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TC32 - Communication, networks and systems interconnection

Overview of Work in TC32

TC32 and its Task Groups are currently undertaking the following activities:

• Private Integrated Services Networks (PISNs)
• Computer Supported Telecommunications Applications(CSTA)
• IP-based multimedia communications in a business environment
• Near Field Communication(NFC)

Private Integrated Services Networks (PISNs)

PISNs have formed the basis of voice communication in the enterprise environment since the mid 1980s. Based on ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) technology, a PISN provides circuit-switched connectivity at rates based on 64 Kbit/s in support of voice, fax, data, low-speed video, etc. A PISN comprises inter-connected Private Integrated services Network eXchanges (PINXs) (e.g., PBXs). Interconnection is achieved by various means such as leased lines or via public ISDNs.

Work in TC32 has resulted in the publication of Ecma Standards and Technical Reports and ongoing work on the following aspects of PISNs:

• architecture;
• scenarios for the interconnection of PINXs;
• numbering and addressing in PISNs;
• services in PISNs;
• inter-PINX signalling - "QSIG";
• signalling for PISN access - "SSIG".

TC32-TG14 has undertaken these topics.

Most of TC32 publications have been contributed to ISO/IEC JTC1 and have resulted in the publication of corresponding fully-aligned International Standards by ISO and IEC and endorsing ENs or ETSs by ETSI 

In addition, TC32 has addressed Broadband (PISNs) based on Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM). Ecma has published Standards on services in B-PISNs and on inter-PINX signalling - "B-QSIG".

Computer Supported Telecommunication Applications (CSTA)

CSTA is a standardized Computer-Telephony Integration (CTI) interface that provides "third party" interactions between computer applications and a telecommunication network (e.g., a PISN). "Third party" means that the computer application is not constrained to act on behalf of just a single telephone user. CSTA is specified in a number of Ecma publications. The specification focuses on the needs of private telephony networks but also takes into account the requirements of other public and private networks.

The current "phase III" version of the specification was published by ISO and IEC in July 2000. An XML version of the CSTA protocol was published by Ecma in June 2001.

Ongoing work in TC32-TG11 includes the use of CSTA with Voice over Internet Protocol (IP) (e.g. H.323 and SIP protocols) and the use of CSTA to support multimedia communications (including email and chat).

IP-based multimedia communications in a business environment

TC32-TG17 was formed in mid-1999 and is focusing on the interoperation of PISNs and Internet Protocol (IP) Networks for voice or multimedia communications, with emphasis on the following aspects:

• interworking of PISNs and IP networks via a gateway, including QSIG-H.323 and QSIG-SIP interworking
• connection of PISN components via IP network infrastructures (i.e., QSIG tunnelling over TCP/IP, over H.323 or over SIP).

Already published are a Technical Report, TR/81, analyzing the complex standards situation in this field, and five Ecma Standards (ECMA-307, ECMA-308, ECMA-309, ECMA-326 and ECMA-332) specifying supplementary service interworking between QSIG and H.323/H.450, and a further Ecma Standard (ECMA-333) for tunneling QSIG over H.323 networks. Work is in progress on further Standards for interworking between QSIG and H.323/SIP. Investigations are continuing into other aspects, including QSIG tunnelling over TCP/IP and SIP, mobility, security and SIP supplementary services.

Near Field Communication

TC32-TG19 was established in August 2002 to standardise the Interface and Protocol for Wireless Proximity Communication systems, the first Standard, ECMA-340 is titeled NFCIP-1.

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