Congestion control in ISDN frame-relay networks

Like X.25 packet networks, ISDN frame-relay networks require effective congestion control mechanisms to cope with unanticipated network component failures and overloads. Unlike X.25 packet networks, ISDN frame-relay networks perform the requisite packet-switching function without terminating the link and network layer data-transfer protocols. They therefore cannot use delayed acknowledgment and/or receiver-not-ready indications embedded in these protocols for congestion control. This paper reviews the measures that can be used to control congestion effectively in ISDN frame-relay networks.