ISDN

Integrated Services Digital Network is a telephone system network. It is a wide

area network becoming widely available. Prior to the ISDN, the phone system was
viewed as a way to transport voice, with some special services available for data.
The key feature of the ISDN is that it integrates speech and data on the same
lines, adding features that were not available in the classic telephone system.

ISDN is a circuit -switched telephone network system, that also provides access to
packet switched networks, designed to allow digital transmission of voice and data
over ordinary telephone copper wires, resulting in better voice quality than an
analog phone. It offers circuit-switched connections (for either voice or data), and
packet-switched connections (for data), in increments of 64 Kbit/s.

Another major market application is Internet access, where ISDN typically provides
a maximum of 128 Kbit/s in both upstream and downstream directions (which can
be considered to be broadband speed, since it exceeds the narrowband speeds of
standard analog 56k telephone lines). ISDN B-channels can be bonded to achieve a
greater data rate; typically 3 or 4 BRIs (6 to 8 64 Kbit/s channels) are bonded.

ISDN should not be mistaken for its use with a specific protocol, such as Q.931
whereby ISDN is employed as the network, data-link and physical layers in the
context of the OSI model. In a broad sense ISDN can be considered a suite of
digital services existing on layers 1, 2 and 3 of the OSI model. ISDN is designed to
provide access to voice and data services simultaneously.

However, common use has reduced ISDN to be limited to Q.931 and related
protocols, which are a set of protocols for establishing and breaking circuit switched
connections, and for advanced call features for the user. They were introduced in
1986. In a videoconference, ISDN provides simultaneous voice, video, and text
transmission between individual desktop videoconferencing systems and group
(room) videoconferencing systems.

The first generation of ISDN is called as a narrowband ISDN and it is based on the
use of 64 kbps channel as the basic unit of switching and has a circuit switching
orientation. The main device in the narrowband ISDN is the frame relay. The
second generation of ISDN is referred to as the broadband ISDN (B-ISDN).

It supports very high data rates (typically hundreds of Mbps). It has a packet
switching orientation. The main important technical contribution of B-ISDN is the
asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), which is also called as cell relay.
Components of ISDN
While individual operating companies and ministries will define the specific services,
within the
ISDN architecture the ITU standards define a number of component parts and
functions:
ISDN CHANNELS
ACCESS TYPES
DEVICES
 INTERFACES
PROTOCOLS

ISDN Channels
A CHANNEL is the basic unit of ISDN service. The ISDN Standards define three
basic types of
channels:
Bearer channels (B channels)
Delta (or "Demand") channels (D channels)
High-capacity channels (H channels)
B Channel
A B channel is a 64-Kbps unit of clear digital bandwidth. Based on the data rate
required to carry one digital voice conversation, a B channel can carry any type of
digital information (voice, data, or video) with no restrictions on format or protocol
imposed by the ISDN carrier.
D Channel
A D channel is a signalling channel. It carries the information needed to connect or
disconnect calls and to negotiate special calling parameters (i.e., automatic number
ID, call waiting, data protocol).
The D channel can also carry packet-switched data using the X.25 protocol.
The D channel is not a clear channel. It operates according to a well-defined pair of
layered
protocols:
Q.921 (LAPD) at the Data Link Layer (Layer 2)
Q.931 at the upper layers (Layers 3 and above)
The data rate of a D channel varies according to the type of access it serves: a
Basic Rate Access D channel operates at 16 Kbps and a Primary Rate Access D
channel operates at 64 Kbps.
Signalling on the D Channel
The ISDN D channel carries all signalling between the customer's terminal device
and the carrier's end switching office. Signalling information with end-to-end
significance (i.e., which must be received by the terminal device at a call's
destination, such as Automatic Calling Number Identification information) travels
between the carrier's switching offices on the carrier's common-channel signalling
network and on to the destination terminal through the receiving user's D channel.
H Channel
An H channel is a special, high-speed clear channel. H channels, designed primarily
for full-motion color video, are not yet in common use. There are currently three
kinds of H channel:
H0 ("H-zero")
H11 ("H-one-one")
H12 ("H-one-two")
An H0 channel operates at 384 Kbps (roughly one fourth of a North American
Primary Rate Access or one fifth of a European Primary Rate Access). An H1
channel operates at 1.536 Mbps and occupies one whole North American Primary
Rate Access. An H12 channel occupies an entire European Primary Rate Access.

