Programmable ATM adapter: rapid prototyping of cell processing equipment for ATM network

In developing new protocols in an experimental environment, we sometimes need to add or change cell processing functions. Hardware simulation implemented new and current cell processing functions on FPGAs is one of the best ways of developing new protocols. We have researched the rapid prototyping field and developed the programmable ATM adapter (PAA), a general purpose ATM cell processing device that using our original FPGAs. By using the PAA, it is possible to rapidly develop small scale cell processing equipment that supports the functions needed. This paper introduces two new PAA variants as hardware platforms of cell processing equipment and describes examples of new and current cell processing functions that would be realized by the new PAA.