AN EVOLUTIONARY APPROACHTO A COMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE FOR INTEGRATED VOICE, VIDEO AND HIGH SPEED DATA FROM RANGETO DESKTOP USING ATM

Abstract

As technology progresses we are faced with ever increasing volumes and rates of raw and processed telemetry data along with digitized high resolution video and the less demanding areas of video conferencing, voice communications and general LAN-based data communications. The distribution of all this data has traditionally been accomplished by solutions designed to each particular data type. With the advent of Asynchronous Transfer Modes or ATM, a single technology now exists for providing an integrated solution to distributing these diverse data types. This allows an integrated set of switches, transmission equipment and fiber optics to provide multi-session connection speeds of 622 Megabits per second. ATM allows for the integration of many of the most widely used and emerging low, medium and high speed communications standards. These include SONET, FDDI, Broadband ISDN, Cell Relay, DS-3, Token Ring and Ethernet LANs. However, ATM is also very well suited to handle unique data formats and speeds, as is often the case with telemetry data. Additionally, ATM is the only data communications technology in recent times to be embraced by both the computer and telecommunications industries. Thus, ATM is a single solution for connectivity within a test center, across a test range, or between ranges. ATM can be implemented in an evolutionary manner as the needs develop. This means the rate of capital investment can be gradual and older technologies can be replaced slowly as they become the communications bottlenecks. However, success of this evolution requires some planning now. This paper provides an overview of ATM, its application to test ranges and telemetry distribution. A road map is laid out which can guide the evolutionary changeover from today's technologies to a full ATM communications infrastructure. Special applications such as the support of high performance multimedia workstations are presented.