Self-sizing network operation systems in ATM networks

The asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) is a key technology for broadband integrated services digital networks (B-ISDNs), which require high speed transmission. We propose a “self-sizing network operation”. This is a traffic engineering, management and operation concept for ATM networks. This concept allows networks to be rapidly operated and flexibly re-dimensioned by the system. We overview the functions of this system. Next, we present the virtual path (VP) bandwidth control function and the network element (NE) interface, which are Step 1 functions in the “self-sizing network operation”. Their functions can automatically adjust the VP bandwidth. We show their effectiveness; the VP bandwidth can be reduced by 30% or 40%. To implement the operation system, we considered the actual operation time. This may be restricted for operation control. Then, we evaluated the performance of the Step 1 function. In this evaluation, we measured the basic CMIP performance, and estimated the time necessary for actual operation based on these measurements. A major portion of the total operation time is the time necessary for collecting data. This increases by the cube of the total number of virtual channel handlers (VCHs) with every additional VCH. If we use this system, we must consider its operation cycle and effectiveness. However, fortunately the time necessary for operation is short enough to operate about 50 VCHs in a network which cover all of Japan