The multi-token inter-arrival time (MTIT) access protocol for supporting IP over WDM ring network

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One of the concepts currently pursued to provide the ideal network architecture for supporting the next generation Internet consists of transmitting the Internet protocol (IP) packets directly over the wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) layer of extant optical networks. The challenge of this concept is to make the optical bandwidth directly accessible to IP with the statistical multiplexing necessary to support the bursty nature of IP traffic in a cost effective way. This paper proposes the multi-token inter-arrival (MTIT) access protocol designed to achieve a bandwidth efficient multiplexing technique in WDM ring networks. The network throughput is maximized without violating the desired access delay requirement by controlling the inter-arrival time as opposed to controlling the rotation time as proposed in existing standards, e.g., FDDI. It is shown that the MTIT protocol efficiency grows with the number of wavelengths-in full agreement with the WDM technology trend-and does not depend on the packet length-a feature ideal for IP implementation. In addition, the protocol provides a unique token control technique that allows to maintain the channel access delay at a node bounded even within the round trip propagation of a ring.