A study on point-to-multipoint connection control in ATM switching system

In an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network, the point-to-multipoint connection could support distribution services such as broadcasting and multicasting services. For the point-to-multipoint connection, the ITU-T will study its signaling protocol for broadcasting, and has recommended it for a multicasting service. We survey the signaling capability of point-to-multipoint connection control for the multicasting service. The ATM network consists of ATM switching nodes, which should have service connection control functions. We consider a fully distributed ATM switching system for modularity, flexibility to burst traffic and real time processing, and propose a control method for a multicasting service in the switching system. For point-to-multipoint connection control, we adopt the dynamic bandwidth allocation method for the efficient usage of the links between subsystems, and consider an efficient scheme for utilizing the cell replication function at the nearest ATM switch to a destination party. We also propose a control procedure between suggested functional blocks for the point-to-multipoint connection in this system.