communications standards review - Linda Hall Library

COMMUNICATIONS STANDARDS 

REVIEW 

TELECOMMUNICATIONS 

Volume 9, Number 8 November-December 1998 

In This Issue 

The following reports of recent standards meetings represent the view of the reporter 

and are not official, authorized minutes of the meetings. 

ITU-T SG16, Multimedia, September 14 – 25, 1998, Geneva, Switzerland....................................................2 

WP 1 Report..........................................................................................................................5 

WP 2 Report..........................................................................................................................5 

WP 3 Report..........................................................................................................................6 

Q1/16 WP2, Audiovisual/Multimedia Services................................................................................6 

Q2/16 WP2, Interactive Multimedia Information Retrieval Services (MIRS)...........................................7 

Q3/16 WP2, Data Protocols for Multimedia Conferencing.................................................................7 

Q4/16 WP1, Modems for Switched Telephone Network and Telephone Type Leased Lines..........................9 

Q5/16 WP1, ISDN terminal adapters, and interworking of DTEs on ISDNs with DTEs on other networks........10 

Q6/16 WP1, DTE-DCE Interchange Circuits...................................................................................11 

Q7/16 WP1, DTE-DCE Interface Protocols.....................................................................................12 

Q8/16 WP1, DCE-DCE Protocols................................................................................................13 

Q9/16 WP1, Accessibility to Multimedia for People with Disabilities..................................................13 

Q10/16 WP1, Modem Testing....................................................................................................15 

Q11/16 WP2, Circuit Switched Network (CSN) multimedia systems and terminals....................................16 

Q12/16 WP2, B-ISDN Multimedia Systems and Terminals.................................................................18 

Q13/16 WP2, Packet Switched Multimedia Systems and Terminals.......................................................19 

Q14/16 WP2, Common Protocols, MCUs and Protocols for Interworking with H.300-series Terminals.........24 

Q15/16 WP3, Advanced Video Coding..........................................................................................26 

Q16/16 and Q17/16, Multimedia Harmonization and Coordination......................................................28 

Q18/16 WP1, Interaction of high-speed voiceband data systems with signal processing............................30 

Q19/16 WP3, Extension to existing ITU-T speech coding standards at bit rates below 16 kbit/s..................31 

Q20/16 WP3, Audio and Wideband Coding in Public Telecommunication Networks..................................32 

Q21/16 WP3, Encoding of Speech Signals at Bit Rates Around 4-kbit/s................................................35 

Q22/16 WP3, Software and Hardware Tools for Standardization of Speech and Audio Coding Algorithms........37 

Q23/16 WP1, PCM Modems......................................................................................................38 

Meeting Roster of Study Group 16, September 14 – 25, 1998, Geneva, Switzerland..................................49 

ETSI TM6 Access Transmission Systems On Metallic Cables, September 21 – 25, 1998, Vienna, Austria............43 

HDSL (High-rate Digital Subscriber Loop).....................................................................................44 

ANAI (Access Network Architecture and Interfaces)..........................................................................44 

SDSL...................................................................................................................................45 

ADSL..................................................................................................................................47 

VDSL..................................................................................................................................48 

Working Party 1/15, Network Access, October 12 – 23, 1998, Geneva, Switzerland.......................................51 

WP1/15 Recommendations Approved at SG15................................................................................51 

WP1/15 Recommendations Determined at SG15..............................................................................51 

Q1/15, Access Network Transport...............................................................................................51 

Q2/15, Characteristics of Optical Systems in Local Access Networks...................................................54 

Q3/15, DCEs for Digital Leased Circuits.......................................................................................55 

Q4/15, DCEs for Subscriber Access Systems..................................................................................55 

WP1/15 Partial Meeting Roster, October 12 – 23, 1998, Geneva, Switzerland........................................64 

Acronym Definitions.....................................................................................................................68 

1998 and 1999 Standards Committee Meeting Schedules.........................................................................71 

November-December 1998 Vol. 9.8 Copyright © CSR 1998 1

COMMUNICATIONS STANDARDS REVIEW – TELECOMMUNICATIONS 

REPORT OF ITU-T SG16, MULTIMEDIA, SEPTEMBER 14 – 25, 1998, 

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND 

APPROVED RECOMMENDATIONS OF SG16 

The following Recommendations, ordered by Recommendation, were approved by Resolution 1 (Decision) at this 

meeting. 

Q Decided Recommendation Document(s) 

Q19 G.729, Coding of speech at 8 kbit/s using conjugate-structure algebraic-code-excited COM 16-45 + 

linear-prediction, Annex C, Floating point 

TD-16(PLEN) 

Q19 G.729, Coding of speech at 8 kbit/s using conjugate-structure algebraic-code-excited 

linear-prediction, Annex D, 6.4 kbit/s extension 

TD-43(PLEN)© 

Q19 G.729, Coding of speech at 8 kbit/s using conjugate-structure algebraic-code-excited 

linear-prediction, Annex E, 12 kbit/s extension, 11.8-kbit/s CS-ACELP speech coding 

algorithm 

TD-44(PLEN) 

Q12 H.222.0|ISO/IEC 13818-1 Amendment 5, Information Technology -- Generic Coding of 

Moving Pictures and Associated Audio Information: Systems 

COM 16-67 

Q13 H.225.0 Annex I, H.263+ Video Packetization COM 16-70 

Q11 H.226, H.multilink, Channel Aggregation Protocol for Multilink Operation on Circuit 

Switched Networks 

COM 16-62 

Q14 H.245v4, Control Protocol for Multimedia Communication: Support for H.multilink COM 16-59 

Q12 H.247, H.bmultipoint, Multipoint Extensions for Broadband Audiovisual Communication 

Systems and Terminals 

COM 16-69 

Q12 H.310 Version 2, Broadband Audiovisual Communication Systems and Terminals COM 16-68, + 

TD-15(PLEN) 

Q13 H.323 Annex D, Real Time Facsimile over H.323 COM 16-60 + 

TD-54(PLEN) 

Q11 H.324 Annex F, v2, Multilink Operation COM 16-61 

Q13 H.332, H.323 Extended For Loosely-Coupled Conferences COM 16-41 + 

TD-14(PLEN) 

Q4 V.8bis revised, Procedures for the Identification and Selection of Common Modes of COM 16-63 + 

Operation Between Data Circuit-Terminating Equipment (DCEs) and Between Data 

Terminal Equipment (DTEs) over the Public Switched Telephone Network and on Leased 

Point-To-Point Telephone-Type Circuits 

TD-58(PLEN) 

Q23 V.90, A Digital Modem and Analogue Modem Pair For Use on the Public Switched COM 16-64 + 

Telephone Network (PSTN) at Data Signalling Rates of up to 56 000 bit/s Downstream 

and up to 33 600 bit/s Upstream 

TD-6(PLEN) 

Table 1. Recommendations Approved (Decided) at SG16, September 1998. 

DETERMINED RECOMMENDATIONS OF SG16 

The following recommendations, ordered by Recommendation, were Determined at this meeting. Determination is 

the first step of the approval process. Determined recommendations are expected to be proposed for approval at the 

next SG16 meeting (May, 1999). 

Q Determined Recommendation Document(s) 

Q1 F.700 Annex B.2, Communication task conferencing TD-50(PLEN) 

Q1 F.700 Annex C.1, Control and processing element Conference control TD-50(PLEN) 

Q19 G.728 Annex H Corrigendum, Variable Bit Rate TD-CELP Operation Mainly for DCME at 

Rates Less Than 16 kbit/s 

TD-49(PLEN) 

Q19 G.728, Annex I, Frame or Packet Loss Concealment for the LD-CELP Decoder TD-48(PLEN) 

Q11 H.221, revised, Frame structure for a 64 to 1920 kbit/s channel in audiovisual teleservices TD-23(PLEN) 

Q12 H.222.0|ISO/IEC 13818-1 Amendment 6, Information technology – generic coding of 

moving pictures and associated audio information: systems 

TD-30(PLEN) 

Q11 H.223, Annex D, Optional multiplexing protocol for low bit rate multimedia 

communication over highly error prone channel 

TD-37(PLEN) 

Q13 H.225.0 Annex G, Gatekeeper to Gatekeeper Communications (Communication between 

Administrative Domains) 

TD-61(PLEN) 

Q11 H.230, revised, Frame-synchronous control and indication signals for audiovisual systems TD-20(PLEN) 

2 Vol. 9.8 Copyright © CSR 1998 November-December 1998


Q11 H.242, revised, System for establishing communication between audiovisual terminals 

using digital channels up to 2 Mbit/s 

TD-22(PLEN) 

Q14 H.245v5, Control protocol for multimedia communication TD-39(PLEN) + 

TD-28(PLEN) 

Q15 H.262, Amendment #5: Generic coding of video, High level for the 4:2:2 profile TD-26(GEN) 

Q3 H.282 (ex V.RDC), Remote device control protocol for multimedia applications TD-24(PLEN) 

Q14 H.283, (ex H.RDC) - Remote Device Control – Specific for H series recommendations 

requirements 

TD-38(PLEN)© 

Q11 H.320, revised, Narrow band visual telephone systems and terminal equipment TD-21(PLEN) 

Q13 H.323 Annex E (Call Connection over UDP) TD-47(PLEN) 

Q13 H.323 Annex F (Single Use Terminal) TD-51(PLEN) 

Q14 H.341, (ex H.Media MIB) - Multimedia management information base TD-27(PLEN)© 

Q13 H.450.4, Call Hold supplementary service for H.323 TD-34(PLEN) 

Q13 H.450.5, Call Park and Call Pickup supplementary services for H.323 TD-35(PLEN) 

Q13 H.450.6, Call Waiting supplementary service for H.323 TD-36(PLEN) 

Q13 H.450.7, Message Waiting Indication supplementary service for H.323 TD-40(PLEN) 

Q3 T.123rev, Network specific data protocol stacks for multimedia conferencing TD-26(PLEN)© 

Q3 T.136 (ex T.RDC), Remote device control application protocol TD-25(PLEN) 

Q8 V.14 Corrigendum , Transmission of Start-Stop Characters over Asynchronous Bearer 

Channels 

TD-32(PLEN) 

Q23 V.91 (V.adm), A digital modem for use on a switched digital network at data signalling 

rates of up to 64000 bit/s. 

