A study of temporal behavior between the packet loss bursts in packet switched systems

In future broadband networks based on asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) transmission and switching technology, the dominant kind of impairment is expected to be packet (ATM cell) losses. The use of forward error correction (FEC) codes have been proposed as a way to overcome these losses. However, the maximum length of a lost packet string that a packet loss recovery scheme can be designed to recover highly depends upon the temporal behavior between the adjacent packet loss bursts. Thus, a realistic model for describing the packet loss process is needed. The Gilbert model proposed for such purpose turns out to be an unrealistic model, since it fails to consider some important characteristics during the packet loss process. A more realistic model is advanced.