LECTURE NOTES ON ISDN

ISDN
BRIEF ON SWITCHING
When many nodes or LAN’s are connected together in a large
scale, we have a WAN.
This may be world wide.
Because of the separation of the nodes, the Public Data
Network (PDN) is used. There are two main approaches to the
problem.
• Packet switching
• Circuit switching
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Packet switching
• Use Packet Switched PDN (PSPDN)
• Data is assembled into a packet and addressed to destination
• Packet is sent to Packet Switching Exchange (PSE)
• Packet is transmitted to destination via PSPDN
• Connection is purely logical not physical
• Nodes may have different data rates etc.
• Two services are provided
• Datagram: Like sending letter. One packet is addressed
and sent at a time with each packet being independent of
the others.
• Virtual call: Like a phone call. When many packets are to
be sent to the same address a virtual circuit is established.
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Circuit switching
• Use Circuit Switched PDN (CSPDN)
• Physical connection is established by CSE
• Nodes must all obey standard rates etc.

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 Packet switched Networks
Whole system based around the DTE to PSDN connection. The original
protocol used was X.25. Now see variations, eg Frame Relay etc.
Look at X.25 (CCITT): Interface between DTE and Data Circuit-Terminating
Equipment (DCE) for terminals operation in the Packet mode on Public Data
Networks

X.25 referred to OSI’s first three layers

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Packet switched Networks

X.25 addresses the interface between user’s equipment (DTE) and the
network. DTE comprises a computer, modem or line interfaces
X.25 provide a standard for accessing the WAN

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X.25’s Physical Layer
X.25 physical layer specifies the interface between the DTE and DCE, such
as physical and electrical characteristics of the media, the types of
connectors, etc.
It references the X.21 interface standard.
Support RS-232C

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X.25 layer 2 is defined by the Link Access Protocol-Balanced (LAPB)
It provides link access specifications for
• Frame composition
• Flow-control procedures
• Error-checking method

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X.25’s Packet Layer
X.25 packet layer specifies a virtual circuit service for transporting packets
across the packet-switched network
Two services:
• Permanent virtual circuit
• Virtual call

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 Circuit Switched Networks
This type of connection is concerned only with the X.21 protocol which is
used from end to end over a physical connection.
Call set up, data transfer and call clearing is handled by this protocol. HDLC
is used once again.

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 Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN)
ISDN was conceived as a way to combine many of our communication needs
into a system using the same standard techniques for each service.
The common usage of digitised analogue waveform paved the way for ISDN.
E. g., telephone cables carrying time division multiplexed digitised speech, ie,
Pulse Code Modulation (PCM)
This concept has been brought right back to the subscribers premises. If all
information out of a subscribers premises could be put into a standard form,
the it could be neatly packaged together and piped to its destination.

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 ISDN (Cont’d)
ISDN could supply a path for
•Telephone
•Fax
•Computer/Terminal connection
•Fire alarm
•Video phone
•HiFi music
•Video images
•Appliance control
•Meter reading
•LAN access …….
Let’s look at the adopted standard
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 ISDN – Channel Types (basic rate interface)
ISDN uses bearer or B channels for transmitting data, and a signaling or D
channel for transmitting signaling and control information
B Channel – 64kbps
•Digital voice, computer data(text and Graphics), digitised video
D Channel -- 16kbps
•Signaling, or packet switched user data such as telemetry, meter
reading (low speed)

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ISDN – Channel Types

A normal subscribers premises will be given a Basic Service

• 2  B channels
• 1  D channel
• 48 bits of overhead for framing and synchronisation
• Total 192 kbps
• Normally shielded pair to premises
• Premises may convert to a shielded 4 wire bus
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 ISDN – Channel Types
A B channel connection may be
• Circuit switched
• Data is sent over B channels
• Call setup and control on D channel
• Packet switched
• X.25 connection
• Semi-permanent
• Fixed connection to another user
• What used to be leased line
The first anticipated utilisation of the B channel was the telephone
(history has shown the internet has changed this)
• 4kHz speech BW
• Sampled at 8kHz
• 8 bits per sample (256 levels)
• 8k  8=64kbps same as PCM used now
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 ISDN – Channel Types (primary rate interface)
BRI is for home and small office, PRI is for organisations.

