Round-Robin Protocol

Overview

• Round-robin protocols are a type of deterministic medium access control method.
• They provide a predictable and orderly way for workstations to access the LAN medium.

Key Features

• Fixed Time Slots: Each workstation is allocated a specific time slot or turn during which it can transmit data.
• Predictable Access: This ensures that each workstation has a scheduled opportunity to access the medium, reducing the chances of collisions.
• Orderly Transmission: Workstations follow a cyclic order, with each taking turns in a predefined sequence.

Operation

• Access Management: The protocol cycles through all workstations in a fixed order, allowing each to transmit data during its assigned time slot.
• Deterministic Timing: Transmission times are predetermined, which helps in managing network traffic in a more predictable manner compared to contention-based methods.

Advantages

• Fairness: Ensures that all workstations get a fair chance to transmit data without contention.
• Efficiency: Reduces the likelihood of collisions and delays, as each workstation’s turn is clearly defined.

Examples

• Token Ring: A classic example of a round-robin protocol, where a token circulates around the network, granting transmission rights to the workstation holding it.
• Time-Division Multiple Access (TDMA): Used in various network and communication systems to allocate time slots for different users.