This page contains pointers to isoEthernet-specific products, papers, and information sources, as well as more general references relevant to Ethernet and ISDN, and to applications such as video conferencing and computer telephony. Please send mail with relevant URLs to one of the addresses below!
isoEthernet combines standard 10Mb/s Ethernet with 96B+D channels of standard ISDN on the same Category 3 twisted-pair wiring already installed in most offices. It does this by recoding the data to allow 16Mb/s of data using the same 20MHz Ethernet clock. The additional data is time-multiplexed to allow the Ethernet and ISDN data to run concurrently without interference. This brings high-bandwidth telephony to the enterprise desktop at a low cost, enabling video conferencing and computer telephony integration applications.
Many of the vendors linked above have white papers describing the benefits of isoEthernet. However, I think it is necessary to provide at least one explanation here. My view is that isoEthernet enables compatible communication in the global enterprise. What does this mean?
Most people would agree that Ethernet is the standard for enterprise packet data transfer. Packet data is connectionless, however, and can be transmitted easily over a variety of media, such as the various flavors of switched/fast Ethernet, ATM, frame relay on T1/E1, etc. Upgrading a packet data network requires the enterprise to purchase new hubs and adapter cards, and perhaps lease a higher bandwidth wide area data interface. This is relatively easy, and under the full control of the enterprise. The rapid growth of 100M Ethernet is proof of this concept.
The worldwide standard for digital isochronous communications is ISDN, at a wide range of data rates. The worldwide analog phone system was a marvel of compatibility, and now the conversion to a digital infrastructure is now largely complete. Over the last 10 years, ISDN (in its various flavors) has become the standard for global end-to-end connection-oriented digital communication. No other system will allow two people anywhere in the (developed) world to communicate as if they were talking face-to-face. Although there is the promise of other technologies, such as ATM, ADSL, and cable modems, we are a decade away from being able to use these in the same way that ISDN can be used today. Upgrading is not an enterprise-level decision, it is an infrastructure and governmental decision. The reality of non-packet ATM deployments (and internet phone systems) will continue to prove this.
isoEthernet provides a way to bring both Ethernet and ISDN directly to the enterprise desktop. In order for an enterprise to keep pace with changing environments, it must own its internal network infrastructure. isoEthernet is the only way to bring the digital telecommunications network transparently to the desktop computer, in a manner which integrates it seamlessly with the existing data network, under the full control of the enterprise. Follow the links on video conferencing and CTI above for examples of applications which can use these capabilities. It is also the fastest and cheapest way for the telecom carriers to expand the services currently available on single channels to wide-bandwidth communications within their infrastructure.
The internetworked computer is the engine of information age. It will become the endpoint for wideband telecommunications. isoEthernet is the solution that can deliver the necessary connection to the enterprise desktop today.
Marketing fluff or valuable third-party commentary? You be the judge:
"Because isoEthernet carries voice and video in ISDN channels, it is better suited to handling real-time traffic than networks based on 100-Mbit/s 100Base-T or 100VG-AnyLAN technologies. ... It does hold two key advantages right now. First, it's a firm standard based on two proven transmission technologies. Second, isoEthernet products are less expensive." Data Communications, Jan. 1996.
"Pretty much any kind of 'real time' information are best carried over switched, isochronous connections. This kind of thing could really clean up your wiring closet." Teleconnect, Jan. 1996.
Isochronous Ethernet, which uses a more efficient encoding scheme to get an extra 6 Mbps of bandwidth from 10 Mbps Ethernet for use by delay-sensitive traffic, is the best technology for blending different traffic types." PC Week, Nov. 20, 1995.
isoEthernet is the only LAN outside of ATM to guarantee a slice of bandwidth for circuit-switched services." EE Times, Nov. 1995.
IEEE 802.9 isoEthernet, introduced by National Semiconductor last year, provides the desktop piece of the puzzle, delivering isochronous traffic plus Ethernet traffic to the desktop." Semiconductor Industry and Business Survey, Oct. 23, 1995.
It provides a platform to bring quality video to the desktop integrated with existing PC applications, make voice and video phone calls over your LAN and through the public switched network, and even run real-time interactive multimedia apps with no impact to concurrently running data-only apps." Computer Telephony, Sep. 1995.
This page is http://members.aol.com/dhawley/isoenet.html, last updated by Dave Hawley on 12-Aug-1996. My home page is http://members.aol.com/dhawley/.
Send email to DHawley@aol.com (home).