ISDN protocol architecture

IT IS NOW widely recognized that the Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) concept is providing a useful framework for the development of future telecommunications networks and services. An ISDN can be regarded as a generalpurpose digital network capable of supporting (or integrating) a wide range of services (voice and non-voice) using a small set of standard multipurpose user-network interfaces. Relevant CCITT Recommendations (or standards) on ISDN interfaces were expected to be available in 1984, the final year of the current study period. This paper reviews CCITT progress on the architectural studies of protocols associated with ISDN's, in particular, the ISDN Protocol Reference Model being developed by Study Group XVIII. This Model, based on the concepts and principles of the ISO/CCITT Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) Reference Model, aims at providing a unified framework for modeling ISDN multiservice communications and capabilities. The new Model is applied to several possible ISDN communications configurations, enabling a number of technical issues to be easily identified.     

Symbiosis Between a Terrestrial-Based Integrated Services Digital Network and a Digital Satellite Network

Symbiosis between a terrestrial-based integrated services digital network (ISDN) and a digital satellite network (DSN) is investigated in this paper. The characteristics of the two networks and the types of traffic carried are first reviewed. Key technical issues that are likely to arise when these two networks are interconnected are then identified and examined in depth. Examples are the processing of voice and nonvoice traffic, efficient handling of synchronous and asynchronous traffic, and the plesiochronous interconnection of ISDN's via a DSN. Measures that may be adopted in each network to accelerate the symbiosis are identified. Finally, a somewhat speculative look at the potential competition between the ISDN and the DSN in two important communication service areas is offered.     

Signaling System No. 7 ISDN User Part

The integrated services digital network (ISDN) user part of Signaling System No. 7 defines the signaling protocol which supports the establishment, supervision, and release of voice and nonvoice calls over circuit-switched connections between ISDN terminations of digital subscriber access lines. This paper gives an overview of the ISDN user part protocol, as defined in CCITT Recommendations Q.761-Q.766 [1], in terms of the signaling functions and procedures provided to support call and connection control in an ISDN, and in terms of the information elements and signaling messages that are used by the signaling functions in ISDN exchanges to communicate.     

Common channel signaling for international service applications

The message transfer, telephone user, and integrated services digital network (ISDN) user parts of CCITT Signaling System No.7 (SS7) are described. The introduction of SS7 to provide control of international circuits is described. The intent is to provide a perspective on the advantages of using common channel signaling for ISDN     

Switching System Software Design for ISDN

The ISDN offers various services through multipurpose digital subscriber lines. The switching program for the ISDN should be so designed as to realize the control of various voice and nonvoice services and provide for developing service enhancement. To attain the goal, the ISDN services are classified hierarchically and each category is allocated to appropriate network nodes for implementation. As a result, the local switching program provides an out-slot subscriber line signaling capability and call connection with appropriate compatibility checking including a check for access capability to communications processing nodes. The switching program modules specific to analog services and those specific to digital services are separated to allow the use of the existing program file and to afford easy program design and maintenance. Remote-controlled switching is a suitable means for an economical introduction of the ISDN services to low traffic density areas. Special routing and reliability arrangements as well as the program structure for a remote-controlled switch are discussed.     

An Overview of Signaling System No. 7

When it was first approved by the CCITT in the 1980 Yellow Book, Signaling System No. 7 was described as "an internationally standardized general purpose Common Channel Signalling (CCS) system:bulletoptimized for operation in digital telecommunications networks in conjunction with stored program controlled exchanges;bulletthat can meet present and future requirements of information transfer (circuit and non-circuit related) for inter-processor transactions within telecommunications networks for call control, remote control, network data base access, and management and maintenance signalling;bulletthat provides a reliable means of information transfer in correct sequence, without loss or duplication." It then consisted of a three-level message transfer part (MTP-for connectionless message transfer), a telephone user part (for analog call setup and control), a data user part (for analog circuit switched data), and a four-level architectural model with a "fuzzy" relation to the OSI seven-layer model. By 1984, in the Red Book, the MTP had matured considerably (especially in the area of congestion control), a new level had been added to provide additional transport functionality (the signaling connection control part or SCCP), an ISDN user part provided call control for digital facilities, and the architectural model had been "adjusted." Future efforts are focusing on cod-to-end ISDN signaling compatibility (harmonization of SS7 andD-channel procedures), non-circuit-related transaction capabilities (e.g., for network database interactions), a complete operations and maintenance application part (OMAP), and a more formal architectural relationship with the OSI model.     

