Northern UTA220/UTA220k manual Chapter ISDN, Isdn Basics, ISDN Standards, National ISDN

ISDN

Chapter 4

ISDN

This chapter provides information to help you set up and use your Terminal Adaptor (TA). For users unfamiliar with TAs, some fundamental Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) concepts are presented first. If you are already familiar with ISDN you may skip over this section, but the ISDN Switches and the ISDN Addresses and Identifiers sections contain information pertinent to the switch configuration of the TA and should be reviewed.

ISDN BASICS

ISDN is a global system that provides a variety of high-speed digital telecommunication services including voice, data, images, and video, integrated on one network. As ISDN evolves it will provide the same types of services as the existing analog networks (voice and low-speed data), plus new services made possible by recent advances in computers and digital data communications.

ISDN is based on standards that define the interfaces between the network and the equipment connected to it. This standardization permits communication between ISDN systems and equipment manufactured by different vendors world wide.

ISDN Standards

ISDN standards are set by the International Consultative Committee for Telegraph and Telephone (CCITT), an organization that establishes communications recommendations under the auspices of the United Nations.

Because ISDN technology advances faster than the CCITT can establish standards, a number of de-facto standards have been developed by manufacturers of telephone equipment. While these set the precedence for CCITT standards eventually agreed to, there are enough differences that those who set up ISDN equipment (such as TAs) must be aware of them.

National ISDN

The U.S.A. and Canada have an ISDN standard for North America called National ISDN. The first version of this standard, National ISDN One (NI-1), is being adopted by equipment manufacturers and network providers. When fully deployed, NI-1 will make understanding and configuring ISDN equipment easier and more efficient.

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