Data and Computer Communications

Chapter 11 Asynchronous Transfer Mode

ATM
a

streamlined packet transfer interface similarities to packet switching

transfers data in discrete chunks supports multiple logical connections over a single physical interface

ATM

uses fixed sized packets called cells with minimal error control and flow control data rates of 25.6Mbps to 622.08Mbps

Protocol Architecture

Reference Model Planes

user

plane

provides for user information transfer, associated controls (flow control, error control)

control

plane plane

call and connection control plane management

whole system functions

management

layer management
Resources and parameters in protocol entities

ATM Logical Connections

virtual channel connections ( VCC)

analogous to virtual circuit in X.25 full duplex fixed size cells user-network exchange (control) network-network exchange (network mgmt & routing)

basic unit of switching between two end users

also for

ATM Virtual Path Connection

virtual path connection ( VPC)

bundle of VCC with same end points

Advantages of Virtual Paths

simplified

network architecture increased network performance and reliability reduced processing short connection setup time for new channel

Call Establishment Using VPs

Virtual Channel Connection Uses

between end users

end to end user data VPC provides overall capacity

VCC organization done by users within the capacity

between end user and network

control signaling network traffic management routing

between network entities

VP/VC Characteristics
quality of service - cell loss ratio, cell delay variation switched and semi-permanent channel connections cell sequence integrity traffic parameter negotiation and usage monitoring - average rate, peak rate, burstiness, and peak duration VPC only

virtual channel identifier restriction within VPC

Fixed vs. Variable Length Cell

#

Efficiency Consideration: Efficiency N = Information Octets / (Information Octets + Header Octets) Fixed Length Packets: L = Data Field Size (Octets) in a Packet H = Header Size (Octets) X = Total Message Size (Octets) # Expression for N = ? (Needs ceiling function), Nopt = ?

Fixed vs. Variable Length Cell

#

Variable Length Packets: Needs an additional length field, Hv = Additional overhead octets H = Header Size (Octets) X = Message Size (Octets) # Expression for N = ? (Assume Single Cell) # Plot of N vs. Message Size (X = 48, 96, 144, 192, 240), for fixed and variable length cells

What size of Fixed Length

Assume

that the cells are completely filled (X / L = integer) Expression for N = ? Packetization Delay = buffering bits until the entire packet is filled before retransmission Expression for this delay D = ? (function of L and source data rate R)

What size of Fixed Length

Plot

of D vs. Data Field Size (L = 16, 32, 64, 128 octets) (R = 64 kbps for voice coding) of efficiency N vs. Data Field Size (16, 32, 64, 128 octets) 48 octet provides a trade-off between efficiency and delay

Plot

=>

ATM Cells

ATM Header Fields

generic

flow control Virtual path identifier - routing Virtual channel identifier end to end user payload type (3-bits, user information, congestion) cell loss priority header error control

Examples
#

Consider compressed video transmission in ATM network, Cells must pass through 5 switches. The data rate is 43 Mbps. - Transmission time of one cell through one switch? - Assume other cells have lower priority (but non-premptive) than cell A. What is the maximum time from arrival at the first

Examples
Switch

to the completion of transmission by the fifth for cell A? (all other delays are negligible) - if the probability that a switch is busy is 0.6 and the average delay to wait for current transmission completion is one half a cell transmission time, what is the average time from arrival at the first Switch to the completion of transmission by the fifth for cell A?

Examples
-

what is the maximum and average variability in encountered delay (the jitter)?

IP datagrams are segmented into ATM cells and sent over the ATM network. Loss of a cell means loss of entire IP packet. Pc = cell loss rate n = number of cells for a datagram Expression for Pp = datagram loss rate?

Summary
Asynchronous

Transfer Mode (ATM) architecture & logical connections ATM Cell format transmission of ATM cells