Super‐framing: a powerful physical layer frame structure for next generation satellite broadband systems

Abstract

SUMMARYFollowing the definition of commercial requirements in different satellite communication market segments, the satellite communications technical module of the Digital Video Broadcasting Project (DVB) took the mandate to develop the extension of the second generation DVB System for satellite broadcasting and unicasting (DVB-S2) standard in order to achieve higher efficiencies without introducing fundamental changes to the complexity and structure of DVB-S2.In this paper, we focus on a new powerful physical layer frame structure, known as Super-Frame (SF), which has been adopted as optional waveform container in Annex E of the recently approved DVB-S2 eXtension standard specifications. The main contribution of this paper is to provide the rationale, design choices, potential applications and performance gains of the SF structure with particular emphasis on the context of satellite broadband systems. In order to demonstrate the satisfaction of the stated requirements to the SF approach, analytical results of the SF performance are complemented by the performance results obtained from an end-toend testbed and prototype design of modulator and demodulator featuring the SF generation and detection capability. The prototype devices are able to operate at a wide range of signal-to-noise ratios and at high symbol rates.

Enhancing mobile services with DVB‐S2X superframing

“…This requires a one‐shot detection of the frame header and frequency acquisition, which is quite challenging . To overcome these synchronization difficulties, the optional superframing structure (briefly summarized in Section 4.2 and detailed in the DVB‐S2X standard can be used . Beside the high number of pilots, the main advantage of superframing is its constant length, which allows the receiver synchronization loops to keep operating in a tracking mode instead of starting acquisition from scratch.…”

“…DVB‐S2X provides optional functionalities that have not been exploited much so far. Namely, superframing has only been considered to improve synchronization and for interference mitigation purposes . In this paper, we will consider one of the superframe formats described in the DVB‐S2X standard and will show how it is instrumental to reliable communications in mobile scenarios.…”

DVB‐S2X: extending DVB‐S2 flexibility for core markets and new applications

“…To allow for the introduction of new techniques in the future, DVB‐S2X specifies an optional super‐framing structure with the following benefits: Increased resilience to co‐channel interference caused by other beams, because of super‐frame‐wide scrambling and regular (and orthogonal) pilot symbol insertion that can be aligned in time on different beams Support of synchronisation algorithms by the regular insertion of reference data fields, which leads to enhanced receiver performance under severe channel conditions such as VL‐SNR or link interruptions Future proof frame design with signalling of the super‐frame content format, which is able to accommodate and support: Interference mitigation techniques Beam‐hopping operations Single‐format or multi‐format transmission per carrier Introduction of different profiles where receivers can clearly identify supported and unsupported super‐frame content formats …”

“…Alagha et al . describe the DVB‐S2X Superframing structure for next generation satellite broadband systems, and Ginesi et al . propose precoding techniques for DVB‐S2X broadband unicast networks.…”

DVB‐S2X: the new extensions to the second generation DVB satellite standard DVB‐S2

“…The authors in describe the DVB‐S2X super framing structure for next generation satellite broadband systems. The paper provides the rationale, design choices, potential applications and performance gains of SF structure particularly in the context of satellite broadband systems.…”