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Abstract
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Protocols for shared media Local Area Networks (LAN) are optimized for high asynchronous traffic throughput. Multimedia applications, e.g. interactive video, require low traffic delay with low delay jitter. Peak bit rate reservation for this kind of traffic guarantees the required quality of service but usually results in a waste of bandwidth due to the bursty nature of the traffic produced by multimedia applications. In this paper, a new MAC protocol for ring LANs is presented which integrates isochronous and asynchronous traffic. Fixed-length frames are divided into slots that are designated for carrying ATM-sized cells. By reserving the same set of slots in every frame, a constant bandwidth can be provided for realizing isochronous channels. All slots that are not reserved for isochronous channels are available for asynchronous traffic. In addition to that, asynchronous traffic may use slots that are reserved for but currently not used by isochronous channels. In this way, the protocol combines lossless data transfer and a high degree of network utilization.
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