The research presented in this thesis aims to demonstrate that fuzzy logic is a useful tool for developing mechanisms for controlling traffc flow in ATM based multimedia networks to maintain quality of service (QoS) requirements and maximize resource utilization. The study first proposes a hierarchical, multilevel control structure for ATM networks to exploit the reported strengths of fuzzy logic at various control levels. Then, an extensive development and evaluation is presented for a subset of the proposed control architecture at the congestion control level. An ATM based multimedia network must have quite sophisticated traffc control capabilities to effectively handle the requirements of a dynamically varying mixture of voice, video and data services while meeting the required levels of performance. Feedback control techniques have an essential role for the effective and efficient management of the resources of ATM networks. However, development of conventional feedback control techniques relies on the availability of analytical system models. The characteristics of ATM networks and the complexity of service requirements cause the analytical modeling to be very difficult, if not impossible. The lack of realistic dynamic explicit models leads to substantial problems in developing control solutions for B-ISDN networks. This limits the ability of conventional techniques to directly address the control objectives for ATM networks. In the literature, several connection admission and congestion control methods for B-ISDN networks have been reported, and these have achieved mixed success. Usually they either assume heavily simplified models, or they are too complicated to implement, mainly derived using probabilistic (steady-state) models. Fuzzy logic controllers, on the other hand, have been applied successfully to the task of controlling systems for which analytical models are not easily obtainable. Fuzzy logic control is a knowledge-based control strategy that can be utilized when an explicit model of a system is not available or, the model itself, if available, is highly complex and nonlinear. In this case, the problem of control system design is based on qualitative and/or empirically acquired knowledge regarding the operation of the system. Representation of qualitative or empirically acquired knowledge in a fuzzy logic controller is achieved by linguistic expressions in the form of fuzzy relational equations. By using fuzzy relational equations, classifications related to system parameters can be derived without explicit description. The thesis presents a new predictive congestion control scheme, Fuzzy Explicit Rate Marking (FERM), which aims to avoid congestion, and by doing so minimize the cell losses, attain high server utilization, and maintain the fair use of links. The performance of the FERM scheme is extremely competitive with that of control schemes developed using traditional methods over a considerable period of time. The results of the study demonstrate that fuzzy logic control is a highly effective design tool for this type of problems, relative to the traditional methods. When controlled systems are highly nonlinear and complex, it keeps the human insight alive and accessible at the lower levels of the control hierarchy, and so higher levels can be built on this understanding. Additionally, the FERM scheme has been extended to adaptively tune (A-FERM) so that continuous automatic tuning of the parameters can be achieved, and thus be more adaptive to system changes leading to better utilization of network bandwidth. This achieves a level of robustness that is not exhibited by other congestion control schemes reported in the literature. In this work, the focus is on ATM networks rather than IP based networks. For historical reasons, and due to fundamental philosophical differences in the (earlier) approach to congestion control, the research for control of TCP/IP and ATM based networks proceeded separately. However, some convergence between them has recently become evident. In the TCP/IP literature proposals have appeared on active queue management in routers, and Explicit Congestion Notication (ECN) for IP. It is reasonably expected that, the algorithms developed in this study will be applicable to IP based multimedia networks as well.

