Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) is the technology selected by the IEEE in 1988 as the standard to be followed when implementing a broad band communication system. It is called asynchronous because the cells containing information from an individual user is not necessarily sent periodically. It is an international ISDN high-speed, high-volume, packet-switching transmission protocol standard using 53-byte cells to divide data into efficient, manageable packets for ultra-fast switching through a communications network. The 53-byte cells contain 5-byte destination address headers and 48 data bytes. ATM is the first packet-switched technology designed from scratch to support integrated voice, video, and data communication applications. Each ATM link supplies a constant stream of ATM packet slots into which transmissions can be placed or left unused. ATM handles numerous services, such as constant-bit rate for voice and graphics and packet switching for variable-bit rate services such as data and full-motion video essentially combining the best of both circuit-switching technology. ATM currently accommodates transmission speeds from 64 Kbps to 24Gbits. To speed the process of standardisation, in response to market needs, the ATM Forum was formed and is now an international, industry organisation with some 450 members focusing on the development, standardisation, and deployment of ATM products. (Source: Marconi)
Asynchronous Transfer
is an efficient method for transmitting slots on a demand basis..(Source: Marconi)
Glossary compiled by:
Academy of Telecom Management, India
www.academytele.com
For a comprehensive Telecom Glossary, please refer to:
"The Business of Telecommunication" by Niraj K. Gupta, published by Tata McGraw Hill.
