ETSI TS 102 721-1 V1.2.1 (2013-08)

Satellite Earth Stations and Systems (SES); Air Interface for S-band Mobile Interactive Multimedia (S-MIM); Part 1: General System Architecture and Configurations

RTS/SES-00333

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 07-Aug-2013
• Technical Committee: SES SCN - Satellite Communications and Navigation
• Current Stage: 12 - Completion
• Due Date: 12-Aug-2013
• Completion Date: 08-Aug-2013
• Mandate: M/496

Standards Content (Sample)

Technical Specification
Satellite Earth Stations and Systems (SES);
Air Interface for S-band Mobile Interactive Multimedia (S-MIM);
Part 1: General System Architecture and Configurations

2 ETSI TS 102 721-1 V1.2.1 (2013-08)

Reference
RTS/SES-00333
Keywords
architecture, configuration, MSS, satellite
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ETSI
3 ETSI TS 102 721-1 V1.2.1 (2013-08)
Contents
Intellectual Property Rights . 5
Foreword . 5
Introduction . 5
1 Scope . 6
2 References . 6
2.1 Normative references . 6
2.2 Informative references . 6
3 Definitions and abbreviations . 7
3.1 Definitions . 7
3.2 Abbreviations . 8
4 System Overview . 9
4.1 General . 9
4.2 User Services of the S-MIM System . 10
4.3 Mapping of Service Segments to Radio Interfaces . 11
4.4 Terminal Classes . 12
5 S-MIM Network Architecture . 13
5.1 S-MIM Segments . 13
5.2 S-MIM Interfaces . 14
6 Network Elements . 15
6.1 The User Terminals . 15
6.1.1 Terminals with Access to SS1 and/or SS2 . 15
6.1.1.1 The Type C Terminal . 15
6.1.2 Terminals with Access to SS3 . 16
6.2 The Network Control Centre and the Satellite Hub . 21
6.2.1 The Satellite Hub . 21
6.2.2 The Network Control Centre . 25
6.3 The Complementary Ground Components . 26
6.3.1 The FWD CGC . 26
6.3.2 The RTN CGC . 27
7 Protocol Architecture . 31
7.1 Forward Link . 31
7.1.1 Forward Link Reference Protocol Stack . 31
7.1.2 Forward Link Protocol Architectures . 31
7.1.2.1 Satellite Link Only . 32
7.1.2.2 Satellite and/or FWD CGC . 32
7.2 Return Link . 33
7.2.1 Asynchronous Return Link Reference Protocol Stack . 33
7.2.2 Asynchronous Return Link Protocol Architectures . 34
7.2.2.1 Satellite Link Only . 34
7.2.2.2 Satellite and/or RTN CGC . 34
7.2.3 Synchronous Return Link Reference Protocol Stack . 35
7.2.4 Synchronous Return Link Protocol Architecture . 35
Annex A (normative): Mapping of Services into Forward Link Physical Layer Channels . 37
Annex B (informative): Network Architecture Configurations . 38
Annex C (informative): The Service Enabling Platform. 40
C.1 Server Side Middleware for SS1 and SS2 . 40
C.2 Server Side Middleware for SS3 . 41
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4 ETSI TS 102 721-1 V1.2.1 (2013-08)
Annex D (informative): Management Plane . 43
Annex E (informative): Bibliography . 45
History . 46

