Two-Step Scheduling Scheme to Support Fairness and QoS in DVB-S2 System

The use of an efficient packet scheduling scheme for a forward link in satellite communication networks is very important to support fairness for each return channel satellite terminal (RCST) and the service differentiations for user traffics. To support fairness and QoS for each RCST with service-level agreement (SLA), the Adaptive Coding and Modulation (ACM) system in a satellite hub has to process packets with considering modulation and coding (MODCOD) and packet types. Although a DVB-S2 system with ACM scheme has higher transmission efficiency, it cannot offer fairness or quality of service (QoS) to RCSTs. Because the data are transmitted with high MODCOD in regions with clear skies, while data are transmitted using low MODCOD in regions experiencing rain events. In this paper, we propose a two-step scheduling scheme offering fairness and QoS to RCSTs, while minimizing a decrease in throughput. The proposed scheme is carried out performance evaluations using a computer simulation. As results of this simulation, the proposed scheduler was shown to support bandwidth fairness to an individual RCST, and provide a level of QoS differentiation for user traffics.