Southwestern Bell Telephone's ISDN experience

Southwestern Bell Telephone's (SWBTs) integrated services digital network (ISDN) experience has been heavily influenced by the realization that from a customer perspective, the most important aspects of ISDN are its applications. The authors describe the following ISDN applications that SWBT has been exploring: desktop conferencing; asynchronous protocol conversion to SNA/SDLC; VTAM INN link replacement; asynchronous protocol conversion to SNA/SDLC with multiplexing; remote 3174 multiplexing via B channel packet; remote 3174 multiplexing via B channel packet and NPSI; 327X emulation via SIMPC, SIM-VTAM, and NPSI; 327X emulation with QLLC and NPSI; asynchronous access to private packet-switched networks; asynchronous access to UNIX host; asynchronous access to UNIX host via PAD and X.25 multiplexing; 327X coaxial cable elimination; extended local area network with passive bus; asynchronous access to Ethernet terminal server; dedicated line replacement (64 kb/s); asynchronous modem pooling (out-dial); asynchronous modem pooling (in-dial); ISDN wide-area networking; ISDN data gateway; gateway to AppleTalk network; application processor features; circuit-switched compressed video; and Ethernet LAN bridging     

Interworking IEEE 802/FDDI LANs via the ISDN frame relay bearerservice

The author presents a generic architecture for interconnecting LANs (local area networks) through the ISDN (integrated services digital network) bearer services, particularly the frame relay bearer service. The architecture is derived from the IEEE 802.1 MAC (medium access control) bridge and ISDN frame relay standards. An algorithm for MAC/ISDN address resolution that makes minimal use of the WAN (wide area network) bandwidth (which is potentially the most expensive resource) is presented. The algorithm uses a MAC/ISDN address resolution server to resolve addresses for new stations, the resolution in all other cases (e.g. stations moving from the ISDN address to another) being fully distributed. To prevent a server failure from inhibiting communication to new stations, a backup server may be provided. A practical implementation of the architecture has been found capable of supporting full throughput at ISDN hyperchannel rates (384-1920 kb/s) for all IEEE 802.3 frame lengths. Frame relay is seen as having a number of important advantages for LAN interconnection, including the following: a large number of virtual circuits available, giving the potential for a rich interconnection architecture with single-hop connections across the ISDN; and low processing overhead enabling efficient use of ISDN channels, including ISDN hyperchannels (384-1920 kb/s)     

Digital satellite networks in Europe

Developments of digital satellite networks are progressing in Europe at international as well as national levels. EUTELSAT and its signatories are actively setting up two regional networks based on the ECS satellites built by ESA. One will carry large bundles of telephone circuits between national gateways; the other will provide special services to corporate organizations and businesses. On the other hand, several countries are implementing or planning their own national networks, all for small-station services. These are France with Telecom 1, Sweden with TELE-X, Norway with NORSAT II, Italy with ITALSAT, the Federal Republic of Germany with DFS/Copernicus, and the United Kingdom with UNISAT. These projects are described here and their characteristics compared. The paper brings out the great diversity in the approaches, as illustrated by Telecom 1 where the accent is on the development of an ISDN, TELE-X where it is on the low cost of user stations, and ITALSAT on the flexibility of the network.     

Performance Requirements for Integrated Voice/Data Networks

This paper addresses top-down end-to-end user-oriented performance requirements pertaining primarily to voice and digital data services. The discussion of requirements for voice parameters accounts for the performance of existing analog and mixed analog/digital networks, as well as the likely effects on performance of short, medium, and long term evolution toward the ultimate all digital ISDN. The requirements for digital data parameters necessarily reflect an evolutionary process which is less consistent than for voice, and therefore these requirements are less definitive in nature. The discussions of voice and digital data performance apply largely to a wide variety of appropriate network designs, transmission schemes, and switching architectures. Both traditional parameters, as well as contemporary parameters associated with new and evolving systems, are considered. The emphasis is on the performance of nation-wide public and private networks, but the paper also considers the constraints of international connections.     

Digital subscriber lines: network considerations for ISDN BasicAccess standard

The authors review digital subscriber line (DSL) technology features and the key technical factors that have driven the development of the technology. The application of DSL technology to network access and the relevant standards activities that provide a framework for developing DSL performance requirements are considered. The important aspects of the physical and operational characteristics of the US loop plant that influenced critical technology choices are reviewed with an emphasis on the physical characteristics of the embedded loop plant and considerations pertinent to the economic provisioning and operations for ISDN (integrated services digital network) Basic Access. A review of the essentials of DSL technology for ISDN Basic Access is presented     

Bandwidth allocation and routing in ISDN's

The goal of communications network design is to satisfy user requirements with the minimum amount of investment. This paper presents a method for the optimal design of ISDN's. First, three multiplexing systems that allow the integration of circuit- and packetswitching traffic are described. Then, a key design problem - bandwidth allocation and routing for integrated networks - is formulated, and efficient methods for its solution are presented.     

