The broadband satellite multimedia (BSM) architecture standardised by ETSI defines a satellite independent service access point (SI-SAP) interface layer that separates the satellite independent features of the upper layers from the satellite dependant features of the lower layers, and provides a mechanism to carry IP-based protocols over these satellite dependent lower layers. This enables interoperability at the IP layer between satellite systems of different physical and link layers technologies that fully comply with the SI-SAP concept. This study reviews past and current standardisation activities including the BSM quality of service (QoS) architecture, security architecture, network management that have been carried out by the ETSI Technical Committee-Satellite Earth Stations and Systems (TC-SES)/BSM working group and looking into the future to extend current SI-SAP functions that can enhance existing QoS provision and security management capabilities as well as proposing a mobility management architecture that complies with the IEEE 802.21 media independent handover framework to support BSM mobility and to allow integration of satellite networks with fixed and mobile network infrastructures. A service-based network management architecture is also proposed to allow management flexibility and integration of business and operation support functions, paving the way for satellite integration into the Internet of the future.

This study seeks to establish under what conditions (mobility, network size, wireless channel) multi-source video streaming is feasible across a wireless vehicular ad hoc network (VANET). Overlay networks with multiple sources have proven to be robust, distributed solutions to multimedia transport, including streaming. To achieve video streaming over a VANET overlay, this study introduces a spatial partition of a video stream based on flexible macroblock ordering. Tests show this can achieve a gain of over 5 dB in video quality (PSNR) depending on video content and packet loss rates. However, routing of streamed services over multiple hops and multiple paths may lead to significant packet losses, resulting in unacceptable quality of service. The paper examines the impact of differing traffic densities and road layouts upon an overlay network's performance. The work modelled the emerging IEEE 802.11p for wireless VANETs. The research demonstrates that the vehicles' mobility pattern and their drivers' behaviour need to be carefully modelled to determine signal reception. The study also considers the impact of the wireless channel, which also should be more realistically modelled.