This research deals with optimal resource management in an overloaded broadband multimedia network. Optimisation is with respect to user satisfaction, where user satisfaction reflects both the quality of service experienced by connected users and the dissatisfaction of users blocked from access to the network. The research focuses on Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) networks and the Internet, because these are the dominant emerging broadband networks which present some fundamental unsolved problems, related to the sharing of resources between mixed traffic types. ATM networks use conservative admission control, which protects network resources and ensures a high level of service for those admitted to the network, but results in low network efficiency because of low utilisation of resources due to blocking of many potential users. The Internet does not use admission control, with the result that performance degrades progressively as load increases. This causes frustration among users, and lowers the network efficiency due to high levels of congestion. We propose an optimisation model for each network (ATM networks and the Internet)which is intended to represent the distribution and consumption of key network resources by different traffic types. The model is aimed at maximising performance such that users admitted to the network are offered no less than some minimum acceptable level of quality of service (QoS). The solution is a set of traffic flow rates on each path which results in maximising an objective function value (revenue based on network operator interest or throughput based on customer interest) for a given network configuration with given user demand. As an example using the ATM network model, we illustrate the application of the model to an ATM network carrying both connection oriented and connectionless traffic. We explore the optimal response to a link failure which in turn causes node overload. As an example using the Internet model, we consider an overloaded network with link bottlenecks and an overloaded Web server, and explore the effect of transferring some server capacity to a mirror site and a proxy server. For real-time traffic control, the optimisation model is used to assign quotas for bandwidth or connections to selected paths. A control algorithm is implemented to provide maximum performance by admitting requests within the quotas which are obtained from the optimisation model. In an ATM network simulation, the algorithm is used to manage the virtual path (VP) pool in a network which suffers a link failure. A comparison is made between fixed virtual path management (FVPM) and dynamic virtual path management (DVPM), comparing the revenue achieved by each. This illustrates how DVPM adapts the VP pool in a robust fashion to achieve maximum revenue in the face of a link failure. However, the transient response suggests that benefit could be obtained using non-steady-state solutions. The model is extended by taking network state and traffic parameters into account to control changes in the VP pool to recognise limits to the rate at which traffic can be moved (through the natural birth-death processes). This scheme is called state dependent virtual path management (SDVPM). Performance evaluation of the new model shows that SDVPM achieves higher revenue than DVPM when the network suffers a link failure that requires a major change to the VP pool. In an Internet simulation, two algorithms are compared for control of access to a proxy server and a set of primary servers. An algorithm based on optimal flow solutions provides substantially better network performance than a localised heuristic algorithm. In each simulation case (ATM and Internet examples), the performance using a control system based on the steady state optimum flow model is close to the ideal optimal result.

Les progrès technologiques confirmés au cours de cette décennie favorisent une importante révolution dans la façon de concevoir les systèmes informatiques. Des réseaux offrant des débits de milliards de bits par seconde permettront d'inter-connecter des ordinateurs personnels, moyens ultra-performants exécutant de nouvelles applications pouvant traiter, émettre ou recevoir des dizaines de megabits de données par seconde. Les systèmes automatisés sont des exemples de systèmes informatiques qui connaitront l'influence des progrés technologiques. L'audio, la vidéo, l'imagerie aux rayons X ou infrarouge, sont de nouveaux types d'information présentés sous forme de média continus pouvant être intégrés, à la faveur des progrès technologiques, aux systèmes automatisés. Nous proposons des extensions multimédia à MMS, la norme OSI de communication des systèmes automatisés, comme moyen d'intégration de ces nouveaux types d'information. MMS est basée sur le passage de messages et un protocole client-serveur mal adaptés aux flots soutenus de média continus. Après une présentation des particularités des systèmes multimédia traitant et véhiculant l'information sous forme de média discrets et continus, nous mettons en évidence des aspects de MMS qui la rendent inapte au traitement et au transfert de flots de média continus. Nous proposons ensuite un modèle d'extension du modèle objet et des services de MMS permettant de satisfaire les contraintes des média continus. Nous étudions enfin un prototype d'implémentation des nouveaux objets et services définis sur une plate-forme expérimentale. Ladite plate-forme se compose de stations de travail UNIX et Windows NT connectées par des infracstructures ATM. Elle servira à la mesure de performances des différents choix d'implémentation du modèle d'extension de MMS.

