Delivering IP with QoS/CoS over HeliNet

Delivery of IP services is becoming increasingly important for wireless access networks, HeliNet being their representative based on high altitude platforms. Accordingly, new problems arise regarding quality of service (QoS) or class of service (CoS) provision and resource allocation. Traffic QoS/CoS should be managed on multiple communication layers such as application, network and radio interface layer. In the network layer, IP QoS models can offer various levels of QoS to the application layer, while the radio interface should provide mechanisms which can guarantee the required QoS level to IP. Mapping of QoS/CoS parameters between the network layer and radio interface can be performed in a suitable convergence sublayer. The paper addresses IP transmission over the HeliNet radio interface. Using a simulation model, it is shown that the introduction of scheduling algorithms, as part of the uplink medium access control (MAC) protocol, improves the ability of the radio interface to offer the required QoS/CoS to IP.