HITLESS PATH PROTECTION SWITCHING TECHNIQUES FOR ATM NETWORKS

This paper describes a hitless path switching technique that utilizes fully the benefits of an ATM. First, hitless path protection switching in ATM networks is discussed. It is shown that for the path configura tion of working and preestablished protection paths, the best switchin g method switches on the transmitting side. Then the proposed switchin g algorithm is described, along with several examples of its applicati on to mesh and ring networks. A cell interval compression method suita ble for hitless path switching is proposed that empties and disconnect s the transmission delay difference absorption buffer. Finally, an app roximate formula is proposed that directly determines the multinode qu euing delay. This delay is needed to calculate the capacity of the del ay difference absorption buffer. The accuracy of the formula is confir med by simulations.