Functional description of H-Bus: a broadband customer premises network

Abstract

A broadband customer premises network (CPN) provides multiaccess capabilities at a user network interface (UNI)-between the B-ISDN and customer premises terminals. The functionality of H-Bus, an experimental broadband CPN prototype suitable for residential and small business environments is described. H-Bus extends the use of SONET (synchronous optical network) and ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) standard formats into the CPN, which results in a common set of key components in both the B-ISDN and the CPN, and reduces the complexity of the CPN/B-ISDN interface equipment, as compared to other non-ATM CPN solutions. Background information on the H-Bus CPN is given, including the architecture and basic description of its components. The functional requirements of H-Bus within the framework of the broadband protocol reference architecture model are addressed. Some specific aspects of the UNI are discussed in the context of H-Bus, and possible solutions to various problems associated with the multiaccess UNI arrangement are proposed. Functions and applications of the H-Bus ATM layer chip as well as other crucial H-Bus prototype components are described. >