Numbering

Numbering, One Basis of Switching

• A call is directed by a telephone number.
• It activates the switch or switches at the “maze” branch point(s).
• Actually, a telephone number performs two important functions:
• (1) It routes the call, and
• (2) it activates the necessary equipment for proper call charging.
• Each telephone subscriber is assigned a distinct number in the local
serving exchange (switch)
• Definition of a local “serving area” is the area served by a single
switch (exchange).
Numbering, One Basis of Switching
• The switch capacity in total lines to the number of digits in the
telephone number.

• If we had a switch with a capacity of 100 lines,

It could serve up to 100 subscriber and we could assign telephone numbers 00 through 99
• If we had a switch with a capacity of 1000 lines,
It could serve up to 1000 subscriber and we could assign telephone numbers 000 through
999
• If we had a switch with a capacity of 10,000 lines
It could serve up to 10,000 subscriber and we could assign telephone numbers 000
through 9999
Numbering, One Basis of Switching
• We consider exchanges with seven-digit subscriber numbers, such as
:

• The subscriber is identified by the last four digits, permitting up to

10,000 subscribers, 0000 through 9999, allowing for no blocked
numbers, such as :

• The three-digit calling area has a capacity of 999 local exchanges,

again allowing for no blocked numbers, such as :
Numbering Concepts for Telephony
• Introduction
Numbering as :
a basic element of switching in telephony.
a factor in the design of a telephone network.

• Definitions
There are four elements to an international telephone number. CCITT
Rec. E.163 recommends that not more than 12 digits make up an
international number.
Numbering Concepts for Telephony
• Example of a telephony numbering:
Numbering Concepts for Telephony
• The map of the world shows the areas of the first digit of the country
calling codes.
• Example:
• Indonesia (62)
• Japan (81)
• China (86)
• Egypt (20)
• Malaysia (60)

(nationsonline.org)
 Numbering Concepts for Telephony
• According to CCITT international usage (Recs. E.160, E.161, and E.162), we define the
following terms.
• Numbering Area (Local Numbering Area). This is the area in which any two subscribers use the same dialing
procedure to reach another subscriber in the telephone network. Subscribers belonging to the same numbering
area may call one another simply by dialing the subscriber number. If they belong to different numbering areas,
they must dial the trunk prefix plus the trunk code in front of the subscriber number.
• Subscriber Number. This is the number to be dialed or called to reach a subscriber in the same local network or
numbering area.
• Trunk Prefix (Toll-Access Code). This is a digit or combination of digits to be dialed by a calling subscriber making a
call to a subscriber in his own country but outside his own numbering area. The trunk prefix provides access to the
automatic outgoing trunk equipment.
• Trunk Code (Area Code). This is a digit or combination of digits (not including the trunk prefix) characterizing the
called numbering area within a country.
• Country Code. This is the combination of one, two, or three digits characterizing the called country.
Numbering Concepts for Telephony
• Consider numbering examples below!
• Department of Electrical Engineering, Universitas Indonesia → 021-7270078
• Department of Civil Engineering, Universitas Indonesia → +62 21 727 0029
• Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Indonesia → 021 - 727 2425

• Can you identify structure of those numbers!?

• Numbering area, Subscriber Number, Trunk Prefix (Toll-Access Code), Trunk
Code (Area Code), Country Code
Numbering Concepts for Telephony
• From Madrid, dialing a subscriber in (not including the international
prefix) :
• Copenhagen requires 9 digits,
• Brussels 10,
• near London (Croydon) 10,
• Harlow (England) outskirts 11,
• Harlow center 10,
• and New York City 11
• This raises the concepts of uniform and non-uniform numbering
Numbering Concepts for Telephony
• Uniform numbering as a numbering scheme in which the length of
the subscriber numbers is uniform inside a given numbering area.
• Non-uniform numbering as a scheme in which the subscriber
numbers vary in length within a given numbering area.

