Converged Networks for Mission Operations using Digital Video Broadcast

1
Converged Networks for Mission Operations using
Digital Video Broadcast

• Arun Welch
• Infinite Global Infrastructures/ Lockheed Martin
  Space Operations

2
DVB Description

• DVB is an encoding standard originally
  promulgated by the video industry, now extended
  to transmit any form of data.
  
• The standard supports the encoding of multiple
  virtual channels within a single channel.

3
DVB AdvantagesCost of Equipment

• Due to its wide deployment in the cable and
  satellite television industries, DVB
  implementations are available from multiple
  sources at consumer pricing levels.

4
DVB AdvantagesSpace Segment Efficiency

• DVB multiplexes multiple streams within a single
  carrier, so there is no need for guard bands
  between data streams. This results in increased
  efficiency in the use of the space segment,
  especially where there are multiple streams
  within the carrier.

5
DVB AdvantagesSecurity

• In the interest of protecting their revenue, the
  TV industry has invested considerable resources
  in ensuring the encryption and security of the
  DVB-encoded streams. Thus, there are multiple
  products available for securing the DVB
  transmissions.

6
DVB AdvantagesData distribution

• The TV model of one uplink with multiple
  receivers is ideally suited to data
  dissemination. DVB supports multicast natively.

7
Comparison to traditional SCPC connections

• This is the traditional methodology used for
  creating satellite links. Compared to DVB
  
• it is expensive, since a modem is required for
  each channel at the uplink site.
  
• inefficient in the use of the space segment due
  to the need for guard bands between carriers.
  
• Inefficient in the use of bandwidth, since the
  bandwidth allocated to subchannels cannot be
  reallocated dynamically
  

8
Scenarios Data Dissemination via Satellite
Multicast

• Single data stream from the uplink site
• Multiple data streams from uplink site
• Mixed data and audio/video

9
Data Distribution, Bandwidth availability

• A single transponder could support a 20 Mb/s HDTV
  feed, a 10 Mb/s data stream, and an assortment of
  smaller streams.

10
Return Channel

• DVB supports two-way transmissions via the Return
  Channel Specification (DVB-RCS) standard. RCS
  systems are typically asymmetric, since RCS only
  specifies a return channel of 2 Mb/s.

11
Scenarios Data Dissemination via Satellite
Multicast with return

• Single data stream from the uplink site
• Multiple data streams from uplink site
• Mixed data and audio/video
• Return channel for voice/duplex data

12
Converged network

• Extending the previous example, a remote site
  could receive a 20 Mb/s HDTV video feed, an
  assortment of data feeds, and have a return
  channel for two-way voice and data. Typical costs
  for such an end node supporting this would be
  less than 5,000.

13
Conclusion

• DVB can be a viable technology for supporting the
  delivery of data to multiple sites in a
  cost-effective manner.