Backbone networks using rotation counters

Abstract

We use simulations to evaluate the performance of an RCP ring network for network interconnection. The RCP (Rotation Counter Protocol) is a token ring protocol that has in its token a special field for counting down of the number of packets transmitted in one cycle. By correlating the queuing performance of each station through the counter, the delay of the high-priority data can be made almost independent and the delay jitters made small, Thus, RCP can be utilized in real-time control environment or integrated services environment. The performance of the backbone networks is investigated, using voice and data integration; the performance measures are mean voice delay, delay jitters, and mean data delay. Various buffering schemes for voice packets are compared. The effect of asymmetric data load is examined, and RCP is found to be capable of minimizing the loading effect of one station to the other.