ATM test traffic generation algorithms

Although many theoretical studies have been carried out to evaluate the performance of asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) networks, measurement equipment and techniques are required to analyze real ATM traffic and to compare the data with theoretical models. This paper describes the theory and application of test traffic-generation methodologies that are being implemented with an ATM traffic analyzer. This traffic analyzer generates ATM test cells based on a user-selectable statistical distribution. At the receiving end, the traffic analyzer produces performance metrics to validate ATM switch and network performance. The traffic analyzer measures and computes performance parameters such as cell loss, cell delay, cell delay variation, and cell error. Here we describe mathematical algorithms that can be used to generate various constant-bit-rate and variable-bit-rate traffic patterns, and give examples for data, voice, and video sources