No full-text available
To read the full-text of this research,
you can request a copy directly from the authors.
Architectures and protocols for an integrated satellite-terrestrial mobile system
Abstract
This paper aims to depict some basic concepts related to the definition of an integrated system for mobile communications, consisting of a satellite network and a terrestrial cellular network. In particular three aspects are discussed: (1) architecture definition for the satellite network; (2) assignment strategy of the satellite channels; and (3) definition of 'internetworking procedures' between cellular and satellite network, according to the selected architecture and the satellite channel assignment strategy.
In the near future personal mobile communications will be provided either by cellular networks and by satellite systems. In terms of capacity and coverage features, the two types of systems are complementary and integration between them could assure noticeable benefits. The paper addresses an efficient management strategy of the RF resources of an integrated system compound by a cellular component and a satellite component and highlights procedures that permit interchange of traffic load between these two parts of the system.
The integration between satellite systems and the third generation of mobile systems (referred to as Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) by the European Telecommunication Standard Institute) is a largely debated issue.
This paper outlines the UMTS network architecture and identifies some basic issues for extending such architecture to an integrated system including a satellite. The possible options for carrying out the aforesaid integration are examined together with the relevant trade-offs.
The paper is based upon the work performed by the author for TELESPAZIO (Rome) in the framework of the RACE Project: “Satellite Integration in the Future Mobile Network (SAINT)”. The opinions herewith reported are not necessarily those of the SAINT project as a whole.
The integration of satellite systems with cellular networks permits to provide wider and more efficient area coverage. This paper deals with the network aspects related to a full integration between the Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) pan-European cellular network and a spot-beam geostationary satellite. The basic requirements of full integration are that the insertion of the satellite system does not entail any modification on the already existing GSM network and that the satellite system reuses, as far as possible, the same equipment and protocols, i.e. the same hardware and software, as the GSM network. In the fully integrated system the user need not be aware whether the actual connection goes through the satellite or the cellular network. In particular, this paper identifies the satellite system counterpart of the GSM functional areas (cell, location area, MSC area, PLMN area) and deals with the problems and the relevant solutions related to the extension of the GSM procedures (e.g. call set-up, cell selection/reselection, handover, initial acquisition, tracking) to the integrated network. This paper is partly based upon the work performed by the author in the framework of an European Space Agency (ESA) study on the compatibility between satellite systems and the GSM cellular network (Telespazio is the prime contractor of this study) and partly results from the cooperation of the author with the INFOCOM department of the University of Rome “La Sapienza”. The opinions herewith reported are not necessarily those of ESA.
The integration between cellular networks and satellite systems is a very promising issue, since it permits the immediate provision of the radio services offered by the cellular networks to areas lacking in terrestrial facilities.
In this paper the viability of a full integration between the GSM cellular network and a satellite system is dealt with. The L-band land mobile payload has been assumed as a reference; nevertheless the presented results can be extended to other payloads.
The basic requirement of full integration is that the insertion of the satellite system does not entail any modification of the already existing GSM network.
The integration analysis has been carried out by examining both the link feasibility and the network architecture.
As far as link feasibility is concerned, the analysis is performed by means of an ad hoc simulation tool developed at CSELT (Turin). The simulation results are displayed for GSM speech channels at both full-rate (TCH/FS) and half-rate (TCH/HS). Such results are used in order to compute the satellite link budgets and the satellite system capacity. The characteristics of the satellite propagation channel, of the satellite-compatible mobile station and of the reference payload are explained as well.
As far as the network architecture is concerned, the paper identifies the most promising satellite system configuration and the satellite system counterpart of the GSM functional areas (cell, location area, MSC area). Moreover, the problems and the relevant solutions related to the extension of the main GSM procedures (e.g. call set-up, cell selection/reselection, handover) to the integrated network are dealt with.
This paper is based upon the work performed by the authors in the framework of the European Space Agency (ESA) study: ‘Assessment of a public mobile satellite system compatible with the GSM cellular network’, Telespazio (Rome) is the prime contractor of this study.
The opinions herewith reported are not necessarily those of ESA.
The issue of selecting optimised integration level in a GSM and satellite integrated system is discussed. Criterion of performance evaluation is based on the estimation of inter-network signalling load. For signalling link dimensioning purpose, SS#7 signalling message length is estimated. The main factors to have impact on the signalling link dimensioning are identified. In particular, BSS level and MSC level integration are compared based on the proposed traffic model and analytical model. Services considered in the integrated system are call handling, location update and inter-network handover.
