Signal Processing in Satellite Systems

for Multimedia Services

l 2 t
M. Luglio , F. Maz.zenga and F. Vatalaro

lDipartimento di Ingegneria Eletlronica. UniversitA di Roma Tor Vergata, Italy

2CoRiTel- Consorzio di Ricerca sulle Teiecomunicazioni. Rama.Italy

Abstract

Among possible transmission media, in the very near future satellite systems are
expected to provide cost·effective multimedia services directly to the user. To
provide these services in a flexible and efficient way the concept of bandwidth on-
demand on a call-by-call basis must be implemented. This feature heavily relies
upon digital signal processing techniques. This paper frrst reviews services
expected via satellite and the main multimedia systems presently under
development. Then it provides an overview of some of the possible choices in the
area of digital on-board processing techniques. including multiplexing and
demultiplexjng, modulation and demodulation, interleaving and deinterleaving,
forward error correction coding and decoding, digital beam forming, and
switching. Finally, it gives a ookl into the fast developing subject of software
radio satellite technologies.

1. Introduction
The fast-growing need for multimedia services including Internet web browsing,
bulk data transfer, and video services. is pushing network designers and operators
to deploy versatile and efficient broadband networks. Among possible
transmission media, in the very near future satellite systems are expected to
provide cost-effective multimedia direct-la-user (DTU) services (see Table I).

Messaging

Table I - Satellite multimedia services and typical applications.

F. De Natale et al. (eds.), Multimedia Communications

© Springer-Verlag London Limited 1999
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To provide these services in a flexible and efficient way the concept of bandwidth
on-demand on a call-by.-call basis must be implemented. This feature heavily
relies upon Digital Signal Processing (DSP) techniques, both on board and at
ground. Interactive multimedia and personal services require to a satellite system:
• wide bandwidths to accommodate high capacities and data rates,
• high degree of flexibility on-board and intelligence at terminal level to allow
enhancement in personal mobility and to combat transmission impairments.
The challenge of providing multimedia services to fixed users through satellite
systems is to ensure the same quality provided by terrestrial networks in such a
way that the user should not realize which medium is presently used. A more
demanding objective. pursued by some of the most advanced projects. is to extend
satellite multimedia services to also ensure terminal mobility [1).
Basic technologies to provide multimedia and personal services via satellite have
been developed in the past years. They are: On-Board Processing (OBP) to
demodulate, route and re-modulate signals o n board; multi beam antennas, to
enhance spectrum and power efficiency; use of high frequencies such as the Ka
band (20/30 GHz) and higher frequencies to reduce antennas and terminal sizes
and to exploit larger bandwidths. In addition to the above technological advances,
efforts are being dedicated to the adaptation of the Asynchronous Transfer Mode
(ATM) standard to satellite systems [2. 3). In fact, ATM offers integration of
voice, video and data services and the flexibile access to bandwidth on-demand
with guaranteed quality of service.
The main limitations of satellites are the relatively long transmission delays, link
noise and interference, and the impairments due to bad weather conditions. They
impact on the selection of the most appropriate multiple access (MA) techniques,
on the selection of the satellite constellation, o n the definition of the on-board
processing and switching architectures. In particular link noise and weather
conditions influence the reliable data transmission due to the presence of burst of
errors. The effects of link noise can be mitigated using efficient coding schemes
and the burst of errors can be compensated using appropriate interleaving. Finally,
the long delay caused by satellite communications has a significant impact on
delay-sensitive services such as realtime voice and video.
Orbit constellations for multimedia satellite applications include both the
Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) and circular non-GEO constellations located at
Low-altitude Earth Orbits (LEOs) or Medium-altitude Earth Orbits (MEOs). LEO
constellations are located at altitudes around 1000 km (below the first Van Allen
belt). MEO constellations are located at altitudes around 10000 km (above the
first and below the second Van Allen belt). For GEO satellites the one-way
propagatio n delay is about 125 ms. In this case the delay due to o n-board
processing may be considered negligible. As a consequence of the large distance
between user stations and the GEO satellite and considering the practical power
limitations and the antenna sizes of the user terminals, LEO and MEO
constellations may be preferable. In fact, for LEO and MEO constellations o ne
way transmissions delay is reduced to 10-15 ms and 55-65 ms, re spectively.