Multipoint Private Line (MPL) Access Delay Under Several Interstation Disciplines

A multipoint private line (MPL) network is designed to operate within specified system-performance objectives. Performance objectives for some types of computer-communications networks are stated in terms of access-delay statistics which measure the grade of service experienced by the stations bidding for access to the private line. Access delay is defined to be the time from when a message reaches the head of its queue at the station-and no message from its queue is being processed-until transmission of the message begins. Using simulation and some analysis, we examine and compare the access delay statistics for an MPL circuit under each of four possible service disciplines for the stations on the circuit. The results in this paper have proven useful in designing certain types of MPL networks for a variety of system parameters.