Research Article
Enhancement of DVB-S2 Network Stability and Performance for Mobile User Groups
College of Computer Science and Information Technology, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, 31982, Saudi Arabia
Digital Video Broadcast-Satellite2 (DVB-S2) is an improved version of DVB-S which was introduced in 2004 for internet and TV use. Due to an increased demand of IP-based information and entertainment services, it is implemented in different sectors of technologies such as internet access and internet trucking services as a next generation satellite protocol. The DVB-S2 is a more competitive transmission technology than DVB-RCS for return traffic from user groups (DVB., 2010). Signal spreading issues and mobility problems occur due to bad weather conditions. The DVB-S supports only a single modulation mode which is Quadrature Phase-Shift Keying (QPSK). Currently, four modulation modes namely DVB-S2 supports QPSK, 8PSK, 16APSK and 32APSK) are available in DVB-S2. According to Doost et al. (2014), the quality of QPSK is robustness in nature which can operate even under poor link conditions, down to (Carrier to Noise Ratio) C/N>-2.4 dB with appropriate coding on the transmission side.
The DVB-S2 uses a very powerful and complex Forward Error Correction (FEC) scheme which is highly efficient in performance in the presence of high level of noise and interference. Also, Morello and Mignone (2004, 2006) pointed out that the new coding scheme in combination with available modulation modes in DVB-S2 allows operation within 0.7-1.2 dB of the theoretical Shannon limit. Recently, Ugolini et al. (2014) stated that the capacity for DVB-S2 is increased by 30% on DVB-S. Also, DVB-S2 supports multiple streams of mobile applications in audio, video and data which are compatible with Moving Picture Expert Group (MPEG), MPEG2 and MPEG4. According to Doost et al. (2014), the Adaptive Coding Modulation (ACM) dynamically sets individual stream modulation and protection parameters in real time environment and allows interactive service systems. Previous studies suggested that the Quality of Service (QOS) should be deployed through fading periods where the availability of critical services is required. Because, the QOS can distinguish the critical services from low priority or routine data (European Commission, 2005; Lee et al., 2014). Also, the benefits of ACM were realized on a per user basis thus allowing a system of diverse terminals and link conditions to operate with greater efficiency than VCM alone. A system employing ACM can realize capacity gains up to 200% when compared to systems using CCM (ETSI., 2009a, b). The DVB-S2 scheme uses Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) that increases the capacity by reducing the information rate and using the efficient digital codes. As the transmission is continuous and less number of bits are needed for synchronization and framing. Furthermore, DVB-S2 uses both Single Carrier Per Channel (SCPC) and Multiple Carrier Per Chanel (MCPC) for broadcasting (Fontan et al., 2001; Scalise et al., 2002; Radzik et al., 2007, 2009; Erl and de Cola, 2014; Erunika et al., 2015). The background and basics of mobility factors, an integral part of satellite transmission on mobile user platform, were described by Erunika et al. (2015).
The propagation considerations influencing the radio channels were divided into; (1) Tropospheric effects and (2) Ionospheric effects. The troposphere effects include gaseous absorption, attenuation due to rain, cloud and fog, troposphere scintillations and depolarization due to troposphere. Whereas, the ionosphere effects include Faraday effect.
As reported by Satcom Resources (2014), attenuation due to rain occurs only when a rain storm passes through the communication link. Therefore, the prediction of the possible consequences for a link can be done by a combination of practical measurements and theoretical modelling as follows:
where, α is the specific attenuation of rain in dB km1. This is estimated by:
α = aRb
where, a and b are frequency and time-dependent constants and R is the rain-rate at the particular location on earth. The values of a and b were estimated by the measurements and fitting the data to model by following method described in Satcom Resources (2014).
The specific attenuation is:
where, C (D) can be calculated using Mie theory:
Empirical rain model;
α = aRb
where, R is Rain rate in mm h1.
On the other hand, Gregson et al. (2007) reported that the designer of the satellite systems needs a link margin to know by how much the rain will influence the signal depending on the desired percentage reliability. Also, as explained by Satcom Resources (2014), the typical attenuation values due to rain for in dB/km can be predicted as and when required.
The radio waves are affected by a rotation in polarisation or the Faraday effect (Satcom Resources, 2014). Interference must be avoided between adjacent satellites and the two earth stations by using high quality antennas. Propagation considerations for mobile satellite communications are the path length and the variation of profile and the mobile terminals use broad-beam antennas with limited discrimination against unwanted signals reflected or scattered from buildings, trees etc. These result in signals attenuated when path is shadowed, signals fluctuate randomly as reflected and scattered components interact and the power spectral density of the noise as a function of the speed of movement.
The impairment in the wireless channel can be conveniently divided into three types of fading namely path loss, shadowing (slow fading) and fast fading (or multipath fading) as described by Niddam and Pirio (2005).