<p>As air traffic is forecasted to increase, air traffic control software subsequently needs to be more sophisticated. To efficiently push development forward, testing is important in order to determine usability. The tests need to be adapted to fit a particular purpose and carried out with methods that preserve the validity of the results. </p><p>This thesis describes an implementation project carried out at the EUROCONTROL Experimental Centre, Bretigny-sur-Orge, France. The purpose of the project is to create an application that enables a user to create datasets of air traffic to be used for these tests. The application allows for manual work or bulk imports from external data sources. Furthermore it compiles scenarios as output datasets intended for prototype air traffic control software developed at Linköping University. </p><p>The application design rationale and development process is described. Some time is spent on demonstrating the flexibility of the application and how its usage fits in a bigger picture.</p>

L'évaluation, le diagnostic et le traitement des douleurs et des dysfonctionnements de l'appareil stomatognathique, encore appelés « Syndrome algo-dysfonctionnel de l'appareil manducateur », ont évolué dans leur approche clinique. En fonction du choix des organes observés, de l'appréciation du rôle respectif des différents facteurs déclenchant ou entretenant la pathologie et en considérant l'étiopathogénie de ces désordres, de nombreuses propositions de dénomination se sont succédées au fil des années. Il s'agit maintenant de dysfonctions cranio mandibulaires ou de désordres temporo mandibulaires (DTM) qui prennent plus en considération les causes extérieures à la sphère oro faciale. Les désordres temporo-mandibulaires sont reconnus comme une cause majeure de douleurs oro-faciales non dentaire et représentent une classe de désordres musculo-squelettiques. La recherche conduit à considérer les DTM comme un ensemble corrélé de symptômes affectant l'appareil manducateur. De toute évidence, les signes et symptômes rencontrés lors de l'analyse des patients présentant des algies ou des dysfonctionnements de l'appareil manducateur, même s'ils intéressent un territoire bien délimité, ne peuvent pas être placés dans une urne commune. Ainsi, conformément à la conception moderne d'une étiologie multifactorielle, les désordres temporo-mandibulaires revêtent, par leurs manifestations cliniques, une sémiologie très polymorphe. Les patients consultent pour des douleurs exquises ou diffuses de la mâchoire rebelles à toute thérapeutique médicale, pour des bruits au niveau de l'articulation temporo mandibulaire, pour une gêne lors des mouvements mandibulaires mais également pour des céphalées, des otalgies et des algies cranio-cervico-faciales. De plus, la multiplicité des signes objectifs et subjectifs peut constituer un véritable dédale dans lequel un diagnostic précis s'avère délicat. Les neurophysiologistes reconnaissent que plus un appareil ou un système est important, plus son complexe sensitif apparaît hautement différencié. Ainsi, l'appareil manducateur, par le biais des nerfs trijumeaux, bénéficie d'une innervation sensitive particulièrement riche. En effet, l'arcade dentaire mandibulaire entre en contact avec son arcade dentaire antagoniste dans un très grand nombre de positions dont certaines sont très particulières. L'incision, la mastication, la déglutition, la respiration, la phonation et la mimique font largement appel à la mobilisation de la mandibule. Cette polyvalence fonctionnelle repose sur plusieurs mécanismes neurophysiologiques. Le sens de la proprioception, alimenté par les capteurs musculaires, articulaires, tendineux, parodontaux, muqueux, informe sur la position mandibulaire et sur les forces musculaires exercées. Il permet d'ajuster les mouvements, de les coordonner pour remplir au mieux ces fonctions. Enfin, la capsule de l'articulation temporo-mandibulaire (ATM) est particulièrement riche en récepteurs proprioceptifs pour améliorer la discrimination des situations et des postures. Une régulation harmonieuse de cet appareil requiert des informations périphériques et centrales correctes ; en l'absence de celles-ci, des troubles et des douleurs peuvent apparaître. Vu la complexité des connexions du nerf trijumeau, il est tout à fait justifié de penser que des perturbations dans le système afférent, en provenance des muscles, des tendons, des articulations et des dents, peuvent entraîner des dysfonctions des circuits neuronaux. De plus, on sait que toute fonction physiologique requiert l'étude exhaustive de deux aspects, l'un sensitif, l'autre moteur. Les patients atteints de DTM présentent une altération du système neuromusculaire. Cette conception est admise par Nielsen dans une étude soulignant l'intérêt de l'Electromyographie (EMG) dans les troubles oro-faciaux. Certains auteurs se sont attachés à étudier d'autres techniques d'exploration neurophysiologique que l'EMG tels que les potentiels évoqués moteurs et somesthésiques, le réflexe de clignement ou encore la suppression extéroceptive du muscle temporal (EST). Nous avons étudié une de ces explorations neurophysiologiques dans le cadre de quelques pathologies oro-faciales et principalement les désordres temporo-mandibulaires : l'examen de la suppression extéroceptive du muscle temporal (EST). Dans notre recherche, nous avons pour objectif d'effectuer dans un premier temps une synthèse et une évaluation de la littérature sur