Connectionless service for public ATM networks

The interconnection of connectionless LANs and MANs over a connection-oriented B-ISDN presents a dilemma with regard to efficient interoperability. In order to provide solutions to this dilemma, there have been many techniques proposed. We describe and evaluate the architectural and conceptual alternatives available for the implementation of a connectionless service for public ATM networks. We also suggest a scheme through which best-effort connectionless service may be provided in public ATM networks using connectionless servers and hop-by-hop flow control. There is as yet no consensus on issues such as bandwidth management, address resolution, connectionless server forwarding modes, or connectionless server topology, and therefore much of the area remains open for research. These research issues must be addressed, however, in order to realize the interoperability, and thereby the acceptance, of ATM.<>