A packet multiplexing scheme for slotted broadband networks

Abstract

The authors examine the optimal choice of the slot size in terms of bandwidth usage in slotted broadband communication networks based on self-routing switching fabrics and statistical multiplexing schemes. This is a difficult problem, because of the uncertainty of the kinds and of mix of services to be supported by the network. To make this problem less critical, a packet multiplexing scheme is proposed, allowing several packets to be multiplexed in the same slot on a digital link. This scheme aims at avoiding bandwidth inefficiency when the information unit is smaller than the user capacity of a slot. This can take place for transactional data traffic and for packet voice traffic when the voice packet size underutilizes the slot capacity. The performance of a concentrator implementing this feature loaded by a data traffic is evaluated, providing upper bounds on the throughput and evaluating packet delay and buffer occupancy for different input levels.<>