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5 ETSI TS 102 721-1 V1.2.1 (2013-08)
Intellectual Property Rights
IPRs essential or potentially essential to the present document may have been declared to ETSI. The information
pertaining to these essential IPRs, if any, is publicly available for ETSI members and non-members, and can be found
in ETSI SR 000 314: "Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs); Essential, or potentially Essential, IPRs notified to ETSI in
respect of ETSI standards", which is available from the ETSI Secretariat. Latest updates are available on the ETSI Web
server (http://ipr.etsi.org).
Pursuant to the ETSI IPR Policy, no investigation, including IPR searches, has been carried out by ETSI. No guarantee
can be given as to the existence of other IPRs not referenced in ETSI SR 000 314 (or the updates on the ETSI Web
server) which are, or may be, or may become, essential to the present document.
Foreword
This Technical Specification (TS) has been produced by ETSI Technical Committee Satellite Earth Stations and
Systems (SES).
The present document is part 1 of a multi-part deliverable covering the Air Interface for S-band Mobile Interactive
Multimedia (S-MIM), as identified below:
Part 1: "General System Architecture and Configurations";
Part 2: "Forward Link Subsystem Requirements";
Part 3: "Physical Layer Specification, Return Link Asynchronous Access";
Part 4: "Physical Layer Specification, Return Link Synchronous Access";
Part 5: "Protocol Specifications, Link Layer";
Part 6: "Protocol Specifications, System Signalling".
Introduction
The S-MIM system specified herein is designed to provide:
• Interactive mobile broadcast services.
• Messaging services for handhelds and vehicular terminals, capable of serving millions of terminals due to a
novel optimized air-interface in the return link.
• Real-time emergency services such as voice and file transfer, mainly addressing institutional users
on-the-move such as fire brigades, civil protection, etc.
Inside the S-band, the 2 GHz MSS band is of particular interest for interactive multimedia, since it allows two-way
transmission. Typically, the DVB-SH standard [i.8] is applied for broadcast transmission of user services; ESDR [i.6] or
DVB-NGH [i.12] standards are other alternatives. Essential requirements under the R&TTE directive are covered by the
harmonized standard EN 302 574 [i.3], [i.4] and [i.5].
The present document supersedes the previous version of the document and is recommended for new implementations.
In case DVB-SH is used in the forward link, the changes with respect to the previous version are backward compatible.
The technology applied has been developed in the framework of the ESA funded project "DENISE" (ESTEC/Contract
Number 22439/09/NL/US).
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6 ETSI TS 102 721-1 V1.2.1 (2013-08)
1 Scope
The present document specifies the S-MIM (S-band Mobile Interactive Multimedia) system in which a standardized
S-band satellite mobile broadcast system is complemented by the addition of a return channel.
The present document is part 1 of the multi-part deliverable and defines the general S-band Mobile Interactive
Multimedia (S-MIM) system architecture and configurations.
The other parts are listed in the foreword.
2 References
References are either specific (identified by date of publication and/or edition number or version number) or
non-specific. For specific references, only the cited version applies. For non-specific references, the latest version of the
referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
Referenced documents which are not found to be publicly available in the expected location might be found at
http://docbox.etsi.org/Reference.
NOTE: While any hyperlinks included in this clause were valid at the time of publication ETSI cannot guarantee
their long term validity.
2.1 Normative references
The following referenced documents are necessary for the application of the present document.
[1] ETSI TS 102 721-2: "Satellite Earth Stations and Systems; Air Interface for S-band Mobile
Interactive Multimedia (S-MIM); Part 2: Forward Link Subsystem Requirements".
2.2 Informative references
The following referenced documents are not necessary for the application of the present document but they assist the
user with regard to a particular subject area.
[i.1] ETSI TS 102 584: "Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB); DVB-SH Implementation Guidelines".
[i.2] IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications: "Bandlimited Quasi-Synchronous CDMA: A
Novel Satellite Access Technique for Mobile and Personal Communications Systems".
R. De Gaudenzi, C. Elia, R. Viola, 1992.
[i.3] ETSI EN 302 574-1: "Satellite Earth Stations and Systems (SES); Harmonized standard for
satellite earth stations for MSS operating in the 1 980 MHz to 2 010 MHz (earth-to-space) and
2 170 MHz to 2 200 MHz (space-to-earth) frequency bands; Part 1: Complementary Ground
Component (CGC) for wideband systems: Harmonized EN covering the essential requirements of
article 3.2 of the R&TTE Directive".
[i.4] ETSI EN 302 574-2: "Satellite Earth Stations and Systems (SES); Harmonized standard for
satellite earth stations for MSS operating in the 1 980 MHz to 2 010 MHz (earth-to-space) and
2 170 MHz to 2 200 MHz (space-to-earth) frequency bands; Part 2: User Equipment (UE) for
