Question 1/XI - New switching and and signalling techniques

Considering

(a) that the research into a variety of new switching techniques is
already being pursued by many administrations, RPOAs and SIOs and the
impact of technologies such as asynchronous time division multiplexing
and optical switching could have a profound impact on the evolution of
telecommunications networks;

(b) that the ISDN should evolve to also satisfy the broadband
telecommunications services requirements, taking into account new
transmission and switching techniques;

(c) that the ISDN may also evolve to incorporate advanced capabilities
to provide the multi-media multipoint and distribution services
including broadband connections;

(d) that the circuit-mode and packet-mode capabilities are to be
provided by the same network applying integrated techniques (e.g.,
ATM*);

(e) that the availability of very high bandwidth transmission systems
utilizing optical fibre could have a significant impact on the structure
of future networks;

(f) that there is a trend towards the separation of the intelligence
required to support new and enhanced features, from that required to
support basic circuit switching;

(g) that new telecommunications service requirements are continuously
emerging;

(h) that the demand for the transport and processing of a wide variety
of data services is growing rapidly,

and further considering

(i) that the network signalling capabilities should be enhanced
according to the evolution of the ISDN including, amongst others, the
following aspects:

-low layer protocols, which absorb the difference of capabilities
depending on the transfer mode and guarantees secure signalling
information transfer, taking into consideration the following points:

-various parameters, e.g., maximum frame length, maximum number of
outstanding frames, timer values,

- error correction method taking into account broadband applications of
the ISDN,

-identification of logical connections, e.g. whether to use an
independent channel identifier or to rely on the ATM call address in
case of full ATM,


* ATM = Asynchronous Time Multiplexing.

-the requirements on the signalling aspects of call control as defined
in the separation into call control and bearer connection control
protocols, taking into consideration, amongst others, the following
points:

-identification of various parameters to be decided through signalling,
i.e., parameters related to the low layers (e.g., ATM and adaptation
layers) including logical channel number, QOS* parameters such as
throughput and delay, and dynamic functions to be applied for each
connection, and parameters concerning various service attributes,

-interactions between user plane, control plane and management plane
functions including various primitives,

-impact of usage monitoring on out-of-band signalling in case of ATM,
-handling of various supplementary services, e.g., handling of user-to-
user signalling, especially whether to use control plane or to use an ad
hoc connection in the user plane,

-application of the concept of callconnection separation to various
services including multi-media, multipoint, distribution and interactive
control of services.

-the signal transport mechanism (e.g., static signalling channel,
permanent logical channel or dynamically established channel) and the
signalling network configuration (e.g., associated or quasi-associated
mode of operation) which guarantee enough capability to provide various
telecommunications services with adequate performance,

(j) that a common signalling system is to be used in all parts of the
network, including the access.

What new switching and signalling Recommendations should be made to take
account of new and emerging switching and transport techniques?

* QOS = Quality of Service.