Mobile Experimental Broadband Interconnection Using Satellites

Contact:
Charles Sederholm, M.Sc.(Eng.)
IIA Research Centre
Helsinki University of Technology; Otakaari 1, SF-02150 Espoo, Finland
telephone +358 0 4513240; telefax +358 0 4513293; e-mail cts@cs.hut.fi

Keywords
Interactive Multimedia, Computer Supported Co-operative Work - CSCW, ISDN, videoconferencing, broadband communication, satellite communication, Computer Integrated Enterprise (CIE), CIM.

Topics covered in this paper

  1. Main Objectives
  2. Key Issues
  3. System and Applications Description
  4. Project Pilots
  5. Participants

Main Objectives

The main objective for the MOEBIUS project is to improve the communication services offered to mobile and moving users globally. This kind of universal coverage can only be provided by satellite communication. The project focuses on key applications of fully mobile semi-broadband and broadband communication on a worldwide scale. The applications end or limit to a minimum, the isolation and disadvantages of geographical distances of mobile users.

With the system in use information and expertise is virtually always available worldwide via communication links.

The application environment can be e.g. a ship, oil-rig, construction site or a group of people located in an area where there is no sufficient public communication service available. Groups and individuals can receive support from remote experts or interact with distant collaborators in various application cases:

The system enables multimedia communication with data, video and audio combined.

You can get a (funny?) drawing describing the use from HERE.

At its minimum the equipment fits in a large sized suit-case.

Key Issues

System and Applications Description

The system is on the mobile or moving side based on the Inmarsat satellite network providing communication services to mobile users. This today enables users to benefit from the MOEBIUS system worldwide.

The application equipment at the mobile side of the satellite link is directly connected to the mobile terminal. At the other end the equipment is connected to a network terminal of a switched public communication service, such as ISDN or a pre-ISDN 56 kbit/s or 64 kbit/s service. The system enables real-time multimedia communication using good quality sound, high speed data, images and compressed full motion video, in addition to standard electronic mail and file transfer applications.

Project Pilots

There are currently two pilots implemented and a third soon to be:

The current system is based on 64 kbit/s data channels. However, in anticipation of a further increase in bandwidth expected in a few years, the benefits of an n * 64 kbit/s extension will be investigated and demonstrated. This pilot will use an experimental extension of the Inmarsat services offering up to 384 kbit/s in the direction mobile-to-land. The set-up is asymmetric with a maximum bandwidth of 64 kbit/s in the other direction. Further, the project will also in the tanker pilot later include a prototype system of a forthcoming standard for multimedia communication over normal analog telephone (PSTN, POTS) lines.

Participants

EMIT GmbH Project Coordinator, D
Bremer Vulkan AG Partner, D
IIA Research Centre, HUT Partner, FIN
Inmarsat Partner, UK
National Technical University of Athens Partner, GR
Neste Shipping Partner, FIN
BIBA - Bremer Institut für Betriebstechnik Associated Partner, D
ISL - Institut für Seeverkehr und Logistik Associated Partner, D
Marac Electronics Associated Partner, GR
Oceanking Associated Partner, GR
Universität Bremen Associated Partner, D
Vista Communication Instruments Associated Partner, FIN
Livewire Associated Partner, UK
Nera Associated Partner, UK

Links to related WWW-pages

Charles Sederholm