wideband systems: Harmonized EN covering the essential requirements of article 3.2 of the
R&TTE Directive".
[i.5] ETSI EN 302 574-3: "Satellite Earth Stations and Systems (SES); Harmonized standard for
satellite earth stations for MSS operating in the 1 980 MHz to 2 010 MHz (earth-to-space) and
2 170 MHz to 2 200 MHz (space-to-earth) frequency bands; Part 3: User Equipment (UE) for
narrowband systems: Harmonized EN covering the essential requirements of article 3.2 of the
R&TTE Directive".
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7 ETSI TS 102 721-1 V1.2.1 (2013-08)
[i.6] ETSI EN 302 550 (all parts and sub-parts): "Satellite Earth Stations and Systems (SES); Satellite
Digital Radio (SDR) Systems".
[i.7] ETSI TS 102 824 (V1.1.1): "Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB); Remote Management and
Firmware Update System for DVB IPTV Services (Phase 2)".
[i.8] ETSI TS 102 585: "Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB); System Specifications for Satellite
services to Handheld devices (SH) below 3 GHz".
[i.9] ETSI TS 102 721-3: "Satellite Earth Stations and Systems; Air Interface for S-band Mobile
Interactive Multimedia (S-MIM); Part 3: Physical Layer Specification, Return Link Asynchronous
Access".
[i.10] ETSI TS 102 721-4: "Satellite Earth Stations and Systems; Air Interface for S-band Mobile
Interactive Multimedia (S-MIM); Part 4: Physical Layer Specification, Return Link Synchronous
Access".
[i.11] ETSI TS 102 721-5: "Satellite Earth Stations and Systems; Air Interface for S-band Mobile
Interactive Multimedia (S-MIM); Part 5: Protocol Specifications, Link Layer".
[i.12] DVB BlueBook A160: "Next Generation broadcasting system to Handheld, physical layer
specification (DVB-NGH)".
[i.13] ETSI TS 102 721-6: "Satellite Earth Stations and Systems; Radio interface for S-band Mobile
Interactive Multimedia (S-MIM); Part 6: "Satellite Earth Stations and Systems; Air Interface for
S-band Mobile Interactive Multimedia (S-MIM); Part 6: Protocol Specifications, System
Signalling".
3 Definitions and abbreviations
3.1 Definitions
For the purposes of the present document, the following terms and definitions apply:
2 GHz MSS band: 1 980 MHz to 2 010 MHz (earth-to-space) and 2 170 MHz to 2 200 MHz (space-to-earth) frequency
bands
NOTE: These paired bands are assigned to MSS.
architecture: abstract representation of a communications system
NOTE: Three complementary types of architecture are defined:
Functional Architecture: the discrete functional elements of the system and the associated logical
interfaces.
Network Architecture: the discrete physical (network) elements of the system and the associated
physical interfaces.
Protocol Architecture: the protocol stacks involved in the operation of the system and the
associated peering relationships.
collector: terrestrial components (Complementary Ground Component) that "collect" return link transmissions from
terminals and forward them towards the ground segment
control plane: plane that has a layered structure and performs the access control and connection control functions; it
deals with the signalling necessary to access to services, set up, supervise and release calls and connections
flow (of IP packets): traffic associated with a given connection-oriented, or connectionless, packet sequence having the
same 5-tuple of source address, destination address, Source Port, Destination Port and Protocol type
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8 ETSI TS 102 721-1 V1.2.1 (2013-08)
management plane: plane that provides two types of functions, namely Layer Management and plane management
functions:
• plane management functions: performs management functions related to a system as a whole and provides
co-ordination between all the planes. Plane management has no layered structure
• layer Management functions: performs management functions relating to resources and parameters residing
in its protocol entities
repeater: terrestrial components (Complementary Ground Component) that (mainly) repeat the satellite signal in the
forward link
S-band: equivalent to 2 GHz MSS band
user plane: plane that has a layered structure and provides user information transfer, along with associated controls
(e.g. flow control, recovery from errors, etc.)
3.2 Abbreviations
For the purposes of the present document, the following abbreviations apply:
2G/3G Second/Third generation mobile services,
AAA Authentication, Authorization, Accounting
AuC Authentication Centre
CAC Call Admission Control
CDMA Code Division Multiple Access
CDR Call Detail Records
CGC Complementary Ground Component
CWMP Customer premises equipment WAN Management Protocol
DAMA Dynamic Assignment Multiple Access
DVB-H Digital Video Broadcasting, services to Handhelds
DVB-SH Digital Video Broadcasting, Satellites services to Handhelds
EIRP Equivalent Isotropic Radiated Power
ESDR ETSI Satellite Digital Radio
ESG Electronic Service Guide
ETSI European Telecommunication Standards Institute
FLUTE File Delivery Over Unidirectional Transport
FTP File Transfer Protocol
FUS Firmware Update System
FWD Forward (link)
GEO Geostationary Earth Orbit
GHz Giga Hertz
GNSS Global Navigation Satellite System
GPS Global Positioning System
GSM Global System for Mobile Communications
GW GateWay
HLR Home Location Register
