Gigabit networking research at Bellcore

Author

Biersack, Ernst W. ; Cotton, Charles J. ; Feldmeier, David C. ; McAuley, Anthony J. ; Sincoskie, W. David

Author_Institution

Bellcore, Morristown, NJ, USA

Volume

6

Issue

2

fYear

1992

fDate

3/1/1992 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

42

Lastpage

48

Abstract

A communication architecture appropriate for gigabit networks, the multimedia end-to-end communication architecture (MECA), is described. MECA provides multimedia applications with the service they require in a single communication system. MECA encompasses the network, host-network interface, and associated protocols. The architectural characteristics of MECA are compared with those of existing communication systems and the TP++ transport protocol used by MECA is compared to existing transport protocols. Three host-network interfaces built for AURORA, a five-gigabit testbed network that includes an experimental asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network running over a synchronous optical network (SONET), are described. The Sunshine ATM switch that supports MECA using a scalable Batcher-Banyan switching fabric and highly programmable port controllers is discussed.<>

Keywords

digital communication systems; electronic switching systems; multimedia systems; optical links; protocols; time division multiplexing; 5 Gbit/s; ATM network; AURORA; Bellcore; SONET; Sunshine ATM switch; TP++ transport protocol; asynchronous transfer mode; communication system; gigabit networking research; gigabit networks; host-network interface; multimedia applications; multimedia end-to-end communication architecture; multimedia systems; programmable port controllers; scalable Batcher-Banyan switching fabric; synchronous optical network; testbed network; Asynchronous transfer mode; Communication switching; Cotton; Delay; Optical computing; Quality of service; SONET; Switches; Testing; Transport protocols;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Network, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0890-8044

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/65.124613

Filename

124613