糊涂的ATM

一直对于ATM技术糊里糊涂的，今天google atm overview,找到一段描述如下所示，ATM只是规定了MAC和物理链路层。

ATM Layered Architecture

At the End User sites, ATM operates with a layered structure that is similar to the OSI 7-layered model. However, ATM only addresses the functionality of the two lowest layers of the OSI model: the physical layer (Layer 1) and the data link layer (Layer 2).

All other layers are irrelevant in ATM, as these layers are only part of the encapsulated information portion of the cell which is not used by the ATM network.

In ATM, the functionality of the two lower OSI layers are handled by three layers (shown here below the double line):

.--------------------------------------------------------------,
|   Application Layer                                          |
+--------------------------------------------------------------+
|   User Layers                                                |
+==============================================================+
|   ATM Adaptation Layer :      Convergence Sublayer           |
|                           -----------------------------------|
|                           Segmentation & Reassembly Sublayer |
+--------------------------------------------------------------+
|   ATM Layer                                                  |
+--------------------------------------------------------------+
|   Physical Layer :   Transmission Convergence Sublayer       |
|                      ----------------------------------------|
|                      Physical Medium Dependent Sublayer      |
+--------------------------------------------------------------+

The Physical Layer defines the medium for transmission, any medium-dependent parameters (e.g., rate, quality of service required), and framing used to find the data contained within the medium.

The ATM Layer provides the basic 53-byte cell format, by defining the 5-byte ATM header for each 48-byte payload segment handed down by the AAL.