• Compare two numbering below! Are there any differences in the

structure?
• Department of Electrical Engineering, Universitas Indonesia → 021-7270078
• Department of Electrical Engineering, Universitas Sriwijaya → 0711-580739
Numbering Concepts for Telephony
• Factors Affecting Numbering
• General
• In network design, there are numerous trade-offs between economy and
operability.
• Uniform numbering and number length notably improve operability.
• Number assignment should leave as large a reserve of numbers as possible
for growth → non uniform numbers.
• Another goal is to reduce switching costs.
• One way is to reduce number analysis, that is, the number of digits to be
analyzed by a switch for proper routing and charging.
Numbering Concepts for Telephony
• Factors Affecting Numbering
• Routing.
• When dealing with trunk codes,
“geographical significance” means
that neighboring call areas are
assigned digits beginning with the
same number.
Numbering Concepts for Telephony
• Factors Affecting Numbering
• Tariffs (Charging)
• Detailed billing includes in the subscriber’s bill a listing of each toll call made,
number called, date and time, charge time, and individual charge entry for each toll
call. Such a form of billing requires extensive number analysis, which is usually
carried out by data-processing equipment in centralized locations.
• When charges are determined typically by accumulated meter steps, billing is
defined as bulk billing. The subscriber is periodically presented with a bill indicating
the total number of steps incurred for the period at a certain money rate per step.
With bulk billing, stepping meters are part of the switching equipment. The
switching equipment determines the tariff and call duration and actuates the
meters accordingly. For bulk billing the relationship between numbering and billing
is much closer than in the case of detailed billing. Ideally, tariff zones should
coincide with call areas (routing areas). Care should be taken in the compatibility of
charging for tariff zones and the numerical series used in numbering. It follows that
the larger the tariff zone, the less numerical analysis required [10].
Numbering Concepts for Telephony
• Factors Affecting Numbering
• Size of Numbering Area and Number Length
• If the area has a large telephone population, a larger number of digits may
be required, with implied longer dialing times
• With smaller numbering areas, short-length subscriber numbers may be
used for those with a higher community of interest.
• Smaller areas do offer less flexibility, particularly in the future when uneven
growth takes place and forecasts are in error.
Numbering Concepts for Telephony
• In-Dialing
• Numbers, particularly in uniform numbering systems, must be set aside for
PABXs with in-dialing capability.
The Effects of Numbering on Signaling
• There is “uniform” numbering and “non-uniform” numbering. How
does each affect signalling?
• Uniform numbering can simplify a signaling system. There are two
advantages to this sort of scheme:
• 1. The switch can proceed with the call once all digits are received because it
“knows” when the last digit (either the sixth or seventh) has been received.
• 2. “Knowing” the number of digits to expect provides inherent error control
and makes “time out” simpler.
• How about Non-Uniform numbering ? → better suited to signaling
systems operating end to end with good features of backward
information.
2-5 ADDRESSING

Four levels of addresses are used in an internet employing

the TCP/IP protocols: physical, logical, port, and specific.

Topics discussed in this section:

Physical Addresses
Logical Addresses
Port Addresses
SpecificAddresses
Figure 2.17 Addresses in TCP/IP
Figure 2.18 Relationship of layers and addresses in TCP/IP
 Example 2.1

In Figure 2.19 a node with physical address 10 sends a

frame to a node with physical address 87. The two nodes
are connected by a link (bus topology LAN). As the
figure shows, the computer with physical address 10 is
the sender, and the computer with physical address 87 is
the receiver.
Figure 2.19 Physical addresses
 Example 2.2

Most local-area networks use a 48-bit (6-byte) physical

address written as 12 hexadecimal digits; every byte (2
hexadecimal digits) is separated by a colon, as shown
below:

07:01:02:01:2C:4B

A 6-byte (12 hexadecimal digits) physical address.

 Example 2.3

Figure 2.20 shows a part of an internet with two routers

connecting three LANs. Each device (computer or
router) has a pair of addresses (logical and physical) for
each connection. In this case, each computer is
connected to only one link and therefore has only one
pair of addresses. Each router, however, is connected to
three networks (only two are shown in the figure). So
each router has three pairs of addresses, one for each
connection.
Figure 2.20 IP addresses
 Example 2.4

Figure 2.21 shows two computers communicating via the

Internet. The sending computer is running three
processes at this time with port addresses a, b, and c. The
receiving computer is running two processes at this time
with port addresses j and k. Process a in the sending
computer needs to communicate with process j in the
receiving computer. Note that although physical
addresses change from hop to hop, logical and port
addresses remain the same from the source to
destination.
Figure 2.21 Port addresses
Note

The physical addresses will change from hop to hop,

but the logical addresses usually remain the same.
 Example 2.5

A port address is a 16-bit address represented by one

decimal number as shown.

753

A 16-bit port address represented

as one single number.
Source: ipwithease.com
References
• Roger L. Freeman, “Telecommunication System Engineering”
• Forouzan, Behrouz A., “Data Communications and Networking”
5th Edition, McGraw-Hill, 2012