Dynamic Hierarchical Control of Resource Allocation in an Integrated Services Broadband Network

Abstract The access to a multiservice broadband synchronous TDM network is considered, where hybrid frames are used to carry two basic traffic types (a circuit-switched isochronous and a packet-switched asynchronous one), generated by several users. Each user is assigned a portion of the total available bandwidth, in terms of slots/frame, which is dynamically allocated between the two traffic types at the user premises, by means of a local randomized decision rule, whose structure is determined by a local parameter and by the assigned bandwidth share. Periodically, a two-layer hierarchical optimization scheme is applied, through which the users independently adjust their local parameter values and a central controller reassigns the bandwidth partitions, that play the role of coordination variables. An evaluation of the effectiveness of the control scheme and of the influence of some parameters is provided for a specific example by simulation.