A FLEXIBLE NETWORK ARCHITECTURE FOR DATA MULTICASTING IN MULTISERVICENETWORKS

The paper describes a canonical model of data-transport architecture t hat offers a flexible framework for implementations of data multicasti ng on backbone networks to support multiservice applications (e.g., vi deoconferencing, digital TV broadcast), The architecture is based on a cyclic graph structured communication channels that provide connectivi ty among data sources and destinations through switches and links in a backbone network, The paper adopts a network-wide logical addressing of communication channels, which allows data multicasting to be realiz ed on specific backbone networks by establishing local bindings betwee n a logical address and the information on network-specific routing of data over switches and links, The approach allows various sources to share the switches and links in a multicast path connecting to destina tions, This is a desirable feature in view of the significant reductio n in network routing control costs and data transfer costs when dealin g with high-volume multisource data (say, in videoconferencing), In ad dition, logical addressing allows grouping of selected destinations to overlay different ''virtual networks'' on a base-level multicast chan nel (e.g., private discussion groups in a conference), As a demonstrat ion of architectural flexibility, the paper describes the embedding of our multicast model on sample backbone networks capable of supporting multiservice applications: interconnected LAN's, ATM networks, and hi gh-speed public data networks (viz., SMDS networks).