Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)

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Introduction
ATM Protocol Architecture  Logical connections  ATM Cells  Service categories  ATM Adaptation Layer (AAL)


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ATM Protocol Architecture

Fixed-size packets called cells  Streamlined: minimal error and flow control  2 protocol layers relate to ATM functions:


Common layer providing packet transfers Service dependent ATM adaptation layer (AAL)


AAL maps other protocols to ATM

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Figure : ATM protocol Architecture

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Protocol Model has 3 planes

User- Provides user info. Transfer along with the controls  Control Call control and connection control  Management Performs function related to system as a whole and gives coordination between the planes and layers


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Logical Connections
VCC (Virtual Channel Connection): a logical connection analogous to virtual circuit in X.25  VPC (Virtual Path Connection): a bundle of VCCs with same endpoints


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Figure : ATM Connection

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Advantages of Virtual Paths

Simplified network architecture  Increased network performance and reliability  Reduced processing and short connection setup time  Enhanced network services


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Table 5.1

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VCC Uses
Between end users  Between an end user and a network entity  Between 2 network entities


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Figure: Call Establishment

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VPC/VCC Characteristics
Quality of Service (QoS)  Switched and semi-permanent virtual channel connections  Cell sequence integrity  Traffic parameter negotiation and usage monitoring  (VPC only) virtual channel identifier restriction within a VPC

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Control Signaling
 

A mechanism to establish and release VPCs and VCCs 4 methods for VCCs:
Semi-permanent VCCs user to user exchange. No controlling signal is required. Meta-signaling channel (to set up a call) Used to set up a VCC between user and the network - User-to-network signaling virtual channel User-to-user signaling virtual channel
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Control Signaling


3 methods for VPCs

Semi-permanent ( no controlling signal) Customer controlled Network controlled

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ATM Cells
Fixed size  5-octet header & 48-octet information field  Small cells reduce delay for high-priority cells  Fixed size facilitate switching in hardware


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Header Format
Generic flow control  Virtual path identifier (VPI)  Virtual channel identifier (VCI)  Payload type  Cell loss priority  Header error control


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Generic flow control

The field is used to assist the customer in controlling the flow of traffic for different QoS It includes  Constant-bit-rate (CBR)  Variable-bit-rate (VBR)


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Virtual path identifier (VPI)

Routing field for the network  8 bits at the user-network interface  12 bits at the network-network interface


Virtual channel identifier (VCI)

Used for routing to and from the end user

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PAY LOAD TYPE

Indicates the type of information in the information field

1st bit 0- user information; 1- n/w management or maintenance info 2nd bit 0 - congestion cant be experienced; 1- experienced 3rd bit Service data Unit (SDU) refers to 48 octet payload of the cell
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Cell loss priority

Used to provide guidance to the network in the time of congestion  0 - cell of high priority (cant be discarded)  1 subject to discard within network


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FIGURE: ATM CELL FORMAT

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Generic Flow Control

Control traffic flow at user-network interface (UNI) to alleviate short-term overload conditions  When GFC enabled at UNI, 2 procedures used:


Uncontrolled transmission Controlled transmission

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Table 5.3

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Header Error Control

8-bit field calculated based on remaining 32 bits of header  error detection  in some cases, error correction of single-bit errors in header  2 modes:


error detection Error correction

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HEC OPERATION OF RECEIVER

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Effects of error in call header

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IMPACT OF RANDOM BIT ERRORS ON HEC PERFORMANCE

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Service Categories


Real-time service
Constant bit rate (CBR) Real-time variable bit rate (rt-VBR)

Non-real-time service
Non-real-time variable bit rate (nrt-VBR) Available bit rate (ABR) (peak cell rate and minimum cell rate PCR,MCR) Unspecified bit rate (UBR) Guaranteed frame rate (GFR)
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Guaranteed frame rate (GFR)



Support IP backbone sub networks  To optimize the handling of frame based traffic that passes from LAN to a router onto an ATM  Improved performance compared to UBR  Additional frames can be sent if the n/w is not congested.
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ATM BIT RATES

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ATM Adaptation Layer (ATM)

 

It supports information transfer protocols not based on ATM Support non-ATM protocols
e.g., PCM voice, LAPF (link access protocol for frame it is the standard data link control for frame relay)

AAL Services
Handle transmission errors Segmentation/reassembly (SAR) Handle lost and misinserted cell conditions Flow control and timing control

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Applications of AAL and ATM



Circuit emulation (e.g., T-1 synchronous TDM circuits) (AAL 1)  VBR voice and video (AAL 2)  General data services (AAL 3/4)  IP over ATM (AAL 5)  Multiprotocol encapsulation over ATM (MPOA) (AAL 5)  LAN emulation (LANE) (AAL 5)
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AAL Protocols


AAL layer has 2 sublayers:

Convergence Sublayer (CS)
Supports specific applications using AAL  Each AAL user attach to AAL at a service access point (SAP) which is the address of the application.


Segmentation and Reassembly sub layer (SAR)



Packages data from CS into cells and unpacks at other end

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AAL protocols and protocol data unit (PDU)

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Steps:
A block of data from a higher layer is encapsulated into PDU at the CS  Its is referred as Common part convergence sublayer (CPCS)  CPCS PDU is then passed to SAR layer where it is broken up into payload blocks.  Each block fit into SAR PDU (length 48 octets)  Each SAR PDU fits into a single ATM cell

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Figure 5.10

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AAL Type 1
     

Constant-bit-rate source SAR simply packs bits into cells and unpacks them at destination A sequence number (SN) is given for each block to track the errored PDU SN-4 bit ; 1- Convergence sub layer indication (CSI) 3- Sequence count (SC) One-octet header contains 3-bit SC field to provide an 8cell frame structure No CS PDU since CS sublayer primarily for clocking and synchronization
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AAL 1

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AAL 2

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AAL Type 3/4

The service 1. May be connectionless or connection oriented Connection less:  Each block of data presented to SAR layer is treated independently Connection oriented:  Possible to define multiple logical connection over a single ATM connection
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AAL Type 3/4

May be message mode or streaming mode Message mode:  Data frame can be transferred  Single block of data from the layer above AAL is transferred in one or more cells Streaming Mode  Transfer low speed data with low delay requirements  Fixed size block (one octet)  One block is transferred per cell
2.
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AAL 3/4

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Figure 5.11

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AAL type 3/4

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AAL Type 5


Streamlined transport for connection oriented protocols

Reduce protocol processing overhead Reduce transmission overhead Ensure adaptability to existing transport protocols

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AAL type 5

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Figure 5.13

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