T1/E1/PRI Technology Overview

Connections, Frames & Signaling

Topics Covered
Physicals, Frames and Formats
T1 - AMI/B8ZS E1 - AMI/HDB3

Call Control Signaling

Channel Associate Signaling (CAS)
Robbed Bit / Wink MFCR2 / TS16 MultiFrame

Common Channel Signaling (CCS)

Q.921 / Q.931 ISDN PRI

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T1
North American T1 facilities operate at 1.544 MBPS. Framing may be either Superframe (D4) or Extended Superframe (ESF). These facilities are deployed in the United States, Canada, Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong (Hong Kong also employs International G.732 interconnectivity). Related Specifications AT&T Pub 62411 (D4, Line Characteristics) AT&T Pub 54016 (ESF) ANSI T1.403 (DS1 Metallic Interface)

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The Digital Hierarchy

DS1 - Information rate of 1.544 mbps
Single frame is 193 bits wide
Single bit for framing 24 timeslots (DS0 s) Each DSO is 8 bits wide (64K rate per second) Frames occur 8,000 times a second (125 microseconds) 8K is the magic number

Maximum user rate is 1.536 mbps

8 kbps is used for framing/synchronization 24 Channels x 8kbps per channel

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Frame Format T1

24 timeslots (DS0 s) Each DSO is 8 bits wide (64K rate per second)

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T1 Physicals
T1 is the physical delivery mechanism of DS1
T1 generally used to mean any 1.544 mbps service Copper delivery on 4 wires
one pair for RX (1+2) For CPE this is data FROM the network one pair for TX (4+5) For CPE this is data TO the network

T1 is a very specific type of service

Repeaters every 6,000 ft Pulse/Waveform shape Jitter

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T1 Line Encoding
Establishes how bits are put onto the wire
AMI - Alternate Mark Inversion
Every other 1 is a different polarity Does not maintain ones density
56K data service - forces the LSB to 1

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T1 Line Encoding contd...

B8ZS - Binary 8 Zero Substitution
Uses intentional Bi-Polar Violations to transparently maintain ones density Bi-Polar Violations are two 1 s of the same polarity
64K data service now possible - Clear Channel

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T1 Framing
Two types of framing formats; Both use the Framing Bit to establish groups
D4
Group of 12 Frames Used to align equipment for framing

ESF
Group of 24 Frames Used to align equipment for framing Uses 4K for a maintenance channel (Facilities Data Link) Uses 2K for CRC-6 checksum Uses 2K for framing/synchronization

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D4 Frame

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ESF Datalink
AT&T TR 54016 calls for used of a simplified X.25 Level 2 structure, known as Telemetry Asynchronous Block Serial Protocol (TABS). This protocol consists of the following fields:
Flag (hex "7E") Address (single byte) Control (single fixed byte: 00001000) Information Field (variable length) FCS (Frame Check Sequence)

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ESF Datalink
The ANSI T1.403 specification can use Bit-Oriented-Signals (consisting of two bytes each) on the datalink OR Message-Oriented-Signals. Bit-Oriented-Signals consist of an all-ones byte, followed by a ZERO BIT, followed by a six bit identifier, and the last bit set to a ZERO. An example of a Bit-Oriented-Signal is the 00000000 11111111 code used by ESF as a Yellow Alarm condition. However, ANSI has also defined 16-bit words to indicate Payload/Line loopback Activation/Deactivation, Automatic Protection Switching (APS) Line Switch Commands, APS Line Switch Acknowledgements, and APS Line Release commands. The ANSI T1.403 Message-Oriented-Signals conform to the LAPD, Q.921 HDLC format: Flag (hex "7E") Address (2-Bytes used to express SAPI, TEI information) Control (single fixed byte: 00000011) Information Field (variable length) FCS (Frame Check Sequence) ANSI T1.403 terminal equipment (CSU) transmit Performance Report messages towards the network every second. The following Error Events are reported in the Performance Report Message (PRM).

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T-Carrier D4 and ESF Alarms

AIS (Alarm Indication Signal) CFA
The AIS is also known as a "Keep Alive" or "Blue Alarm" signal. This consists of an UNFRAMED all-ones signal sent to maintain transmission continuity. The AIS CFA signal is declared when both the AIS state and RED CFA

persist simultaneously.

OOF (Out-Of-Frame) Condition

Occurs whenever Network or DTE equipment senses errors in the incoming framing pattern. Depending upon the equipment, this can occur when 2 of 4, 2 of 5, or 3 of 5 framing bits are in error. A reframe clears the OOF condition.

Red CFA (Carrier Failure Alarm)

Occurs after detection of CONTINUOUS OOF condition for 2.5 seconds. This alarm state is cleared when no OOF conditions occur for AT LEAST 1 second. Some applications (AT&T DACS services) may not clear the CFA state for UP TO 15 seconds of NO Out-Of-Frame occurrences.

Yellow CFA (Carrier Failure Alarm)

When a Terminal/Network equipment enters a RED CFA state, it transmits a "Yellow Alarm" in the opposite direction.

