Broadband ISDN protocols and interface structures

The B-ISDN (broadband integrated services digital network) is a virtual circuit-switched network that can be used for services requiring high-speed packet switching. Work is already underway to define and standardize B-ISDN in the CCITT (International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee). The B-ISDN will use a flexible multiplexing format called ATM (asynchronous transfer mode). In the US proposal the B-ISDN is based on the SONET (synchronous optical network) specifications as a physical layer. An introduction is presented to the subject of computer network architecture in general, B-ISDN protocols, and interface structures, and some of the interfaces that can be used in establishing B-ISDN architecture are discussed. The authors also discuss the relationship between interfaces at reference points, the ATM header format, and SONET architecture.