J Naudtst, M. Muypers Departement Natuwkunde, PJnivsrsiteit hwkwerpen Universiteitspiein 1, B-2610 Antwerpen, Belgium

It is well known that iinexpected cell discard phenomena occur when applying the Generic @ell Rate Algorithm (GCRA), defined in ITU-T Recommendation 1.371. to a constant bit rate cell flon~ of a Deterministic Bit Rate connection that exceeds its agreed upon Peak Cell Rate. By means of state transition diagrams, we analyse this unexpected throughput behaviour. Then wc propose a slight, modification of the GCRA to avoid this behaviour without imposing restrictions to the choice of the value of the Cell Dclay Variation tolerance parameter T. Finally, we establish an analogy between telecozn and solid state physics by observing a strong similarity between the particular GCRA throughput behaviour and chaotic transition diagrams in incommensurate crystal phases known as the Devil's staircase.