HTTP Hypertext Transfer Protocol
IC Interference Cancellation/Interleaver Cycle
ID Identifier
IETF Internet Engineering Task Force
IKE Internet Key Exchange
IMSI International Mobile Subscriber Identity
IP Internet Protocol
IPSec IP Security
IPv4 Internet Protocol version 4
IPv6 Internet Protocol version 6
IS Interface Satellite
ISDN Integrated Services Digital Network
ITSP Internet Telephony Service Provider
IU Interleaver Unit/Interface User
LAN Local Area Network
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9 ETSI TS 102 721-1 V1.2.1 (2013-08)
MMS Multimedia Message Service
MPEG Moving Pictures Experts Group
MPEG-TS MPEG Transport Stream
MSS Mobile Satellite Services
NCC Network Control Centre/Non-Compressed Channel
NRT Non-Real-time
OBU On-Board Unit
PEP Performance Enhancement Proxy
PHY Physical Layer
PID Program Identifier
PSI/SI Program Specific Information/Service Information
PSTN Public Switched telephone Network
QoS Quality of Service
QS-CDMA Quasi Synchronous CDMA
R&TTE Radio and Telecommunications Terminal Equipment
RF Radio Frequency
RFC Request for Comment
RMS Remote Management System
RT Real-time
RTCP Real-Time Control Protocol
RTN Return (link)
RTP Real-time Protocol
SDR Satellite Digital Radio
SEL Service Enabling Layer
SEP Service Enabling Platform
SFN Single Frequency Network
SIP Session Initiation Protocol
SLR SEP Location Register
S-MIM S-band Mobile Interactive Multimedia
SMP S-MIM Messaging Protocol
SMS Short Message Service
SNMP Simple Network Management Protocol
SOAP Simple Object Access Protocol
SS Subsystem
SS1 Service Segment 1
SS2 Service Segment 2
SS3 Service Segment 3
SSA Spread Spectrum Aloha
SSMx Server Side Middleware for Service Segment x
TCP Transmission Control Protocol
UDP User Datagram Protocol
UMTS Universal Mobile Telecommunications System
USIM Universal Subscriber Identity Module
VLR Visitor Location Register
VoIP Voice over IP
WAN Wide Area Network
4 System Overview
4.1 General
An integrated satellite/terrestrial mobile system is described in the present document that provides interactive
broadcast/multicast, data acquisition and two-way real-time services to subscribers. The S-band payload of a GEO
satellite is assumed to provide communication links to users; however, non-GEO satellites are also compatible with this
integrated system provided that Doppler pre-compensation countermeasures are put in place. Figure 4.1 shows an
example of the system configuration.
NOTE: Satellites with payloads that are "transparent" to communication protocols (rather than "regenerative") are
assumed throughout the present document.
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10 ETSI TS 102 721-1 V1.2.1 (2013-08)
On the forward link, a broadcast radio access interface shall be used according to the requirements specified in
TS 102 721-2 [1].
On the return link, the radio interface is based on two non-exclusive options depending on the service required:
1) Asynchronous access using Spread Spectrum Aloha (SSA) random access.
2) Synchronous access using Quasi-synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (QS-CDMA) [i.2].
A number of terminals with different capabilities are foreseen to enable users to access different sets of services. Access
to services may be complemented by terrestrial Complementary Ground Components (CGCs).
Ku-band feeder links are shown as examples of feeder links to the satellite S-band payload and the CGCs. In general the
feeder links to the S-band satellite payload and the CGCs are independent, i.e. the same feeder link can be used, but also
different feeder links can be used, even in different frequency bands. Furthermore, the CGC feeder link can also be
implemented by terrestrial networks.
Although not shown in Figure 4.1, interconnection with 2G/3G and IP networks is also foreseen to extend the access of
the user devices to services.
Figure 4.1: S-MIM System Elements
4.2 User Services of the S-MIM System
The S-MIM system provides three sets of user services: Service Segments 1, 2 & 3 (SS1, SS2, SS3), which can be
provided concurrently and in different combinations.
Each Service Segment is defined by the inclusion of a number of services and service components each with similarities
in their use of FWD and RTN links and in their QoS. Table 4.1 indicates the list of services that can be provided
through S-MIM and their classification in terms of Service Segments.
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11 ETSI TS 102 721-1 V1.2.1 (2013-08)
Table 4.1: S-MIM Service Segments
Service Segment 1 - Broadcast and Interactive Services
Service Service Components
One-way broadcast/multicast services Streaming
Data distribution
Interactive broadcast/multicast services Interactive streaming PayPerView
Televoting
Home-shopping
Interactive data distribution PayPerUse
Content repair
Service Segment 2 - Data Acquisition Services
Service Service Components
Messaging services Vehicle telemetric
Environmental Monitoring
Messaging Services in Combination with Anti-theft Services
GNSS Applications
Traffic Monitoring
Automatic Toll Payment
Distress Beacon
Interactive Distress Beacon
SMS -
Service Segment 3 - Real-Time (Emergency) Services
Service Service Components
Public safety and emergency services eCall
Two-way IP connection
Broadcast of Common Interest Messages
Broadband for Professional Use DSL-like connectivity

