PAGE CONTENTS
Objectives
The φSAT project studied and assessed the potential role of SatCom with respect to the Future Internet (FI) networking research trends at the EU and global level and investigated the technical feasibility and business viability of the integration of SatCom with terrestrial FI networks.
The specific objectives of the φSAT project are the following:
- To conduct a State-of-the-Art review of FI network transport technologies at the EU and global level;
- To identify most pertinent technological solutions for SatCom integration within FI networks;
- Identify security requirements for FI and Satcom architectures and discuss existing FI security architectures;
- To investigate potential scenarios for the integration of SatCom with terrestrial FI networks;
- To propose and validate reference architectures for integrated terrestrial/satellite FI networks;
- To address the socio-economics issues related to SatCom integration within FI networks;
- To assess the commercial viability of FI technologies for future SatCom services exploitation;
- To analyse the roles’ evolution of main players induced by the adoption of FI technologies in future SatCom systems;
- To provide recommendations for future work and a technology development roadmap;
- To disseminate the project results in international fora, towards both satellite- and terrestrial-oriented audiences.
Challenges
The φSAT project refers to the investigation of Information/Content-Centric Networking (ICN) over Satellite towards the seamless integration of SatCom with terrestrial FI networks. Several key technical issues arise from this satcom/FI interplay, such as:
- Service discovery & Content/information naming and resolution
- Inter-domain topology formation
- Routing and forwarding
- Caching techniques with mobility support
- Efficient and reliable unicast, anycast, and multicast delivery
- Security, privacy and reliability
Apart from the technical issues, emphasis is put on the investigation of the business viability of SatCom integration within terrestrial FI networks by addressing the related socio-economic issues, assessing the commercial viability of FI technologies for future SatCom services exploitation and analyzing the evolution of the main players’ roles induced by such integration.
Plan
The starting date of the φSAT project was 15 June 2011 (T0). The total duration of the main contract was 18 months, followed by 6 months of the CCN extension focusing on security. The project plan included an initial 3-month period for FI Technological Concepts & Developments Status identification (WP1), a subsequent 4-month period for definition of Scenarios for Satellite/Terrestrial FI Networks Integration (WP2), which was followed by a 7-month period for Reference Architectures Definition, Components Descriptions & Requirements (WP3).
WP4 dealt with Roles Evolution & related Socio-Economic Aspects running for 10 months along the project duration, whereas WP5 dealing with Reference Architectures Validation running for the last 8 months of the project (main contract). Throughout the overall project period, provision of Recommendations and Technology Roadmap as well as Dissemination of project results (WP6) were conducted. Finally, the 6-month project extension involved work on security aspects which arise from the FI/satcom integration. This work was carried out in the frame of WP7.
Regarding the project milestones, after the project Kick-Off scheduled at T0, a System Scenarios Review (SSR) was scheduled at T0+6 months, followed by the System Functional Review (SFR) at T0+13 months. An interim Review/Presentation (iFR/iFP) was held upon the completion of the main project completion, i.e., at T0+18 months, while the Final Review was carried out at the end of the extension (T0+24).
Current Status
The φSAT project activities were initiated on 15 June 2011 (T0), and completed on-time on 15 June 2013 (T0+24).
The following activities were successfully carried out:
- FI Technological State-of-the-Art Review (WP1)
- Elaboration of Scenarios for Satellite/Terrestrial FI Networks Integration (WP2)
- Reference Architecture and Components Definition (WP3)
- Investigation of Socio-Economic Aspects (WP4)
- Testbed Implementation and Reference Architectures Validation (WP5)
- Project Dissemination and Technology Development Roadmap (WP6)
- ICN FI Security Mechanisms applicable to SatCom platforms (WP7)
