Call performance studies on the ATM forum UNI signalling implementations

Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) is widely accepted as the transfer mode fo r Broadband Integrated Services Digital Networks (BISDN). As ATM networks p rovide connection-oriented services, signalling is an essential component o f these networks. The performance of the signalling system is crucial in de termining the scalability of the network. Call performance measurements on two different ATM switches were carried out using a broadband network analy ser. Calls are generated according to a deterministic/Poisson distribution and various components of the call set up delay are analysed. The probabili ty distribution of the delays is obtained and the correlation between the s ee up delay and its different constituents is established. It is observed t hat the delays at the calling and the called user entities of the UNI form a major component of the call set up delay. The average call set up delay i s found to be 21 and 27 ms, respectively, when a single switch is involved in call set up and 50 ms when two switches are involved in call set up, Wit h simultaneous call arrivals, though with higher delays, both the switches are found to establish calls at the rate of 100 calls/s. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.