4.3 Mapping of Service Segments to Radio Interfaces
Given the different performance requirements of the services between SSs, the S-MIM system is designed so that in
each SS the transport of a service is mapped into a suitable specific radio interface. The mapping of services into radio
interfaces in the FWD and RTN links is shown in Figure 4.2, where two types of radio interface are shown in each case.
Accordingly, different configurations of the S-MIM system in terms of its FWD and RTN links will support one or
several of the Service Segments indicated in clause 4.2.
FWD link capacity is shared between two profiles; a real-time (RT) profile and a non-real-time (NRT) profile. Flexible
assignment between RT and NRT will allow most of the services to be offered when the RT profile is not available,
although with (reduced) QoS guarantees of the NRT profile.
An overview of preferred and mandatory mappings of services into Forward Link Physical Layer Channels is shown in
Annex A.
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12 ETSI TS 102 721-1 V1.2.1 (2013-08)
FWD LINK
Non-Real Time Physical Channel Real Time Physical Channel
nrt-PCH rt-PCH
SS1 SS2 SS3
Short Two-way
Streaming Datacast Signalling Messaging Signalling Signalling
Messages Real Time
SSA QS-CDMA
RTN LINKS
Figure 4.2: Mapping of Service Segments into available radio interfaces
4.4 Terminal Classes
The S-MIM terminal classes related to Service Segments, etc. are defined in Table 4.2. Further details, including the
differences between Bx terminals, are available in Table 6.1.
Table 4.2: Overview of S-MIM Terminal Classes
Terminal Class Name Service segments Mobility
A Handheld 1, 2 Mobile
B0 1, 2
B1 2
Vehicular Mobile
B2 1, 2
B3 1, 2, 3 (see note)
C Specific 1, 2, 3 (see note) High speed
D Emergency 3 Nomadic
E Fixed 3 Fixed
F Sensor 2 Fixed
NOTE: Access to eCall service only, excluding all other SS3 services.

