scope:

The present document proposes and analyses a traffic distribution architecture for hybrid access networks combining one or several terrestrial access technologies (fixed or mobile service) together with a satellite broadband access network (Fixed Satellite Service).

The traffic distribution architecture will enhance the end users' Quality of Experience by efficiently utilizing all available connections simultaneously using the Multipath TCP protocol. It allows for splitting traffic flows into smaller chunks, so-called objects, for which the most appropriated link is selected. The architecture is complemented by a Capacity and Link Status Estimation process that estimates link characteristics by passively monitoring TCP traffic, so that the Link Selection can be performed on a more informed basis.

The present document aims at:

• Defining the usage of the Multipath TCP protocol in Hybrid FSS satellite/terrestrial architecture.

• Proposing a method to split TCP traffic into connected chunks of traffic to ease the multipath routing. 

• Proposing a routing scheme that distributes traffic intelligently among the available connections.

• Proposing a TCP-based link estimation method to passively determine available bandwidth and latency of a path.