On three-dimension Ethernet MAN (3D-EMAN) architecture

Based on analysis to the Internet in provision of QoS, we present a framework of three-dimension Ethernet-based MAN (3D-EMAN) architecture for DWDM communication environment. 3D-EMAN adopts the out-band signaling approach to separate functions for control, management, and user data in 3 working planes, and in all conscience, follows the popularity of the Ethernet MAC in MANs. 3D-EMAN has two operation modes: 3D-EMAN mode and default mode. In default mode, 3D-EMAN specific functions are disabled and it behaves as ordinary Internet implementation. While in 3D-EMAN mode, Internet protocol stack in conjunction with 3D-EMAN specific protocols performs control and management functions and stream oriented user traffic is directly segmented into Ethernet-like physical frames (EPF) and forwarded in the physical layer of the user plane. To enable physical layer switching in DWDM environment, a novel concept called the physical frame time-slot switching (PETS) is introduced, which utilizes the time of transferring a fixed length EPF as a time-slot and operates asynchronously so as to provide a virtual-circuit service with a guaranteed QoS.