Do broadband networks need a level 1 gateway?

Abstract

Abstrad-Theuaofmultimediacommunicationsonthepublic network is dawning. Vidwn-Demand WoD) trhk are currently running in a number d countries. 0th-er d c c s , such as Multimedia Confmcing and DistanceLearning, are also being demonstrated.Mass deployment ofthve and other services requires an ongoing increase in available bandwidth. This is the driving fora behind the emergence d broadband telecommunications networks.To accesf Merent services on a heterogeneous network, a common 8cces point for all service users will be needed. A Level 1 Gateway CLIGW) may be in a perfect position to take up this role. Its essential functionality then can be identified as that of a 'white pages' server. Nevertheless, the expected functionality of the broadband network often exceeds this capability.This paper sets out to define the passible LlGW frinc. tionality in a clean, high-level partitioning model for a multimedia communications network.LlGW: its non-mandatory use by subscribers, its serviceindependent conception and operation, its qualities as a unique access point to both service usem and service provide=. These principles should provide secure directions for designing viable ATM-bascd network architectures for tomorrow's oommunity of multimedia customus.