Telecommunications Laboratory

Broadband ATM Networks

Active research programs

RACE R1022: Technology for ATD The ATD project aims at the demonstration of the feasibility of the target Broadband Integrated Services Network (B-ISDN) employing the Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) principle. A set of generic components are defined, realized and tested over the R1022 ATD Technology Testbed (RATT) to prove the feasibility of the selected solutions. Traffic engineering, network management and control studies are used for the proper dimensioning of the system in order to enable the accommodation of service requirements. Techno-economical studies ensure the easy and cost effective transition to B-lSDN.

RACE R2024: BAF-Broadband Access Facilities The BAF project objective is to define and implement the B-lSDN access network for small business and residential customers, and to define a set o f standards which will be applicable to each access node of the B-lSDN independently of the adopted technology. To do so studies on topology, high speed transmission on shared fibers, access control protocols, security, privacy and network management issues are also performed.

RACE R2061 : EXPLOIT-Exploitation of an ATM Technology Testbed for Broadband Experiment and Applications The project seeks to raise the awareness of potential customers to the benefits to be obtained from broadband communications. It specifies and integrates the equipment required to enable interworking among an ATM platform and other broadband islands and terminals. Using these developments the EXPLOIT project will demonstrate the technical feasibility and evolutionary capability of ATM interoperability.

RACE R2044: MAGIC-Multiservice Applications Governing Integrated control The MAGIC project aims at the specification and standardization of signaling protocols for the support of the multimedia, multiparty and multiconnection services foreseen in the future B-lSDN. Protocols are functionally tested by virtue of an object oriented simulator and their performance is evaluated by the use of stochastic and queuing analysis techniques. Interworking aspects among networks employing different signalling systems are also studied to ensure service integration in broadb and internetworking environment.

RACE R2118: BRAVE-Broadband Access Verification Experiments The BRAVE project aims at the optimization of network use by evaluating through experimental set-up the performance of resource management and multiplexing methods applied at the access to the ATM network. The BRAVE platform consists of several ATM terminal adaptors, a generic ATM switch, concentrators, multiplexers and a novel component called service multiplexer. The latter is used as an experimental device in which various multiplexing algorithms are applied and their performance is evaluated in terms of quality for different types of services. The project also studies the concept of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) as a way for introducing ATM and broadband services in the most cost effective way.