Multiple user access network

摘要

A multiple user access network (10) includes a master network element device (12) and multiple slave network termination devices (14a-14n). The network element device (12) couples to the multiple network termination devices (14a-14n) in a multi-user network interface (MUNI) topology by a shared media link (16). Each network termination device (14a-14n) is assigned its own unique group ID address (38) by the master network element device (12). The network element device (12) sends MUNI asynchronous transfer mode cells (30, 32) to appropriate network termination devices (14a-14n) over shared media link (16). The group ID (38) field is also defined to allow for the network element device (12) to broadcast asynchronous transfer mode cells to all the network termination devices (14a-14n). Each network termination device (14a-14n) identifies MUNI asynchronous transfer mode cells (30, 32) with its unique group ID (38) for processing and ignores those MUNI asynchronous transfer mode cells (30, 32) that do not contain an appropriate group ID (38). The master network element device (12) performs traffic shaping and user parameter control functions per group to facilitate downstream quality of service guarantee per network termination device.