The effects of controlling capture on multimedia traffic for shared Ethernet systems

The IEEE 802.3 Ethernet standard is evolving to support much higher data rates and improved quality of service. Even low cost halfduplex CSMA/CD networks can be improved using an enhanced backwardscompatible collision arbitration algorithm known as the Binary Logarithmic Arbitration Method (BLAM) now being proposed as the IEEE 802.3w draft standard. BLAM is designed to coexist fairly with the existing Binary Exponential Backoff (BEB) algorithm, while eliminating its shortterm unfairness problems. In this paper, we focus on how BLAM improves Ethernet performance for multimedia data transport. Analytical, simulation, and prototype hardware experimental results using synthetic, trace, and actual measured traffic are presented. It is shown that BLAM Ethernets can support significantly greater numbers of video streams than existing BEB Ethernets and if the delivery requirements for the video traffic are not too strict, that BLAM Ethernets can even support video if the network is completely saturated with data traffic.