Fair and reliable hop-by-hop flow control

Asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) networks can support different services with different Quality of Service (QoS) requirements. Among all service types, Available Bit Rate (ABR) is used primary for transferring data files. Hence, flow control is essential in ABR service. In this paper, we propose a new hop-by-hop credit-based flow control scheme with shared buffers. In this scheme, we introduce the concept of request cells to let upstream nodes request credits from downstream nodes such that downstream nodes know the transmission requirements of upstream nodes in early stages of transmission. This allows the downstream nodes to arrange their buffer spaces fairly and efficiently. Simulation results show the scheme improves the total throughput compared to the traditional credit-based flow control scheme FCVC without shared buffers under the same conditions. In one simulation, the total throughputs are increased by as many as 16.4 percent.

• Type: Journal
• Year: 1999
• Where: COMCOM
• Authors: Wei Kuang Lai, Duan Ruei Shiu, Mei Chian Liou, Jiunn-yih Tsai
• Keywords: COMCOM 1999, Credit-based Flow Control, Downstream Nodes, Flow Control Scheme