Enhanced Dynamic Resource Allocation for DVB-RCS: a Cross-Layer Operational Framework

This work deals with an enhanced Dynamic Bandwidth Allocation (DBA) scheme designed for satellite communication networks deployed under DVB-RCS. Our contribution defines a DVB-RCS standard-compliant operational framework that, unlike other approaches, fixes some structure in the general and combinatorial DBA problem. This results in reduced signalling, increased robustness to PHY-layer changes and reduced complexity of the subsequent allocation. Thereafter, the DBA problem is cast in a mathematical optimization problem and a fast algorithm to solve it is proposed. Moreover, the problem formulation guarantees maximum fairness among users and establishes a link to deal with QoS requirements at higher layers. This cross-layer solution is specially interesting when merging the satellite subnetwork with the Internet TCP/IP-based core network. Results show significant increases in both bandwidth utilization and overall transferred data rate by using the proposed method. Computational time is decreased by a factor of two when compared to existing solutions. And finally, the advantageous interaction with QoS requirements at higher layers is shown with practical examples.