TD-72(PLEN) 

Q5 V.120 Corrigendum, Support by an ISDN of DTEs with V-series type interfaces with 

provision for statistical multiplexing. 

TD-53(PLEN) 

Q7 V.250 revised, Serial Asynchronous Automatic Dialing and Control TD-56(PLEN) 

ADDITIONAL APPROVALS 

Table 2. Recommendations Determined at SG16, September 1998. 

The following documents were also approved by the SG16 Plenary. Approval of these documents does not involve 

the full Resolution 1 procedures, which are required for Recommendations. 

Q Approvals Document(s) 

Q11 H.223 Implementor Guide, Multiplexing protocol for low bit rate multimedia 

TD-41(PLEN) + 

communication: Support of Annex C ((??)) 

TD-55(PLEN) 

Q13 H.323 Implementors Guide for the ITU-T H.323, H.225.0, H.245, H.246, H.235, and 

H.450 Series Recommendations – Packet based multimedia communication systems 

TD-60(PLEN) 

Q11 H.324 Implementor Guide, Terminal for low bit rate Multimedia communication: 

Support of Annex D 

TD-29(PLEN) 

Q4 V.8 Addendum (additional codepoints), Procedures for Starting Sessions of Data 

Transmission over the PSTN 

TD-59(PLEN) 

Q4 V.17 Corrigendum (technical error), A 2-wire Modem for Facsimile 

Applications with Rates up to 14400 bit/s 

TD-33(PLEN) 

Q9 V.18 Appendix 3, Connection Procedures for Terminals Including V.18 

Functionality 

TD-73Corr(PLEN) 

Q9 V.18 Appendix 4, Specification of V.18 Implementation Tests TD-75(PLEN) 

Q9 V.18 Implementors Guide, Operational and Interworking Requirements for DCEs 

Operating in the Text Telephone Mode 

TD-74Corr(PLEN) 

Q23 V.90 Appendix, Typical Network Configuration TD-45(PLEN) 

Q7 V.250 Supplement, Serial Asynchronous Automatic Dialing and Control TD-57(PLEN)© 

Table 3. Additional Approvals at SG16, September 1998. 

SG16 GENERAL ISSUES 

SG16 has three Working Parties (WPs): 

WP Title Chair Mtg. Report 

WP1/16, Low Rate Systems J. Magill, Lucent (UK) TD-76(PLEN) 

WP2/16, Services & High Rate Systems F. Tosco, CSELT (Italy) TD-66(PLEN) 

WP3/16, Signal Processing S.F. Campos Neto, Comsat (US) TD-62(PLEN) 



Questions 16/16 and 17/16 are under SG16, not associated with a specific Working Party. 

SOFTWARE COPYRIGHT ISSUES 

Background - February 1998 meeting of SG16 

At the February 1998 meeting of SG16, the subject of the ownership of software copyright arose in relation to 

speech coding Recommendations. In particular, G.729 Annex C was to be approved at that meeting, but during the 

SG16 plenary, Germany opposed approval, and requested a further four weeks to consider their position, as allowed 

by Resolution No. 1 procedures. They had concerns about the procedures being used for the release of the C-code 

prior to approval. The C-code was only released to ITU members wishing to evaluate the code and who had signed a 

Software Release Letter (SRL). In the case of G.729 Annex C, there had been further administrative errors and 

Germany had only received the final code during the meeting. However, Germany’s prime concern was that the 

copyright for the C-code included in the Annex was retained by the authors rather than being transferred to the ITU. 

In view of the difficulties arising at the SG16 meeting, the Chairman of WP3/16, S. Campos Neto, led an e-mail 

discussion group on this subject in the interim period between SG16 meetings. 

During the four week period after the meeting, Germany confirmed their objection and the approval of G.729 Annex 

C failed. Their stated reasons were: 

• The copyright of the C-code is retained by the authors; 

• The need for a Note saying that the definition of the Voice Activity Detection (VAD) is for further study; 

• The need for text clearly stating that the C-code takes precedence over the text. 

Interim Period 

Some exchange of e-mail took place during the interim period but no conclusion was reached. Germany confirmed 

their position. This was followed by views from France, the UK, the University of Sherbrooke/Sipro Labs, and PictureTel. 

These were broadly in line and proposed that the ITU have a copyright policy similar to the existing patent 

policy, i.e., authors would not be required to transfer the copyright to the ITU, but could license free or on fair, 

reasonable and non-discriminatory terms. During this period it also became clear that the subject would be addressed 

the ITU-T TSAG (Telecommunications Standardization Advisory Group). 

Meeting of TSAG (Telecommunications Standardization Advisory Group) 

There were contributions to TSAG from Germany, UK, France, and the USA. These were in line with the positions 

discussed above, with the USA also supporting a copyright policy similar to the patent policy. The issue was addressed 

by an ad-hoc group chaired by the Director of the ITU TSB, Dr. T. Irmer. There was considerable discussion, 

but no support for the German position. The ITU Legal Department confirmed that they did not require transfer of 

copyright, but only a license to copy, distribute, sell, etc., and indeed would prefer not have the copyright to avoid 

any possible legal implications. The conclusion was a first draft of an ITU copyright policy which permitted free 

licensing, and licensing on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms (as for the patent policy), with the 

additional option of transfer of the copyright to the ITU. The policy also defined other obligations for the copyright 

holder, i.e., granting the ITU a royalty-free license to reproduce, publish, sell, and distribute the software; and 

granting users a free license for evaluation and test purposes; it was stated that the addition of other obligations was 

for further study. With this compromise in place, although it was recognized further work was required to complete 

the copyright policy, the Chairman of TSAG indicated his belief that there should now be no barrier to the approval 

of Recommendations because of copyright issues. This was endorsed by the TSAG meeting. TD-12(PLEN) is 

the report of the TSAG meetings on copyright and patents September 8 - 10, 1998. 

SG16 Plenary 

The approval of Recommendations, including G.729 Annexes C, D, and E, was considered at the SG16 opening 

Plenary session (September 15, 1998). The Recommendations were taken in Working Party order, thus the G.729 

annexes were at the end of the list (in WP 3). The French Administration was concerned that, despite the progress 

made at TSAG, the issue of copyright would still arise. They felt that it was not appropriate for SG16 to address, 

and would result in SG16 being inconsistent in its approach to the approval of Recommendations. As a result, 

when approval of the first Recommendation on the list was requested, France requested four weeks for further 

consideration, and noted that this applied to all Recommendations for approval. When approval of the G.729 

Annexes was requested, as expected by France, Germany requested delaying approval until the closing Plenary such 

that the TSAG compromise could be developed to define further obligations for copyright holders, i.e., the issue left 

for further study by TSAG. France strongly opposed this on the grounds that this was outside the scope of SG16 

considerations. After much debate, a compromise was reached in which words would be added to the Annexes stating 

simply that the issue of copyright for the C-code might be revised after TSAG had completed its work. On this 

basis, the Annexes were approved with France revoking its four week request for all the Recommendations. 


LIAISONS 


The next SG13 plenary meeting will take place February 15-26, 1999 in Geneva. 

TSAG guidelines on interoperability experiments are provided in TD-10(PLEN). This is a draft supplement 

laying out how the administrative procedures for interoperability testing should be carried out on a per 

recommendation basis. 

PRESS OFFICER 

M. Buckley (Lucent Technologies, “elemedia” Business Unit) was appointed to the new post of Press Officer for 

SG16. 

NEXT SG16 MEETING 

Study Group 16 received an invitation from the University of Chile and the Chilean Administration to hold the next 

meeting of SG16 in Santiago, Chile, May 18-28, 1999. This will follow a Multimedia seminar at this location on 

May 17, 1999, which is World Telecommunications Day. 

SG16 agreed to accept this invitation subject to confirmation being received by the SG16 management team that the 

necessary meeting facilities will be available. The Study Group also agreed that, as an exception, this meeting could 

take place in English without simultaneous translation into the other working languages. Translation into Spanish 

may be available during some sessions for the benefit of local attendees. 

If any problem arises such that the meeting in Chile cannot take place, the SG16 meeting will revert to the original 

dates, April 19-30, 1999, in Geneva. 

WP 1 REPORT 

The WP 1 report for this meeting is TD-76(PLEN). The WP 1 liaison statements are in TD-77(PLEN), the 

status report for WP 1 Recommendations in TD-78(PLEN), and a list of proposed WP 1 interim meetings is in 

TD-79(PLEN). 

REVISIONS TO QUESTIONS IN WP1/16 

The WP 1 Chairman (J. Magill, Lucent) pointed out the need to review the text of the Questions under study by 

WP1/16, considering the overlap in the studies of Q4/16 and Q23/16, and that some Questions received very few 

contributions. The following was proposed for consideration prior to the next SG16 meeting: 

• Combine all modem modulation issues in Q23/16, i.e., move the modulation study item from Q4/16 to Q23/16 

• Retain the other study items in Q4/16 

• Add to Q4/16 the responsibility for coordinating work on modem managed objects 

• Revise the titles of Q4/16 and Q23/16 accordingly 

Additionally, consideration should be given to whether the study of issues arising from the use of modems and ISDN 

TAs for connection to IP networks need to be added to Questions in WP1/16, and whether other existing Questions 

could be combined. 

WP 2 REPORT 

The WP 2 report of this meeting is contained in TD-66(PLEN), TD-67(PLEN) and TD-68(PLEN). TD- 

65(PLEN) is a list of documents composing the WP 2 report, TD-69(PLEN) are liaison statements, TD- 

70(PLEN) lists the WP 2 planned rapporteur meetings, and TD-71(PLEN) is the status report for WP 2 

Recommendations. 

