Realization of broadband data services in ATM-networks

It is pointed out that broadband data services are expected to play an important role in the future B-ISDN (broadband integrated services digital network) which will be based on the ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) transmission technique. The authors first describe some significant broadband data applications. They then focus on the realization of broadband LAN (local area network) interconnection in the B-ISDN. They discuss two possible configurations and show that efficient interconnection of LANs across the B-ISDN can be provided using semipermanent virtual ATM-connections and connectionless servers attached to the ATM-switching nodes. The proposed solution provides a connectionless service on top of ATM. It avoids both the complexity and the inefficiency of a full mesh of semipermanent connections and the difficulties associated with the use of dialed-up connections regarding high call processing load and traffic issues. The solution is most suitable for connections of less than 10 Mbit/s. The efficiency can be increased by concentrating and smoothing data traffic at points in the network where it is not mixed with other traffic sensitive to delay jitter. Various possibilities for locating the concentrators or smoothing buffers are discussed