IP with QoS guarantees via geo satellite channels: Performance issues

The rapid proliferation of the Internet over recent years has roused the research community's interest in QoS guarantees to IP traffic. The integration of new satellite technologies with terrestrial broadband networks can provide worldwid reachability to a wide range of IP-based multimedia applications and services. Thus. a great deal of research is being conducted to extend IP technology with QoS guarantees to satellite links. The purpose of this article is to contribute to this issue. In fact, the main focus is on the satellite access network of an integrated terrestrial-satellite multimedia platform. In this scenario, effective solutions to transport real-time IP traffic with quality of service (QoS) guarantees are proposed, and their effectiveness is assessed. Real-time IP services with different traffic descriptors and delay requirements are considered, and therefore the best transport solution (in terms of guaranteed quality and efficiency in satellite resource utilization) over permanent or semi-permanent satellite connections is identified.