WP 3 REPORT 

TD-62(PLEN) is the WP 3 report of this meeting; TD-63(WP3/16) lists the WP 3 liaison statements, and 

TD-64(WP3/16) is the WP 3 status report. 

AD-HOC GROUP ON TRUNKING/PACKETIZATION MATTERS 

A number of coded speech trunking and packetization activities are going on in different standard development 

organizations (SDOs); WP 3/16 established an ad-hoc group at this meeting to deal with the matter. 



The trunking/packetization ad-hoc group’s main action was to review the text of I.TRUNK, AAL type 2 service 

specific convergence sublayer for trunking, (I.366.2 developed under Q5/13, see TD-2(WP3/16)), where a number 

of packetizations were checked, and the necessary definitions for G.729 Annexes D (6.4 kbit/s) and E (11.8 kbit/s) 

which were approved at this meeting were identified. The suggested changes were provided in a liaison statement to 

SG13. 

TD-31(WP2/16) from the ATM Forum, which includes BTD-SAA-RMOA-01.04, H.323 media transport over 

ATM, was reviewed. This liaison also clarifies an earlier liaison from the ATM Forum. The ATM Forum’s 

method of transporting H.323 over ATM is intended to cover the typical scenario where the endpoints are on non- 

ATM IP networks as well as the scenario where the endpoints are on ATM networks. As this method is independent 

of the underlying network, it is the intention of the ATM Forum TC to not request any modifications to the H.245 

protocol. 

After review of TD-31(WP2/16), SG16 WG3 requested that a clarification be added in the opening paragraph of 

Annex A, Guidelines for choosing voice packet sizes, clarifying that the considerations in Annex A address efficiency 

aspects, which should be counterbalanced by the impact of packetization choice on the end-to-end delay. The group 

would also like to note that the packetization considerations could also be made for G.726 and G.727. Additionally, 

the embedded scheme available in G.727 could be efficiently used for network congestion control. TD- 

25(WP3/16) has the text of the proposed communication to the ATM Forum. 

Q1/16 WP2, AUDIOVISUAL/MULTIMEDIA SERVICES 

The Rapporteur of Q1/16 is Y. Robin-Champigneul (FT/CNET, France). The report of Q1/16 going into this 

meeting is TD-33(WP2/16). A rapporteur’s meeting is planned with Questions 16-17 in January 1999 in Tokyo. 

The ITU Reflector for Q1/16 is tsg16q1@itu.int 

RECOMMENDATION F.700 - FRAMEWORK RECOMMENDATION ON MULTIMEDIA SERVICES 

The list of control and processing elements (CPEs) was reviewed and slightly amended. The example of CPE 

description on conference control provided in D.182© (Y. Robin-Champigneul, France Telecom) was accepted and 

will be added to F.700 as a new Annex C.1. Its structure will be used for other CPE descriptions. Annex B.2 on 

the communication task conferencing has been revised accordingly. Final versions which were Determined appear in 

TD-50(PLEN). 

Amendments to Sections 1 and 3 of F.700 will be drafted before the next meeting in order to include the CPEs in the 

reference model. 

Section 2 (application scripts) was reviewed in the light of the amendments proposed in TD-24(WP2/16) (Y. 

Robin-Champigneul, France Telecom). The revised text of this Section is now complete and will be further 

discussed by correspondence if needed. The revised version of F.700 is planned for Determination at the next SG16 

meeting. 

Work on the Guide for Recommendation F.700 will be continued. Other CPEs descriptions will be drafted, 

beginning with Search control, Resource allocation, Call control and a CPE on security. 

DRAFT RECOMMENDATION F.MRS - MULTIMEDIA RETRIEVAL SERVICES 

The Editor for this recommendation has resigned because he is not able to attend the meetings any more. No other 

expert on retrieval services was present, so that the drafting is halted until a new editor can be found. 

APPLICATION SCRIPTS FOR MULTIMEDIA RETRIEVAL SERVICES 

The new application script provided by the Associate-Rapporteur was examined and accepted; it was decided to retain 

also the previous one because they are complementary. 

GII PROJECTS 

Question 1/16 will participate in the new GII Project M.3, Technical framework for electronic commerce, for which 

SG16 is now the lead SG. Electronic commerce is an application that mainly uses retrieval services. A document 

will be drafted describing the application. Its nature and relation to service descriptions will be decided later on. 

Question 1/16 will also participate in GII Project F.4, End-to-end interoperability, for which it is proposed to 

provide scenarios for interoperability of services and interoperability profiles. 



Additionally, the description of the CPE Conference control will be provided to GII Project M.4, Middleware for 

Multimedia, as a possible example of service-oriented middleware. See the Q16/17 report below for additional 

details. 

JOINT MEETING WITH QUESTION 9/16 

A joint meeting of Questions 1/16 and 9/16 examined the various cases of using multimedia conversational services 

for hearing impaired or visually impaired people. An application script will be drafted in order to show their 

particular needs. It will be taken into account in the drafting of the future Recommendation F.MCVS, Multimedia 

Conversational Services. 

Drafting of Recommendation F.MCVS - Multimedia Conversational Services, will start using the contents of 

Recommendation F.720 on the videotelephony service, and will take into account the script that will be provided by 

Question 9/16. 

Q2/16 WP2, INTERACTIVE MULTIMEDIA INFORMATION RETRIEVAL SERVICES (MIRS) 

The Q2/16 Rapporteur is M. Blaschitz (INFONOVA, Austria). No interim meetings are scheduled for Question 2. 

TD-83(WP2/16) is the Q2/16 meeting report. 

MODIFIED WORK PLAN FOR GII-PROJECT M.4 

TD-5(PLEN) is a report on the GII developments since the last SG16 meeting (see GII report above). A revised 

work plan was created which takes the middleware-related work of SG10 and SG13 into account and focuses on the 

areas which are not covered by these groups. 

Two liaisons (to Q24/13 and JRG on GII, SG10, SG13) noting the work in Q2/16 on the GII project M.4 were 

approved. 

MULTIMEDIA MIDDLEWARE 

TD-20(GEN) is a liaison from SG10 to JRG on GII and relevant SGs. It provides a detailed report on the 

middleware standardization activities in ITU-T SG4, SG7, SG10, SG13 and SG16 also ETSI, OMG (CORBA), 

ACTS, TINA-C, and EURESCOM. 

Q2/16 acknowledges the request, TD-19(GEN), from SG10 to focus on the definition of requirements for 

Multimedia Middleware. TD-42(PLEN) is a requirements document concerning the M.4 Project “Middleware for 

multimedia.” It is technically aligned with the DAVIC Specification 1.4 part 1 (Description of digital audio-visual 

functionalities, available at www.davic.org). It specifies required functions to implement different categories of 

multimedia systems supporting specific applications. It was approved to be sent as part of the liaison to JRG GII, 

SG10 and SG13. 

Q3/16 WP2, DATA PROTOCOLS FOR MULTIMEDIA CONFERENCING 

The Q3/16 Rapporteur is B. DeGrasse (DataBeam, USA). TD-56(WP2/16) is the agenda. TD-69(WP2/16) is 

the meeting report. Q3/16 plans to meet once in the interim, January 19-21, 1999 in California. TD- 

19(WP2/16) is the Q3/16 status report of the work since the last SG16 meeting. 

T.120 SECURITY REQUIREMENTS 

TD-25(WP2/16)©, Draft Rec. T.123, network-specific data protocol stacks for multimedia conferencing of the 

T.120- series of data protocols. The networks currently identified are: 

ISDN Integrated Services Digital Network 

CSDN Circuit Switched Data Network 

PSDN Packet Switched Data Network 

PSTN Public Switched Telephone Network 

B-ISDN Broadband ISDN 

LAN Local Area Network 

Communication profiles are specified which provide reliable point-to-point connections between a terminal and a 

multipoint control unit, between pairs of terminals, or between pairs of MCUs. In some cases, a lower protocol 

layer allows the multiplexing of audio, video signals in addition to data connections. In other cases, separate calls, 

over the same or a different network, may be established to carry audio or video signals. 



In addition, Annex B of T.123rev (Extended transport connections) specifies a protocol (based on X.224.0) that may 

be used to negotiate connection devices beyond reliable data transfer (e.g., security options). This protocol also 

provides for the use of alias lists when making a connection. Alias lists will allow proxy services for T.120 

communications to be created and used. 

TD-44(WP2/16) (P. Murphy, DataBeam) contains proposed changes to the Annex B ASN.1 by importing ASN.1 

structures it shares with other protocols rather than replicating them. It was accepted. 

TD-45(WP2/16) (P. Murphy, DataBeam) contains a method for performing segmentation and reassembly for the 

unreliable PSTN profile described in section 8.2.2 of T.123rev Annex B. It was accepted. 

Q3/16 discussed additional security requirements for the T.120 series of recommendations. An ad hoc group met, and 

made recommendations. Q3/16 then proposed a three step, phased approach for addressing the security issues of 

T.120 series recommendations. 

Phase 1: Securing T.120 entities against outsiders attacking from the network. This first phase security provides 

security countering the most crucial network security threats. Phase one focuses on the lower T.120 communication 

layers (T.123) and attempts to provide at least some solutions in particular cases by using available security 

standards as appropriate for securing T.120 conferences (e.g., IETF’s Transport Layer Security Protocol TLS for 

unicast Internet IP). Thus, basic security is provided to protect T.120 conferences against intruders attacking a 

conference from the outside. 

Phase 2: Securing the T.120 infrastructure target (MCS, GCC and MAP) countering weaknesses within a node and 

inside a conference. 

Phase 3: Security for and within the T.120 applications and security against insider attackers (e.g., securing T.128). 

Contributions are requested. 

T.123rev was Determined as TD-26(PLEN)©. 

REMOTE DEVICE CONTROL 

D.207©, V.RDC (A. Woollett, ImageCom), describes the core services and protocol for performing configuration 

and control of a remote device during a multimedia conference. This recommendation does not specify the use of a 

particular transport protocol. 