ISDN Interfaces
There are several kinds of access interfaces to the ISDN :

Basic Rate Interface (BRl)

Primary Rate Interface (PRl)

Broadband-ISDN (B-ISDN)

Basic Rate Interface (BRI)

Basic Rate Interface service consists of two data-bearing channels ('B' channels)
and one signaling channel ('D' channel) to initiate connections. The B channels
operate at 64 Kbps maximum; however, (in the U.S. it can be limited to 56 Kbps.
The D channel operates at a maximum of 16 Kbps. The two channels can operate
independently. For example, one channel can be used to send a fax to a remote
location, while the other channel is used as a TCP/IP connection to a different
location.

ISDN service on the iSeries supports basic rate interface (BRl).

The basic rate interface (BRl) specifies a digital pipe consisting of two B channels
and 16 Kbps D channel. Two B channels of 64 Kbps each, plus one D channel of 16
Kbps, equal 144 Kbps. In addition, the BRl service itself requires 48 Kbps of
operating overhead. BRl therefore requires a digital pipe of 192 Kbps.
Conceptually, the BRl service is like a large pipe that contains three smaller pipes,
two for the B channels and one for the D channel.

The remainder of the space inside the large pipe carries the overhead bits required
for its operation. In the following figure shaded portion of the circle surrounds the
Band D channels shows the overhead.

Primary Rate Interface (PRI)

Primary Rate Interface service consists of a D channel and either 23 (depending on
the country you are in). PRI is not supported on the iSeries. Or 30 B channels

The usual Primary Rate Interface (PRI) specifies a digital pipe with 23 B channels
and one 64 Kbps D channel. Twenty-three B channels of 64 Kbps each, plus one D
channel of 64 Kbps equals 1.536 Mbps. In addition, the PRI service itself uses 8
Kbps of overhead.

PRI therefore requires a digital pipe of 1.544 Mbps. Conceptually; the PRI service is
like a large pipe containing 24 smaller pipes, 23 for the B channels and 1 for the D
channel. The rest of the pipe carries the overhead bits required for its operation. In
figure, the shaded portion of the circle surrounding the B and D channels shows the
overhead.

PRI with H-channels The Primary Rate Interface may also be used to support H
channels. Some of these structures include a 64 Kbps D channel for control
signaling. When no D channel is present, it is assumed that a D channel on another
primary interface at the same subscriber location will provide any required
signaling. The following structures are recognized:

Primary Rate Interface (PRI) H0 channel structures This interface supports

multiple 384 Kbps HO channels. The structures are 3HO+D and 4 HO for the 1.544
Mbps interface and 5HO +D for the 2.048 Mbps interface.

Primary Rate Interface (PRI) H1 and H12 channel structures The H1 channel
structure consists of one 1,536 Kbps H11 channel. The H12 channel structure
consists of one 1,920 Kbps H12 channel and one D channel.

Primary Rate Interface (PRI) structures for mixtures of B and

H0channels This interface consists of zero or one D channel and any possible
combination of Band H0 channels up to the capacity of the physical interface (e.g.,
3HO+ 5B + D and 3HO+ 6B for the 1.544 MBps interface).

Broadband-ISDN (B-ISDN)
Narrowband ISDN has been designed to operate over the current communications
infrastructure, which is heavily dependent on the copper cable. B-ISDN however,
relies mainly on the evolution of fiber optics. According to CCITT B-ISDN is best
described as 'a service requiring transmission channels capable of supporting rates
greater than the primary rate.

Principle of ISDN

The ISDN works based on the standards defined by ITU-T (formerly CCITT). (The
Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU- T) coordinates standards for
telecommunications on behalf of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
and is based in Geneva, Switzerland. The standardization work of ITU dates back to
1865, with the birth of the International Telegraph Union.

It became a United Nations specialized agency in 1947, and the International

Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee (CCITT), (from the French name
"Comite Consultatif International Telephonique et Telegraphique") was created in
1956. It was renamed ITU-T in 1993.

ISDN Services

The purpose of the ISDN is to provide fully integrated digital services to users.
These services fall into categories- better services, teleservices and supplementary
services.

1. Bearer Services: Bearer services provide the means to transfer information

(voice, data and video) between users without the network manipulating the
content of that information. The network does not need to process the information
and therefore does not change the content.

Bearer services belong to the first three layers of the OSI model and are well
defined in the ISDN standard. They can be provided using circuit-switched, packet-
switched, frame-switched, or cell-switched networks.

