A multibus train communication (AMTRAC) architecture for high-speed fiber optic networks

A multibus train (ordered demand assignment) communication architecture, using the AMTRAC protocol (for efficient utilization of fiber-optic-based very-high-speed networks) is presented. Taking advantage of the emerging WDM (wavelength-division multiplexing) and FDM (frequency-division multiplexing) technologies, the proposed solution introduces a coordinated multichannel control combining the performance advantages of two known approaches for high-speed communication: multichannel and train protocols. As a result an AMTRAC-based high-speed network achieves channel utilization significantly higher than previous approaches. For a network consisting of N stations, with propagation delay to packet transmission time ratio given by a, the AMTRAC architecture reaches a capacity of 1/(1+a/N/sup 2/).<
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