Ubiquitous QoS communications using scalable satellite networking

Purpose - Satellite networking will be an important component of future ubiquitous communications systems. Satellite networks will be especially useful to interconnect remote sensor networks. Therefore, satellite networks should provide the needed QoS, differentiation of services and at the same time keep the required scalability. The purpose of this paper is to propose a new Diffserv-based scheme of bandwidth allocation during congestion, called proportional allocation of bandwidth (PAB). Design/methodology/approach - The paper suggests a method for implementing PAB without storing per-flow state, which makes the scheme scalable and simple and shows, by simulation, the advantages of using PAB in IP satellite networks. Findings - The paper finds that PAB can be used in geostationary earth orbit, MEO and low earth orbit satellite networks. In PAB, during congestion all flows get a share of IP available bandwidth, which is in proportion to their subscribed information rate. Originality/value - The simulations described in this paper show that the performance of PAB scheme is good on congested satellite networks.