Multiple-path ATM switch architecture for dynamic VC establishment

Abstract

The paper presents a novel ATM switch architecture to support a multiple-path virtual channel (MPVC). Based on an internal cell loss threshold, the switch can dynamically change its hardware structure from a single-path to a multiple-path VC. Two algorithms are developed to cope with the dynamic nature of switch architectures. The first, bandwidth allocation algorithm (BAA), is used to reserve bandwidth evenly for a call request that requires the support of a multiple-path VC. The second, cell resequencing algorithm (CRA), is applied to reorder the cell sequence at every extra switch stage, when a single-path VC is changed to a multiple-path VC. The paper analyses the MPVC architecture using both mathematical and simulation models. Then, it compares the performance of using a single-path VC and a multiple-path VC, respectively, in terms of end-to-end cell transfer delay, cell loss ratio, and effective VC throughput under different traffic loads and buffer sizes.