Recent market studies commissioned by the SDR Forum show that most satellite terminals and hubs in deployment today utilize some form of SDR technology. As these platforms become more powerful, the role of the SDR becomes increasingly important, allowing dynamic control of adaptive behavior of the information exchange and processing at all nodes in the network. Over time, such behavior may further evolve to allow for autonomous operation utilizing cognitive radio technologies and automatic information processing.

Hosted by Bob Schutz of ViaSAT and Chair of the SDR Forum Satellite Communications Special Interest Group, This workshop will explore the evolution of Satellite Communications over the next several years, defining the requirements for SATCOM systems in various market segments and then evaluating the roles of SDR and CR technology in addressing those requirements in all three key (the earth station, the satellite, and the user terminal). 

Workshop Program:

08:30-09:30 SDR'09 Conference Keynote (open to SATCOM Workshop Participants)
Presented by Carlo Magrassi, Deputy Chief, Executive Strategy, European Defense Agency on “EDA’s Approach to SDR – One Architecture and One Standard for a European Joint and Combined Capability”.

09:40-11:50 Morning Workshop Sessions

Welcome and Introduction to Workshop Objectives – Bob Schutz

Session 1: Architectures for SATCOM Systems – Commercial, Civil and Defense

"Satellite Communications – The Basics” presented by Bob Schutz, ViaSAT

Abstract: The goal of this session is to present an overview of satellite communications and highlight the unique nature of SATCOM. This session will also introduce the basic terminology and services provided by SATCOM systems.
Unique characteristics of satellite communication systems are presented along with the role of each of the key elements of SATCOM systems - earth stations, satellites, and user terminals. The physics of LEO (Low Earth Orbit) and GEO (Geosynchronous Earth Orbit) and discussed along with the primary services such as earth monitoring services, broadcast, point to point communications, SATCOM and IP services, and SATCOM and emergency services. Finally, the economics of SATCOM systems will be discussed along with a number of key challenges for SATCOM such as spectral sharing between SATCOM and terrestrial communications and frequency reuse.

"The Inmarsat Roadmap for SDR in Its Future Mobile Satellite Terminals“ presented by Eyal Trachtman, Director, Inmarsat R&D

Abstract: The talk starts with an overview of the Inmarsat broadband global area network (BGAN) air interface complexity and challenges of SDR terminal implementation, followed with overview of the Inmarsat SDR strategy, drivers, and potential applications in the military and government satcom markets. The longer terms strategy covers the roadmap of Inmarsat satcom terminals and applications into the next generation of Inmarsat satellites. Finally, the innovative concept of providing a real-time data relay service to LEO spacecraft, using the Inmarsat-4 GEO satellite constellation and the Inmarsat BGAN system and ground infrastructure and a SDR type BGAN terminal onboard the LEO spacecraft, will be described as an application of the Inmarsat SDR strategy.

About the Speaker: Eyal Trachtman received BSc in Electronics engineering (’82), and MSc in Telecommunications (‘89) from Tel-Aviv University, Israel. His technical expertise covers various disciplines in the field of Mobile Satellite Systems, including modulation and coding, source coding, satellite multiple access, wireless packet, circuit networking, and IP networking. He holds six patents in the field of telecommunications. Eyal joined Inmarsat, London, in 1990. In 2003 he became Director of Research and Development, with a growing involvement in strategic technology and product initiatives within Inmarsat and the Satcom Industry.

"NASA's CONNECT Project" presented by Thomas Kacpura, NASA Glenn Research Center

Abstract:  The purpose of CONNECT project is to demonstrated three different SDRs on an International Space Station payload.  Each of the SDRs is compliant with the Space Telecommunications Radio System architecture, which is an architecture for space SDRs.   This presentation will describe the challenges of specifying, testing and integrating SDRs on the payload from three different vendors.  A case study will present integrating a waveform, STRS operating environment, with a SDR platform all from different provider organizations.   

