On bandwidth allocation to bursty virtual connections in ATM networks

The concept of equivalent bandwidth of bursty traffic sources is investigated. The equivalent bandwidth measure depends on the source characteristics, the grade of service, and the interaction with the other type of traffic multiplexed on the same data link. The behavior of the statistical multiplexer is analyzed with inputs consisting of homogeneous bursty sources. The values of the equivalent bandwidth are analyzed for fixed statistical characteristics of the bursty sources and a fixed grade of service, and as a function of a background stream load. By assuming that the peak rate of the sources is sufficiently lower than the link rate (e.g. 1/15) and that the average burst length is greater than the queue length, the equivalent bandwidth independence of the average burst length and of the queue length is shown by simulation. The superposition of two heterogeneous bursty classes is analyzed