ATM multipeer communication using a two-layer architecture

Applications deploying distributed database updates, distributed simulations, shared whiteboards, and forthcoming distributed interactive multi-user games have communication needs not satisfied by most available protocols or communication subsystems. These applications are different from classical applications in that they have potentially many senders and receivers. Although there has been a lot of research on unicast and multicast protocols, only little work has been done in the area of multipeer communication, i.e. communication realizing an M:N communication service. Even fewer results are available for such a service on connection oriented technologies like ATM (asynchronous transfer mode). This paper describes the current situation, proposes a novel two-layer architecture especially suitable for ADSL and cable networks, which bridge the gap between LANs and the WAN, gives a first analysis, and presents open issues.