Optimal configuration of virtual links for avionics network systems

As the bandwidth and scalability constraints become important design concerns in airborne networks, a new technology, called Avionics Full Duplex Switched Ethernet (AFDX), has been introduced and standardized as a part 7 in ARNIC 664. However, since previous research interests for AFDX are mainly bounded for analyzing the response time where flows information is given, configuration problem for both Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU) and Bandwidth Allocation Gap (BAG) over virtual links in AFDX networks has not been addressed yet even though it has great impact on required bandwidth. Thus, in this paper, we present two configuration approaches to set MTU and BAG values on virtual links efficiently while meeting the requirement of AFDX. The first is to search available feasible configuration (MTU, BAG) pairs to satisfy application requirements as well as AFDX switch constraints, and the second is to get an optimal pair to minimize required bandwidth through well-known branch-and-bound algorithm. We analyze the complexity of the proposed algorithm and then evaluate the proposed algorithm by simulation. Finally, we prove that the proposed schemes are superior to general approach in the aspects of speed and required bandwidth in AFDX networks.