Broadband Integrated Services Digital Network (B-ISDN) is conceived as an all-purpose digital network supporting interactive and distributive services, bursty and continuous traffic, connection-oriented and connectionless services, all in the same network. The concepts of ISDN in general and B-ISDN in particular have been evolving since CCIIT adopted the rrrst set ofISDN recommendations in 1984. Thirteen recommendations outlining the fundamental principles and initial specifications for B-ISDN were approved in 1990, with Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) being the transfer mode of choice for...

There are many exciting trends and developments in the communications industry, several of which are related to advances in fast packet switching, multi- media services, asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) and high-speed protocols. It seems fair to say that the face of networking has been rapidly changing and the distinction between LANs, MANs, and WANs is becoming more and more blurred. It is commonly believed in the industry that ATM represents the next generation in networking. The adoption of ATM standards by the research and development community as a unifying technology for communications...