[en] The growing demand of network bandwidth users made indicates that user access to high speed (i.e. ATM) networks is a key issue. The Inverse Multiplexing for ATM (IMA) is a technology that combines multiple T1/E1 links to support the transparent transmission of ATM cells over one single logical data trunk which bandwidth is the aggregate of the T1/E1 capacities, minus a small amount due to overhead. That is, it provides high bandwidth by using already deployed WAN infrastructure and at a reasonable cost. Employing this technology, it is possible to dispose of ATM connections with data rates between the T1/E1 (an economical but sometimes too slow option) and T3/E3 ones (with high bandwidth, but expensive for the mass market of users). In this framework, and facing a new technology, it is crucial to have tools (analytical and simulation ones) easy to manipulate that help telecommunication engineers and network planners on the performance evaluation and dimensioning of these systems. In this paper, the fundamentals and major applications of IMA technology are described. Also, the behavior of IMA multiplexers is carefully analyzed and a method to dimension them proposed. An estimate for the Cell Loss Ratio (CLR) and the mean waiting time measured in the IMUX devices are obtained. In this thesis several analytical models are contributed to evaluate the benefits of a sufficiently generic ATM node and of an IMUX device. That allows computing the parameters of quality of service for its design: average waiting time of the cells in the device and cell loss probability. The purpose is to constitute an effective tool for the suitable design of the parameters that define the ATM node and particularly to the IMUX. In order to start with the analysis, firstly we have adapted the well-known queue systems to model a concrete ATM node and an inverse multiplexer for ATM. An analytical method has been contributed to approximate the parameters of quality of service of the queue systems. That is, we have applied a M/D/s/s+B queue with discreet-time service and a scheme of five levels of priority. The last analytical study is based on the comparison with a M/D/1 queue system. In addition, all the effects that take place in IMUX device are analyzed meticulously separately. They are due to the insertion of the control cells and filler cells, in agreement with the IMA specification of the ATM Forum. Even though, we are aware of the weakness of our assumptions, especially concerning to the Poisson input traffic, the model is compact, easy to understand and to manipulate, therefore it can be valuable to validate simulation models developed to evaluate IMUX devices under more realistic input traffic patterns. Finally, the lines of future work are scored: the incorporation of a five priorities scheme in the IMUX; the study and analysis of the effects of having bandwidth under demand as a benefits that the IMUX offers; the study and analysis of the IMUX behavior under more realistic traffic models.

[es] El acceso a las redes ATM y el dimensionado de sus recursos son cuestiones clave ya que cada vez hay una mayor demanda de ancho de banda por parte de los usuarios. Sin embargo, se necesitan alternativas económicamente viables. La multiplexación inversa ATM es una técnica con la que se combinan varios enlaces T1/E1 resultando en un único canal lógico de datos con tasa igual al agregado de los anchos de banda T1/E1 menos una pequeña cantidad debida a overhead de control. Resulta de gran interés caracterizar mediante expresiones fácilmente manejables el comportamiento de los nodos de una red de banda ancha en cuanto a los parámetros principales de calidad de servicio ATM. En esta tesis se aportan varios modelos analíticos para evaluar las prestaciones de un conmutador ATM suficientemente genérico y del dispositivo IMUX que permite estimar de manera ajustada los parámetros de calidad de servicio más relevantes para su diseño: tiempo medio de espera de las celdas en el dispositivo y probabilidad de pérdida de las mismas. La finalidad es constituir una herramienta efectiva para el diseño adecuado de los parámetros que definen al nodo ATM y particularmente al IMUX dada su mayor tratabilidad analítica. Para abordar el análisis, en primer lugar se han estudiado sistemas de colas conocidos y en particular se ha aportado un método analítico para aproximar los parámetros de calidad de servicio del sistema de colas más adecuado para modelar un nodo ATM y en concreto un multiplexor inverso ATM. Esto es, cola M/D/s/s+B con tiempo de servicio discreto y un esquema de cinco niveles de prioridad. Por otro lado, se modifica la semi-cadena de Markov para el sistema M/D/1 adaptándola a las características propias del IMUX. Además, se analizan minuciosamente por separado todos los efectos que tienen lugar en el dispositivo IMUX debido a la inserción de las celdas de control y de relleno, de acuerdo con la especificación IMA del ATM Forum. Finalmente se apuntan las líneas de trabajo futuro como son la incorporación de un esquema de cinco prioridades en el IMUX; el estudio y análisis de los efectos que produce el disponer de ancho de banda bajo demanda en las prestaciones que ofrece el IMUX que además está directamente relacionado con el estudio y análisis del comportamiento del IMUX bajo modelos de tráfico de entrada más realista.