High speed data communication by satellite in Europe-the HELIOS architecture

A description is given of the HELIOS architecture, which is based on access points running on OSI data link protocol and acting as gateways between the satellite circuit and a local area network. The access points consist of Bull SPS/7 minicomputers; test of a preliminary version of the software have allowed the successful transmission of files at 128 kb/s between Paris and Brussels. Being totally OSI-compatible, the HELIOS architecture is independent of manufacturers, applications, or other local considerations, and will therefore also be compatible with the future, ground-based, high-speed circuits. The aims and scope of HELIOS as well as its main characteristics and basic architecture are examined. The present status of work on the HELIOS project is discussed.<
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