Asynchronous Transfer Mode

Asynchronous Transfer Mode
Rjamorim at English Wikipedia · Public domain · source
Name	Asynchronous Transfer Mode
Purpose	High-speed networking
Developer	International Telecommunication Union
Introduced	1988

Asynchronous Transfer Mode is a high-speed networking standard developed by the International Telecommunication Union and introduced in 1988, with the goal of providing a flexible and efficient way to transmit data over wide area networks and local area networks, as envisioned by Vint Cerf and Bob Kahn, the founders of the Internet Protocol. This technology was designed to support the Broadband Integrated Services Digital Network and provide a platform for the integration of telecommunications and computer networking, as outlined by the Federal Communications Commission and the European Telecommunications Standards Institute. The development of Asynchronous Transfer Mode was influenced by the work of Leonard Kleinrock and Donald Davies, who made significant contributions to the field of packet switching and network architecture, and was further shaped by the Internet Engineering Task Force and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

Introduction to Asynchronous Transfer Mode

Asynchronous Transfer Mode is a packet-switching technology that uses fixed-size cells to transmit data over a network, allowing for the efficient transmission of video, audio, and data traffic, as demonstrated by Cisco Systems and Juniper Networks. This technology is designed to provide a high-quality, low-latency service for applications that require real-time transmission, such as video conferencing and online gaming, as popularized by Microsoft and Sony. Asynchronous Transfer Mode is widely used in telecommunications networks, including those operated by AT&T and Verizon Communications, and is an essential component of the global network infrastructure, which relies on the Internet Exchange Points and the Domain Name System.

History and Development

The development of Asynchronous Transfer Mode began in the late 1980s, with the formation of the International Telecommunication Union's Special Study Group 18, which was tasked with developing a standard for broadband networking, as mandated by the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly. The group was led by Richard Stallman and John Postel, who played a crucial role in shaping the development of the technology, and was influenced by the work of Larry Roberts and Steve Crocker, who made significant contributions to the development of the ARPANET. The first Asynchronous Transfer Mode standard was published in 1992, and was later adopted by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and the Internet Engineering Task Force, which further refined the standard and developed new protocols, such as the Resource Reservation Protocol and the Real-time Transport Protocol.

Technical Overview

Asynchronous Transfer Mode uses a connection-oriented approach to transmit data, which means that a virtual circuit is established between the sender and receiver before data is transmitted, as described by Andrew Tanenbaum and David Cheriton. This approach allows for the efficient transmission of data and provides a high level of reliability, as demonstrated by IBM and Hewlett Packard. Asynchronous Transfer Mode also uses a cell-based architecture, which means that data is transmitted in fixed-size cells, each of which contains a header and a payload, as specified by the Internet Protocol and the Transmission Control Protocol. The use of cells allows for the efficient transmission of data and provides a high level of flexibility, as shown by Intel and Texas Instruments.

Network Architecture

Asynchronous Transfer Mode networks are typically composed of switches and routers, which are used to forward cells between nodes, as designed by Cisco Systems and Juniper Networks. The network architecture is designed to provide a high level of scalability and flexibility, allowing for the easy addition of new nodes and services, as demonstrated by Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure. Asynchronous Transfer Mode networks also use a signaling protocol to establish and manage virtual circuits, such as the Q.2931 protocol, which was developed by the International Telecommunication Union and is used by AT&T and Verizon Communications. The signaling protocol is used to exchange information between nodes and to manage the flow of cells, as described by Vint Cerf and Bob Kahn.

Applications and Uses

Asynchronous Transfer Mode has a wide range of applications, including video conferencing, online gaming, and virtual private networks, as popularized by Microsoft and Sony. It is also used in telecommunications networks to provide a high-quality, low-latency service for applications that require real-time transmission, such as voice over IP and video streaming, as demonstrated by Netflix and YouTube. Asynchronous Transfer Mode is also used in financial networks to provide a secure and reliable service for the transmission of financial data, as required by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. The use of Asynchronous Transfer Mode in these applications is due to its ability to provide a high level of quality of service, as specified by the Internet Engineering Task Force and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

Advantages and Limitations

Asynchronous Transfer Mode has several advantages, including its ability to provide a high level of quality of service and its support for real-time applications, as demonstrated by Cisco Systems and Juniper Networks. It also has a high level of scalability and flexibility, making it suitable for use in a wide range of applications, as shown by Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure. However, Asynchronous Transfer Mode also has some limitations, including its complexity and the high cost of implementation, as noted by Gartner and Forrester Research. Additionally, the use of fixed-size cells can be inefficient for some types of traffic, such as TCP/IP traffic, as described by Vint Cerf and Bob Kahn. Despite these limitations, Asynchronous Transfer Mode remains an important technology in the field of computer networking, as recognized by the National Science Foundation and the European Research Council. Category:Network protocols