Towards real-time optimal VP management for ATM nets

Abstract

We propose a mathematical model for VP configuration to find an optimal logical network topology of a given ATM-based B-ISDN. The model is essentially identical to the model roposed earlier by Kim [13] which finds a virtual path configuration in which an optimal trade-off is achieved among the relevant gains of ATM technology. Unlike Kims model, however, our model explicitly considers the VPs QoS to enhance the practicality and the bandwidth utilization. A difficulty is to find an efficient solution technique as it involves a large-scale intractable optimization problem. We propose a heuristic algorithm tailored to the computational structure of the model. A computational experiment shows that the algorithm finds good solutions in dramatically reduced computation time compared to the existing algorithm. This suggests the possibility of a real-time VP management system in which the optimal VP configuration is implemented on-line with a dynamic routing (e.g.,LLR), to maintain the optimality of the current solutions.