2. Teleservices: In teleservices, the network may change or process the contents of

the data. These services correspond to layers 4-7 of the OSI model. Teleservices
relay on the facilities of the bearer services and are designed to accommodate
complex user needs, without the user having to be aware of the details of the
process. Teleservices include telephony, teletex, telefax, videotex, telex and
teleconferencing. Although the ISDN defines these services by name, they have not
yet become standards.

3. Supplementary Service: Supplementary services are those services that provide

additional functionality to the bearer services and teleservices. Examples of these
services are reverse charging, call waiting, and message handling, all familiar from
today's telephone company services.

Principles of ISDN
The various principles of ISDN as per ITU-T recommendation are:
The ISDN is supported by a wide range of voice and non-voice applications of the
same network. It provides a range of services using a limited set of connections
and multipurpose user-network interface arrangements.
ISDN supports a variety of applications that include both switched and non-
switched connections. The switched connections. Include both circuit and packet
switched connections.
As far as possible, new services introduced into an ISDN should be arranged to be
compatible with the 64 Kbps switched digital connections.
A layered protocol structure should be used for the specification of access to an
ISDN.
This is the same as the OSI reference model. The standards which have already
been developed for OSI applications such as X.25 can be used for ISDN.
ISDNs may be implemented in a variety of configurations.

I. To support voice and non-voice applications

The main feature of the ISDN concept is the support of a wide range of voice (for
e.g. Telephone calls) & non-voice (for e.g. digital data exchange) applications in
the same network.

2. To support switched and non-switched applications

ISDN supports both circuit switching and packet switching. In addition ISDN
supports non-switched services in the form of dedicated lines.

3. Reliance on 64-kbps connections

ISDN provides circuit switched and packet switched connections at 64 kbps. This is
the fundamental building block of ISDN. This rate was chosen because at the time,
it was standard rate for digitized voice.

4. Intelligence in the network

An ISDN is expected to provide sophisticated services beyond the simple setup of

circuit switched calls. These services include maintenance and network
management functions.

5. Layered protocol architecture

A layered protocol structure should be used for the specification of the access to an
ISDN. Such a structure can be mapped into OSI model.

6. Variety of configurations
Several configurations are possible for implementing ISDN. This allows for
differences in national policy, in state of technology and in the needs and existing
equipment of the customer base.

Advantages of ISDN lines

Speed Line

Speed is the most obvious advantage of ISDN line, the maximum limit for
commonly used dialup connections is 56 kbps and due to many factors this limit
reduce to only 45 kbps. Where as ISDN lines possess multiple digital channels
which operates simultaneously by using same regular one pair copper wire. If
telephone company can provide digital connections then change in speed can
occur, this way digital signals can be transmitted through telephone lines rather
than analogue. The digital signals can provide better transmission rates comparing
analogue setup.

Multiple lines for Multiple Devices

If multiple services are required by consumer for example, fax, video conferencing,
telephone etc, separate telephone line will be required for each device, where as
ISDN line can handle multiple services at single line. There are eight channels
which can be supported by ISDN lines simultaneously. That means one single ISDN
line can support telephone, video conferencing, fax, credit card machine and other
services together on single line and all these devices can work simultaneously

Connection Time

V.34 or V.90 modems usually takes up to 30 to 60 seconds to make connection to

the network whereas ISDN lines takes less than 2 seconds to make connection live
to be used.
Quality ISDN connections are very low error rate digital pipes.
Flexibility ISDN can be thought of as a configurable leased line. Connections
can be established at any time between any two locations where ISDN is
available. It offers a very fast (almost transparent) call set-up, so its dialup
nature is transparent to most users.
Economy ISDN is charged for rent like a telephone call. Usage costs are
identical to the telephone service. In general, ISDN is extremely cost-
effective for intermittent LAN to LAN connectivity.
Availability ISDN is now becoming very widely available because the
initiatives taken by the government of various countries.

Disadvantages of ISDN lines

There are some disadvantages associated with ISDN lines and they are as follow.
 ISDN lines are more expensive when compare to the regular landline
telephone system.
ISDN provider companies and ISDN users are require to have special
dedicated line and then can encore at extra cost.

Difference between ADSL and ISDN

There are some obvious differences between the two services.

ISDN lines provide two voice channels or one 128Kbps data channel where as
ADSL is only data line, which is used for only data.

