An introduction to ATM technology

By Marc Boisseau, Jean-Marie Munier, Michael Demange

Subjects: Integrated services digital networks, Computer Communication Networks, Asynchronous transfer mode

Description: The media is full of references to the impact computer technology is having on the way we communicate with each other. What is the technology that will allow us to, for example, build high-speed networks and develop multimedia applications? Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) combines the advantages of both circuit and packet switching techniques. It has been adopted as the world-wide standard for Broadband ISDN for the public network and selected as the solution for many private networks, so it will be used in both wide- and local-area networks. This book offers an introduction to the technical principles of ATM and should be of interest to any professional working in the field of networks, as well as to students of engineering and computer science. It covers the following topics: historical aspects and technical rationale for ATM; ATM and related specifications; ATM switches; ATM in wide-area networks (Broadband ISDN); ATM in local-area networks and Outline of European and American pilot projects running ATM.