Contracts for Atm Services: a Structured Analysis

In this paper we discuss the different kinds of contract that are required for the delivery of multi-service networks based on ATM. A growth in the number and complexity of such contracts is predicted and a need is identified for consistent terminology and structured analysis. We establish a framework in this paper for discussing, distinguishing between, and relating different kinds of ATM contracts. The idea of a session contract is introduced to refer to agreements relating to service usage. The impact of the value chain on such contracts is discussed and a categorisation of contract elements is proposed. Some observations are made about the possibilities for automated contract negotiation and implementation.