Buffer insertion/self-token (BIST) protocol for multimedia LANs

This paper describes a new multimedia LAN protocol, referred to as the buffer insertion/self-token (BIST) protocol, combining buffer insertion and the multiple-self-token ring protocols. The basic buffer insertion ring has the maximum spatial reuse on a ring by allowing stations to transmit packets concurrently. However, it is well known that the buffer insertion method suffers from the possibility of starvation. BIST prevents starvation and maintain fairness by assigning each station individual tokens, called self-tokens. Then a station is allowed to send packets only if it holds its own tokens, that is, each packet transmitted by the station is attached a self-token belonging to the station. That is why packet flow on a ring is regulated, and fairness is adjustable. Asynchronous and synchronous transmissions are supported by using two kinds of self-token, one is for asynchronous transmission and the other is for synchronous transmission. The effectiveness of the proposed protocol is demonstrated via simulation