Error Control for Reliable Multipoint Communication in ATM Networks

A new framework for support of reliable multipoint communication in ATM networks is presented. It is based on a new adaptation layer type, called the Reliable Multicast ATM Adaptation Layer (RMC-AAL), and on a new network element, called the Group Communication Server (GCS). A set of error control mechanisms tailored for multipoint communication are integrated into RMC-AAL and GCS. Error control is based on ARQ and FEC schemes, allowing to select the mechanism that is most suitable for the application requirements in a specific communication scenario. The functionality of adaptation layer and group communication server are described, a basic implementation architecture is presented, and results of a performance evaluation are given.