An UPC-based traffic control framework for ATM networks

Future broadband networks have to support new bandwidth intensive applications that will place stringent requirements on the network in terms of the QOS (quality of service) they receive. In spite of the the promise of abundant bandwidth, ATM would not be able to support such services unless adequate control is exercised within the network. In this paper, we propose a traffic control framework for ATM, that would provide guarantees on QOS for these new applications. Central to this framework is a traffic classification scheme that maps applications to specific traffic classes based on their QOS requirements and the statistical characteristics of their traffic, and a set of controls layered in time based on the time constant of events they control. The proposed traffic control framework can work across LANs, MANs, WANs, private and public networks in a seamless manner. The controls are designed to scale with distance, traffic volume and traffic type. A notable feature of this framework is that it depends on a minimum set of control functions to handle a wide range of traffic types. Further, it uses parameters for control that have already been standardized by ITU and the ATM Forum