Internet Transfer Capabilities for Time Critical Communications

Some time-critical communications, e.g. telephony, can frequently be conducted reasonably satisfactorily over the Internet, even when packets are transferred in connectionless mode. However, for any assured service with defined bounds on packet delay and loss, packet transfers need to be connection-oriented and the connections appropriately resourced. A virtual Internet connection with specified switching procedures, traffic capacity, and quality outcomes would, in analogy to transfer capabilities in ATM networks, be a defined Internet transfer capability. With appropriate transfer capabilities, an IP network could work with, or take the place of, traditional STM and ATM networks, as well as exceed them in capability. For instance, IP networking could be superior to STM and ATM in regard to multimedia communications.