This paper aims at designing an optimised GSM-satellite
integration system architecture by minimising the signalling load
generated by the inter-segment location update procedure. Dual-mode
mobile terminal location management scenarios are introduced for various
integration levels. The GSM location update signalling procedure has
been taken as a reference. Both inter-segment signalling load and total
signalling load on terrestrial links have been taken into account
In this paper, a network architecture for the integration of
IRIDIUM and CDMA systems is proposed. In particular we design the
architecture of Clearing House. The mechanisms of signaling protocol
translation and parameter matching for numbering between IRIDIUM and
CDMA systems have been designed and realized in Clearing House. New
signaling procedures for location registration and call setup in the
integrated network are also proposed
Various scenarios for GSM-satellite integration are discussed and
optimised system architectures are proposed in terms of service
requirement, implementation cost, routing of the signalling and
modifications on the GSM network. The system architecture is defined by
a particular network relationship and integration level. Three
integration scenarios are proposed to support different service groups
The integration between cellular and satellite systems permits to provide wider and more efficient area coverage. In this paper the viability of a full integration between the GSM cellular network and a satellite system (the L-band Land Mobile payload has been assumed as a reference, nevertheless the results can be extended to other payloads) is dealt with. The integration analysis focuses on the link feasibility. Full integration entails that the satellite system reuses the same channels, access technique, modulation, and coding as the GSM system. The presented results have been obtained by means of an ad hoc simulation tool developed at CSELT (Turin). The paper outlines a reference scenario for the integrated system and explains the characteristics of the satellite propagation channel, of the reference payload and of the satellite-compatible mobile station (both the RF equipment and the IF equipment main features are discussed). The simulation results are displayed for the GSM speech channels at both full rate (TCH/FS) and half rate (TCH/HS). Such results are used in order to compute the overall link budget and the satellite system capacity
The integration between cellular and satellite systems permits to provide wider and more efficient area coverage. In this paper the viability of a full integration between the GSM cellular network and a spot-beam satellite system is dealt with. The integration analysis focuses on the network aspects. Full integration means to reuse, as far as possible, the same equipment and protocols, i.e. the same hardware and software, for the satellite and the GSM network. In the integrated system the user need not be aware whether the actual connection goes through the satellite or the GSM network. The paper identifies the most promising satellite system configuration and the satellite system counterpart of the GSM functional areas (cell, location area, MSC area). Moreover, the problems and the relevant solutions related to the extension of the GSM procedures (e.g. call set-up, cell selection/reselection, handover, initial acquisition, tracking) to the satellite system are dealt with
This paper deals with the full integration of the Global System
for Mobile communication (GSM) pan-European cellular network with a
multi-spot geostationary satellite. The basic requirement of full
integration is that the pre-existing GSM network must not be modified
because of the insertion of the satellite. A fully integrated scenario
is presented. The satellite counterpart of the GSM cell is identified.
In a fully integrated scenario “single-mode” mobile stations
(MSs) only equipped with the GSM terminal coexist with
“dual-mode” MSs equipped with both the GSM and the satellite
terminal. Two basic categories of dual-mode MSs are considered: the
transportable MSs and the vehicular MSs. For both categories the
satellite link feasibility is studied by exploiting an ad hoc simulation
tool. The system capacity is determined taking into account the presence
of the voice activation mechanism. The paper is partly based upon the
work performed by the authors in the framework of an European Space
Agency (ESA) study on the compatibility between satellite systems and
the GSM cellular network
Several multisatellite and multispot systems have been recently
proposed for provision of mobile and personal services with global
coverage, adopting GEO or non-GEO (i.e., MEO, LEO) satellite
constellations. The paper addresses an in-depth analysis of these
constellations, evaluating both geometrical performance measures and
cochannel interference levels caused by extensive frequency reuse. The
geometrical analysis yields the statistics for coverage, frequency of
satellite hand-overs, and link absence periods. The interference
analysis is based on a general model valid for all access techniques,
which is here applied to the case of FDMA. The outage probability as a
function of the specification on carrier-to-interference power ratio is
evaluated for four selected constellations. Several techniques are
introduced for interference reduction in non-GEO systems, in which the
satellites coverage areas may intersect: spot turnoff, intraorbital
plane frequency division, and interorbital plane frequency division. The
effects of Rice fading have also been analyzed by means of an analytic
approximated method. The overall analysis allows a fair comparison
between LEO, MEO, and GEO constellations
This paper aims at providing a complete analysis of the issues
relevant to satellite systems in the perspective of the third generation
of mobile systems. The analysis considers, on the one hand, the possible
satellite system evolutionary paths and, on the other hand, the
satellite system requirements related to technological issues. As
regards the satellite evolutionary paths, the paper provides a view of
the satellite systems already in operation or currently being developed
and outlines the guidelines followed by future satellite systems (in
that respect, particular emphasis is given to small satellites). The
analysis is performed by also taking into account the potential market
and the regulatory issues. As regards the satellite system requirements
related to technological issues, some key features such as integration
with the terrestrial cellular networks, satellite system capacity,
handover, synchronization, are discussed in the light of the
technological innovations which are being proposed for the third
generation of mobile systems. The above-mentioned issues are dealt with
by referring both to time division multiple access (TDMA) and to code
division multiple access (CDMA), i.e., the third-generation candidate
access techniques
Satellite and terrestrial cellular systems naturally complement each other for land mobile communications, even though the present systems have been developed independently. The main advantages of the integrated system are a faster wide area coverage, a better management of traffic overload, an extension to geographical areas not covered by the terrestrial network and, in perspective, the provision of only one integrated system for all mobile communications (Land/Aeronautical/Maritime). To achieve these goals, as far as possible the same protocols of the terrestrial network should be used also for the satellite network. This paper discusses the main issues arising from the requirements of the integrated system, illustrates some preliminary results and presents possible improvements for the technical solutions.
The structure and performance of an integrated system for all
mobile communications, based on the Pan European digital cellular
network standard, are presented. The system architecture and protocols
are discussed. A performance analysis of the satellite access procedure
is given. Also, the performance of a satellite system integrated with
the terrestrial network is considered, referring to the present
bandwidth allocation for a land mobile satellite system. The results
suggest that some the proposals are feasible solutions for the
integration of a satellite system with the terrestrial network for
mobile communications
Integration between terrestrial-based and satellite-based land mobile communications systems
- A Arcidiacono
A. Arcidiacono,
"Integration
between
terrestrial-based
and satellite-based
land mobile
communications
systems,"
International
Mobile
Satellite Confi_rence, Ottawa, June 1990