Native ATM Protocol Stack for Internet Applications in Residential Broadband Networks

摘要

This paper presnts a native ATM protocol stack (N~3) designed for the provision of advanced mutlimedia services to broadband residential communities. Currently, such services include novel services like Video on Demand, as well as existing Internet services. Although Intrnet networking is proposed as a panacea even for these networks, such an infrastructure is inhernetly unable to guarantee applicaion QoS requirements. The N~3 stack preserves the Quality of Service (QoS) needed for the provision of real-time multimedia applicatiosn, even to existing Internet applications like the Web. For residential user terminals with restricted memory capabilities i.e. set-top-boxes, the N~3 stack provides lightweight native ommunication protocols. To justify the huge investments necessary for hte evolution of advanced networks and services in this area, the flat Internet model of charging is not appropriate any more. Users need to pay for hte quality they get from the network and this cannot be guaranteed with current iNternet practices. The N~3 stack combines characteristics that stisfy QoS requirements, flat E.164/NSAP addressing compatible with the exisitng telephony network, a native ATM implemtnation which is ideal for execution over ADSL media and close relationship to the ATM charging methods at differnet quality levels.