Next generation network services: technologies and strategies

Neill Wilkinson9780471486671, 0-471-48667-1

‘Next Generation’ refers to the new technologies and services that telecommunications operators will have at their disposal as they create new 3G networks where voice and data converge and which are based on packet switched rather than circuit switched telephony.Providing a much needed overview of the latest communication technologies and describing the influences of the so-called “next generation” networks on telecommunication operators’ environments, this text begins with a very brief history of telecommunications, and explains how the advent of the internet has changed the way people think about communications. The book is split into three parts:1. Technologies: Describes the different technologies that are influencing the change from circuit switched to packet switched telephony. Covers Media Gateway Control (MEGACO), application service provision, models for management, mobile and fixed technologies such as Digital Subscriber Line and GPRS.2. Services: Explains the new services that are made possible by the new technologies, and how they improve on current services. This section also brings in important techniques from software engineering (such as application frameworks) and shows how they may be used to create flexible network architectures.3. Going Forward: The effects of all the recent changes on the telecommunications operators, and how it is possible to capitalise on this. Roadmaps provide a picture of the state of the industry in six months, one year and three years’ time.· Presents overviews of all the new technologies and services, demonstrating how they interrelate· Written by a consultant with a wide experience of installing networks, as well as advising on network strategies for companies including Marconi, BT, IPL, Mercury, BTCellnet and Cable & Wireless· Coverage includes Internet connectivity, e-commerce, call centres, application service provision, UMTS, WAP, billing, security and directory enable networksA leading edge reference resource for telecommunications network managers, network strategists and designers.

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Table of contents :
Book Cover……Page 1
Information……Page 4
Dedications……Page 5
Table Of Contents……Page 7
The mother of invention……Page 11
Motivation for the book……Page 12
How to read this book……Page 13
INTRODUCTION……Page 14
1.1 THE EVOLUTION OF CIRCUIT SWITCHING……Page 16
1.2 SIGNALLING – COMMUNICATING BETWEEN SWITCHING POINTS……Page 23
2.1 INTRODUCTION……Page 32
2.2 VOICE DIGITISATION……Page 33
2.3 PLESIOCHRONOUS DIGITAL HIERARCHY……Page 38
2.4 SYNCHRONOUS DIGITAL HIERARCHYAND SYNCHRONOUS OPTICAL NETWORKS……Page 40
2.5 DYNAMIC SYNCHRONOUS TRANSFER MODE (DTM)……Page 42
2.6 WAVE DIVISION MULTIPLEX……Page 43
3.1 INTRODUCTION……Page 46
3.2 FUNCTIONAL COMPONENTS……Page 48
4.1 INTRODUCTION……Page 54
4.2 MOBILE NETWORK ARCHITECTURE AND COMPONENTS……Page 57
4.3 BEYOND GSM, THE PATH TO UMTS……Page 61
5.1 INTRODUCTION……Page 66
5.2 BASIC INTERNET PROTOCOL……Page 69
5.3 MOBILE IP……Page 75
5.4 TRANSMISSION CONTROL PROTOCOL……Page 76
5.5 USER DATAGRAM PROTOCOL……Page 77
5.6 MULTIMEDIA TRANSPORT……Page 78
5.7 IP APPLICATION SIGNALLING PROTOCOLS……Page 81
6.1 INTRODUCTION……Page 98
6.2 INTEGRATED SERVICES DIGITAL ACCESS……Page 99
6.3 DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER LINE……Page 101
6.4 LEASED LINES AND OTHER FIXED LINE SERVICES……Page 104
7.1 INTRODUCTION……Page 106
7.2 ASYNCHRONOUS TRANSFER MODE……Page 107
8.1 INTRODUCTION……Page 112
8.2 (X) HTML……Page 113
8.3 XML……Page 114
8.4 VOICEXML……Page 118
8.5 SOAP, UDDI AND WSDL……Page 119
8.6 IPDR……Page 123
8.7 CALL PROCESSING LANGUAGE……Page 124
9.1 Introduction……Page 128
9.2 Domain Name System (DNS)……Page 129
9.3 X.500 and LDAP……Page 131
9.5 Other directory technologies and ideas……Page 132
INTRODUCTION……Page 134
10.1 INTRODUCTION……Page 136
10.2 EXAMPLE EXISTING SERVICES AND HOW THEY WORK……Page 137
10.3 SOFTSWITCHES AND APPLICATION SERVERS……Page 139
10.4 THE FUTURE OF IN……Page 141
10.5 VOICE-BASED SERVICES……Page 148
11.1 INTRODUCTION……Page 158
11.2 COMPUTER TELEPHONY INTEGRATION……Page 159
11.3 THE FUTURE FOR CTI……Page 164
12.1 INTRODUCTION – THE MOVE TO HOSTED SERVICES……Page 168
12.2 PRESENCE……Page 170
12.3 APPLICATION FRAMEWORKS……Page 172
13.1 INTRODUCTION……Page 180
13.2 THE NEXT – GENERATION NETWORK ARCHITECTURE……Page 181
13.3 A SERVICE EXAMPLE……Page 183
INTRODUCTION……Page 186
14.1 TOO MUCH TOO SOON?……Page 188
14.2 WHERE TO NOW?……Page 189
14.3 STRATEGIES FOR MAKING IT HAPPEN……Page 192
14.4 HOW LONG AND HOW MUCH?……Page 195
References and Further Reading……Page 200
Glossary……Page 202
Index……Page 206