Stream traffic management over an ATM passive optical network

Abstract

Several alternatives based either on wired or wireless infrastructures are considered for the provision of broadband services in the local loop. In the field of wired solutions, Passive Optical Networks (PON) look very promising due to their bandwidth capacity. Also called APONs (ATM over PON), PON systems are designed in order to satisfy end-to-end ATM connections. Because it is based on a point-to-multipoint optical tree configuration, a PON access system requires a MAC protocol for the upstream traffic. Two approaches may be adopted for the design of an APON MAC protocol. The first approach considers a MAC protocol based on a work-conserving discipline combined with a stand-alone traffic shaper between the head of the optical tree and an ATM switch. The second approach consists in an integrated mechanism able to reduce Cell Delay Variation (CDV) of CBR/VBR connections by means of non-work conserving disciplines at the MAC layer. After having described the main characteristics of APON systems, we propose a new APON MAC protocol with integrated shaping well suited to real time traffic management. The performances of our protocol are investigated by means of both computer simulations and analytical modeling. By extension of our analytical study, a Call Admission Control procedure is proposed for real time VBR connections.