Design and implementation of a new synchronization method for high-speed cell-based network interfaces

This paper presents the coding and timing recovery issues of an interface for high-speed cell-based communication networks. The synchronization technique used in this interface is based on the functionality resulting from combining functions of Fibre Channel with the basic features of pure ATM. The line coding properties, along with a pseudo-framing structure, are used to simplify the cell delineation process, thus resulting in lower hardware complexity than existing ATM interfaces, and implementability at high transmission rates. The paper describes also the architecture of a prototyped interface and its implementation using commercially available and custom ICs at 1 Gbps.