The power for ADSL is sent by phone company through the medium of copper
wire, which keeps the line stays alive and works even when local power fails.
Whereas in ISDN lines power is required locally and does not work if local power
fails.

Products for ISDN technology from different vendors even with similar features and
options may create some compatibility issues. CCITT after good deliberations over
the years published the first significant ISDN standards in a number of red binders
in 1984 and they were simply known as the Red Book standards. The group
subsequently met four years later which culminated in the publication of the 1988
Blue Book standards. These international publications were the foundation for the
evolving ISDN national standards. The CCITT eventually was reformed into the
group, which is now called the ITU- T. The standards used to define ISDN make
use of the OSI reference model with the first three layers of this OSI reference
model.

There are two standard ISDN connectors:

For accessing basic rate ISDN, a RJ-45type plug and socket (similar to a telephone
plug) is used using unshielded twisted pair cable.
Access to primary rate ISDN is through a coaxial cable.

The ISDN passive bus, which can be a maximum of I km in length, is a cable in

user premises. It enables up to eight user devices to be attached to the basic rate
ISDN interface. Since there are only two B-channels, only two of the eight devices
can communicate at anyone time. For this reason, each device must contend for
access to the passive bus.

The equipment available for ISDN includes:

Terminal Adapters
ISDN internal computer Terminal Adapter cards
Video Conferencing PC cards, and
LAN access gateways or bridges some of which are based on PC cards or stand
alone boxes.
It is possible to avoid all the problems of API standards for internal computer
adapters by using an external ISDN Terminal Adapter. Since the speed of most
serial ports on a PC has been limited to about 19.2Kbps until recently, this
approach has not been viable. However, recently, internal PC cards, which will work
asynchronously up to 115Kbps, have appeared, which could have applications in
multimedia work when used with an appropriate external Terminal Adapter.

ISDN Internetworking Equipment

There are different internetworking devices that can use ISDN:

Terminal Adapters (TAs) these are external devices that connect a conventional
data interface, such as X.21, to an ISDN circuit, allowing non-ISDN equipment to
use the ISDN. Terminal adapters are widely used by internetworking manufacturers
who do not have an approved native ISDN interface for their devices.

A disadvantage of this solution is that not all the information from the D-channel
passes through the TA, so the non-ISDN equipment cannot take full advantage of
ISDN facilities, such as Calling Line Identification.

ISDN Bridges Because of its simplicity, bridging is one of the most popular ways of
linking LANs. The big problem with ISDN bridging is controlling the bridge's use of
the ISDN network. Bridges are simple to set up and use because they will forward
data, such as broadcasts, by default. Over ISDN, this means that calls will be made
to send largely unnecessary data. Over a period of time, this can prove very
expensive.

To avoid this, bridges can be configured to block broadcasts from specific

addresses, and to understand particular protocols. But the bridge loses its major
benefit of simplicity. Bridges are ideal for ISDN backup.

ISDN Routers Routing is a far more effective way to utilize ISDN for LAN
internetworking. This is the approach being taken by the entire internetworking
vendors. Data is only sent over the ISDN network when it is really needed. There
are no unnecessary broadcast messages to transmit, so the bandwidth is used
more efficiently than with bridges and the configuration can actually be simpler.
Filters may be used to block out all unnecessary traffic.

ISDN Devices:
ISDN devices include terminals,
-Terminal adapters (TAs),
-Network-termination devices,
-Line-termination equipment,
-Exchange-termination equipment.

ISDN terminals come in two types. Specialized ISDN terminals are referred to as
terminal equipment type 1 (TE1). Non-ISDN terminals, such as DTE, are referred to
as terminal equipment type 2 (TE2). TE1s connect to the ISDN network through a
four-wire, twisted-pair digital link. TE2s connect to the ISDN network through a TA.

