The advent of a widely interconnected computing infrastructure has raised the question of what kind of advanced communications can be implemented “in the network”. The active networks concept explores such advanced capabilities such as content-based routing and multi-mode multicast.A larger issues exists, however, as to how widely distributed applications can access and manage any such advanced communication services. Hence, this paper investigates and demonstrates the use of network overlays to make active network services more accessible and easier to use.
This paper consists of two parts. The first part is a description of the ACTS (Advanced Communications Technology Satellite) System with special emphasis on the communication characteristics;the second part deals with potential satellite communications scenarios including future operational ACTS-like Satellite Systems.
The description of the ACTS system updates the ACTS system references published to date. In addition detailed information on items such as the experimental ground stations is presented. The potential services can be generically described as voice, video, and data services. The implementation of these services on future operational ACTS-like systems can lead to unique quality, flexibility, and capacity characteristics at lower service costs. The specific service applications that could be supported range from low to high data rafes, and include both domestic and international applications.