D.208©, T.RDC (A. Woollett, ImageCom), describes how remote device control may be performed using T.120 as 

the transport protocol. The core remote device control services and protocol are described in D.207©. 

TD-22(WP2/16), H.RDC (M. Duckworth, PictureTel), describes how the core remote device control services 

work with systems using packet switched networks. It defines a new Data Link Protocol to carry Common RDC 

(that part of RDC common to both T.120 and H.323) within UDP over an H.245 logical channel. 

Q3/16 accepted D.207© and D.208© with minor editing changes and agreed to submit them for Determination. 

These draft recommendations with the agreed to editing changes were Determined as H.282, TD-24(PLEN) 

(V.RDC), and T.136, TD-25(PLEN) (T.RDC). 

BINTERMS CONSORTIUM PRESENTATION 

J. Korinthios (Teletel, Greece), on behalf of the BINTERMS Consortium, made a presentation about the activities 

carried out in the BINTERMS (Basic Interoperability of Terminals for Telematic Services) Project. 

This Project, supported by the European Union ISIS (Information Society Initiatives in Standardization) Program, 

validates key components of the T.120 protocol specifications for functional and syntactic completeness, using an 

SDL representation of the MCS (Multipoint Communication Service) and GCC (Generic Conference Control). It 

also produces detailed test specifications (ATS–Abstract Test Suite) for MCS and GCC, using TTCN (Tree and 

Tabular Combined Notation). The BINTERM web site (www.solinet.com/binterms) provides copies of the 

deliverables including a report of the T.120 aspects of unsuccessful and/or illegal behavior. TD-66(WP2/16) 

contains a draft liaison to the BINTERM project thanking them for their excellent presentation and their deliverables. 

Q3/16 members are asked to review the deliverables with the view to improving the current work. 



VIRTUAL MEETING ENHANCEMENTS 

No contributions were received on this issue. 

Q4/16 WP1, MODEMS FOR SWITCHED TELEPHONE NETWORK AND TELEPHONE TYPE LEASED 

LINES 

The Rapporteur for Q4/16, D. Stuart (3Com), had to leave the meeting early due to other work; L. Brown 

(Motorola), Rapporteur for Q23/16, agreed to chair the Q4/16 sessions. 

As D. Stuart is also Rapporteur for Q4/15 (DSL) which is a very active Question, he felt no longer able to continue 

as Rapporteur for Q4/16. WP1 agreed that B. Adams (Hayes, USA) would take over as Rapporteur for Q4/16. With 

the revisions to the scope of Q4/16 (see WP1 Report, above), it would include the responsibility for 

Recommendations V.8, V.8bis, V.70 and V.75, thus eliminating the need for the Associate Rapporteurs L. Brown 

and C. Hansen (Intel). 

L. Brown (Motorola ISG, USA) is the Q4/16 Associate Rapporteur for V.8 and V.8bis. The V.8-V.8bis agenda is 

TD-18(WP1/16). TD-16(WP1/16) is the report of the Red Bank, New Jersey, V.8/V.8bis interim Rapporteur 

meeting, May 1998. One interim Rapporteur’s meeting is planned for December 7-10, 1998 in California to 

progress the work on a draft Appendix to V.8bis on V.8/V.8bis interworking, and to progress the work on managed 

objects for modem diagnostics. 

REVISIONS TO V.8 

TD-2(WP1/16) is a liaison from SG8 requesting the assignment of a V.8 information category for their use, 

similar to the existing SG8 codepoint category in V.8bis. The group agreed to assign a new information category to 

SG8 for their use. The assignment of this new information category is included in an Addendum to V.8, TD- 

59(PLEN), that ws approved by the SG16 plenary. The liaison reply is in TD-60(WP1/16). 

REVISIONS TO V.8BIS 

Q4/16 held a joint meeting with Q9/16. See the Q9/16 report for further discussion. The group considered the 

following documents: 

D.153©, Comments on V.8 and V.8bis Related to V.18 (A. Farquharson, BT) 

TD-25(WP1/16), Proposals for Changing the Way V.18 uses V.8 and V.8bis (A. Farquharson, BT) 

TD-28(WP1/16), Modification Proposals to V.8bis COM 16-63 (G. Hellström, Q9/16 Rapporteur) 

TD-29(WP1/16), Use of V.8bis for Multifunction Terminals (G. Hellström, Q9/16 Rapporteur) 

As a result of discussion in the joint meeting, the group approved a minor clarifying editorial amendment to the draft 

of V.8bis (COM 16-63); it was approved (Decided) at the SG16 closing plenary. These amendments are detailed in 

TD-58(PLEN). The group also agreed to work on an Appendix for V.8bis describing interworking scenarios for 

multifunction devices that support V.8 and/or V.8bis. 

RECOMMENDATIONS V.70 AND V.75 

There were no contributions on this topic and no discussion. No interim meetings are required. 

MODEM MANAGED OBJECTS 

D.210© (F. Lucas, USA) proposes that SG16 define a set of managed objects for modem diagnostics, and asks under 

which Question the work should be progressed. The group agreed that this work should progress primarily under 

Q4/16. K. Chu (Rockwell, USA) was appointed as the editor for this work. D.198©, Managed Objects for Modem 

Diagnostics (K. Chu, Rockwell), provides an initial basis for discussion. 

V.17 CORRECTIONS 

D.218 points out two typographical errors in Recommendation V.17: one in Table 3 bridge signal/resync and one in 

para 3.7 circuit 109 off threshold. The group generated a corrigendum, in TD-33(PLEN). TD-54(WP1/16) is a 

liaison to SG8 informing them of the corrections to V.17. The corrections were approved by the SG16 plenary. 



Q5/16 WP1, ISDN TERMINAL ADAPTERS, AND INTERWORKING OF DTES ON ISDNS WITH 

DTES ON OTHER NETWORKS 

The Q5/16 rapporteur is J. Moughton (Hayes, UK). TD-27(WP1/16) is the Q5/16 Agenda. The main activity of 

the meeting consisted of reviewing the proposed revisions to V.110, which resulted from problems of interpretation 

of the existing text. In addition there was continued liaison with SGs 11 and 13 in order to maintain the alignment 

of various V-series Recommendations with those that are the responsibility of the other study groups. Also, it was 

agreed to update V.130 (ISDN terminal adaptor framework) to add information on interworking with DTEs on other 

networks, in particular those connected to PCM digital networks. 

TD-1(WP/1) is a liaison statement from SG13. It notes that the revisions requested by SG16 for Recs. I.460 

(ISDN user-network interfaces - Multiplexing, rate adaption and support of existing interfaces) and I.464 (ISDN usernetwork 

interfaces - Multiplexing, rate adaption and support of existing interfaces for restricted 64 kbit/s transfer 

capability) had been incorporated into the Recommendations which were Determined at the SG13 meeting in June 

1998. 

TD-11(GEN) is a liaison from SG11. SG11 had made some of the requested amendments to Q.931 (ISDN usernetwork 

interface layer 3 specification for basic call control). However, the request for new modem type code points 

had not been implemented, apparently due to the belief that new user rate code points (in short supply) were also 

needed. The meeting drafted TD-26(WP1/16) in reply. 

TD-26(WP1/16) explains that the addition to Q.931 of new modem type code points does not necessarily imply 

the addition of new user rate codepoints and so the present shortage of the latter need not delay the allocation of the 

former. It repeats the request for code points for V.32bis, V.18 and V.90 (analog and digital) modems. 

V.110 - PROPOSED REVISION 

V.110 is titled, Support of data terminal equipments with V-series type interfaces by an integrated services digital 

network. TD-8(WP1/16), V.24 control circuit handling in V.110-based products (J. Moughton, UK), discusses 

some problems that have been encountered (by Vodafone in the UK) in the interpretation of V.110, both in 

implementations and in derivative GSM standards. These problems cause unexpected and unwanted clearing of 

mobile data calls. TD-9(WP1/16), Draft revised Recommendation V.110 (J. Moughton, UK), is a proposed 

revised text of V.110 in which the areas of confusion are clarified. In order to allow members to examine the text 

and consider the impact on compatibility with existing equipment, it is proposed that Determination of any revisions 

should take place at the next meeting of SG16. In the interim, the work will be progressed by correspondence. In 

addition to the changes proposed in TD-9(WP1/16), it was suggested that the structure of the document should be 

brought more into line with current ITU-T practice. 

V.120 PROPOSED AMENDMENT 

Q5/16 accepted D.147© (D. Moughton, UK), a proposal that the lists of modem type and user rate code points in 

V.120 (Support by an ISDN of data terminal equipment with V-series type interfaces with provision for statistical 

multiplexing) should be replaced by references to Q.931, thus ensuring consistency with any future revisions of 

Q.931. The changes will be published as a corrigendum (TD-53(PLEN)). TD-53(PLEN) was Determined by 

SG16. 

V.130 PROPOSED REVISION 

Q5/16 agreed that V.130 should be revised to add information on interworking between DTEs attached to the ISDN 

and DTEs on other networks, in particular those connected to PCM digital networks. 

V.140 - ALIGNMENT OF FRENCH AND ENGLISH TEXTS 

The Rapporteur informed Q5/16 that the French text for V.140 (Procedures for establishing communication between 

two multiprotocol audiovisual terminals using digital channels at a multiple of 64 or 56 kbit/s) differed in some 

details from the original English text. The TSB has been notified and the errors in translation will be corrected. 

Q6/16 WP1, DTE-DCE INTERCHANGE CIRCUITS 

The Q6/16 Rapporteur is R.R. Damm (Deutsche Telekom, German). TD-20(WP1/16) is the agenda. 

Q6/16 and Q7/16 had been given permission to hold up to four interim meetings to define new interface 

Recommendations in support of the work on xDSL equipment under Q4/15. The Rapporteur for Q4/15 gave a 



verbal update on this issue to the WP1 Plenary. He thanked the Rapporteurs for Q6/16 and Q7/16 for attending the 

meetings of Q4/15, and reported that SG15 had concluded that no new interface Recommendations were required at 

this time. As a result no interim meetings of Q6/16 and Q7/16 took place. 