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13 ETSI TS 102 721-1 V1.2.1 (2013-08)
5 S-MIM Network Architecture
The S-MIM Network Architecture is a structured representation of the general S-MIM system introduced in clause 4.1,
and is described in terms of its overall segments and interfaces.
The S-MIM Network Architecture as shown in Figure 5.1 is intended to be a modular system; some elements are
mandatory for all configurations of the network, while others are optional and can be deployed incrementally to
increase the performance and the service scope of the system, as described in Annex B. This figure also shows the
boundaries of the S-MIM system including internal and external interfaces.
S-MIM System
Complementary
User Segment Satellite Segment Ground Segment Service Segment
Ground Segment
[IU ]
Terminal A
[IU2]
[IS7]
[IU ]
Terminal B0
HUB
Terminal B1
SAT
Service
[I6]
Terminal B2 SAT
Enabling
[I ]
Platform
[IU2]
Terminal B3
NCC
[IU ]
RTN CGC
Terminal C
[IS ]
5 [IS ]
[IU ]
FWD CGC
Terminal F
[I ]
[I ]
Terminal B3
Terminal C
[I6]
2G/3G/IP
Terminal D
Terrestrial Network
[I ]
Terminal E
[I ]
[I6]
Figure 5.1: S-MIM Network Architecture - Network elements, interfaces and external segments
The Segments and the Interfaces shown above are described below.
Configurations of the above network architecture adapted to specific Service Segments are described in Annex B.
5.1 S-MIM Segments
The S-MIM system is composed of segments as follows:
1) User Segment: comprises all types of S-MIM user terminals.
2) Complementary Ground Segment: comprises CGCs that provide enhanced terrestrial coverage and capacity.
The two types of CGCs are:
- Forward CGC's (Repeater) repeat the satellite signal in the forward link. They are mainly used to
complement the coverage area of the satellite in shadowed areas (e.g. urban areas) for the forward link
signal. Repeaters can also be used to increase the local capacity of the network in the forward direction
by broadcasting local/regional content not broadcast from the satellite.
ETSI
[IU ]
[IU ]
14 ETSI TS 102 721-1 V1.2.1 (2013-08)
- Return's CGC (Collector) "collect" return link transmissions from terminals and forward them towards
the ground segment. Collectors can be used to increase coverage in areas where line-of-sight with
satellite is limited. Collectors shall be co-located with repeaters in order to allow signalling in the
forward downlink to announce the existence of the collector and its access configuration to the terminals
in their coverage area.
3) Satellite Segment: composed of one or several satellites with S-band payloads. Additionally, one or more C,
Ku or Ka-band satellites may also act as feeder links for the CGCs, although IP-based terrestrial networks
could also be used.
NOTE 1: Specification of the satellite segment is out of scope of S-MIM.
4) Ground Segment: comprises one or several hubs and the NCC.
- The Hub manages transmissions in the forward and return satellite links, as well as in the forward and
return CGCs, and subscribers at system level. It also interfaces with the service centres and other
networks (2G/3G, IP). A hub manages one or more satellite beams; in general, one hub per satellite beam
can be assumed.
- The NCC is a "master" Hub with additional functionalities to manage configurations and policies of
other hubs. The NCC is also responsible for satellite configuration management (out of scope of
S-MIM).
5) Service Segment: comprises service-enabling functions.
NOTE 2: The specification of the Service Segment is out of scope of the S-MIM system.
Within each segment, the component elements are shown in Figure 5.1 and described in clause 6.
The interfaces between Segments and between S-MIM and external networks are summarized below.
5.2 S-MIM Interfaces
The system uses a number of interfaces (numbered from 1 to 7) between system elements for the terminals to
communicate (through the satellite and the CGCs) with the ground segment. The interfaces indicated in Figure 5.1 are
listed below:
Internal Interfaces:
• Interface {IU1}: minimum interface (user) forward link (with broadcast capabilities);
• Interface {IU2}: interface (user) forward link with broadcast capabilities and real-time access;
NOTE 1: Interfaces {IU1} and {IU2} are mutually exclusive in the same satellite payload: interface {IU2} is an
upgrade of interface {IU1}. Different satellite payloads should support any of the two interfaces
independently.
NOTE 2: Interface {IU2} has in fact two possible physical sub-interfaces: the non-real-time profile {IU2a} and the
real-time profile {IU2b}.
• Interface {IU3}: interface (user) return link with asynchronous access (SSA);
• Interface {IU4}: interface (user) return link with synchronous access (QS-CDMA);
Interfaces to external elements:
NOTE 3: These interfaces are out of scope of the S-MIM specification.
• Interface {IS5}: interface (satellite) - between satellite and CGC (to be specified by the satellite operator e.g.
Ku-band or other);
• Interface {I6}: generic IP interface, including communication with end-user devices;
• Interface {IS7}: interface (satellite) - between satellite and Hub intended for traffic to user terminals (to be
specified by the satellite operator e.g. Ku-band or other);
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15 ETSI TS 102 721-1 V1.2.1 (2013-08)
