An appropriate service for data traffic in Asynchronous Transfer Mode
(ATM) networks requires large buffers in network nodes. However, large
buffers without a proper allocation scheme may lead to an unsatisfact
ory quality of service. Most present allocation schemes either necessi
tate a complicated queueing system or they do not offer a sufficient f
airness. This paper describes a rather simple buffer management scheme
that results in fair allocation of bandwidth among competing connecti
ons by using only a FIFO buffer. The performance and fairness of the a
llocation scheme has been analysed by means of a simulation program. (
C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.