Introduction

Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) is a technology that has the potential of revolutionizing data communications and telecommunications. Based on the emerging standards for Broadband Integrated Services Digital Networks (B-ISDN), ATM offers the economically sound "bandwidth on demand" features of packet-switching technology at the high speeds required for today's LAN and WAN networks -- and tomorrow's. ATM is a cell-relay technology that divides upper-level data units into 53-byte cells for transmission over the physical medium. It operates independently of the type of transmission being generated at the upper layers AND of the type and speed of the physical-layer medium below it.

The ATM Network

The technology allows both public (i.e., RBOC or carrier) and private (i.e., LAN or LAN-tointernal switch) ATM networks. This capability gives a seamless and transparent (to the user) connection from one end user to another end user, whether in the same building or across two continents. The basic network structure is as shown on the following page.
.^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^. .-----------. | .--------. 2 .--------. | |End User 1 |-----|-| ATM |-------| ATM | | `-----------' 1 | | Switch | | Switch |---|-------+ | `--------' `--------' | | | ATM Network 1 | | `vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv' | 3 | | .^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^. | .-------------. | .--------. 2 .--------. | | | Private ATM |---|-| ATM |-------| ATM | | | | Switch | 1 | | Switch | | Switch |--|--------+ `------+------' | `--------' `--------' | 1 | | ATM Network 2 | .-----+------. `vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv' | End User 2 | `------------'

Three types of interfaces exist in this diagram: 1. User-to-Network Interface (UNI) 2. Network-to-Network Interface (NNI) 3. Inter-Carrier Interface (ICI) The UNI exists between a single end user and a public ATM network, between a single end user and a private ATM switch, or between a private ATM switch and the public ATM network of an RBOC. The NNI exists between switches in a single public ATM network. NNIs may also exist between two private ATM switches.

The ICI is located between two public ATM networks (an RBOC and an interexchange carrier). All of these interfaces are very similar. The major differences between these types of interfaces are administrative and signalling related. The only type of signalling exchanged across the UNI is that required to set up a VIRTUAL CHANNEL for the transmission. Communication across the NNI and the ICI will require signalling for virtual-path and virtual-channel establishment together with various exchange mechanisms for the exchange of information such as routing tables, etc.

ATM Layered Architecture

At the End User sites, ATM operates with a layered structure that is similar to the OSI 7layered model. However, ATM only addresses the functionality of the two lowest layers of the OSI model: the physical layer (Layer 1) and the data link layer (Layer 2). All other layers are irrelevant in ATM, as these layers are only part of the encapsulated information portion of the cell which is not used by the ATM network. In ATM, the functionality of the two lower OSI layers are handled by three layers (shown here below the double line):
.--------------------------------------------------------------, | Application Layer | +--------------------------------------------------------------+ | User Layers | +==============================================================+ | ATM Adaptation Layer : Convergence Sublayer | | -----------------------------------| | Segmentation & Reassembly Sublayer | +--------------------------------------------------------------+ | ATM Layer | +--------------------------------------------------------------+ | Physical Layer : Transmission Convergence Sublayer | | ----------------------------------------| | Physical Medium Dependent Sublayer | +--------------------------------------------------------------+

The Physical Layer defines the medium for transmission, any medium-dependent parameters (e.g., rate, quality of service required), and framing used to find the data contained within the medium. The ATM Layer provides the basic 53-byte cell format, by defining the 5-byte ATM header for each 48-byte payload segment handed down by the AAL. The ATM Adaptation Layer (AAL) adapts the higher-level data into formats compatible with the ATM Layer requirements, i.e., this layer segments the data and adds appropriate error control information as necessary. It is dependent on the type of services (voice, data, etc.) being transported by the higher layer.

Several AAL protocols have been defined for specific types of data. These are loosely associated with various classes of data. However, no AAL is restricted to a specific data class or type; all types of data could conceivable be handled by any of the AALs. AAL 1 Constant bit rate, connection-oriented, synchronous traffic (e.g., uncompressed voice) AAL 2 Definition never completed undefined, but envisioned to be for variable bit rate, connection-oriented, synchronous traffic (e.g., compressed video) AAL 3/4 Variable bit rate, connection- oriented, asynchronous traffic (e.g., X.25 data) or connectionless packet data (e.g., SMDS traffic) with an additional 4-byte header in the information payload of the cell AAL 5 Similar to AAL 3/4 with a simplified information header scheme that requires only one header per data unit and uses the PTI bit (see below) to indicate the last cell in a transmission Examples of services that use AAL 5 are Classic IP over ATM, and LAN Emulation (LANE). AAL 5 is the most widely used ATM Adaptation Layer Protocol. When the End User sends traffic over the ATM network, the higher-level data unit is passed down to the Convergence Sublayer of the AAL Layer, which prepares the data for the ATM Layer according to the designated AAL protocol (when appropriate). The data is then passed down to the Segmentation and Reassembly Sublayer of the AAL Layer, which divides the prepared data unit into appropriately sized segments. These segments are then passed down to the ATM Layer, which defines an appropriate cell header for each segment and encapsulates the header and payload segment into a 53-byte ATM cell. The cells are then passed down to the Physical Layer, which streams the cells at an appropriate pace for the transmission medium being used, adding empty cells as needed.