About the Speaker:  Thomas Kacpura is an electrical engineer at the NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio.  He is has been associated with CONNECT and STRS projects since the beginning, focusing on the SDR and the communication aspects.   He has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering, and has supported the SDR Forum with several papers on the STRS architecture, as well as through the Space Working group. 

"Converging MILSATCOM with the GIG" presented by Llewellyn D. Means Jr., SATCOM & Wireless Engineering Division DISA GE22

About the Speaker: Don Means is currently serving as Chief, Satellite and Wireless Engineering Division while assigned to the GIG Enterprise Services Engineering Center, Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA).  His Division provides expert guidance and direction for satellite systems engineering, architectures, future requirements development, loading analysis, Global Information Grid (GIG) integration, and transformational technology development.  Through innovative partnerships and technical leadership, his Division develops technologies that multiply warfighter capability and facilitate information dominance. 

Panel Discussion 1: “Key Drivers in Satellite Communications”

This panel will compare and contrast architectures associated with commercial, civil, and defense SATCOM systems and define key roadmap drivers common across all markets

11:50 to 13:50 Lunch and Product Exhibition

13:50-16:00 Afternoon Workshop Sessions

Session 2: SATCOM Systems and Implementations

“Adaptable Architectures for Advanced Space Based Communications Systems” Presented by Vince Kovarik of Harris Corporation

Abstract: Achieving NASA's lunar and Mars exploration objectives will require significant advances in space-qualified communications systems. The communications capabilities required by lunar missions and beyond cannot be supported through simple, point-to-point radio communications. While such radio links will may provide basic elements of the system, the number of communications sources, sensors, radios, etc. will necessitate the formation of networks. These networks will require the ability to form automatically, adapt to changing topologies, recover from faults, compensate for interference or other external factors inhibiting communications, and additional capabilities as mission needs evolve over the life of their deployment. The communications systems supporting these missions will require significant advances in the architecture and design over current systems. This paper presents work in progress to meet the needs of the next generation space-based communications and networking.

About the Speaker:  Dr. Kovarik’s experience in software and systems development spans over 30 years.  He has been involved in Software Defined Radio (SDR) technology development for the last decade. Dr. Kovarik was the technical product manager for the Domain Management ToolKit (dmTK), a commercial off-the-shelf product that implemented of the Software Communications Architecture (SCA) with the first sale of dmTK in 2000.  He is the co-author of “Software Defined Radio: The Software Communications Architecture” published by Wiley and Sons and a contributing author to “Cognitive Radio Technology”, Dr. Bruce Fette, Editor published by Academic Press. 

Dr. Kovarik led the software team that successfully inserted the DARPA XG Dynamic Spectrum Access technology into the Harris Falcon III tactical radio and subsequent field test at Yuma Proving Grounds.  His current research activity in Cognitive Radio is investigating temporal reasoning over events with respect to radio operational awareness and policy enforcement.  He was the Chief Software Architect for the Command and Control system for the Iridium satellite Ground Control Segment. Prior work includes natural language understanding, knowledge representation, large-scale database systems and distributed systems.

Dr. Kovarik holds a B.S. and M.S. in Computer Science from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and George Mason University, respectively, and a Ph.D. in Computer Engineering from the University of Central Florida.

“Exploiting the Link: Improving CubeSat Communications through the use of Software Defined Radios"
Presented by Professor James Cutler of the University of Michigan

Most small satellites, including those in the CubeSat community, maximize the duration of communication with ground stations, but, in doing so, do not optimize the amount of data transferred. In this presentation, we examine methods to maximize data download by beginning transmission at a high elevation angle. This elevation angle reduces the slant distance and allows the link to be closed at a higher constant data rate. Though the transmission time is shorter, the total data downloaded is greater.

