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Content archived on 2024-04-16

Technology for ATD

Objective

The project aims at the demonstration of the feasibility of the target network as recommended in CCITT Rec. I.121. A set of generic components which has been defined, realised and used in a pure ATM network. The R1022 ATD technology testbed (RATT) will show the viability of the selected solutions. Studies into traffic and TMN issues will provide dimensioning and control procedures to meet the service requirements. Scenarios, techno-economic analysis and a planning guide for the introduction of ATM networks will form the basis for cost-effective implementation.

The partners of the ATD consortium support the standardisation process for ATM networks by their active cooperation in relevant bodies at the technical level and by RACE contributions to those bodies.
The basic assumption of the project is that asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) is the unique transfer mode for all broadband-integrated services digital network (B-ISDN) services. Several alternative ways of introducing ATM have been analysed for a technoeconomic viewpoint. Studies into ATM-related traffic and telecommunications management network (TMN) issues have also been carried out, to provide dimensioning and control procedures that meet the service requirements. The detailed specification of network subsystems was the starting point for the feasibility analysis and specification of generic ATM components. Emphasis is placed on the ATM bearer service (cell transport), though a large part of the control software is common to all subsystems. In the final phase of the project, all subsystems will be integrated in an technology testbed, which may be used to check common functional specifications.
Generic experiments to evaluate and verify source and network traffic characteristics quality of service (QOS) and network performance metrics have been defined. Key results are the definition of a principle set of experiments and an experiment template.
Traffic source and service type models have been defined, and typical traffic mixes examined.
These issues are prerequisites for traffic control efficiency and also for proper engineering methods. Traffic control schemes for usage parameter and call acceptance control were evaluated and assessed. These are still considered to be the basic questions for the proper operation of ATM networks, and achievement of high resource utilisation under QoS constraints.
2 switching techniques have been selected for realization and experimentation: deterministic (M to 1 stage) and multipath (ROXANNE) self routing. A set of 14 components used in different subsystems were defined. Engineering samples of most components are available.
The R1022 ATD technology testbed (RATT) supports: emulation of narrowband (N)-ISDN service over ATM con nections; emulation of television (TV) distribution; video transfer based on both fixed and variable bit rate coding; and emulation of file transfer between conventional personal computer (PC) over the ATM network. Many ATM subsystems are included in the testbed, covering all the most likely network architectures envisaged in practice.
Technical Approach

The basic assumption of the project is that ATM is the unique transfer mode for all B-ISDN services. RACE Part I activities have been an open forum for concertation and discussion on the definition of ATM. Several alternative ways of introducing ATM have been analysed from a techno- economic viewpoint. Studies into ATM-related traffic and TMN issues have also been carried out, to provide dimensioning and control procedures that meet the service requirements.

The detailed specification of network sub-systems was the starting point for the feasibility analysis and specification of generic ATM components. Emphasis is placed on the ATM bearer service (cell transport), though a large part of the control software is common to all sub-systems. In the final phase of the project, all sub- systems will be integrated in an R1022 technology testbed, which may be used to check Part I Common Functional Specifications. The performance qualification of the RATT will rely upon test tools provided from outside the project.

Key Issues

The project addresses various atm-specific network issues such as usage parameter and call acceptance control, gain of statistical multiplexing, atm key parameters and interfaces aiming at the flexibility and QoS required by operators, service providers and subscribers. Service integration envisaged under IBC will make better use of the inherent flexibility of asynchronous time division multiplexing (ATM).

Achievements

The RATT is to be hosted by the Swiss PTT in Basel. Generic experiments to evaluate and verify source and network traffic characteristics, QOS and network performance metrics have been defined. Key results are the definition of a principal set of experiments and an experiment template.

In general, all development work is aligned with the June '90 recommendations from CCITT SGXVIII. A second issue of the project's 'Interim Planning Guide' has been published, together updated results of techno-economic studies, extended to cover passive optical networks (PONs).

Traffic source and service type models have been defined, and typical traffic mixes examined. These issues are prerequisites for traffic control efficiency and also for proper engineering methods. Traffic control schemes for usage parameter and call acceptance control were evaluated and assessed. These are still considered to be the basic questions for the proper operation of ATM networks, and achievement of high resource utilisation under QoS constraints.

Two switching techniques have been selected for realisation and experimentation: deterministic (M to 1 stage) and multi-path (ROXANNE) self-routing. A set of fourteen components used in different sub-systems were defined. Engineering samples of most components are available.

The RATT supports: emulation of N-ISDN services over ATM connections; emulation of TV distribution; video transfer based on both fixed and variable bit-rate coding; and emulation of file transfer between conventional PCs over the ATM network. Many ATM sub-systems are included in the testbed, covering all the most likely network architectures envisaged in practice.

Expected Impact

The project's results will indicate the feasibility of flexible IBC based on ATM, it will also resolve issues on service integration, QoS and other aspects. The availability of a set of generic ATM components could trigger the start of the transition phase to the IBC. The impact of project results can already be seen in many different ways:

- Universities: knowledge dissemination in under- and post-graduate courses.
- Public operators: traffic models, call acceptance control, evolution, introduction scenarios and economical evaluation models are considered of great importance. R1022 experience is used in national field trials.
- Equipment manufacturers: the development of technology within R1022 forms in general, part of larger technology development programmes in the corporations. The components are prototypes and most of them shall evolve in to future products.
- RACE II projects: work initiated in R1022 is further used and/or elaborated in a number of RACE II projects such as: EXPLOIT, TRIBUNE and MAGIC.

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Coordinator

Alcatel Bell
EU contribution
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Address
Francis Wellesplein 1
2018 Antwerpen
Belgium

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Last update: 26 October 1992

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Permalink: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/R1022

European Union, 2024