[Sls-ngu] CCSDS Standardizing data compression on the uplink

[Kazz, Greg J (313B)]

Dear MHDC WG member,

The Next Generation Uplink (SLS-NGU) WG is chartered by CCSDS to develop updates to existing standards and/or to develop new standards to enable CCSDS member agencies to increase data volume and throughput on the uplink. Much of the NGU WG work to date has focused on gathering requirements for this work and providing these requirements to existing CCSDS WGs so that they can develop solutions to the problem.

NGU WG would like to engage MHDC WG participants in a discussion on the potential use of data compression to conserve bandwidth on the uplink.  The first order question is: Is it likely that the use of data compression on the uplink can provide a big enough payoff to warrant inclusion as a CCSDS NGU standard?

The first step towards answering this question would be for the NGU WG to assemble a diverse set of upload data sets that are representative of the type of traffic on Telecommand (TC) link and anticipated to compress well. Candidate application data for compression on the uplink may be:  work plans, software uploads, FPGA configuration uploads, parameter table uploads (e.g. star catalogs).  Once a reasonable test set has been assembled, experts such as those on the MHDC WG can suggest suitable compression approaches and assess compression performance on the test data.  The performance results would provide useful input for agencies to determine their level of interest in such a TC compression CCSDS standard.

With this in mind, I'm writing to the MHDC WG participants with the hope of generating some email discussion before the next meeting in London in Oct.  Specifically, I'm interested in your technical opinion on the opportunity/feasibility of such standardization and to see who is able to support this initial step.

We hope to  also arrange a lunchtime meeting in London on Monday Oct 25 or Tuesday Oct 26 for anyone interested in continuing the discussion in person.

Thank you and best regards,

Greg Kazz
Chairman CCSDS SLS-NGU WG

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