DTE-DCE INTERFACES FOR XDSL MODEMS 

The Rapporteur reported that he had participated in four Q4/15 Interim Meetings on behalf of Q6/16. He had 

submitted to Q4/15 a contribution summarizing candidate interfaces for xDSL equipment, but it was decided by the 

Q4/15 group not to reference any particular type of DTE-DCE interface in draft Recommendations G.lite and G.dmt. 

FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION OF INTERFACES 

D.172© (G. Sebek, France Telecom) expresses concern that the necessary functional description of adaptation 

functions associated with a number of increasingly used interfaces like G.703 (Physical/electrical characteristics of 

hierarchical digital interfaces, supporting PDH/SDH/ATM structures), G.703/G.704 (Synchronous frame structures 

used at 1544, 6312, 2048, 8488 and 44736 kbit/s hierarchical levels), 10BASE-T, 100BASE-T (ISO/IEC 8802-3), 

ATMF 25.6 are not dealt with in present ITU-T work. Such work should include, according to France Telecom: 

• Physical aspects 

• Functional aspects (including timing, control, protocol and maintenance requirements such as control of test 

loops) 

• Necessary primitives from/to core or transmission functions of the DCE 

• End-to-end aspects (e.g., Quality of Service [QoS] checking and report) 

It was further suggested that SG16 define an action plan to cover the necessary specification for a number of 

additional DTE-DCE interfaces like the ones mentioned above. 

Q6/16 feels that such work would involve not only SG16 but also other Study Groups, e.g., those dealing with 

QoS, and that some sort of coordination or supervision would be necessary. The discussion was inconclusive; it was 

noted that the contribution also addressed Questions 7/16 and 8/16. Further contributions were invited. 

REVISION OF RECOMMENDATION V.24 

D.167© and D.167 Amendment 1 (R.R. Damm, Deutsche Telekom) contain a proposal for a substantial revision of 

Recommendation V.24, including, among other things, the deletion of a number of interchange circuits, the addition 

of statements as to the sensitivity of control and indication circuits and a restructure of the Recommendation. One of 

the circuits proposed for deletion was cct. 128 (Received signal element timing [DTE source]). After a short 

discussion, it was decided that this be retained, and its definition be expanded so as to include its application for data 

flow control, specified in the new Recommendation V.43 (Data flow control). 

Given the amount of other changes, it was decided that the proposals be discussed in the National Standardization 

Bodies with the intention to Determine a revised Recommendation V.24 at the next meeting of SG16. 

J. P. Blin (France Telecom) suggested one new interchange circuit to be included in V.24, tentatively referred to as 

“Transmitted character timing (DTE source)”. One application of this circuit, for which there is already a need, is for 

video conferencing equipment. J.P. Blin envisaged a contribution from France Telecom to be submitted to the next 

meeting, wherein the requested functionality of the circuit would be specified. It was noted that 

• The definition of a complementary circuit, i.e., cct. 131 “Received character timing,” where the DCE is the 

source, already exists and has been in Recommendation V.24 for a long time, 

• It may be worthwhile to define one more complementary circuit, “Transmitted character timing (DCE source)” in 

order to be prepared for future needs, 

• The work should be completed at the next meeting of SG16 in order to be able to Determine a revised version of 

V.24 at that time. 

ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS 

It was noted that a liaison statement requesting a similar circuit in Rec. X.24 (like the one requested by France 

Telecom) had been sent to SG7 from the last meeting of SG16, but that no response had been received. It was the 

feeling of the group that there might be no more experts on interfaces in SG7. The Rapporteur questioned whether it 

should be proposed to SG7 to transfer the responsibility for interface related X.-series Recommendations, i.e., X.20, 

X.20bis, X.21, X.21bis, X.24 and X.150 to Q6/16, so as to maintain maintenance of these Recommendations in 

future. There was support for the proposal and no objection. 



Q7/16 WP1, DTE-DCE INTERFACE PROTOCOLS 

The Q7/16 Rapporteur is F. Lucas (3Com, USA). TD-10(WP1/16) is the Q7/16 agenda. Q7/16 had been 

authorized to hold four interim meetings with Q4/15 and Q6/16, to progress work on interfaces for xDSL DCEs. 

These meetings were not held after Q4/15 decided not to include specific DCE-DTE interfaces in their draft 

Recommendations (TD-3(WP1/16)). 

REVISION OF V.250 (EX V.25TER, AT COMMANDS) 

Q7/16 met jointly with Q9/16 to consider two contributions to Q7/16 which also concerned Q9/16. See also the Q9 

report for additional details. D.211© (R. Brandt, US) proposes the addition of a third variable, Initiate probing, 

under the probing_en subparameter in the +MV18S command. The joint meeting discussed this proposal and 

accepted it. D.211© also proposes the addition of a new +MV18PS command to provide for the storing of the V.18 

probing message. It was pointed out that the +MV18AM command is already used for this function. The group 

agreed that, since it was not obvious that this command is used for the probing message, clarification of the wording 

of the Description and Defined values were needed. In addition, the value of the +MV18AM parameter was changed 

from to for clarity. The specific changes to V.250 are found in TD-36(WP1/16). 

D.149©, V.250 Supplement - Summary of Dial Modifier Characters (J. Moughton, Hayes), points out that the S 

dial modifier, referred to in the +ASTO command, is not defined in V.250. TD-12(WP1/16) (F. Lucas, Q7/16 

Rapporteur) provides the text for the S dial modifier that was originally presented at the September 1997 WP 1/16 

meeting in Sunriver, OR. The group agreed to add this text to V.250. TD-12(WP1/16) also suggests a correction 

to the +MR command and clarifications to the +ASTO command. Both of these suggestions were accepted. 

D.168© (R.R. Damm, Deutsche Telekom) proposes to look at the basic commands in V.250 and consider 

new/replacement commands which conform to the format of the newer, more complex command structure. There 

was discussion both in favor of and against this proposal; no decision was taken at this time. 

The latest published version of V.250 is V.25ter (07/97) which includes Annex A. At the January - February, 1998, 

Study Group 16 meeting, it was agreed to renumber V.25ter as V.250 and Annex A (DTE control of V.8/V.8bis) as 

V.251. The group agreed that it was time to incorporate the existing V.25ter Implementor’s Guide into a new 

V.250 and include the additions and changes considered at this meeting. The changes to V.250 are found in TD- 

36(WP1/16). Revised V.250 was Determined as TD-56(PLEN). 

REVISION OF THE SUPPLEMENT TO V.250 

D.149© (J. Moughton, Hayes) suggests the inclusion of a table for dial modifiers in the Supplement to V.250. The 

group agreed to add the dial modifiers. 

D.150© (J. Moughton, Hayes) provides the AT commands which were recently adopted by ETSI SMG. It was 

agreed to add these commands to the other GSM commands contained in the Supplement to V.250. 

TD-32(WP1/16), Draft 3, Revision of the Supplement to V.250, contains revisions from D.149© and D.150©. 

One editorial change was made to correct the title of the +MV18AM command in 4.7 to V.18 Answering Message 

editing. With this change, the Supplement to V.250 was approved as TD-57(PLEN)©. 

V.25I ISDN TA COMMANDS 

No contributions were submitted for consideration on this new draft Recommendation. The group agreed that a 

thorough review of the first draft, which was presented at the January- February 1998 meeting of Study Group 16 (as 

D.134, J. Moughton, Hayes), was needed. Comments and contributions were solicited by the Rapporteur with the 

desire to have the draft ready for Determination at the 1999 meeting of Study Group 16. 

FUTURE INTERFACES 

D.172© (G. Sebek, France Telecom) suggests that Study Group 16 consider the development of new DTE-DCE 

interfaces which might be subsets of such existing interfaces as 10BASE-T, ATMF 25.6, etc. The group considered 

this proposal and concluded that, since contributions are the driving force for progressing work, future contributions 

could initiate work on a new interface protocol. 

Q8/16 WP1, DCE-DCE PROTOCOLS 

The Q8/16 Rapporteur is W. Pechey, (Hayes, UK). TD-31(WP1/16) is the agenda. 



TD-23(GEN) from ITU-R (Y. Nakata, Fuji Television Network) provides a tutorial on the use of computer 

technology in television broadcasting applications and the potential integration of PCs and TVs. It discusses 

receiving equipment, broadcasting services, current display technology (e.g., WebTV), APIs, ISDN, NTT Open 

Computer Network, FTTH, NTT Pi system and MPEG standardization activities. 

D.172© (G. Sebek, France Télécom) had been considered at length in the Q6/16 meeting. It was not entirely clear 

what Q8/16 could do to help with the proposed work although G. Sebek explained that, for example, there would be 

a need to provide a data channel for management purposes in conjunction with various new types of DCE. The 

Rapporteur expressed doubts that the group had the skills necessary but it was agreed to wait for more specific contributions 

on the topic and then re-assess the situation. 

D.148© (J. Moughton, UK) points out that Recommendation V.14 specifically limits its use to rates not greater 

than 19.2 kbit/s. This is inappropriate now that V.14 is used in V.34 modems and ISDN TAs. It was agreed to remove 

the two references to the maximum rate as proposed in D.148©. The Rapporteur agreed to draft a 

Corrigendum. TD-32(PLEN) was approved by WP1 and SG16. 

It was agreed that maintenance of Recommendation V.14 be included in the list of Recommendations which are the 

responsibility for Q8/16. 

Q9/16 WP1, ACCESSIBILITY TO MULTIMEDIA FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES 

The Q9/16 Rapporteur is G. Hellström (Sweden). Q9/16 met not only individually, but in many joint sessions with 

different groups. TD-50(WP1/15) is the Q9/16 report of this meeting. 

