Packet transfer delay of the SRP ring

Based on queuing theory, we develop an analytical approximation for low and high priority packet delays in a spatial reuse protocol (SRP) ring. SRP is a MAC layer protocol for ring based media (e.g., optical rings) that can carry IP and ATM client (prioritized) traffic (see Tsiang, D. and Suwala, G., "The Cisco SRP MAC Layer Protocol", RFC 2892, 2000). This protocol is one basis for the evolution of the currently standardized resilient packet ring, IEEE 802.17 (see http://www.ieee802.org/rprsg/). We develop approximative formulae for the transfer delay on a SRP ring and determine the maximum network throughputs for a traffic pattern. The formulae are instrumental in performance considerations and in quasi-validations of simulators.