• Interface {IS8}: interface (satellite) - between satellite and Hub, intended for traffic to CGC's (to be specified
by the satellite operator e.g. Ku-band or other).
6 Network Elements
This clause describes the S-MIM network elements in terms of:
• The User Terminals.
• The Network Control Centre and the Satellite Hub.
• The Complementary Ground Components.
6.1 The User Terminals
The S-MIM system includes several user terminal classes with different capabilities in terms of performance, mobility
and accessible Service Segments, requiring different access technology and service-specific functions. Terminal
characteristics are defined in Table 6.1.
For all these terminals, specific requirements for the Forward Link Subsystem, Return Link Asynchronous/
Synchronous Access, Link Layer and Control Plane apply and are given respectively in Parts 2 [1], 3 [i.9], 4 [i.10],
5 [i.11] and 6 [i.13] of this multi-parts deliverable.
6.1.1 Terminals with Access to SS1 and/or SS2
Terminals A, B0, B1, B2, B3, C and F can access SS1 and SS2. The baseline configuration of these terminals is shown
in Figure 6.1.
Such terminals shall be equipped with radio interfaces to access SS1 and SS2 services in the FWD and RTN links, as
per TS 102 721-2 [1]. The terminals may be equipped with a GPS receiver or other positioning device (e.g. any GNSS
receiver, GSM/UMTS phone, or even WiFi enabled terminal) to assist the S-MIM control plane to perform mobility
management.
Terminal B3 is similar to B1/B2 terminals but with additional access as described in clause 6.1.2 (to the eCall service
which belongs to SS3 and can only be accessed if the QS-CDMA radio access is also available at the terminal).
Therefore, the complete functional description of terminal B3 is achieved by merging Figure 6.1 with Figure 6.3 (except
the features related to terminals D and E only).
6.1.1.1 The Type C Terminal
Terminal C is a special case of SS1/2 terminal (see Figure 6.2) and its scope is twofold:
1) it shall be capable of transmitting and receiving in the S-band (as for terminals A, Bx and F), but with higher
speed mobility;
2) it shall act as gap filler to allow other devices to access the S-band services in a vehicle (for example train or
aircraft).
Therefore the terminal C is similar to terminals A, Bx and F, but the application layer within the user device should only
contain network management functions, as the user data will be directly routed by the IP layer router at the IP Suite SS
towards the IP SS (with 802.11x or Ethernet access).
The IP traffic received from the IP SS through its uplink will be routed by the IP router at the IP Suite SS towards the
S-Band SS Link layer to encapsulate it according to the S-band SS waveform and transmit it over the S-band radio
interface (SSA in this case).
For the eCall service option, the functionalities shall be extended to include QS-CDMA radio interface, link layer (user
and control planes) and the indicated functions for C terminals in Figure 6.3 in IP and application layers.
ETSI
16 ETSI TS 102 721-1 V1.2.1 (2013-08)
6.1.2 Terminals with Access to SS3
Terminals B3, C, D and E access SS3 services. A functional diagram of their architecture is shown in Figure 6.3.
As a part of service-enabling platform, SS3 compliant terminals shall have functional elements which are part of the
OSM3 (OBU Side Middleware), to enable users to perform or receive VoIP calls and to access data information located
on Intranets or Internet.
ETSI
17 ETSI TS 102 721-1 V1.2.1 (2013-08)
Table 6.1: S-MIM Terminal classes
Terminal Class A B0 B1 B2 B3 C D E F
Name Handheld Vehicular Specific Emergency Fixed Sensor
Service segments 1, 2 1, 2 2 1, 2 1, 2, 3 (note 1) 1, 2, 3 (note 1) 3 3 (note2) 2
Mobility Mobile Mobile High speed Nomadic Fixed Fixed
Supported bit rate Medium/Low Medium/Low Low/Medium Medium/ Medium/ High/High High/High High/High Low/Medium
(FWD/RTN) Medium Medium
Power Class (note 4) 1bis 1bis 1bis 1bis 1 1 1 1 1bis
Tolerance (note 5) +1/-3 dB +1/-3 dB +1/-3 dB +1/-3 dB +2,7/-2,7 dB +2,7/-2,7 dB +2,7/-2,7 dB +2,7/-2,7 dB +1/-3 dB
Nominal EIRP 2 dBW 2 dBW 5 dBW 5 dBW 11 dBW 15 dBW 15 dBW 15 dBW 5 dBW
Antenna performance Low Low Medium High High High Medium
(G/T) (note 3) -29 dB/K -25 dB/K to -21 dB/K ≥-21dB/K ≥-21dB/K ≥-21dB/K -21 dB/K
-24 dB/K
Access to CGCs Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes
Power supply Battery Battery Power supply from vehicle Power supply from Power supply from Local power Local power
vehicle vehicle or portable network or network, power
generator power units units or batteries
Other details Consumer Consumer Terminal embedded in vehicle Collective Professional Collective Sensor network
Terminal Terminal Terminal installed (collective) Terminal terminal terminal
in fast moving for emergency Size of typical
vehicle operators set-top-box
NOTE 1: eCall only.
NOTE 2: No emergency services, only broadband access.
NOTE 3: Handheld terminals belong to category 2b in [i.1]; vehicular terminals to category 1; nomadic and fixed terminal having at least the G/T performance of category 1 or better,
assuming the antenna is constantly pointed towards the satellite.
NOTE 4: Power Classes are compliant with [i.4].
NOTE 5: Tolerance refers to the maximum output power as in [i.4] and not to the accuracy in setting the actual output power.