l'EST. Dans un second temps, nous avons évalué la technique de la suppression extéroceptive en mettant en place une méthodologie originale d'enregistrement. Nous avons examiné la reproductibilité de cette méthodologie au sein d'une population de sujets sains. Dans un troisième temps, nous avons évalué la technique de la suppression extéroceptive, dans une étude prospective randomisée en double aveugle, sur une population de sujets présentant des désordres temporo-mandibulaires. Enfin, nous avons évalué la technique de la suppression extéroceptive, dans une étude rétrospective sur des sujets présentant des désordres temporo-mandibulaires et différents troubles oro-faciaux. / The Aim of this study is the development of an exteroceptive suppression evaluation program (ESEP), wich uses the exteroceptive suppression of temporalis (EST) as complementary examination to diagnose temporomandibular disorders (TMD). The subjects, responding to different inclusion and exclusion criteria, undergo 6 tests EST where various procedures are carried out: reversible modification of the dental occlusion, ultrasounds application on the neck and structured cervical mobilizations. The measured parameters are the latencies and durations of ES1 and ES2 in various degrees of suppression. The EST of healthy group is different from pathological group. The parameters are reproducible in the two groups. The reversible modification of dental occlusion and the structured cervical mobilization change in a highly significant way the parameters of ES2 in marked degrees of suppression. EST remains perfectly reproducible. The installation of ESEP, makes it possible to qualify and quantify the results.

Transforming growth factor (TGF) β is a tumor suppressor during early tumor development, by inhibiting proliferation and inducing apoptosis. At later stages of cancer, it becomes a tumor promoter, and promotes tumor cell migration and invasion. TGFβ signals via its type II and type I receptors to several downstream signaling pathways. In the present work we have focused on the TRAF6 (tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6)/ TAK1 (TGFβ activated kinase 1) signaling pathway and the Smad7-dependent activation of p38 in prostate carcinoma cells (PC3U). We found that TGFβ-induced activation of the ubiquitin ligase TRAF6 was needed for cell invasion, by a mechanism that involves activation of the metalloproteinase TNFα converting enzyme (TACE), via protein kinase Cζ (PKCζ). TACE cleaves the TβRI, whereafter the intracellular domain (ICD) translocates to the nucleus, where it binds to the transcriptional co-activator p300 and regulates gene expression, promoting invasion. Interestingly, the translocation of the TβRI ICD was observed in several cancer cell lines and in sections of primary tumors, but not in primary prostate epithelial cells. We also found that Smad7 and adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) are important for TGFβ- and epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced cell migration in PC3U cells. TGFβ induces the formation of a complex consisting of Smad7, p38, glycogene synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β), APC and β-catenin, which localizes to the membrane ruffles in the leading edge of migrating cells. The complex links the TβRI to the microtubule system and promotes membrane ruffling and microtubule polarization, which are known to be important for cell migration. In the EGF signaling pathway, Smad7 was found to be important for phosphorylation of the EGF receptor at Tyr1068, for the activation of p38 and JNK, and for induction of membrane ruffles. Smad7 is required for TGFβ-induced activation of p38 and apoptosis. We found that Smad7 forms a complex with p38 and ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM), which is important for activation of p53 mediated apoptosis. Many tumor cells including the PC3U cells lack a functional p53, which is one of the reasons to why cancer cells can avoid the tumor suppressor effects of TGFβ.

We aimed to assess whether the breast-cancer intermediate-risk genes CHEK2, ATM ant TP53 were subject to differential allelic expression (DAE) in lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) from high-risk breast cancer patients for whom no mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2 had been identified.We implemented an assay based on high-resolution melting curve analysis (HRM) of single labeled fluorescent probes to detect allelic expression imbalance. The method relies on the distinction of the two alleles of an exonic marker SNP in heterozygous individuals with a fluorescent signal correlated to the relative abundance of each transcript. We developed an analysis tool for HRM data processing, specifically dedicated to DAE assessment. In our series, we found evidence for DAE for CHEK2, in carriers of the truncating mutation 1100delC. When combining mutation-screening data and assessment of DAE, we did not identify functional regulatory variant located in cis of the studied genes that would lead to DAE, in the transcriptional regulatory milieu of freely proliferating LCLs. Our results support that HRM is a method with high sensitivity and accuracy that can be used for DAE assessment. This approach can be applied to study breast and blood tissue samples. The latter would be of great interest for high-throughput mutation screening projects aiming to identify dysfunctional regulatory variants in candidate genes.

