The U.K. LINK-PCP approach to the wireless ATM system

This article presents the conclusions of research undertaken in the Mobile Communications Group, University of Surrey, during the last three years in the area of wireless/mobile ATM. This research was funded by the United Kingdom DTI-EPSRC project, "Personal Communications LINK Project" (PCP) under the title "Wireless ATM LAN", and carried out in collaboration with Symbionics Developments Ltd. of the United Kingdom. The article outlines the basic characteristics of ATM technology and sets the design objectives for the ATM WLAN. It proposes system architectures and protocol reference models (PRMs) for the establishment of ATM WLAN using IEEE 802.11 and HIPERLAN. The system architecture and PRM of an optimum design for ATM WLAN are presented along with the mechanism for mobility management and handover execution. Finally, it discusses the multiple access scheme adopted in the proposed ATM WLAN.