A Yellow Alarm is transmitted by setting Bit #2 of each timeslot to a 0 (zero), SPACE state for D4 Framed facilities. For ESF facilities, a Yellow Alarm is transmitted by sending a repetitive 16-bit pattern consisting of 8 MARKS (1) followed by 8 SPACES (0) in the Datalink bits. This is transmitted for a MINIMUM of 1 second.

LOS (Loss Of Signal)

A LOS condition is declared when no pulses have been detected in a 175 +/- 75 pulse window (100 to 250 bit times).

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Digital Voice
Analog <=> Digital Conversion
Analog signal is sampled 8,000 per second
Nyquist Theorem With a sampling rate of two times the frequency, an analog signal can be faithfully represented. Each sample is a snapshot best guess Quantizing error Difference between actual sample and digital value

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Pulse Code Modulation

Samples take 8K per second
Sample values are converted to pulses (PAM) Heights of pulses are measured (PCM)
Analog to Digital Conversion Digital value is an 8-Bit code word 256 Possible Codes Reference for Toll Quality voice G.711 audio

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Analog to PCM Conversion

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Companding
= Non-Linear coding uses more values to

represent lower volume levels and less values for higher volume levels
= Captures the subtleties of conversation = Not many value differences when someone is screaming = -LAW - typically used on T1 facilities = A-LAW - typically used on E1 facilities

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PCM Word Makeup

Softer volumes are have more variations than loud Volumes. In other words, you don t need many values to accurately represent someone yelling.
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E1 Standards
The International CCITT framing format is adopted by most countries (Europe, Central/South America, etc.). These facilities operate at 2.048 MBPS. This framing format is actually defined in CCITT Recommendation G.704, although Recommendation G.732 supplements G.704. G.704: Synchronous Frame Structure
Used and Primary and Secondary Hierarchical Levels

G.732: Characteristics of Primary PCM

Multiplex Equipment Operating at 2048 KBPS.
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G.703/G.704 Framing
The standard frame is 32 timeslots, with each timeslot consisting of an 8bit byte. A MultiFrame consists of 16 frames, numbered zero to fifteen . The timeslots are numbered 0 to 31. Timeslot 0 is used for:
Synchronization Alarm Transport International Carrier use

Timeslot 16 may be used to transmit Channel Associated Signaling (CAS) information. Note that G.732 DOES NOT define the signaling states, only the transport of the states through the G.732 frame. However, G.704 recognizes the requirement for Common Channel Signaling and also allows the TRANSPARENT End-To-End transport of Timeslot 16.

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E1 Physicals
Rate of 2.048 mbps
Single frame is 256 bits wide (125 microseconds)
32 timeslots (DS0 s) Each DSO is 8 bits wide (64K rate per second) Timeslot 0 used for Synchronization

Two types of physical delivery

Unbalance 120
Copper delivery on 4 wires one pair for RX (1+2) one pair for TX (4+5)

Balanced 75
Coax with BNC connectors one cable for RX one cable for TX
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E1 Line Encoding
Establishes how bits are put onto the wire
AMI - Alternate Mark Inversion
Every other 1 is a different polarity Does not maintain ones density
56K data service - always forced the LSB to 1

HDB3 - High Density Bipolar 3

Every other 1 is a different polarity Uses Bi-Polar Violations to automatically maintain one density
64K data service now possible

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E1 Frame Structure
32 Timeslots Total
Each channel holds 8 Bits
Each channel repeats 64,000 times a second (64 Kbps)

30 Timeslots for voice calls

Two Special Timeslots

TS0
Framing and Synchronization

TS16
Signaling

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E1 Framing
Two types of framing formats
Double Frame
Uses bits in TS0

CRC-4
Submultiframe

TS 16 MultiFrame is independent from Double frame and CRC-4!!!

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Timeslot 0 Operation
In NORMAL applications, there is NO ERROR CHECKING capability provided within the G.704 specification. In such cases, Timeslot 0 provides the ability to transport International and National bits. However, G.704 does describe an OPTIONAL implementation where a CRC-4 checksum can be used to provide ERROR DETECTION for Frames 0 through 7, and Frames 8 through 15. When this OPTIONAL format is used, the EVEN FRAMEs International bit is replaced with a CRC-4 bit. The National Bits are relabeled as SPARE BITS.
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TS0 Operation without CRC-4

The meaning of the information contained in the Timeslot 0 byte depends upon whether the Frame number is EVEN or ODD:

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TS0 with CRC-4 - Odd Frames

The CRC bits in Frames 0, 2, 4, and 6 provide error detection for the previously transmitted/received SUB-MULTIFRAME for Frames 0 through 7. The CRC bits in Frames 8, 10, 12, and 14 provide error detection for the previously transmitted/received SUB-SULTIFRAME Frames 8 through 15:

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TS0 with CRC-4 - Even Frames

