Progress in fiber optic LAN and MAN standards

The evolution of standards and link specification methodology, spurred by the rapidly increasing interest in utilizing fiber-optic local area networks (LANs) and metropolitan area networks (MANs), is summarized. Issues that interrelate LAN and MAN architecture, protocol, and fiber-optic link performance are examined, particularly as concerns information transfer modes, framing, and overhead. The internetworking of LANs and MANs is discussed. The impact of architecture and protocol on link performance is addressed; receiver and link dynamics, the use of data scrambling versus block coding, clock distribution, and link error statistics are considered. A methodology for fiber-optic link specification that accounts for distortion and jitter is defined, and link analysis is discussed. Directions for future standards development are indicated.<>