidelines for the waveforms design of EHF broadband satellite communications.

Convergence Towards 4G: A Novel View of Integration

Integration and convergence of different access technology is a key concept of 4G systems. This integration also includes the interface among terrestrial and aero-space components, whose importance has been so far under-estimated and not deeply understood. In this paper, a layered model of the 4G integrated network vision is introduced, highlighting details about the aero-space component. The concept of integration is discussed under different viewpoints, particularly highlighing integration among aero-space segments and related services (i.e. navigation). Examples of integration scenarios identified and investigated in the frame of research programs co-funded by Italian institutions are also displayed in the paper.

Satellite communication and propagation experiments through the alphasat Q/V band Aldo Paraboni technology demonstration payload

Current high-throughput satellite (HTS) systems for broadband distributed user access are designed following two main concepts: The use of Ka band radio frequency (RF) links both for the forward and for the return link; this choice is due to the congestion of lower frequency bands and to the relatively large bandwidth available in the Ka band. Moreover, the RF technology in the Ka band is mature [1], [2]. The use of multispot coverage: this technique is largely applied to increase the system throughput through frequency reuse and system reconfigurability [2], [3].

Analytical characterization of Licklider Transmission Protocol (LTP) in cislunar communications

The performance of delay/disruption tolerant networking (DTN) protocols in cislunar and deep-space communication systems has previously been studied by simulation. However, little work has been seen in characterizing in an analytical manner the performance of DTN protocols for space with respect to asymmetric channel rates. We present a performance characterization of the recently developed DTN Licklider transmission protocol (LTP) convergence layer adapter (CLA) (or simply LTPCL) over cislunar space channels with data-rate asymmetry. Analytical models are built to characterize LTPCL with respect to the minimum number of bundle protocol (BP) bundles that should be aggregated to avoid delay in acknowledgment (ACK) transmission and the optimal number of bundles to be aggregated for the best transmission efficiency of BP/LTPCL, with the effect of full overhead at all layers taken into consideration. The models are validated by file transfer experiments running BP/LTPCL protocols using a PC-based testbed.

Mode Switching Algorithms for DVB-S2 Links in W Band

In this paper an analysis on the use of Adaptive Coding and Modulation (ACM) techniques for EHF satellite communications is presented. In particular, our analysis is focused on W-band channels and includes the main channel impairments in this frequency band, i.e. rain fading and HPA non-linearity. The aim of the analysis is to identify modifications to the ACM mode switching algorithm to optimize their use at those high frequency bands.

On the optimization of DVB-S2 links in EHF bands

In this paper an analysis on the use of Adaptive Coding and Modulation (ACM) techniques for EHF satellite communications is presented with reference to the DVB-S2 standard. The analysis is focused on W-band communication links and includes an optimization of DVB-S2 ACM thresholds of the received Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) for Extremely High Frequency (EHF) links. The simulation model includes rain fading and amplifier nonlinearities which can not be neglected for the performance analysis and optimization of real systems in W-band. 1 2

Multimedia Content Delivery for Emerging 5G-Satellite Networks

Multimedia content delivery over satellite systems is considered as a promising service in emerging 5G networks. The aim of this paper is to design a novel radio resource management algorithm for efficiently managing multicast multimedia content transmission over satellite network. The proposed approach performs the spectrum management on a per-group basis, by splitting multicast terminals into different subgroups according to the experienced channel qualities. We demonstrate that subgrouping policy defined by the authors as multicast subgrouping-maximum satisfaction index (MS-MSI), based on a new metric (i.e., MSI), overcomes the weakness of the previous techniques proposed in the literature and provides the best tradeoff between user throughput and fairness. As a further result, we demonstrate that MS-MSI is robust to the long propagation delay of satellite links. An extensive simulation campaign has been conducted by considering several satellite environments.

Performance analysis and optimization of site diversity techniques for EHF satellite links

In this work authors investigate the use of Propagation Impairments Mitigation Techniques (PIMTs) based on site-diversity for Extremely High Frequencies (EHF) satellite links. 12 This work has been performed in the frame of the joint European/Italian satellite scientific payload named Alphasat TDP#5; this scientific payload will be used to perform experimental analysis on the use of Q/V band frequencies to support satellite telecommunication services. Because of the highly variable attenuation experienced at these frequencies, PIMTs have to be adopted. Site diversity techniques could provide great benefit to EHF satellite communications, dramatically increasing the percentage of operational time of the links. As a matter of fact, through these techniques a large number of services could be supported by EHF satellite links. Different site diversity configurations are analyzed and optimized, through a software simulation tool, in order to obtain the best performance for different service scenarios.