Upgrading strategies for B-ISDN architectures and services

Upgrading strategies for new broadband services that take advantage of B-ISDN architectures are investigated for the time frame of ATM applications. A new concept of super-multimedia services is introduced, which makes efficient use of super-multichannel and super-high-definition features of future broadband services keeping compatibilities with existing services. After defining super-multimedia services, upgradable B-ISDN architectures are discussed for accommodating such new broadband services. Then three phase upgrading of super-multimedia services that is suitable for B-ISDN architectures is investigated. Finally, an example of upgrading strategy that incorporate multi-window type terminals is shown to exhibit good compatibility with existing broadband services and also to adapt the recent trend of service personalization. The possibility of providing super-multimedia services at almost the same cost as existing standard TV services is also discussed