Exploitation of an ATM Technology Testbed for Broadband Experiments and Applications

Objective

This project is raising the awareness of potential customers to the benefits obtainable from broadband communications. This is being achieved through the provision of an ATM test-bed with a capability for interconnection with other broadband islands and on which traffic experiments are being performed.
The main objective of the research was to raise the awareness of potential customers to the benefits to be obtained from broadband communications. This was approached through the provision through the provision of an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) test bed, which had a capability for interconnection with other broadband islands.

Key issues in the research were:
integrated broadband communications (IBC) network prototype integration;
the provision of a supported ATM test infrastructure;
the interoperability between broadband platforms covering wide geographical areas; the verification of IBC system specifications and interfaces;
the interconnection of ATM networks to existing networks and transmission systems;
traffic experiments, under controlled conditions and using real sources.

As a result of the research, specifications of the external interfaces for all the interconnection equipment being developed in the project (2 megabit per second and 140 megabit per second mappers, narrowband (N-ISDN) and frame relay interworking units) are available. Collaborative agreements have been established for the demonstration of pilot broadband applications, terminal equipment and other interworking capabilities (eg ATM and distributed queue dual bus (DQDB), and ATM over satellite). Influential contributions have been made to the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) and Comite Consultatif International Telegraphique et Telephonique (CCITT) in the areas of frame relaying, broadband integrated services digital network (B-ISDN) interworking, and the mapping of ATM cells into existing plesiochronous digital hierarchy (PDH) transmission systems.The first European demonstration of ATM over satellite was made within this project.

For a successful introduction of the asynchronous transmission (ATM) based broadband integrated services digital network (ISDN) (B-ISDN) it is very important to provide access to existing networks, in particular to the narrow band ISDN (N-ISDN). This requires interworking functions which are able to connect the 2 networks on the physical layer but also on higher layers of the protocol stack. Moreover, the user plane and the control plane of the protocol stack have to be distinguished. The interworking of the different signalling protocols within the control planes of B-ISDN and N-ISDN has been examined. After the investigation of the concepts for the signalling interworking, a concrete implementation of an interworking unit between an ATM testbed and a public N-ISDN was developed.
Technical Approach

This project makes available a substantial ATM testbed, comprising nodes containing terminal equipment and switches which are representative of those to be found in both customer premises and public broadband networks. All switching nodes are interconnected via standardised ATM optical interfaces to form a prototype broadband network. Terminal adapters are provided to interface with non-ATM terminals. A number of different interworking units are being developed within the project. The technique of transporting LAN data across an ATM network in Frame Relay format is being demonstrated, also with interworking to terminals attached to N-ISDN. Experiments using real traffic sources will validate existing theoretical models, particularly in the areas of CAC and UPT. Connections to other broadband testbeds are made via the European ATM Pilot Network.

Key Issues

- IBC Network prototype integration.
- Provision of a supported ATM test infrastructure.
- Provision of inter-operability between broadband platforms covering a wide geographical area.
- Verification of IBC system specifications and interfaces.
- Interconnection of ATM networks to existing networks.
- Traffic experiments under controlled conditions and using real sources.

Expected Impact

This project offers unique opportunities to raise the awareness of potential customers regarding the benefits of broadband communications. It also demonstrates to network operators the feasibility of running pilot applications over an ATM system and validates traffic control and management algorithms through experiments and measurements on an ATM network under near real conditions. The work will extend the European pool of knowledge on ATM.

Fields of science

• engineering and technology › mechanical engineering › vehicle engineering › aerospace engineering › satellite technology
• engineering and technology › electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering › information engineering › telecommunications

Programme(s)

• FP3-RACE 2 - Specific research and technological development programme (EEC) in the field of communication technologies, 1990-1994

Topic(s)

Data not available

Call for proposal

Data not available

Funding Scheme

Data not available

Coordinator

ASSOCIATION SWISS PTT/ASCOM TECH

Address

Berner Technopark Morgenstrasse 129
3018 Bern
Switzerland

Participants (23)

ALCATEL STANDARD ELECTRICS SA (SESA)

Spain

Address

Ramirez De Prado, 5
Madrid

ALCATEL TELECOM NORWAY AS

Norway

Address

Oestre Aker Vei 33, P.o. Box 310, Oekern
511 Oslo 5

ASCOM TECH AG

Switzerland

Address

Morgenstrasse 129
3018 Bern

BELL TELEPHONE MFG CO (ALCATEL-BELL)

Belgium

Address

Francis Wellesplein 1
2018 Antwerpen

British Telecom plc (BT)

United Kingdom

Address

British Telecom Laboratories Martlesham Heath
IP5 7RE Ipswich

CENTRO DE ESTUDOS DE TELECOMMUNICOES

Portugal

Address

R. Eng. Jose Ferreira Pinto Basto
3800 Aveiro

COPENHAGEN TELEPHONE COMPANY

Denmark

Address

Norregade 21
1199 Copenhagen K

DBP TELEKOM FORSCHUNGSINSTITUT

Germany

Address

Am Kavalleriesand 3
6100 Darmstadt

INST. DE ENGENHARIA DE COMPUTADORES

Portugal

Address

R. Alves Redol, 9, Apartado 10105
1017 Lisbon Codex

JYDSK TELEFON

Denmark

Address

Sletvej 30
8310 Arhus-tranbjerg J.

LABORATOIRE D'ELECTRONIQUE PHILIPS

France

Address

22 Avenue Descartes
94453 Limeil-brevannes

Mikroelektronik Anwendungszentrum Hamburg GmbH

Germany

Address

Karnapp 20
21079 Hamburg

NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS

Greece

Address

Heroon Polytechneion 9
15773 Zographou, Athens

NOKIA CORPORATION

Finland

Address

Revontulentie 8c
2101 Espoo

NORWEGIAN TELECOM RESEARCH

Norway

Address

Instituttveien 23
2007 Kjeller

Philips Kommunikations Industrie AG

Germany

Address

Thurn-und-taxis-straße 10
90411 Nürnberg

REGIE DES TELEGRAPHES ET DES TELEPHONES

Belgium

Address

42, Rue Des Palais
1210 Bruxelles

ROYAL PTT NEDERLAND NV, PTT RESEARCH

Netherlands

Address

Principal Office St. Paulusstraat 4
2260 AK Leidschendam

STANDARD ELEKTRIK LORENZ AG (SEL)

Germany

Address

Lorenzstraße 10
7000 Stuttgart

TELEFONICA INVESTIGACION Y DESARROLLO

Spain

Address

C/ Emilio Vargas, 6
28043 Madrid

UNIVERSITY OF GHENT

Belgium

Address

Sint-pietersnieuwstraat 25
9000 Gent

UNIVERSITY OF NIJMEGEN

Netherlands

Address

Toernooiveld 1
6525 Ed Nijmegen

Universität Stuttgart

Germany

Address

Seidenstraße 36
70174 Stuttgart