MCA: a single chip one-port scalable ATM layer controller

Abstract

This work proposes a flexible microprogrammable controller to perform the ATM layer functions of an ATM switch. The controller has as main characteristic the flexibility to implement several algorithm types, by changing microinstruction programming only. The description and functionalities of the main blocks that compose its architecture are presented as well final synthesis, simulations and layout results of a "standard-cells" MCA's ASIC implementation. Finally the architecture of an ATM switch based on independent MCA's and its scalability and reusability are showed.