Architectural and Control Aspects of the Multi-Host ATM Subscriber Loop [Vol. 5, No. 1, 1997]

Architectural and Control Aspects of the Multi-Host ATM Subscriber Loop

I.S. Venieris
National Technical University of Athens
Electrical and Computer Engineering Department
9 Heroon Polytechniou Str.
15773 Athens, Greece
Email: venieris_AT_cs.ntua.gr

N.D. Kalogeropoulos
National Technical University of Athens
Electrical and Computer Engineering Department
9 Heroon Polytechniou Str.
15773 Athens, Greece

J. van Breemen
AT&T Network Systems NL
1270 AA Huizen, Netherlands

Abstract
The Access Network (AN) part of the B-ISDN aims at concentrating the traffic of a number of different User Network Interfaces (UNIs) and routing this traffic to the appropriate Service Node (SN) through a broadband V interface (referred as VB). Naturally, the emphasis on AN design is to provide cost-efficient implementations without degrading the agreed Quality of service (QoS). This is reflected in both the reduction of the AN physical equipment and in the limitations imposed on the AN functionality such as the inability to interpret signaling information. The lack of connection-related information forces the establishment of several AN internal mechanisms that compensate for the effects of traffic concentration. In our attempt to generalize and extend results and experiences obtained from our involvement in the specification, design and implementation of an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)-based AN, we introduce the concept of a real-time VB interface Control Protocol (V-CP). We demonstrate the V-CP ability to serve for a number of AN internal functions while preserving the highest possible degree of transparency to the SN. The V-CP services provide for the dynamic operation of the AN by conveying all those connection-related parameters required for dynamic resource allocation, traffic policing and routing in the AN, as well as information on the status of the AN before a new connection is accepted by the SN. The V-CP operates in real time on a connection by connection basis. This is reflected in its simple design making it considerably faster than usual management protocols.

Keywords: ATM; Access network; multi-host; control protocol.

JNSM: Vol. 5, No. 1, 1997 Architectural and Control Aspects of the Multi-Host ATM Subscriber Loop [Vol. 5, No. 1, 1997]

NOTE: only abstract of paper available on-line

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