V.18 

A test specification for the V.18 text telephone interworking modems was accepted. The procedures for using V.8 

and V.8bis for initial start-up of a text telephone session were clarified and documented. That means that it is now 

easier to merge text telephony and other multimedia features. Minor corrections to V.18 are now documented in a 

V.18 implementer’s guide. Specification of text conversation through diverse multimedia systems have made 

progress. It was agreed to work on text through H.320 with Q11/16 and on H.323 with Q13/16. 

The following documents were submitted to and approved by the SG16 final plenary: 

TD-73Corr(PLEN), V.18 Appendix 3: Connection procedures for terminals including V.18 functionality 

TD-75(PLEN), V.18 Appendix 4: Specification of V.18 implementation tests. Based on D.144© from BT, this 

document contains a set of tests for verification of a V.18 implementation. 

TD-74Corr(PLEN), V.18 Implementer’s guide, contains a number of corrections to V.18. 

DRAFT DOCUMENT INTENDED TO BE AN H.263 SUPPLEMENT 

TD-35(GEN), Draft H.263 Supplement, Application Profile: Sign Language and Lip-reading real time 

conversation usage of low bitrate video communication (G. Hellström, Q9/16 Rapporteur), is an informative guide 

for implementers who want to make video communication systems usable for sign language and lip-reading. The 

document will be proposed for approval at the next Study Group 16 meeting. 

SERVICE DESCRIPTION FOR MULTIMEDIA CONVERSATION SERVICES 

The theme of F.700 type service definitions was discussed jointly with Q1/16. The concept seems useful and 

needed, and Q9/16 would like to see Q1/16 activities used to create service descriptions. TD-30(GEN) (G. 

Hellström, Q9/16 Rapporteur) is a brief prose description of Multi-modal conversation. It was presented as a 

starting point for the general multimedia conversation service including features that make it accessible and valuable 

to people with disabilities. 

Application scripts for disability specific applications was discussed. G. Kelley (US) took on the task to produce a 

first proposal before mid November. 

TEXT CONVERSATION IN H.320, H.323, H.324, T.120 AND MOBILE 

Mobile The Liaisons to ETSI and a US group on mobile data asking to include V.18 in the mobile services 

interworking units to enable harmonized and interworking mobile text services have not been answered. A further 

opportunity to promote V.18 exists at an ETSI SMG 4 meeting directly after the SG16 meeting. 



The request for codepoint for V.18 in Q.931 mainly for mobile was answered negatively by SG11. Q5/16 handled 

the repetition of the request (TD-26(WP1/16)). H.324/M or H.323/M are feasible protocols for future mobile 

text conversation. These protocols can be used without video to give simultaneous text and voice. 

Q9/16 had the opportunity to describe to ETSI SMG what is needed to make UMTS (Universal Mobile 

Telecommunications System) multimedia services accessible. A draft document was released that describes the 

requirements for successful application in the area of video communication for sign language and lip reading. It is 

called an application profile and is a joint action with Q15/16. 

In a meeting of ETSI SMG 1, 4, and 12, the Q9/16 Rapporteur presented an overview of accessibility to UMTS 

services, indicating a need and solutions for text conversation, video quality of service for sign language and lip 

reading, retrieval services with alternative presentation forms and call control procedures with alternative presentation 

forms. 

R. Cox (AT&T) presented a method to transmit data in the voice channel of mobile systems by using an extension 

to the audio coding packet. Q9/16 found it valuable to know that this opportunity exists if needed when designing 

the text conversation in mobile systems. 

H.320: A simple channel for text conversation is needed in H.320. Therefore, description of a channel for T.140 

text conversation through H.320 is now included in the plans of Q9/16 and Q11/16. Initial investigations indicate 

that a H.224-based channel seems suitable. See also the Q11/16 report, below. 

H.323: The modifications to H.245 already done for T.140 text conversation through H.324 makes a simple 

channel for text nearly ready through H.323. A description of the setup of the T.140 channel may be needed. This 

is to be taken into the plan for Q9/16. 

One item that may be the most important decision in the meeting was to start work on a simple IP text telephone 

for text and voice. That work is to take place in Q13/16 as an extension to work with a simple IP voice phone. 

TD-31(GEN) (G. Hellström, Q9/16 Rapporteur) proposes an IP text telephone to be included in the plans of 

Q13/16. It was accepted by Q13/16. TD-48(WP2/16) is Draft Annex F of H.323: Single Use Devices. It 

specifies a simple H.323 voice phone. A future expansion to a simple H.323 text and voice telephone is indicated in 

this document; the work will build on this document. 

V.8BIS PROCEDURES FOR H.324 AND V.18 IN MULTI -FUNCTION TERMINALS 

V.8bis contains unclear statements in sections 10.2.1 and 10.2.2 that can make it give up the V.8bis negotiation on 

first reception of a V.25 or V.8 signal that may come from a V.8bis-capable device. Such implementations of 

V.8bis must be avoided. 

D.153© (A. Farquharson, BT) brings up the question of how to start up the communication when both V.18 and, as 

an example, H.324 is available in the same terminal and the user can accept the call to be set up with any of them 

but prefers one. V.8bis is supposed to support function and capability negotiation. V.8 does not, and is therefore 

unsuitable. But some V.8 or V.25 signals must be transmitted and monitored so that connection also can take place 

when the other terminal does not support V.8bis. 

The topic was discussed with Q4/16, which took on the task to straighten up the sections in V.8bis, noting that it is 

necessary to try once with a V.8bis transaction even if a V.8 or V.25 signal has been received. An interworking 

guideline for V.8bis was agreed to be completed by Q4/16. V.18 usage of V.8bis is documented in V.18 Appendix 

3 (TD-73Corr(PLEN)). 

TD-25(WP1/16) (A. Farquharson, BT) proposes a new requirement on text telephony for V.18. The network may 

need to identify when the call is in text mode in order to give network information in text and to offer value added 

services. Strict use of V.8 and V.8bis signals might be a component to serve that need. 

The group agreed that the contents of V.18 Appendix 3 that specifies connection procedures for V.18 original, for 

V.8 and V.8bis first will be issued as a corrected Appendix 3 from this meeting (TD-73Corr(PLEN)), and then 

will be made normative in the next revision of V.18. 

V.250 DTE CONTROL OVER V.18 

D.211© (R. Brandt, USA) suggests two modifications to the DTE control commands for V.18 as specified in 

V.250. This request and a comment in TD-22(WP1/16) (G. Hellström, Q9/16 Rapporteur) was considered in a 

joint meeting with Q7/16. 



• Enter a command that starts probing. This was regarded as against the procedures and introduces a risk of 

connection in the wrong mode if it is used in the general case when answering, but can be of interest in a case 

when the V.18 already has been in the automode monitoring state and the user wants to test if there is a text 

phone at the other end. Therefore, the proposal was accepted with the addition that it must be made clear which 

of the +MV18S commands have immediate action and which are only mode-setting to influence the action of the 

A and D commands. 

• Command for modifying probe message. This is already in V.250, under the name of “+MV18AM . The lack of correlation between the terms “answer message”, and “probe message” is a source of 

confusion and the Q7 rapporteur edited V.250 for better clarity (TD-36(WP1/16)). 

T.134 TEXT CHAT APPLICATION ENTITY MAINTENANCE 

A few factors hinder wide uptake of T.134 as a general protocol for text conversation in all environments. T.120 is 

not foreseen to be an environment in small dedicated devices, where the inclusion of standardized text conversation is 

very important. T.134 is still important for the multi-point conference environment, but there is an apparent need to 

complement it with specific, simple procedures for channeling the T.140 text conversation in each multimedia 

environment. 

THE FUTURE VIDEO CODING 

H.26L requirements mention goals for sign language and lip-reading in many places. This is very satisfying from 

the Q9/16 perspective. Since the last meeting, a test scene with natural speed of signing and finger spelling called 

“Irene” has been entered and will be used by Q15/16 for tests during the H.26L work. 

VIDEO DELAY 

The video delay is one area where many of the current video communication implementations do not fully meet the 

needs of the hearing impaired. SG12 specifies an upper limit of 0.4 s end-to-end for usability in conversation. A 

delay model for documenting video coder delay is included in H.26L. Q9/16 would like to know whether this model 

also covers multiplexing and transmission to a suitable level of detail. If not, additions for such systems aspects 

would be needed. Q9/16 would also like to see an analysis of the opportunities to meet the delay requirements with 

a set of different situations and system protocols. 

Q10/16 WP1, MODEM TESTING 

The Q10/16 Rapporteur is G. List (Austria). An interim meeting is planned for December 7-10, 1998 in San Diego, 

California. 

D.197©, Telephone network transmission model for evaluating analog modem performance, was presented by L. 

Brown (Motorola). This document (draft 11 SP-3459), is on the way to become an ANSI/TIA/EIA standard, 

replacing TSB-37-A which in turn was the basis for V.56bis. It was forwarded to Q10/16 for consideration for 

revision of V.56bis. Because the network has continued to evolve towards an all-digital network, the updating of the 

network parameters was necessary. In the discussion, two major points were identified that could not be resolved 

within the group: 

• The internationalization of the inter-LATA and intra-LATA network model 

• Whether the international network model in V.56bis can be replaced by that in D.197© 

The group therefore proposes that, unless there will be contributions to updating the network model in V.56bis from 

an European, Asian, etc. point of view, D.197© will editorially be reworked to become a replacement for V.56bis. 

D.170© (L. Brown, US) is a draft of the North American Telephone Network Transmission Model for Evaluating 

PCM Modem Performance (PN-3857). As was true for D.197©, the related network model for testing PCM 

modems also needs input from other parts of the world. For such testing, questions of digital impairments (like the 

use of analog or digital pads in the switches, the use of RBS, a-law / µ-law conversion) need to be considered in 

detail as they have more influence on the performance of PCM modems than slight deviations of analog impairments 

in analog network models. 

Because contributions are needed for more accurately modeling networks in several regions of the world, the group 

agreed to split the future recommendation into a multi-part document with the principal network representations, 

simulation set up, necessary parameters and ranges in a baseline part; the detailed parameters will be dealt with in 



normative annexes, so that at any time the Recommendation can be refined by adding other networks parameters as 

they become available. 

