ATM-BASED TRANSPORT ARCHITECTURE FOR MULTISERVICES WIRELESS PERSONAL COMMUNICATION-NETWORKS

This paper presents an ATM-based transport architecture for next-gener ation multiservices personal communication networks (PCN). Such ''mult imedia capable'' integrated services wireless networks are motivated b y an anticipated demand for wireless extensions to future broadband ne tworks. An ATM compatible wireless network concept capable of supporti ng a mix of broadband ISDN services including constant bit-rate (CBR), variable bit-rate (VBR), and packet data transport is explored from a n architectural viewpoint. The proposed system uses a hierarchical ATM switching network for interconnection of PCN microcells, each of whic h is serviced by high-speed, shared-access radio links based on ATM-co mpatible cell relay principles. Design issues related to the physical (modulation), media access control (MAC), and data-link layers of the ATM-based radio link are discussed, and preliminary technical approach es are identified in each case. An example multiservice dynamic reserv ation (MDR) TDMA media access protocol is then considered in further d etail, and simulation results are presented for an example voice/data scenario with a proportion of time-critical (i.e., multimedia) packet data. Time-of-expiry (TOE) based queue service disciplines are also in vestigated as a mechanism for improving the quality-of-service (QoS) i n this scenario.