Traffic Characterisation and Modelling for Call Admission Control Schemes on Asynchronous Transfer Mode Networks

Allocating resources to variable bitrate (VBR) teletraffic sources is not a trivial task because the impact of such sources on a buffered switch is difficult to predict. This problem has repercussions for call admission control (CAC) on asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) networks. In this thesis we report on investigations into the nature of several types of VBR teletraffic. The purpose of these investigations is to identify parameters of the traffic that may assist in the development of CAC algorithms. As such we concentrate on the correlation structure and marginal distribution; the two aspects of a teletraffic source that affect its behaviour through a buffered switch. The investigations into the correlation structure consider whether VBR video is selfsimilar or non-stationary. This question is significant as the exponent of self-similarity has been identified as being useful for characterising VBR teletraffic. Although results are inconclusive with regards to the original question, t..