ATM adaptation layer protocols and IEEE LAN interconnection

Abstract

The asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) adaptation layer provides functions for mapping source traffic into ATM cells as required in recent standardization work for packet switched integrated broadband networks. Functions, services, and protocols suitable for signaling and other packet mode traffic are studied. The resulting protocol stacks are critically examined for two important and differing applications: signaling in broadband ISDN and the IEEE 802.3-5 series of standards for LAN interconnection. The emphasis is on the second case, which is currently considered as an imminent application area for broadband communication networks.<>