Design Philosophy and Hardware Implementation for Digital Subscriber Loops

This paper presents various requirements and configurations in the information network system (INS) NTT's version of the integrated services digital network (ISDN)- such as field trials, and technologies and equipment design of the digital subscriber loop using balanced wire pairs. The main aspects characterizing digital subscriber loops, are a customer access structure, a digital transmission system on existing subscriber loops, and customer interface. A configuration of two-wire digital subscriber loops with two customer access channels, which is adopted in the field trials, will be described. The time-shared two-wire digital transmission and power feeding methods on subscriber loops are discussed. The common mode rejection ratio (CMRR) is discussed in detail, since CMRR is one of the main factors which affects the transmission ability of balanced wire pairs. A proposed self-clocked four-wire customer interface utilizes time division multiplexing technique. The digital subscriber loop operates on a call-by-call basis for link establishment to avoid excessive power dissipations as well as to avoid impairments caused by crosstalk from other lines within a cable. Its design objectives and implementation are also discussed.     

ISDN-the path to broadband networks

The author evaluates the effect of ISDN (integrated services digital network) on the field of data networks, anticipates future directions for this technology, and discusses how the user should view these developments. It is emphasized that broadband ISDN (BISDN) is a service that has identified capabilities that are truly exciting and could very well dominate data networking in this decade. It is noted that the success of BISDN will depend strongly on the rollout of products, the ubiquity of its presence, and the tariffing of its services     

The role of ISDN in data networking

The integrated services digital network (ISDN) offers on-demand switched end-to-end digital connectivity over the wide area, enabling the integration of both voice and data services over a common core network. This paper considers the role of ISDN in data networking, both as the core transport network and as a means of enhancing resilience in a mixed-technology data solution, complementing other data network technologies. The issues associated with data transport based on an ISDN solution are considered, and include security, bandwidth utilisation, scalability and the management of ISDN-attached devices. Optimising the use of ISDN networks for supporting the most prevalent routed and routeing protocols is also discussed.     

ISDN Activities in Italy

Digitalization of the Italian telecommunications network is underway, as in many other countries, and a significant diffusion of digital transmission has already been achieved. Digital switching has already been introduced at both transit and local levels, with some 450 exchanges presently in operation. Both packet- and circuit-switched data networks are in operation. CCITT No. 7 is presently being introduced. In this network scenario, the already planned Italian developments towards the ISDN will include the provision in 1986 of 64 kbit/s digital connectivity and, two years later, the activation of a pilot ISDN service, whose main characteristics are described in the paper. An overview on further developments in ISDN research areas is also given.     

Network of the future

Telecommunications networks of the future will exploit two new network architecture concepts that are currently being implemented, or soon will be. These are the Intelligent Network and ISDN, the Integrated Services Digital Network, which together will support a full range of voice, data, and image services that Information Age telecommunications users will demand. These new network architectures, operating synergistically with intelligence in terminal systems, will constitute a framework in which users and service providers will link together standardized functional components to create customized services. These components, along with interfaces and signaling protocols at the interfaces and within the network will result from continuing national and international standardization efforts. In the planning of these new architectures, a few major goals are of paramount importance: • the achievement of a flexible network structure in which functionality is distributed among the network components in a way which supports the timely and economic introduction of new services in response to user needs; • the establishment of industry standards at the interfaces between network elements such that service suppliers can choose among a set of available systems products in building their networks and avoid dependence on a small set of suppliers, • the development of standard user interfaces supporting signaling procedures which can provide the user with increased control of, and access to, services to satisfy his needs; Achievement of these goals will result in the realization of an Open Network Architecture. The ISDN and Intelligent Network architecture concepts are described in this paper.     

Considerations on Customer Access to the ISDN

A concept for a digital customer access to an integrated services digital network (ISDN) is proposed. It is based on a passive bus which conveys information by means of two circuit switched B channels and aDchannel to support associated signaling (outslot channel) dynamically multiplexed with slow speed packetized data and telemetry. The customer access can support multiple terminal arrangements with simultaneously active users. Information to be conveyed by theDchannel is transferred in the form of messages, each associated with a logical link which has to coexist with other logical links on the common physicalDchannel. Access to that channel is regulated by level 1 arbitration with collision avoidance. It is possible to connect one X.25 DTE with minimum adaptation to the customer installation.     

Ingénierie des systèmes de commutation optique et des réseaux locaux à large bande sur fibres optiques : analyses et perspectives

This paper first reviews how switching evolves in the ISDN environment with emphasize placed on changes in conventionnal time-division switches, then assesses techniques and technologies usable in optical switching and broadband networks : optical space-division switching systems (architecture, technologies based on dielectrics, semiconductors, photorepactive material) and optical time-division switching (optical memories based on delay lines and on bistable components multiplexing); multiple access networks (tdma, multiple access by code) ; switching using spread spectrum (bit switching); wavelength switching (multiplexer-demultiplexer, tunable laser and filters) ; packet switching in multi-wavelength networks (broadband networks standardization, local area networks with bus, passive star or multi-star configuration).