A two-layer queueing model to predict performance of packet transfer in broadband networks

In this paper, we propose an approximate analytical method to predict the performance of packet transfer in broadband networks. Since the ATM is a promising way to achieve a multimedia data transmission in broadband networks, the underlying network is assumed to be an ATM network. To represent the packet-level and the cell-level data transfers, we introduce a two-layer queueing network model. In the higher layer of the model the source node (the sender) generates packets and then segments the packets into cells, while the destination node (the receiver) reassembles the arriving cells into the packets. The lower layer model is a tandem queueing network in which each queue corresponds to an ATM switch. We employ a discrete-time analysis of the queueing network model to obtain the packet-level performance measures, such as the end-to-end packet transfer delay, the packet loss probability, and the throughput. In numerical examples, we show some packet transfer delay distributions and effects of the packet size on the packet loss probability.