Rotation counter protocol - A token-ring protocol for integrated services

A protocol for use in fiber optic rings is proposed. The rotation counter protocol (RCP) is a token-ring protocol which includes a counter in the token. The counter counts down on the number of packets accessing the network per cycle, and it is shared and modified by each station. Synchronous traffic is allowed to access the network as the token visits each station, while asynchronous traffic is allowed in only if the counter value is nonzero when the token revisits the station. It is very easy to implement. An integrated voice/data system using this protocol is evaluated in terms of voice and data delay performance. The results show that this protocol can support both synchronous and asynchronous traffic.