Real time management of virtual paths

Proposes a simple and robust automatic strategy for managing SDH/SONET and/or ATM virtual paths in real time to handle slow traffic variations. It consists of on-line measurements of offered traffic followed by the design and possible implementation of a new virtual path network in a repeated cycle. Methods and parameters for traffic measurements and network updating are studied and optimised to achieve maximal traffic carrying capability at minimal cost. Applying the strategy to networks subject to partially unknown, variable traffic the author discovers a considerable adaptivity, large sayings in transmission capacity, and a performance far better than achieved by deterministic management.