A hierarchical model for teletraffic

Self-similarity over certain time scale range has been repeatedly observed in high speed network traffic. We propose a model motivated by the physical process of teletraffic generation to decipher such a phenomena. Our model is hierarchical in nature. We examine some properties of our model from a signal theoretic point of view, and explain why it will exhibit multiscale or self-similar behavior. Simulations of synthetic traffic based on our model are presented and its multi-scale properties are compared with that of the well-known Bellcore traffic traces. We present some preliminary conclusions on the actual nature of the traffic and the validity of our model