We examine this method for a variety of pass configurations and compare it to distributions of passes for known ground stations around the world. The results of this study (analytic, numerical and empirical) are presented along with recommendations for strategies for maximizing the amount of data transmitted for a given satellite orbit. These methods rely on the ability to alter the data rate of a radio while on-orbit, enabled through the use of software-defined radios.
Analysis is also presented for optimizing the data rate through the use of a dynamic data rate, where the data rate continuously changes based upon the availability of link margin. These links are able to be completed without feedback through the use of self-clocking signals. It is shown that an optimal data rate for each satellite / ground station position can transfer far more data than that of a fixed data rate. Small satellites have thus far been unable to utilize optimal data rates or self-clocking signals due to the absence of a flexible and dynamic radio as is provided by a small software-defined radio.

Finally, comparisons of small satellite data downlinks are used to illustrate the advantages of both of these methods.  Recommendations for radio development are given for the small satellite community.
About  the speaker: James Cutler is an assistant professor in the Aerospace Engineering Department at the University of Michigan.   His research interests center on space systems--a multidisciplinary approach to enabling future space capability with particular emphasis on novel, nanosatellite missions.   He is developing next generation communication capability and robust space computing infrastructure. He is Co-PI on the first NSF space mission, the Radio Aurora Explorer (RAX).  He is also PI on a ULF magnetometer chain operating in California.  Prof. Cutler's teaching interests are in all things space related.

"SDR and CR in Satellite Communications" presented by Cyrus Sy, Spectrum Signal Processing and Claus Krohn Vesterholt, Gatehouse

The goal of this session is to discuss the role of SDR and CR technology as it relates to the three primary elements of SATCOM systems and both near-term and long-term implications of development of advanced cognitive SATCOM systems.
The role of SDR and CR technology in SATCOM will be discussed in the context of traditional SATCOM services, and advanced SATCOM services that will be expected in the future. Also discussed is the role of CR technology in mitigating regulatory challenges between SATCOM and Terrestrial communications. Hybrid (convergent) SATCOM systems will be defined and presented as well as the effect hybrid systems will have on the future of Satellite communications.

"Government Reference Architecture (GRA) for SATCOM Terminals" presented by Tom Rittenbach, CERDEC S&TCD SEAMS Directorate

Abstract: This purpose of this paper is to document an architectural validation approach for the Government Reference Architecture (GRA) for SATCOM terminals. The approach integrates the Virginia Tech OSSIE SCA Core Framework with a UML model of the GRA, coupled with low-fidelity models of the SATCOM components. This approach uses the Rhapsody tool to implement the GRA-based testbed from documentation through executable code generation. The end result is a system that demonstrates the portability of the GRA while simultaneously validating the GRA against a representative system. Furthermore, the system demonstrates the reduced development time required for architecture extensions through the incorporation of existing projects and automated code generation.

About the Speaker: Mr. Rittenbach is a Senior System Engineer in the CERDEC S&TCD SEAMS Directorate. He has been actively involved in Army MILSATCOM since 1987 and Army communications since 1980. His current focus is in development of Modular Open System Architectures for net-centric Army communications systems that service C4ISR requirements for DOD warfighters.

Panel Discussion 2: “Satellite Communications and the SDR Forum”

During this session, project concepts proposed by the SDR Forum Satellite Communications Special Interest Group will be presented and discussed, and other potential projects of relevance to the audience will be explored.

16:15 SDR’09 Conference Invited Presentation (open to SATCOM Workshop Participants) "Requirements and Challenges for SDR implementation" presented by Christer Svensson, Professor in Electronic Devices, Linköping University, Sweden

16:40 SDR’09 Keynote Presentation (open to SATCOM Workshop Participants)
Presented by Christian Serra, Chief Scientist, Thales Communications and CTO of the ESSOR Program

17:00 SDR’09 Keynote Presentation  (open to SATCOM Workshop Participants)
Presented by Chris Brady, Vice President, Assured Communications Systems, Communication Networks Division General Dynamics C4 Systems