In a study, Vieira et al. (2006, 2008) reported that path mobility considerations show the multiple copies of signal arriving at different phases if the phases add destructively, the signal level relative to noise declines, making detection more difficult fast fading (Vieira et al., 2006, 2008). One or more delayed copies of a pulse may arrive at the same time as the primary pulse for a subsequent bit (Choi et al., 2008). Many types of fading were reported by Niddam and Pirio (2005) such as slow fading, fast fading, Rayleigh fading, Rician fading-Los, flat fading and selective fading. All these types of fading affect the transmission of RF signal between the sender and receiver. While, different types of fadings showed limited signal spread without Inter-Symbal Interference (ISI) as described by Chen et al. (2014). The doppler shift is basically due to the receiver motion relative to the source which could be transmitter or scatterer thus showing a shift in the apparent carrier frequency. Frequency changes as a result of the Doppler shift principle which may be in evidence with signals from some satellites. This form of satellite propagation effect is important because it plays a major role in the design of a satellite system. The shifts resulting from the Doppler phenomenon need to be taken into account as a part of the overall design. In many instances the effects will subtract because of the way the satellite mixing process is configured according to Erunika et al. (2015).
This study addressed the mobility issues of DVB-S2 based on the BER, LDPC and ACM simulations, investigated the effects of Adaptive Coding Modulation (ACM) in efficiency of transmission for mobile users, emphasized the Multiple Access scheme of DVB-S2 and demonstrated the performance of Forward Error Correction (FEC) of DVB-S2 useful in handling problems common in mobility environment.
The study proposed the DVB-S2 link layer model suitable for mobility conditions as described in Fig. 1.
Adaptive Coding Modulation (ACM) is a key feature of DVB-S2 and is very flexible in terms of frame adaptation. The capacity of system can be increased with ACM which replaces rain fade. The ACM could increase system capacity by balancing the rain fade in the same way as it does in situations with fixed terminal and non-LOS scenarios. Since the rain cell and terminals both are stirring, faster dynamics of channel are expected to happen in worst situations. The ACM can also trounce the difference in satellite antenna gain when routing terminal moves across the spots. However, in case of non-LOS scenarios physical impairments may affect control loop and channel estimation mechanisms. Designing the control loop architecture can help evade negative collision of blockages in ACM functionality. Careful SNR measurements were required to balance longer delays to sort out the consequences from multipath and micro-interruption. The efficiency of ACM was achieved through Field trials at such locations.
Fig. 1: | DVB-S2 proposed model for mobility |
As shown in Fig. 2, the Adaptive Coding Modulation (ACM) engine using ACM algorithm in this model was based on the standard required Es/No by ETSI to support a Quasi Error Free transmission. In order to make decisions among link conditions, offsets were provided as equidistance thresholds between adjacent modulations. The SNR of received signal at the receiver was sent to ACM block to be used for next frame mode of transmission.
The performance of the model was checked by simulating modulation and various code rates (FEC) with different constellations on AWGN channel as shown in Fig. 2-5. About 64800 bits were chosen as packet size for QPSK, 8PSK, 16 and 32 APSK modulation. The authors took multiple MPEG packets for each LDPC frame with 188 bytes each. Error rate requirements of DVB-S2 are rather stringent (10-7 packet error rate), an outer BCH code with the same block length as LDPC frame and an error correction capability of up to 12 bits was employed according to Ugolini et al. (2014).
Fig. 2: | Performance of codes rates over AWGN channel for QPSK |
Fig. 3: | Performance of codes rates over AWGN channel for 8 PSK |
The results agree with the findings of Morello and Mignone (2004, 2006) who stated that the new coding scheme in combination with available modulation modes in DVB-S2 allows operation within 0.7-1.2 dB of the theoretical Shannon limit.
The ACM was followed to counter fading effects in which it automatically adjusts modulation scheme according to link conditions. For example, it adopted QPSK when the link was poor and 8PSK when the link seemed to be in good condition which means that sky conditions were clear. In mobile environment, ACM was applied on long term basis (slow fluctuation in the signal power) and short duration fading events as well. According to the results, shown in Fig. 2-5, the main importance of power control was that it kept the Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) point constant in the given mode of ACM. When the actual transmit power crossed the modes power level boundaries, the mode was adapted according to current situation of link and power. Similar result were reported by Ugolini et al. (2014) who stated that the capacity for DVB-S2 is increased by 30% on DVB-S.
Fig. 4: | Performance of codes rates over AWGN channel for 16 APSK |
Fig. 5: | Performance of codes rates over AWGN channel for 32 APSK |
The DVB-S2 supports multiple streams of mobile applications in audio, video and data which are compatible with Moving Picture Expert Group (MPEG), MPEG2 and MPEG4.
This study described the basic technical features and principles of the DVB-S2 system for mobility platforms. However, careful study of the background and architecture of DVB-S2 and its functionalities in mobility environment allowed to draw the following conclusions:
• | Adaptive Coding Modulation (ACM) helped to improve the efficiency of transmission for mobile users by switching modulation schemes according to link conditions. But, Multiple Access scheme of DVB-S2 helped in mobile environment where switching of satellite transponders needed |
• | Synchronization of transceiver and receiver was much easier due to the absence of overhead |
• | Time inter-leaver and FEC of DVB-S2 prevented the signal blockage issues that are common in mobility environment |
• | Bit Error Rate (BER) performances of Forward Error Correction (FEC) showed significant increase of spectrum and reduction of delay in transmission |
• | DVB-S2 is fully flexible standard that can be adapted and used in several network architectures which could be deployed in future for long term perspective |
The proposed model can be tested to determine the accuracy of approach in different communication applications. Also, depending on the results, further improvements can be made to it.