We introduce a novel approach for sending messages over lossy packet-based networks. The new method, called Priority Encoding Transmission, allows a user to specify a different priority on each segment of the message. Based on the priorities, the sender uses the system to encode the segments into packets for transmission. The system ensures recovery of the segments in order of their priority. The priority of a segment determines the minimum number of packets sufficient to recover the segment.We define a measure for a set of priorities, called the rate, which dictates how much information about the message must be contained in each bit of the encoding. We develop systems for implementing any set of priorities with rate equal to one. We also give an information-theoretic proof that there is no system that implements a set of priorities with rate greater than one. This work has applications to multi-media and high speed networks applications, especially in those with bursty sources and multiple receivers with heterogeneous capabilities.
The Bellcore METROCOREm network is a test bed prototype of a metropolitan area network (MAN) for exploring new network concepts and technology applications in broadband communications.This system operates at 150 Mb/s with the potential for upgrading to multi Gb/s. A basic hardware architecture has been designed which consists of a network interface (media access control (MAC) layer), and several independent, modular units that interface to various services. At the MAC layer, integrated services are supported by giving priority to those traffic types requiring bounded delay. The software network architecture includes a network controller to configure, monitor, and administer the network.
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