100VG-AnyLAN: network operation and real-time capabilities

The volume of data transmission required by current software applications utilizing graphical user interfaces, visualization and imaging techniques, and large databases, is taxing, and in some cases, overloading the capabilities of classic local area networks such as Ethernets and token rings. Multimedia applications that will be appearing and maturing in the near future will further exceed the capabilities of these networks. These effects have engendered the development of a number of new local area network protocols that attempt to bring higher throughput capacities to the network user. The behavior and operation of one of these new networks, 100VG-AnyLAN, the 100 megabit per second demand priority protocol proposed by IEEE 802.12, is the subject of this paper. We begin with a short discussion of common existing networks to place 400VG-AnyLAN in context with established networking technologies. The operation of single hub and cascaded hub 100VG-AnyLAN systems is discussed, along with the features of physical layer signalling on voice grade twisted pair cabling. Finally, a summary of the types of real-time and multimedia guarantees that can be provided by the 100VG-AnyLAN system is presented