This thesis addresses the possibility of using a delay-on-ground concept in which flights with less than 1 hour flying time (often referred to as pop-up flights) absorb their arrival sequencing delay at the departure gate by being issued their Arrival Manager (AMAN)-scheduled time as a Required Time of Arrival (RTA) that is inserted into the Flight Management System (FMS). Due to their short duration these flights are currently often inserted into the AMAN sequence shortly before Terminal Manoeuvring Area (TMA) entry and thereby often need to absorb their arrival sequencing delay in the inefficient manner of airborne holding or vectoring close to the arrival airport. The literature review examines current operational procedures of AMANs and Departure Managers (DMANs), the current FMS RTA function and live trials in which the delay-on-ground concept was tested in real operations. A case study airport in Europe that has potential to benefit from the concept is identified. The performance of the delay-on-ground concept for the case study airport is then assessed by performing 180 fast-time Monte Carlo simulation runs. For each run the arrival flow to the case study airport and the departure flows from two medium-sized airports from which the pop-up flights originate are simulated. Each run represents an operational day and variations in departure/arrivals time is put into the timetables to simulate the variation in actual departure/arrival times resulting from operational factors normally encountered in day-to-day operations. An algorithm is written in Matlab to simulate an AMAN-DMAN cooperation in which pop-up flights are locked to the required departure times to meet their RTAs. It is shown that a significant reduction in airborne delay time and fuel consumption can be achieved at the case study airport by using the concept. It is also shown that it is possible to ensure that the pop-up flights depart at the required times to meet their RTAs without negatively affecting the departure sequences.

This dissertation focuses on the problem of providing mechanisms for routing point to point and multipoint connections in ATM networks. In general the notion of multipoint connection refers to connections that involve a group of users with more than two members. The main objective of this dissertation is to contribute to design efficient routing protocols with alterative routes in fully connected VP-based ATM Networks for call establishment of point to point and multipoint VC connections. An efficient route should be computed during this connection establishment phase.

En esta tesis doctoral se presenta TAP (Trusted and Active Protocol PDU transfer), una arquitectura para redes de tecnología ATM, novedosa por sus características distribuida, activa y multiagente. El protocolo propuesto para la arquitectura ofrece transferencias garantizadas a un conjunto privilegiado de conexiones VPI/VCI. Se propone también una extensión de la capa AAL-5 de ATM que hemos denominado EAAL-5 (Extended AAL type 5) usada para la gestión de las conexiones privilegiadas extremo-extremo.TAP ofrece garantía de servicio (GoS) cuando la red está perdiendo células ATM y aprovecha los periodos de inactividad en los enlaces para realizar las retransmisiones de las CPCS-PDU-EAAL-5. El protocolo propuesto emplea mecanismos NACK (mediante células RM de retorno) y es soportado por conmutadores ATM activos equipados con una memoria de almacenamiento de PDU denominada DMTE (Dynamic Memory to store Trusted native EAAL-5 PDU). La arquitectura activa propuesta está basada en un SMA (Sistema Multiagente) constituido por agentes programables colaborativos y distribuidos en la red. Las simulaciones realizadas demuestran la efectividad del mecanismo de recuperación de PDU propuesto con un mejor goodput en la red.La arquitectura TAP es soportada sobre conmutadores ATM activos que denominamos AcTMs (Active Asynchronous Transfer Mode Switch) y que hemos diseñado con técnicas software para: garantizar la gestión justa de colas de entrada basadas en WFQ (Weighted Fair Queueing); realizar el control de congestiones del buffer inspirado en EPD (Early Packet Discard); y evitar, con VC Merge, la mezcla de las PDU de conexiones diferentes. Estas técnicas software se proponen, por tanto, con la intención de: distribuir de forma justa la carga de los conmutadores; optimizar las retransmisiones de PDU; aliviar la implosión sobre las fuentes; evitar la fragmentación de las PDU y disminuir el interleaving de células, optimizando el goodput.Los conmutadores AcTMs requieren también el hardware apropiado para soportar TAP. Para ello, además del buffer, se proponen, la memoria DMTE y un conjunto de tablas de E/S asociadas a cada uno de los puertos de los AcTMs. Se demuestra que estos requerimientos hardware son realistas y