Metropolitan Area Network Interconnection: A Path to Broadband ISDN

It is currently envisaged that Distributed Queue Dual Bus (DQDB) Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) will be introduced in Australia in the early 1990s. These networks will support high bit-rate data services such as Local Area Network (LAN) to LAN interconnection and a trial of a video telephony service. This paper proposes that virtual paths should be used to interconnect DQDB MANs as the number of these increases. The virtual path network, which involves aggregation of traffic for management and control, has been adopted by the CCITT for use within Broadband ISDN. Other services such as video and virtual private networking could also be offered by a virtual path network. This network is also compatible with the B-ISDN.