Principles of ISDN

1. Support of voice and non-voice applications using a

limited set of standardized facilities
– Defines the purpose of ISDN and the means of achieving it
2. Support for switched and non-switched applications
– Both circuit-switched and packet-switched connections
– Support non-switched services in the form of dedicated lines
3. Reliance on 64-kbps connections
– Fundamental block of ISDN
– 64 kbps were chosen because it was the standard rate for
digitized voice
 Principles of ISDN (cont’d)
4. Intelligence in the network
– Use of SS7 ( (common channel) signaling system number 7)
and intelligent switching nodes in the network
– SS7 is a set of telephony signaling protocols which are used to
set up the vast majority of the world's public switched
telephone network telephone calls.
5. Layered protocol architecture
– User access to ISDN protocol is a layered architecture that
can be mapped to OSI model
– Standards can be developed independently for various
layers and functions
6. Variety of configurations
– More than one physical configuration is possible for
implementing ISDN
The User Interface
 Objectives
• Standardization
A single set of ISDN standards should be provided to permit universal
access and the development of cost-effective equipment
• Transparency
This permits users to develop applications without knowing the implementation
of the underlying ISDN
• Separation of competitive functions
Some fundamental functions must be retained without being affected by
competition
• Leased and switched services
Require high performance for leased lines
• Cost-related tariffs
Price should depend on service, not types of traffic
• Smooth migration
The deployment of ISDN should be evolutionary, not revolutionary
• Multiplexed support
For high data rate links
 Benefits of ISDN
• To the user : cost savings and flexibility
– integration of voice/data means users do not
have to buy multiple services to meet
multiple needs
– single access line to all services

• To network providers
– standards support universality and larger
potential market for services, drive down
equipment costs

• To manufacturers
– larger potential market, economies of scales
– standards decrease risk of obsolescence

• To enhanced service providers

– simplified user access
 Services
• FACSIMILE
It is used for reproduction of graphics and handwritten
material, a page of data is transmitted at 64kbps in 5 sec

•TELETEX
Communication allows to prepare , edit ,transmit and print
message, 1 page in 2 sec at 9.6 kbps

• VIDEOTEX
In 1 sec at 9.6 kbps
ISDN Architecture
 Transmission Structure
• Digital pipe between central office and ISDN subscriber
carry a number of communication channels, varies from
user to user
• The transmission structure of access links includes
channels of:
– B channel: 64 kbps
– D channel: 16 or 64 kbps
– H channel: 384 (H0), 1536 (H11), or 1920 (H12) kbps
 B Channel
• A user channel, carrying digital data, PCM-encoded
digital voice, or a mixture of lower-rate traffic at a fraction
of 64 kbps
• The information is carried in frame format, using either hi
gh-level data link control (HDLC) or PPP as the Layer 2
protocol. PPP is more robust than HDLC because it provi
des a mechanism for authentication and negotiation of c
ompatible link and protocol configuration.
 D Channel
• Carry common-channel signaling (CCS) information to
control circuit-switched calls.

• May be used for packet switching or low speed (e.g. 100

bps) telemetry (data transfer over media) when no
signaling information is waiting
 H Channel
• Provides user information transmission at higher data
rates

• Examples: fast fax, video, high-speed data, high quality

audio
Reference Points and Functional
Groupings

– Functional grouping: certain arrangements

of physical equipment or combination of
equipment
• NT1, NT2, TE1, TE2, TA
– Reference points: conceptual points of
separation of group function
• R, S, T, U
ISDN Functions and Reference
Points

• Functions are devices or

hardware.
• Reference points are
demarcations or interfaces.
 Functional Groupings
• NT1 (Network Termination 1)
– Includes functions similar to OSI layer 1
– May be controlled by ISDN provider (a boundary to
network)
– Isolate the user from the transmission technology of
subscriber loop
– Supports multiple channels (e.g. 2B+D) using TDM
– Might support multiple devices in a multidrop
arrangement
• E.g. a residential interface might include a telephone,
PC, and alarm system, all attached to a single NT1
interface via a multidrop line
 Functional Groupings (cont’d)
• NT2 (Network Termination 2)
– An intelligent device that may include up to OSI layer 3
– Perform switching and concentration functions
• Switching: the construction of a private network using
semi-permanent circuit among a number of sites
• Concentration: multiple devices, attached to a digital
PBX, LAN, or terminal controller, may transmit data
across ISDN
– E.g. digital PBX, a terminal controller, LAN
• Digital PBX provides NT2 functions at layers 1, 2, and 3
• A simple terminal controller provides layers 1 and 2
• A simple Time Division MUX provides layer 1
 Functional Groupings (cont’d)
• TE1 (Terminal Equipment type 1)
– Devices that support the standard ISDN interface
– E.g. digital telephone, integrated voice/data terminal,
digital fax
• TE2 (Terminal Equipment type 2)
– The existing non-ISDN equipment
– E.g. physical interface RS-232, host computer with X.25
– Requires a terminal adaptor (TA) to plug into an ISDN
interface
 Functional Groupings (cont’d)
• TA (Terminal Adaptor)
– Converts standard electrical signals into the form
used by ISDN
– Needed for connection with TE2 devices
– The ISDN TA can be either a standalone device or
a board inside the TE2
 Access Configurations
• Based on definitions of functional grouping and
reference points, several possible configurations
for ISDN user-network interface have been
proposed by ITU-T
– The most straightforward configuration is that one
or more pieces of equipment correspond to each
functional grouping:
 Access Configurations (cont’d)
• In second case, the line termination function is combined
with other ISDN interface functions
• ISDN provider may provide the NT1 function e.g. NT1
may be integrated into a PBX
 Access Configurations (cont’d)
• In the third case, NT2 and TE functions are combined
• A host that supports users, but also acts as a packet
switch in a private packet-switching network that uses
ISDN for trunking
 Access Configurations (cont’d)
• Final case: an ISDN subscriber device can connect
directly to the subscriber loop terminator or into a PBX or
LAN using the same interface specifications and thus
ensuring portability
Examples of implementation of NT1
and NT2 functions
Examples of implementation of NT1
and NT2 functions