Utility function based packet scheduling over DVB-S2

Satellite Digital Video Broadcasting is deeply changing : the next generation is dedicated to packet based communications and introduces (like many modern physical layers : WiMax, HSDPA, ...) fade mitigation techniques leading to variable throughput. Such tremendous changes need to be taken into account and the scheduling entity needs to be revisited. The purpose of this paper is to investigate utility function based algorithms. Such techniques have already been studied but never within this context. DVB-S2 frames can encapsulate numerous IP packets, can offer variable payload length as well as variable transmission time, because of ACM techniques. A more general approach is needed to encompass theses properties. As a consequence, the number of solutions among which a scheduler has to find the better is increased. We will then show that the algorithm implemented is an important issue.