A new architecture of signaling system for ATM network

A new ATM signaling system architecture, which is called SCCA, is proposed and a possible configuration of the signaling system for a campus ATM network is given based on SCCA. This new signaling model has a centralized CAC & routing server to provide some central work of signaling and lets the separated signaling stack software, which is called the SIGStacker, maintain the ports' signaling stacks. Because all the SIGStackers are running on externally attached workstations and these SIGStackers are configurable, the signaling system can be feasibly configured. Therefore, any number of SIGStackers and the same number of workstations on which SIGStackers run can be configured for a switch. A SIGStacker can manage signaling stack of any ports on a switch. Users can easily find a compromise between cost and efficiency of the signaling system. SCCA is also convenient for management. In SCCA, the CAC and routing server share a common database with the CMIP management agent, so the controlling plane of the switch can be conveniently managed by the management plane and furthermore by the central management entity.