B Channel 64 kbps
Data and Voice
B Channel 64 kbps U.S. = 23
Data and Voice
ISDN Device .
.
. Europe = 30
B Channel 64 kbps
Data and Voice
D Channel 64 kbps
Signaling U.S. = 1
D Channel 64 kbps Europe = 2
Signaling

North American DS-1 format:

• Rate: 1.544Mbps
• 23B + D European
E-1 format:
• Rate: 2.048Mbps
• 30B + 2D
How does the user obtain access to the system
The Network Terminating Equipment (NTE) supplied will
have a number of access points.
How is control of the channels performed
All control procedures are performed on the D channel, A B
channel will then be assigned to a device, thus no contention
will occur.
Contention may occur on the D channel as all of the devices
may try to access this channel. Before transmitting, a device
must listen for a long string of consecutive 1’s (idle channel).
When busy, 0’s are inserted into long 1 strings. Collision may
still occur so a protocol similar to CSMA is adopted.
Connection overview
The interface protocol is broken into 2 planes
• C-plane Control and signalling (D channel)
• U-plane User, voice & data (B channel)
The amount of intelligence required in the NTE depends on the
type of connection. C frame complexity is the same for all
connections but U frame alters.
(a)CIRCUIT SWITCHING
(a) Packet switching

(a) Frame relay/frame switching

X.25
With X.25, multiplexing of multiple virtual circuits is handled
by the packet layer and the link layer handles only error
correction. This makes these combined layers complex which
limits the throughput.
With frame relay, multiplexing and routing are done at the link
layer. This simplifies the protocol which allows greater
throughput.
Using this technique many ‘calls’ may be in progress ar any
time. Each virtual connection is allocated an identifier whichi
is included in the header.
Example connection – digital telephone call

Circuit mode
connection
control
ISDN Fax
At present our FAX system operates predominantly around
the Group 3standard. This allows up to 9600bps of modulated
data over a PSTN line. This group will transmit a page in
approximately 30 secs
Group 4 FAX is intended for ISDN usage and is purely a
digital system operating at 64kbps. The source is encoded
with Huffman codes
Resolution is 200dpi with options for 240, 300 and 400 dpi.
These are laser printer type resolutions. Group 4 can send a
page in approximate 3-4 secs.
Broadband ISDN (B-ISDN)
Data hungry users require more and more bps for many applications
To serve this need a faster service called B-ISDN was introduced.
Ordinary ISDN is now often called Narrowband ISDN (N-ISDN)

Services are broken into two types, Interactive and Distributive.

B-ISDN
Interactive
Conversational: Real time services such as telephone calls, video
telephony etc.
Messaging: Non real time services such as voicemail, data mail,
video mail etc.
Retrieval: Services requiring action from both end, eg. Retrieving
video from a videotex provider.

Distributive
Services from providers to subscribers issuing a request.
User control: Service where subscriber needs to enable
acceptance of service eg. Pay TV where programs are sent in defined
time slots.
No user control: Data is supplied at providers discretion without
control of subscriber, eg. TV broadcast to premises.
B-ISDN (Physical Specifications)
Typically 3 types of service are available
Symmetrical 155.529 Mbps: For businesses requiring normal traffic in
and out including video where a N-ISDN service in not suitable
155.520Mbps/622.080 Mbps: For businesses requiring access to multiple
services but who are not service providers.
Symmetrical 622.080 Mbps: For businesses who provide and receive
services.

Reference points for B-ISDN are similar to those for N-ISDN

B-ISDN is the basis for ATM