QoS management in trunk-and-branch switched Ethernet networks

A likely architecture for the future broadband access network will consist of a trunk-and-branch topology, with very high bandwidth trunks (e.g., 1-10 Gb/s), connected to high-bandwidth drops (or branches) to homes and businesses. A multihop switched Ethernet data transport can be used over this access network. Wang (see Internet QoS: Architectures and Mechanisms for Quality of Service, Morgan Kaufmann, 2001) discussed the benefits of upgrading the hybrid fiber coax plant into a distributed switched Ethernet trunk-and-branch network capable of fiber-like transmission speeds. This article focuses on QoS management in the proposed next-generation broadband access network (NGBAN) based on a multihop switched Ethernet network architecture. This network architecture and QoS management framework are more generally applicable, and we anticipate they will form the basis for the "last mile" independent of the physical medium.