A reasonable solution to the broadband congestion control problem

The control of congestion in asynchronous transfer mode (ATM)-based networks is an important and complex subject that must be properly addressed in order to permit efficient use of network capacity while providing good quality of service to all network users. This congestion control problem is characterized here, and the performance-related aspects of some key congestion control features are modelled. Congestion controls for a broadband network will include features for admission control, buffer and queue management, traffic enforcement and reactive control. This paper identifies the leading alternatives for each of these congestion control features, presents an approach for comparing these alternatives based on the relative efficiencies achievable with each, and suggests one reasonable set of congestion control features. Our approch for comparing congestion control alternatives is based on a suitable model for the congestion-related functions of an ATM-based network, togther with a characterization of the traffic loads imposed by various broadband services.