Digital video broadcast return channel satellite (DVB-RCS) architectures and applications for the Department of Defense (DoD)

As the Department of Defense (DoD) begins to develop and deploy net-centric services within the global information grid (GIG), new and emerging technologies will be used to achieve the goal of a unified network transport using a variety of IP-based terrestrial, wireless and satellite technologies. Included within this vision is the global information grid bandwidth expansion (GIG-BE) and the transformation communications system (TCS) satellite network. While the mission of upgrading many DoD terrestrial networks under GIG-BE has entered into the initial phases of planning and deployment, TCS is still many years away from operational use. However, there is a need for IP-based satellite networks in the warfighter community today. To fulfil this immediate need, as well as prepare for future enhanced TCS capabilities, the DoD has developed an IP modem functional capabilities document. This document provides the minimum set of functional capabilities that ensure interoperability among modems supporting IP services. Using this FCD as a guide the DoD will perform a best of breed evaluation to select the next generation DoD IP modem. This paper describes potential DVB-RCS implementations within the new GBS IP architecture and outlines various two-way user pull/publish DVB-RCS capabilities. This includes using DVB-RCS within a distributed forward and return link architecture and synchronization of both forward and return Link subsystems. Discussion of DVB-RCS enabled applications will not only include typical IP-based services such as voice over IP (VoIP) and video teleconferencing (VTC) but will also include distributed information sharing across user terminals, tactical rebroadcast of information, and information publishing from deployed and disadvantaged locations. Additional related technologies are also discussed in the context of implementation over DVB-RCS transport networks including MPEG-4, reliable multicasting, and peer-to-peer networking.