It was emphasized that the network model already has been revised in the US and a new contribution will be prepared 

for a future Q10/16 meeting. At any rate, D.170© shall be treated as a working text for drafting a new 

Recommendation on PCM modem testing. 

Q11/16 WP2, CIRCUIT SWITCHED NETWORK (CSN) MULTIMEDIA SYSTEMS AND TERMINALS 

The Q11/16 Rapporteur is T. Geary (Rockwell International, USA). TD-7(PLEN) provides the Q11/16 status at 

the start of this meeting. Q11/16 plans two interim Rapporteur meetings: November 17-20, 1998, in Torino, Italy 

(joint meeting with Q12, 13 and 14/16); and February 23-26, 1999 in New Jersey (joint meeting with Q12, 13, 14, 

and 15/16). Q11/16’s informal e-mail reflector is sg16.lbc@research.kpn.com. The Q11/16 meeting report is TD- 

86(WP2/16). 

The following two Recommendations were Decided at the SG16 opening plenary: 

• H.226 (H.multi-link), COM16-62 

• H.324 Annex Fv2 (multilink operation), COM16-61 

H.320 SYSTEMS: H.263V2 IN H.320 

To support H.263v2 (video codec) in the H.320 series Recommendations, the following revisions were Determined 

by SG16: 

Recommendation Original TD Final TD 

H.320 revised, Narrow band visual telephone systems and TD-34 TD-21 

terminal equipment 

(WP2/16) (PLEN) 

H.221 revised, Frame structure for a 64 to 1920 kbit/s channel in TD-35 TD-23 

audiovisual teleservices 

(WP2/16) (PLEN) 

H.230 revised, Frame-synchronous control and indication signals TD-36 TD-20 

for audiovisual systems 

(WP2/16) (PLEN) 

H.242 revised, System for establishing communication between TD-37 TD-22 

audiovisual terminals using digital channels up to 2 Mbit/s (WP2/16) (PLEN) 

OTHER H.320 SYSTEM ACTIVITY : ADDITION OF T.140 (T.CHAT) TO H.320 

It was suggested by the Q9/16 Rapporteur that T.140 be included in the current revision of H.320. An ad hoc was 

established to review the magnitude of this change and advise Q11/16 of the practicality of making this addition at 

this time. This group recommended the addition of a code point to H.224 (A Real Time Control for Simplex 

Applications using the H.221 LSD/HSD/MLP Channels). Contributions are expected at subsequent meetings. It 

was noted that a reference may be needed in the current revision of H.320 to the effect that support for T.140 is under 

study. 

H.324 SYSTEMS/MUX/MOBILE 

H.324 Implementors Guide 

TD-59(WP2/16), H.324 Implementors Guide in support of Annex D, Supplementary Services (T. Geary, Q11/16 

Rapporteur), was reviewed and approved (as TD-29(PLEN)). 

H.223 Annex D Optional multiplexing protocol for low bit-rate multimedia mobile 

communications over high error rate channels 

TD-41(WP2/16), Draft H.223 Annex D (H. Tanaka, Toshiba, editor), was reviewed and approved. The final text 

for the Annex appears in TD-37(PLEN). It was noted that this would require signaling in H.245; an ad hoc was 

established to define the needed code points. They were reviewed and approved by the joint Q11-14 meeting. These 

additions appear in TD-37(PLEN), issued by the H.245v5 editor on behalf of the Q14/16 Rapporteur. 

H.223 Annex C Multiplexing protocol for low bit-rate multimedia mobile communications 

over high error rate channels 

D.166© (T. Kawahara, Japan) presents a number of editorial errors noted in files for H.223 Annex C, 

36_e_64824.doc and td55.doc. The group obtained the latest text for H.223 Annex C from the TSB. Some of the 

noted errors still existed so an ad hoc was set up to prepare a corrigendum or H.223 Implementer’s Guide. The group 



reported that three of the sixteen items noted as editorial were agreed to be changed before H.223 Annex C is 

published. The group recommended that the remaining thirteen editorial items plus the two clarification items be 

included in an H.223 Implementer’s Guide (issued as TD-41(PLEN)). 

MPEG-4 in H.324 

D.206© (Y. Kikuchi, T. Kawahara, Japan) proposes changes and additions to H.245v5 in support of ISO 14496 

(MPEG-4). TD-22(GEN) is a liaison from MPEG to SG16 (it supersedes TD-10(GEN)). There was general 

discussion on the proposal. Upon review of the proposed H.245v5 code points, it was agreed that 

IS14496VisualProileAndLevel will be changed to “::CHOICE” - (was “::SEQUENCE”). With this change and the 

clarification that this would be added to H.245v5, the group accepted the proposal of D.206©. TD-28(PLEN) is 

the proposed revision. Q11/16 requested that Q14/16 add this functionality to proposed draft text for H.245v5. The 

Senior Editor of H.245 and proponent of D.217© (Object Oriented Approach to H.245 Extension, P. Cordell, BT), 

and the proponents of D.206© agreed to use the signaling defined in D.206© as a test case for the D.217© proposal 

and report the progress to the joint Q11-Q14 meeting. 

Mobile Terminals for IMT-2000 

D.163© (B. Wimmer, Siemens) proposes use of H.324/M terminals for IMT-2000. Participants asked if this was to 

be the only terminal identified for use in IMT-2000; it was stated that the proposal was not mandating H.324/M. 

Further work was called for on assessing and enhancing the capabilities of H.324/M mobile terminals. In particular 

there is a need for a good simulator of the H.324/M mobile mux. This work will continue in Q11/16 and further 

contributions are solicited. It was noted that TD-05(WP2/16), liaison from TG8/1 on suitability of H.323 

protocols for mobile services based on IP, also addresses this issue; it will be coordinated in the joint Q11-Q14 

meetings. It was agreed that a liaison to ITU-R TG8/1 ad SG11 were in order; this liaison is TD-72(WP2/16). 

JOINT Q11, Q12, Q13, Q14 AND Q15/16 

The status of the H.263++ video codec work was reviewed with Q15/16. There was agreement that the next 

versions of video codecs should represent significant improvement over H.263v2 before they are standardized. The 

work should focus mainly on maintenance of current Recommendations rather than development of new 

Recommendations. 

Revision of H.245 (version 5) 

The group reviewed the intended inputs from Q11/16 regarding addition of signaling for proposed H.223 Annex D 

and inclusion of MPEG-4 Visual Standard in H.324 as it will appear in H.245v5. The group agreed with the work. 

The Senior Editor for H.245 noted that the work in support of including MPEG-4 Visual Standard signaling in 

H.245v5 had revealed that more work may be required on D.217© (Object Oriented Approach to H.245 Extension, 

P. Cordell, BT); he recommended that D.217© not be included in H.245v4. It was agreed that the code points 

supporting MPEG-4 Visual Standard in H.245v5 would appear in ASN.1 notation for the purposes of approval at 

this meeting. 

Q11/16 AD-HOC GROUPS 

Q11/16 plans to continue the following ad-hoc groups: 

Committee Name Chairperson 

System/H.324 & H.320 M. Nasiri, Ericsson, Sweden 

Mobile B. Wimmer, Siemens, Germany 

Non-Conversational Services C. Quist, KPN, Netherlands 

H.263+ in H.320 Terminals S. Gupta, VTEL, USA 

Interoperability Experiments (for H.324M Mobile Terminals) M. Luomi, Nokia, Finland 

TD-17(WP2/16), Comments on MPEG-4 DMIF (Delivery Multimedia Integration Framework) is a liaison from 

MPEG. In response to a liaison from SG16 which raised concerns about the “architectural mixing” of H.323 and 

DMIF, MPEG has decided to remove all H series text from DMIF. Then DMIF will interact directly with ATM and 

IP and use its default signaling for all aspects related to end-to-end control. 

Q12/16 WP2, B-ISDN MULTIMEDIA SYSTEMS AND TERMINALS 

The Q12/16 Rapporteur is S. Okubo (Telecommunications Advancement Organization of Japan). TD- 

47(WP2/16) is the meeting agenda. TD-27(WP2/16) is the Q12/16 status report at the start of this meeting. 

TD-28(WP2/16) is the report from the two interim Rapporteur meetings. K. Sakai (Fujitsu) was the Acting 

Rapporteur during the final plenary sessions of WP2/16 and SG16. Q12/16 will meet twice before the next SG16 



meeting jointly with Q11/16, Q13/16, Q14/16 (and possibly Q15/16): November 17-20, 1998, Torino, Italy, and 

February 23-26, 1999, New Jersey, USA. TD-77(WP2/16) is the Q12/16 meeting report. 

DRAFT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR APPROVAL 

The following three Recommendations were approved (Decided) by SG16: 

• H.222.0|ISO/IEC 13818-1 Amendment 5: COM 16-67,Information Technology - Generic Coding of Moving 

Pictures and Associated Audio Information: Systems 

• H.310 Version 2: COM 16-68, Broadband audiovisual communications systems and terminals, with correction of 

typographical errors in TD-15(PLEN) (same as TD-18(WP2/16)) 

• H.247 (H.bmultipoint): COM 16-69 

DRAFT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DETERMINATION 

TD-26(WP2/16), draft H.222.0|ISO/IEC 13818-1 Amendment 6, was Determined as TD-30(PLEN). This 

amendment adds the splice parameters for 4:2:2 Profile @ High level and the buffer model for AAC (Advanced Audio 

Coding) audio. It supports synchronized approval between ITU-T and ISO/IEC JTC1. 