viables para ser incorporados en los conmutadores activos. Destacamos el carácter multidisciplinar de esta tesis, donde la base de las investigaciones es la ingeniería de protocolos ATM, complementada con las novedosas ventajas que los agentes software pueden aportar. No obstante, los conmutadores finalmente obtenidos podrían ser objeto del ámbito de las arquitecturas especializadas, de forma que varios módulos del prototipo presentado, podrían ser implementados como componentes hardware para optimizar su rendimiento.Una vez identificadas las limitaciones de la tecnología ATM para soportar las transferencias garantizadas, que son nuestro principal objetivo, se describe la motivación general de estas investigaciones en entornos donde ATM es la base del tráfico IP. De este modo, se emplea NS (Network Simulator) para el estudio de escenarios donde el protocolo TAP puede aportar importantes beneficios al conocido protocolo TCP.Para poder estudiar el comportamiento de todas estas propuestas hemos implementado un simulador de TAP que aprovecha las ventajas que aporta el lenguaje Java para el desarrollo de protocolos de comunicaciones y de SMA. Este simulador permite definir múltiples escenarios y analizar los resultados de la simulación del prototipo para poder llegar a una serie de interesantes conclusiones. Las simulaciones a través de fuentes ON/OFF analizan conexiones punto-a-punto y punto-a-multipunto usando clases, objetos, threads, sincronizaciones y procesos distribuidos implementados en lenguaje Java.La memoria de tesis doctoral ha sido organizada en tres grandes apartados con el objeto de estructurar adecuadamente los contenidos presentados. La Parte I está dedicada a analizar las investigaciones relacionadas con este trabajo, de forma que se describen en siete capítulos los aspectos básicos de la tecnología ATM y se aprovecha cada uno de los capítulos para presentar resumidamente nuestras aportaciones, las cuales son ampliadas en las Partes II y III. De este modo, comenzamos destacando en el Capítulo 1 los fundamentos de la tecnología, para pasar después a describir en el Capítulo 2 una taxonomía de arquitecturas y protocolos para las redes ATM que nos sirven para identificar la propuesta TAP cuya arquitectura básica es incluida al final del capítulo. El Capítulo 3 se centra en los conceptos de fiabilidad y garantía de servicio (GoS) destacando éste último, ya que es una de nuestras propuestas a los parámetros generales de calidad de servicio (QoS) y que se deriva de éstos. Así, se explica el mecanismo con el que se ofrece la GoS a las fuentes privilegiadas. Seguidamente, el Capítulo 4 se centra en el control de congestión y la justicia, ambos aplicados sobre las colas de entrada de los conmutadores ATM. Éstos son también dos aspectos básicos en nuestra propuesta para conseguir aportar soluciones al problema de las congestiones en las fuentes privilegiadas, pero garantizando además la justicia a aquellas fuentes que no lo son. Una vez estudiadas las propuestas de la literatura se presenta un esquema de nuestro algoritmo QPWFQ. El Capítulo 5 estudia los diversos mecanismos de control de congestión aplicados sobre el buffer de los conmutadores y, después de analizar las propuestas más extendidas, comentamos nuestro algoritmo EPDR inspirado en EPD para conseguir atender las solicitudes de retransmisión de las PDU congestionadas. En el Capítulo 6 se realiza una revisión de la literatura en materia de agentes software orientada hacia las redes de comunicaciones, con la intención de centrar adecuadamente el SMA que proponemos como soporte de TAP y con el objetivo de conseguir una red activa formada por conmutadores AcTMs cuya arquitectura es adelantada al final de este capítulo. El Capítulo 7 justifica el carácter distribuido del protocolo TAP sobre una VPN (Virtual Private Network) constituida por nodos AcTMs que coexisten con conmutadores no activos en la misma red. En resumen, la Parte I trata de justificar nuestras propuestas, reafirmándolas sobre los propios fundamentos de la tecnología actual.La Parte II identifica las motivaciones generales de esta tesis, partiendo de las limitaciones actuales de la tecnología ATM que se pretenden solventar con la propuesta de TAP. Esta parte se ha dividido en dos capítulos, dedicándose el Capítulo 8 a describir las motivaciones generales, de modo que el control de congestión en los nodos de la red no sólo beneficia al tráfico ATM nativo, sino que puede ser también de utilidad para protocolos tan extendidos como TCP. Se identifican, por tanto, los beneficios aportados por TAP a las redes actuales. En el Capítulo 9 se discuten las limitaciones de ATM frente al parámetro de GoS propuesto y se explica cómo TAP puede evitar problemas tan indeseables como la fragmentación de las PDU, el interleaving del tráfico, las retransmisiones