ATM adaptation layer protocols for signalling

Abstract The paper examines newly proposed Layer 2 protocols for signalling and packet data to be employed in broadband integrated networks based on the Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) principle. Assuming that signalling and information traffic will be multiplexed across a 150 Mbit/s user network interface, it models and analyses the processing and transmission delay encountered by signalling messages. Performance issues are contrapositioned to architectural ones, which call for a specific sublayering within Layer 2. This results in efficient grouping of subfunctions so that the protocols find the widest possible use in an integrated services environment.