Beyond the TE1 and TE2 devices, the next connection point in the ISDN network is
the network termination type 1 (NT1) or network termination type 2 (NT2) device.
These are network-termination devices that connect the four-wire subscriber wiring
to the conventional two-wire local loop. In North America, the NT1 is a customer
premises equipment (CPE) device. In most other parts of the world, the NT1 is part
of the network provided by the carrier. The NT2 is a more complicated device that
typically is found in digital private branch exchanges (PBXs) and that performs
Layer 2 and 3 protocol functions and concentration services. An NT1/2 device also
exists as a single device that combines the functions of an NT1 and an NT2.
ISDN specifies a number of reference points that define logical interfaces between
functional groups, such as TAs and NT1s. ISDN reference points include the
following:
R - The reference point between non-ISDN equipment and a TA.
S - The reference point between user terminals and the NT2.
T - The reference point between NT1 and NT2 devices.
U - The reference point between NT1 devices and line-termination equipment
in the carrier network. The U reference point is relevant only in North America,
where the NT1 function is not provided by the carrier network.
Figure illustrates a sample ISDN configuration and shows three devices attached to
an ISDN switch at the central office. Two of these devices are ISDN-compatible, so
they can be attached through an S reference point to NT2 devices. The third device
(a standard, non-ISDN telephone) attaches through the reference point to a TA.
Any of these devices also could attach to an NT1/2 device, which would replace
both the NT1 and the NT2. In addition, although they are not shown, similar user
stations are attached to the far-right ISDN switch.
Figure: Sample ISDN Configuration Illustrates Relationships Between Devices and
Reference Points

ISDN LAYERS
ISDN Protocols
The ISDN protocols are signalling protocols that govern the exchange of data on
the D channel. The two ISDN signalling protocols make up a layered protocol
stack, with the Link Access Protocol for the D Channel (LAPD, also known as
Q.921) providing Layer 2 data-link services and the Q.931 protocol providing
higher-layer services. LAPD is a simple, bit-oriented data-link protocol similar in
structure and operation to HDLC and SDLC. The Q.931 signalling protocol is one
of the most complex and feature-rich communication protocols ever designed.
LAPD (Q.921)
The LAPD protocol operates between TE and NT over the D channel of an ISDN S
interface. In traditional data communications terms, the TE acts as DTE and the
NT acts as DCE. The unit of LAPD transmission is a FRAME. As in other bit-
oriented protocols, frames are demarcated from an idle circuit and from other
frames by a FLAG pattern. Like HDLC, LAPD can operate with either a Modulo 8
or a Modulo 128 frame window.
Physical layer ISDN protocols

BRI (ITU-T I.430) / PRI (ITU-T I.431)

Defines two ISDN physical layer frame formats

Inbound (local exchange to ISDN customer)

Outbound (ISDN customer to local exchange )

Data link layer ISDN protocols

LAPD signaling protocol (ITU-T Q.920 for BRI and Q.921 for PRI) for
transmitting control and signaling information over the D channel

LAPD frame format similar to ISO HDLC frame format

 Network layer ISDN protocols

ITU-T Q.930 and ITU-T Q.931 defines switching and signaling methods using
the D channel.

A LAPD frame contains the following fields:

ADDRESS
COMMAND/RESPONSE BIT
CONTROL
INFORMATION (only in frames carrying higher-layer data)
FRAME CHECK SEQUENCE
SUMMARY:

ISDN is comprised of digital telephony and data-transport services offered by

regional telephone carriers. ISDN involves the digitization of the telephone network
to transmit voice, data, text, graphics, music, video, and other source material over
existing telephone wires.

Integrated Services . . .
The current telephone network uses a mixture of analog and digital transmission
methods and diverse access techniques and standards to provide different services:
Switched voice telephony
Centrex
Dedicated point-to-point data carrier
Packet-switched data carrier
Dedicated point-to-point digital carrier
Future telephone networks will also provide full-motion video, voice/video/graphics
conferencing, high-speed facsimile, and electronic mail. ISDN integrates all these
services by providing a small set of standard interfaces and access protocols that
apply to all services. Because ISDN is an international standard, the same
interfaces and access protocols should be available anywhere in the world, across
international boundaries, and among equipment from any set of vendors.
. . . Digital . . .
ISDN provides all of its services over an entirely digital transmission system. In
pre-ISDN telephony, only interoffice trunks and certain high-capacity dedicated
customer circuits use digital transmission. ISDN employs digital transmission from
the customer-premises equipment (CPE; i.e., telephones, data terminals, fax
machines, etc.), through the local access loop , and across the carrier's trunk
network. All central- and end-office switching is performed by digital switches, and
all signaling (call establishment, "dial tone," ringing, on-hook/off-hook, service
requests) occurs through digital protocols.
. . . Network..
Finally, ISDN defines a NETWORK, not a loose collection of standards for private-
line services.
Ultimately, ISDN defines a single worldwide fabric of transmission and switching
services operating under a common set of standards, with control distributed
among all the various operating companies and national telecommunications
authorities.