Der Datenverkehr in lokalen und globalen Datennetzwerken nimmt ständig zu. Quality of Service zu bieten, ist deshalb eine der vordringlichsten Aufgaben der Kommunikationsindustrie. Eine praxisnahe Einführung in die QoS-Implementierung bietet diese topaktuelle Buch, das auch neue Steuerungstechniken für die nächste Generation der Multimedia-Netze erläutert. Theoretische Forschungsergebnisse und Beispiele aus der ingenieurtechnischen Praxis werden gleichermaßen berücksichtigt.

We arehappy to welcome you to the IFIP Protocols for High-Speed Networks '96 workshop hosted by INRIA Sophia Antipolis. This is the fifth event in a series initiated in Zurich in 1989 followed by Palo Alto (1990), Stockholm (1993), and Vancouver (1994). This workshop provides an international forum for the exchange of information on protocols for high-speed networks. The workshop focus on problems related to the e:fficient transmission of multimedia application data using high-speed networks and internetworks. Protocol for High-Speed Networks is a "working conference". That explains we have privileged high quality papers describing on-going research and novel ideas. The number of selected papers was kept low in order to leave room for discussion on each paper. Together with the technical sessions, working sessions were organized on hot topics. We would like to thank all the authors for their interest. We also thank the Program Committee members for the Ievel of effort in the reviewing process and in the workshop technical program organization. We finally thank INRIA and DRET for their financial support to the organization of the workshop.

Welcome to the fourth IFIP workshop on protocols for high speed networks in Vancouver. This workshop follows three very successful workshops held in Ziirich (1989), Palo Alto (1990) and Stockholm (1993) respectively. We received a large number of papers in response to our call for contributions. This year, forty papers were received of which sixteen were presented as full papers and four were presented as poster papers. Although we received many excellent papers the program committee decided to keep the number of full presentations low in order to accommodate more discussion in keeping with the format of a workshop. Many people have contributed to the success of this workshop including the members of the program committee who, with the additional reviewers, helped make the selection of the papers. We are thankful to all the authors of the papers that were submitted. We also thank several organizations which have contributed financially to this workshop, specially NSERC, ASI, CICSR, UBC, MPR Teltech and Newbridge Networks.

1 This year marks the l0 h anniversary of the IFIP International Workshop on Protocols for High-Speed Networks (PfHSN). It began in May 1989, on a hillside overlooking Lake Zurich in Switzerland, and arrives now in Salem Massachusetts 6,000 kilometers away and 10 years later, in its sixth incarnation, but still with a waterfront view (the Atlantic Ocean). In between, it has visited some picturesque views of other lakes and bays of the world: Palo Alto (1990 - San Francisco Bay), Stockholm (1993 - Baltic Sea), Vancouver (1994- the Strait of Georgia and the Pacific Ocean), and Sophia Antipolis I Nice (1996- the Mediterranean Sea). PfHSN is a workshop providing an international forum for the exchange of information on high-speed networks. It is a relatively small workshop, limited to 80 participants or less, to encourage lively discussion and the active participation of all attendees. A significant component of the workshop is interactive in nature, with a long history of significant time reserved for discussions. This was enhanced in 1996 by Christophe Diot and W allid Dabbous with the institution of Working Sessions chaired by an "animator," who is a distinguished researcher focusing on topical issues of the day. These sessions are an audience participation event, and are one of the things that makes PfHSN a true "working conference.

William Stallings offers the most comprehensive technical book to address a wide range of design issues of high-speed TCP/IP and ATM networks in print to date. "High-Speed Networks and Internets" presents both the professional and advanced student an up-to-date survey of key issues. The Companion Website and the author's Web page offer unmatched support for students and instructors. The book features the prominent use of figures and tables and an up-to-date bibliography. In this second edition, this award-winning and best-selling author steps up to the leading edge of integrated coverage of key issues in the design of high-speed TCP/IP and ATM networks to include the following topics: Unified coverage of integrated and differentiated services. Up-to-date and comprehensive coverage of TCP performance. Thorough coverage of next-generation Internet protocols including (RSVP), (MPLS), (RTP), and the use of Ipv6. Unified treatment of congestion in data networks; packet-switching, frame relay, ATM networks, and IP-based internets. Broad and detailed coverage of routing, unicast, and multicast. Comprehensive coverage of ATM; basic technology and the newest traffic control standards. Solid, easy-to-absorb mathematical background enabling understanding of the issues related to high-speed network performance and design. Up-to-date treatment of gigabit Ethernet. The first treatment of self-similar traffic for performance assessment in a textbook on networks (Explains the mathematics behind self-similar traffic and shows the performance implications and how to estimate performance parameters.) Up-to-date coverage of compression. (A comprehensive survey.) Coverage of gigabit networks. Gigabit design issues permeate the book.

Multimedia data streams will form a major part of the new generation of applications in high-speed networks. Continuous media streams, however, require transmission with guaranteed performance. In addition, many multimedia applications will require peer-to-multipeer communication. Guaranteed performance can only be provided with resource reservation in the network, and efficient multipeer communication must be based on multicast support in the lower layers of the network. Architecture and Protocols for High-Speed Networks focuses on techniques for building the networks that will meet the needs of these multimedia applications. In particular two areas of current research interest in such communication systems are covered in depth. These are the protocol related aspects, such as switched networks, ATM, MAC layer, network and transport layer; and the services and applications. Architecture and Protocols for High-Speed Networks contains contributions from leading world experts, giving the most up-to-date research available. It is an essential reference for all professionals, engineers and researchers working in the area of high-speed networks.