extremo-extremo y la implosión en las fuentes de tráfico.El objetivo de la Parte III es detallar las soluciones propuestas, de forma que en cuatro capítulos se realiza una descripción detallada, tanto de la arquitectura, como del protocolo que se implementa sobre ella. El Capítulo 10 describe la arquitectura distribuida y multiagente TAP, relacionándola con el modelo arquitectónico ATM, y analizando cada uno de los componentes hardware y software de los conmutadores AcTMs. El Capítulo 11 se centra específicamente en detallar el conjunto de algoritmos que constituyen el protocolo TAP y, por tanto, en el SMA que lo constituye. También se formaliza la idea intuitiva de aprovechar los tiempos de inactividad de la red para atender las retransmisiones de las PDU congestionadas. El Capítulo 12 presenta los detalles de implementación del simulador de TAP que proponemos como prototipo para analizar los resultados obtenidos en diversos escenarios. Se argumenta la elección del lenguaje Java como herramienta para el desarrollo de protocolos y SMA, para pasar después a describir la metodología y las decisiones de diseño más importantes, así como de las clases Java más destacables del prototipo. Este capítulo concluye con el análisis de los resultados más significativos de las simulaciones. Por último, el Capítulo 13 se dedica a identificar líneas futuras de acción que aporten continuidad al conjunto de investigaciones de las que ha sido objeto esta tesis doctoral. / In this doctoral thesis, TAP (Trusted and Active Protocol PDU Transfer) is presented as an innovative architecture for ATM networks due to its active multi-agent and distributive characteristics. The protocol proposed for this architecture offers guaranteed transfer of a privileged group of VPI/VCI connections. We also propose an extension of the AAL-5 layer of ATM which we have called EAAL-5 ( Extended AAL type 5) which is used for the management of privileged end-to end connections.TAP offers Guarantee of Service (GoS) when the network is losing ATM cells and it takes advantage of the inactive periods in the links in order to retransmit the CPCS-PDU-EAAL-5. The protocol we propose uses NACK mechanisms (using backwards RM cells) and is supported by active ATM switches that have a PDU storage memory called DMTE (Dynamic Memory to store Trusted Native EAAL-5 PDU).Our proposed active architecture is based on a MAS (Multi-Agent System) formed by programmable collaborative agents, distributed in the network. The simulations carried out have proved the effectiveness of the PDU recovery mechanism that we have proposed for a better goodput in the net.The TAP architecture is supported over active ATM switches which we have called AcTMs (Active Asynchronous Transfer Mode Switch) and which we have designed with software technology in order to:· guarantee the fair management of entry queues based on WFQ (Weighted Fair Queueing);· manage the control of buffer congestion, using a device inspired by EPD (Early Packet Discard)· and prevent, with VCmerge, the mixing of PDUs coming from different connections.We therefore propose this software technology in order to: fairly distribute the load on the switches; optimize the PDU retransmissions; alleviate the implosion on the sources; prevent PDU fragmentation and decrease the interleaving of cells, thereby optimizing goodput.The AcTM switches also need the appropriate hardware in order to support TAP. Therefore, we propose not only the buffer but also DMTE memory and a set of I/O tables that go with each AcTM port. It has been proved that these hardware requirements are realistic and viable and can be integrated in the active switches. We would also like to point out the multidisciplinary nature of this thesis in which the basis of the research is ATM protocol engineering, complemented by the innovative advantages that the software agents can provide. Nevertheless, the switches that we have finally managed to obtain could be regarded as within the field of specialized architectures; thus several modules of the prototype we have presented could be implemented as hardware components in order to optimize performance.Once the limitations of ATM technology in supporting guaranteed transfer have been identified, which is our principal objective, we describe the general motive for this research in environments where ATM is the basis of IP traffic. An NS (Network Simulator) has thus been used in order to study scenarios in which TAP protocol can significantly improve the already familiar TCP protocol.In order to study the performance of all these proposed improvements, we have used a TAP simulator, which has the advantages that Java language offers for the development of MAS and communication protocols. This simulator can define a variety of scenarios and analyse the results of the