Cell Relay Archive

["Timothy W. Smith" <twsmith@pobox.com>]

ATM was originally designed to be used on highly reliable physical
media (i.e. fibre).  The wireless media (radio waves) is highly prone
to errors, and is one major consideration.  In addition the media is
being shared by multiple users.  The number of mobile clients in a
cell is dynamic.  There is a possibility of collisions in the wireless
envirionment, which is not possible in fibre.

Aother, that is indicated by Scott, is that all ATM cells are required
to arrive in the order that they were sent.  In wireless networks the
mobile client can move from one cell to the next.  In the handoff
the network must ensure that all the cells that were sent along one
route from the previous cell are 'recieved' before the cells being
sent in the current cell.  This is due to the connection oriented nature
of ATM.

Scott W Brim wrote:

> The main issue in wireless ATM is what to do to reestablish virtual
> connections when a mobile system (or mobile network) changes its
> attachment point to the rest of the world.  This should be done
> efficiently, automatically, transparently, and securely.  It's not an
> easy problem.
>
> On 12 Feb 1998 06:43:20 GMT, "Leonid Shousterman"
> <leonids@breezecom.co.il> wrote:
>
> >Greetings All,
> >
> >Sometimes I hear the term Wireless ATM. Can anyone explain
> >me what is meant by it? Why should ATM be affected by
> >nature of the physical carrier?
> >
> >Leon.
>
> --
> Scott Brim    <swb@newbridge.com>