ATM and SONET Basics

ATM & SONET Basics explains the latest packet and synchronous communications technology that is the hottest technology used in at the beginning of the 21st century. Industry professionals need this information to survive this latest change in the telecommunications industry.

Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) provides a more structured signaling and control method for high-speed flexible and efficient intra and inter-network communications. The variability that ATM offers incorporates both circuit and packet switching techniques into one technology, creating a flexible transport network solution with simple network processing functions. ATM & SONET Basics provides an understanding of how the systems operate and the applications that use ATM and SONET systems.

This book also explains the elements of Synchronous Optical Network (SONET). This is the physical layer high-speed fiber optic multiplexing arrangement often used with ATM applications in the network. The purpose of this book is to familiarize the reader with the concepts used in ATM and SONET, providing a path to a fundamental understanding and basic elements of their inter-working.

If you are involved in telephone networks, computer networks, cable television networks, wireless networks or other telecommunications systems and equipment, ATM is almost certainly part of your system and you need to understand how it works and what it can do. Some of the most important topics featured are:

Understand why ATM has become the world standard used to interconnect telephone and data networks.

How Synchronous Optical Networks (SONET) operate.

Learn how fiber systems inter-operate with ATM systems.

Gain an understanding of ATM protocols.

Why ATM switches transfer packets much faster than TCP/IP.

Learn about the Quality of Service (QoS) features used in ATM systems.

Why ATM can be used efficiently for voice, data and video services.

How signaling and switching is performed in ATM networks.

Where to find the standards used in ATM and SONET systems.

Learn about key applications such as PVCs, SVCs, VDT, LANE and IP over ATM.

Why ATM equipment is becoming part of Local Area Networks (LANs) and residential DSL and cable modem equipment.

Author Biography: George is currently the Chief Technical Officer and Vice President of Systems Engineering for Ficon Technology, Inc. In a career that started at Bell Laboratories, George has also worked for AT&T and Telcordia Technologies, before arriving at his current position at Ficon. He has served as the President of the ATM Forum (a Board of Director) and was Chairman of the ATM Forum Worldwide Technical Committee.