Network technology for multimedia

Many multimedia applications need telecoms networks to provide wide area connectivity. The author gives an overview of how packet mode technology; and frame relay in particular may meet these needs. Frame relay is a technique which exploits the block-structured nature of modern computer communications protocols. At a switching node, frames of data are `relayed´ from an incoming to an outgoing line on the basis of unique identifiers contained within the frames themselves. A minimal amount of protocol support is given by the switch. Frame relay is also the definition of a service provided by a network at the user-network interface. Frame relay as a service arose out of work done in the CCITT to define packet mode services within the emerging Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN). The technique has the potential to make a big impact in the LAN interconnect market