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TS16 MultiFrame Alignment

When Timeslot 16 of the E1 frame is used for Channel Associated Signaling purposes, Frame 0 contains information that is used by the receiver to identify the incoming frame. Specifically, this pattern in Timeslot 0, Frame 0 is called the MultiFrame Alignment Signal (MFAS).
|Bit 1 |Bit 2 |Bit 3 |Bit 4 |Bit 5 |Bit 6 |Bit 7 |Bit 8 | |------|------|------|------|------|------|------|------| | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | Y | X | X |

Frame 0

X = Spare Bits, set to 1 if not used. Y = Yellow Alarm (Loss of MultiFrame Alignment Signal) (0 = Normal | 1 = Loss of MFAS)

The ABCD state of 0000 is not allowed. If all bits in Timeslot 16 are 0, a Loss of MultiFrame Alignment Signal can be assumed.
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E1 TS16 MultiFrame

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Signaling
Signaling is used to indicate Status
Incoming Calls Channel Status
Available Out-of-Service

Two Types of Signaling

CAS - Channel Associated
Signaling is in-band

CCS - Common Channel

one timeslot for signaling D-channel
messages signify link and call status 64 kb/s
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T1 Signaling
CAS (Common Associated)
Robbed Bit
Ground Start Loop Start E&M immediate E&M Wink Start

CCS (Common Channel)

ISDN PRI Service
Q.921 Q.931
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T1 ISDN PRI
Uses Timeslot 24 for communication
Allows only 23 voice channels NFAS allows one D channel to signal multiple T1 s
Allows other T1/PRI lines to utilize a full 24 voice channels Generally need a back-up D channel for more than 2 PRI s

T1 (ESF, B8ZS)
23 B + D D-channel in TS 24

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E1 ISDN PRI
Uses TS16 for the D Channel
Allows 30 voice channels No need for NFAS
You don t lose a timeslot for signaling

E1 (with or without CRC-4)

30B + D D-channel in always in TS 16

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ISDN PRI Call Setup/Teardown

SETUP SETUP ACK (CALL PROCEEDING ) (ALERTING ) CONNECT CONNECT ACK Talk DISCONNECT DISCONNECT ACK
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ISDN PRI Operation

ISDN as it fits within the OSI Model

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ISDN PRI Operation - Layer 1

Layer 1 is either T1 or E1
For PRA using T1 facilities
23B+D Datalink in TS24

For PRA using E1 facilities

30B+D Datalink in TS16

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ISDN Layer 2 - Q.921 (LAPD)

Built on HDLC (similar to X.25) Establishes communication with a SABME Error control CRC, Retransmission, Flow control Single TEI, 0 The ISDN datalink

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ISDN Layer 3 Q.931

This is known as DSS 1 (Digital Subscriber Signaling System #1) and is detailed in ITU Recommendation Q.931. This function is responsible for the actual setup and teardown of ISDN calls.

Q.931 Header & Information Element

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ISDN PRI Operation - Layer 3

Q.931
protocol discriminator 08 link control messages controls call setup and tear down assigns CRV for each call messages comprise Information Elements (IEs) mandatory IEs and optional IEs

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Q.931 Packet Description

Protocol Layer 3 header information. Generally always 08 , meaning Q.931 Call maintenance Call Reference Value (CRV) in PRI is a 15-bit value which is used to associate messages with a particular channel connection. Message Type There are four general categories of messages: 1) Call Establishment 2) Call Information 3) Call Clearing 4) Miscellaneous
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Information Elements
There are four general categories of messages that might be present:
Call Establishment Call Information Call Clearing Miscellaneous

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ISDN Information Elements

Each type of message can contain Mandatory and Optional Information Elements. While there are few single octet (byte) Information Elements, most have multiple octets associated with them. When Information Elements consist of multiple octets, the byte (octet) immediately following the Information Element Identifier is used to describe how many bytes (octets) are in the Information Element (length). This is how the receiver knows where to start looking for the next Information Element in a message. Some common Information Elements are listed below: 1.Bearer Capability (identifies requirements of the requested B-Channel) 2.Cause (identifies reasons for disconnect or incomplete calls) 3.Channel Identification (identifies requested B-Channel 4.Progress Indicator (Indicates status of outgoing call) 5.Calling Party Number (identifies caller) 6.Called Party Number (destination number)

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Decoding an ISDN Message

02010000080200270504038090A21803A983901E028A816C0200C37005810383939

02010000 LAPD Header 08=Q931 02=Call Reference Value 0027=the number of this call 05 SETUP 04=bearer cap 03=length 80=CCITT, speech 90=circuit, 64K A2=layer 1, u-law 18=channel ID 03=length A9=this interface, PRI, exclusive, not D, B1 83=CCITT, number, B-channels 90=1 0010000=slot 16
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1E=Progress indicator 02=length 8A=CCITT, private network serving remote user 81=call is not end-to-end ISDN 6C=calling party number 02=length 00=type unknown, plan unknown C3=number not available due to network provided screen 70=called party number 05=length The called party number is 0899

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