simulation of the prototype thus reaching a series of interesting conclusions. The simulations, via ON/OFF sources, analyse point-to-point and point-to-multipoint connections using classes, objects, threads, synchronizations and distributed processes carried out under Java.This dissertation has been organized in three parts in order to adequately structure the contents presented. Part I analyses the research related to this work; thus the first seven chapters describe the basic aspects of ATM technology. Each chapter briefly presents our contributions, which are studied in greater detail in Parts II and III.Thus, in Chapter 1 we point out the basic concepts of this technology and, in Chapter 2, we describe a taxonomy of architectures and protocols for ATM networks which will serve to identify our TAP proposal whose basic architecture is included at the end of the chapter.Chapter 3 deals with the concepts of reliability and GoS, with an emphasis on the latter since this is one of our proposals for the improvement of the general parameters of Quality of Service (QoS). Thus, we explain the mechanism, which is used in order to provide GoS to privileged sources.Following this, Chapter 4, deals with congestion control and fairness, which are applied to ATM switch entry queues. These concepts are also two basic aspects of our proposal to provide solutions to the problem of congestion at privileged sources, while -at the same time- guaranteeing fairness to those sources, which are not privileged. After studying the proposals that have already been published in this area of research, we present an outline of our QPWFQ (Queue PDU Weighted Fair Queueing) algorithm.In Chapter 5 we study the various congestion control mechanisms applied to switch buffers (that already exist) and, after analysing the most common proposals and solutions, we describe our EPDR (Early Packet Discard and Relay) algorithm inspired by EPD and which aims to attend the retransmission requests of congested PDUs.Chapter 6 reviews the literature on software agents designed for communication networks since we intend to explain the relevance of the MAS that we propose as a support for TAP. Thus, our objective is to obtain an active network formed by AcTMs switches whose architecture is outlined at the end of the chapter.In Chapter 7 we justify the distributive characteristics of the TAP protocol over a VPN (Virtual Private Network) formed by AcTMs nodes which exist side by side with non-active switches in the same network.Thus, in Part I we intend to justify our proposals by basing them on the fundamentals of the present technology.Part II describes the general motivation of this thesis, beginning with an analysis of the present limitations of ATM technology, which we propose to solve by using TAP. This part is divided into two chapters: Chapter 8 describes our general objectives whereby the control of congestion at the network nodes not only benefits native ATM traffic but can also be of use for such widespread protocols as TCP. We thus point out the advantages that TAP can provide for present-day networks.In Chapter 9 the limitations of ATM are discussed vis a vis the GoS parameter we have proposed and we explain how TAP can avoid such undesirable problems as PDU fragmentation, traffic interleaving, end-to-end retransmissions and the implosion of traffic sources.The objective of Part III is a comprehensive description of the solutions that we propose and, in the following four chapters, we provide a detailed description both of the architecture and of the protocol that goes with it.Chapter 10 describes the TAP distributed, multi-agent architecture, relating it to the ATM architectural model and analysing each of the hardware and software components of the AcTMs switches.Chapter 11 specifically focuses on the exhaustive description of the complete set of algorithms that make up the TAP protocol and therefore within the MAS which constitutes it. Moreover, the intuitive idea of making use of the periods of inactivity in the network in order to deal with the retransmissions of congested PDUs is formalized as a theory.In Chapter 12 we present the details of the implementation of the TAP simulator proposed as a prototype in order to analyse the results obtained under different scenarios. We argue in favour of the choice of Java language as a tool for the development of protocols and MAS and we then describe the methodology and the most important decisions concerning design as well as the most outstanding classes of Java used in the prototype. This chapter ends with an analysis of the most significant results of the simulations.Finally, Chapter 13 focuses on identifying future lines of action that would give continuity to the whole range of research which has been the object of study of this doctoral thesis.