ETSI
18 ETSI TS 102 721-1 V1.2.1 (2013-08)

Figure 6.1: Functional diagram of the SS1/SS2 user terminal
ETSI
19 ETSI TS 102 721-1 V1.2.1 (2013-08)
User Terminal (C)
IP Suite SS
S-band SS
Convergence Layer PHY Layer
Transport
Application Layer
IP Layer
IP Datacast Layer
User Plane FLSS
DVB-SH
RF FE
MPE Channel
[IU 1] / [IU 2]
Decrypt. HC Decrypt. Decaps. & Demod RF FE
Decaps. Estimator
PSI/SI
Control/Management
Plane
Terminal
Mobility Management
Management
HC Control
Control
Congestion
Control &
ARQ
Authentication Power
Control
& Security
UDP Routing
User
RLSS
Plane
ESSA
Priority
[IU ]
HC Encrypt. Encaps. MOD 3
RF FE
Scheduler
USIM
IP SS
[I ]
802.11x/Ethernet
GNSS SS
GNSS
Application
GNSS
GNSS Receiver
Signal
Figure 6.2: Functional diagram of the user terminal - Type C with access to SS1/SS2 only
ETSI
20 ETSI TS 102 721-1 V1.2.1 (2013-08)

Figure 6.3: Functional diagram of the SS3 user terminal

ETSI
21 ETSI TS 102 721-1 V1.2.1 (2013-08)
6.2 The Network Control Centre and the Satellite Hub
The Network Control Centre (NCC) manages the complete S-MIM network. However, the management of the complete
S-MIM network may be distributed, considering that within each service area a different set of services may be offered.
With a distributed approach, the NCC functions to manage transmission/reception will be distributed in satellite hubs.
In particular, a satellite hub manages one service area; a service area refers to the geographical area covered by one or
several satellite beams. Therefore, the hub managing one service area in practice manages transmissions (in FWD and
RTN links) through the corresponding satellite beam(s) and the CGCs located within the coverage area of that (or those)
satellite beam(s).
Depending on the satellite operator requirements, two possible options are considered for the topology of the hubs
network, as can be seen in Figure 6.4:
• Fully meshed hub network: all hubs are interconnected.
• Hierarchical meshed topology: all hubs are interconnected, while one hub has additional functionalities to
manage the rest of hubs. This hub with network wide management functionalities will be called Network
Control Centre (NCC).
In the meshed topology, each hub manages independently its service area (beam or set of beams); hubs are
interconnected for routing purposes and mobility management (especially for the support of roaming); one of the hubs
has also Network Control Centre functionalities, referring to the management of the S-band satellite. In the hierarchical
topology, the NCC has the role of a "master hub" that, in addition to the hub functionalities and the management of the
satellite, can manage specific aspects of the rest of hub's operation.
The functional description of the regular hub in the meshed topology or all hubs other than the NCC in the hierarchical
meshed topology is provided in clause 6.2.1; the additional functionalities to be fulfilled by the NCC (or master hub) of
the hierarchical meshed topology is provided in clause 6.2.2.

Figure 6.4: NCC/Hub network topologies
6.2.1 The Satellite Hub
The hub implements a number of subsystems and functions as shown in Figure 6.5, and as described in Table 6.2.
The functional description of the hub corresponds to any of the hubs in the meshed topology or all hubs other than the
NCC in the hierarchical meshed topology. In the particular case of the meshed topology, the hub operates independently
of other hubs, and hence all local configurations and decision policies (called NCC policies in Figure 6.5) are generated
and managed locally. In the case of the hierarchical meshed topology, the hub is interconnected to a master hub (or
NCC) which manages the configuration of each hub and generates the NCC decision policies to be implemented in the
hub through network management protocols.
ETSI
22 ETSI TS 102 721-1 V1.2.1 (2013-08)
S-MIM HUB
Local
Configuration
SS1/SS2 SS3
NCC Policies NCC Policies
CGC Gateway
Network
To CGC feeder link
Feeder Link
Manager
FWD SS
FWD CGC IP FWD Content
To IP CGC feed
Tunnel SS Manager
HLR/
S-band FWD SS
VLR
Resource &
Mobility
To S-band forward
FWD
uplink DVB-SH
Manager
Encapsulator
Signalling
AuC
Manager
CGC Gateway
From CGC backhaul link
Feeder Link
Encapsulator/
RTN SS
Decapsulator
Controller
RTN CGC IP
From IP CGC backhaul
Tunnel SS To/From SEP
IP
ROUTER
Gateway Feeder Link
RTN SSA SS
From S-band return
ESSA
downlink
ESSA
Decapsulator
Demodulator
Gateway Feeder Link
RTN QS-CDMA SS
From S-band payload
Channel Unit (QS-CDMAs + RACH)
return downlink Channel Unit (QS-CDMA)
Channel Unit (QS-CDMA)
Figure 6.5: Functional diagram of the satellite hub
ETSI
23 ETSI TS 102 721-1 V1.2.1 (2013-08)
Table 6.2: Functional description of the satellite Hub
User Plane
S-band FWD SS This subsystem implements the radio interface in the S-band FWD link. It implements all
functions necessary to encapsulate, apply header compression (optional), encryption
(optional), filter content, modulate and transmit data in the S-band FWD link;
After encapsulating, the S-band FWD SS shall differentiate the content (multip
...