MPEG PACKETIZATION STUDY 

TD-39(WP2/16), Study on MPEG Stream Packetization (S. Okubo, Q12/16 Rapporteur), was recognized at the 

Cannes meeting in June 1998. This document gives some information regarding the media packetization work by 

other groups. In the IETF: RFC2250 RTP payload format for MPEG1/MPEG2 video and RFC2343 RTP payload 

format for bundled MPEG” (MPEG-2 video and audio in a packet). DAVIC is currently working on IP-based audiovisual 

systems whose specification are planned to be fixed in December 1998 as DAVIC 1.5. DAVIC 1.0-1.4 

address ATM and other QoS guaranteed networks. The Rapporteur encouraged members to provide further 

information of relevant activities outside SG16 and to discuss objectives of and requirements for this study. 

Related to this topic, two different formats for MPEG-2 storage were mentioned: ATM Forum and Bellcore 

specifications. Exact information is to be obtained; distinction between storage and transmission formats may be 

necessary. 

CLOCK SOURCE CONTROL 

TD-10(WP2/16), DSS2 protocol provision for carriage of adaptive timing recovery used for transmit (TX) clock 

information in the support of AAL5 carriage of voice, is a liaison from SG11-WP1/11-Q20. 

Q12/16 agreed to accept the use of Broadband Report Type IE instead of Notification Indicator IE for controlling 

transmission clock source, and confirmed that one way indication is sufficient without the need of acknowledgment. 

Q12/16 will issue an H.321 Implementers Guide to resolve the forward referencing as agreed at the last SG16 

meeting in January - February 1998. As H.310 refers to Annex C/H.321 in this respect, it requires no action. 

Q12/16 reviewed the proposed text for Annex to Q.2931, comparing it with the corresponding wording in H.321, 

and produced suggested changes. It also recognized that specific code value for inclusion in the Implementors Guide 

are needed. 

TD-78(WP2/16) is a liaison reply to SG11 regarding the transmit clock. 

END STATION IDENTIFIERS OF H.310 AND H.321 

TD-11(WP2/16) is a Reply from SG11 to a liaison from Q12/16 on H.310 and H.321 End Station Identifiers in 

DSS2 draft Recommendation Q2941.2. Q12/16 welcomed the definition of End Station Identifier in projected 

Q2941.2. TD-79(WP2/16) is the liaison reply providing the exact references to H.321 and H.310 and a brief 

description of the End Station Identified for Clause 5.2 as requested. 

FUTURE DIRECTIONS 

Q12/16 reviewed the current situation which indicates reduced interest in ATM-based systems, and felt that initiation 

of new study items needed input based on implementation of the basic set of Recommendations (H.310, H.321, 

H.247). However, incremental improvements to existing Recommendations are always welcome. Broadband 

supplementary services were mentioned as a possible future work item. 



At the joint Q11-14 session, the need for a study on the future system was identified. The future system may be 

built on any network and converge current H-series systems and terminals. This discussion was a continuation of 

the one opened at the previous SG16 meeting in January - February 1998. 

Q13/16 WP2, PACKET SWITCHED MULTIMEDIA SYSTEMS AND TERMINALS 

The Q13/16 Rapporteur is D. Skran (Ascend Communications, USA). TD-58(WP2/16) is the meeting agenda. 

TD-54(WP2/16) is the Q13/16 status report at the beginning of this meeting. TD-66(PLEN), the WP2/16 

report, includes the report of this meeting. Q13/16 will meet twice before the next SG16 meeting jointly with 

Q11/16, Q12/16, Q14/16 (and possibly Q15/16): November 17-20, 1998, Torino, Italy, and February 23-26, 1999, 

New Jersey, USA. 

REPORTS/LIAISONS 

An ATM Forum report was given by F. Audet (Nortel, US). It noted that the ATMF did not want to request 

modifications of H.245, and that they are focused on mixed environments (IP to ATM to IP). They requested 

clarification on deadlines for input, i.e., if H.245 will be Determined in April 1999. 

J. Ott (Teles) reported on the IETF. He will prepare a simple list of areas of overlap/ cooperation so that Q13/16 

can focus on issues. TD-29(GEN) (J. Magill, Lucent WP1 Chair) provides a catalog of the standards work in each 

organization involved in multimedia over IP (TIPHON, IETF, ISO/IEC, ATM Forum, DAVIC, IMTC, ECMA and 

other ITU SGs). TD-93(WP2/16) from the Rapporteur provides details on areas of overlap or complementary 

interest between Q13/16 and the IETF, noting the following working groups: MMUSIC, IPTEL, PINT, AVT 

(audio-visual transport) and two BOFs (“pre Working Groups”) SS7 and E.164. J. Ott was approved as the liaison 

rapporteur to the IETF. 

TD-14(GEN) is a liaison from SG15 regarding multimedia on ADSL. Q13/16 has decided to study the operation 

of H.323 over xDSL and cable modems; TD-62(WP2/16) is a reply liaison. Contributions on this topic are 

solicited. 

TD-18(GEN), Voice over IP Voice Quality (Nortel), is a liaison from Q18/12 providing E-model predicted voice 

quality. The short haul case (Internet now typical, end-to-end delay 200 ms and 2% packet loss) voice quality is estimated 

to be less than 70% Good-or-Better (high dissatisfaction). The equivalent future case (end-to-end delay 70 ms 

and 0% packet loss) voice quality is estimated to be less than 90% Good-or-Better (some dissatisfaction). The Emodel 

(voice quality estimation model) appears as G.107 from SG12. The attention of the delegates was called to 

this document as it is especially relevant to H.323. 

TD-5(WP2/16), Liaison Response on the Suitability of H.323 Terminals for Mobile Devices Based on IP, is 

from Task Group 8/1. TD-1(WP2/16), another liaison from TG8/1 on support of Mobile Multimedia services by 

IMT-2000, is related, but with H.324 substituted for H.323. This led to a debate between the advocates of H.323 

(and IP systems) vs. H.324 (and frame systems). Matters of efficiency and robustness were key in this discussion. 

TD-72(WP2/16) is the reply liaison, requesting information on the expected bit rate(s); it indicates that Q13/16, 

with the bit rate information, will study the issues and provide a report hopefully in time for the TG8/1 meeting 

which ends November 20. The report will include QoS, BER, bit rate, delay requirements, etc., and sharing of cells 

with other applications. 

TD-14(WP2/16), Proposal on GII Responsibilities regarding Integrated Management of Telecom Networks and IP 

Networks, is from SG4. A liaison will be prepared indicating that IP is managed via SNMP. The goal of unified 

management is important, but recognition of the existing SNMP must be recognized and they must 

interwork/manage it, including Q14/16 MIB work. TD-80(WP2/16) is the reply, sent jointly with 

Q11/Q12/Q13/Q14. 

H.323 IMPLEMENTERS GUIDE 

Changes to H.323, H.255.0, H.235, and H.450.x recommendations are all included in a single implementers guide 

so that implementors need look in only one place for all corrections to documents related to H.323. 

TD-6(WP2/16), Draft H.323 Implementors Guide V2 (J. Toga, Intel, Editor) was presented; it was noted that the 

ICV (Integrity Check Value) issue is unresolved and will not be included in this revision of the Implementors Guide. 

An intervention called attention to some additional concerns related to Master/Slave determinations. These will be 

considered for the next version of the implementors guide as consensus did not exist that the solution suggested was 

the correct one. 



Another issue was raised concerning the need to clarify that multiple call proceedings can be sent (or not). It should 

be clarified that call proceeding can only be sent once in “pure (non-H.323)” Q.931. It was agreed that the usage of 

proceeding for fast start was a mistake, and Facility should be used. This will be put in the implementors guide 

with a note that the usage of proceeding was simply an error if it is used in the case where proceeding has already 

been sent. Fast Start will be added to the Facility message ASN.1. A further issue was raised on how long one 

should wait for a Fast Start element to get back to them. This was added to the implementors guide. 

It was mentioned that section 8.1.7 on the refusal of fast start was ambiguous. It was agreed that the Fast Start 

element is not in any and ALL messages. 

Further clarifications arose out of the Annex E (Call Connection over UDP) /Annex F (single use device) work; they 

are described in TD-91(WP2/16), and will be put toward the next version of the implementors guide. 

The H.323 Implementors Guide was approved as it appears in TD-60(PLEN). 

D.187© (T. Taylor, Canada) is a Clarification of H.323 Call Takedown Procedures. It notes three problems. 

1. Clearing of Call Signaling Channel by Gatekeeper: D.187© proposes to require that V3 Gatekeepers keep the 

channel open, or to send a new ReleaseCompleteReason to cover the situation when the channel is closed; neither 

proposal was accepted. It was agreed that additional text needs to be added to say that the channel can be re-opened 

later. 

2. Race Condition During Call Takedown: the point was accepted; Editor G. Thom (Delta Information Systems) 

will work with V. Kumar (Intel) to include it in the Implementors Guide. 

3. Proper Cleardown at the Transport Level: D.187© proposes a more graceful closing of TCP. Q13/16 will add 

to the implementors guide a reference to the appropriate RFC and a recommendation to use “graceful” shutdown 

rather than “Abort.” 

TD-60(WP2/16) (H.225 editor, G. Freundlich, Lucent) contains 14 editorial changes and minor corrections to the 

H.323v2 Implementer’s Guide. Each point was addressed, requiring multiple changes to the implementors guide 

draft. 

H.332 

H.332 (ex H.loosely coupled) was approved by the SG16 Plenary as COM-16-41 plus the single change (Session 

Description Protocol is RFC2327) in TD-14(PLEN). H.332 had not been Decided at the previous SG16 meeting 

as the RFC number to reference was not available. 

H.323 ANNEX D FOR REAL TIME FAX 

H.323 Annex D was presented as COM-16-60; various editorial changes were agreed. H.323 Annex D uses H.323 

procedures to transfer T.38 (real time fax) packets. T.38 Annex B describes a T.38-only-capable terminal that 

supports a subset of H.245 messages using H.245 tunneling. However, the T.38 Annex B terminal can interwork 

with an H.323 Annex D terminal using the H.323 Fast Connect (8.1.7) and Encapsulation of H.245 messages in 

Q.931 messages (8.2.1) procedures. H.323 Annex D was approved at the SG16 plenary. The changes appear as TD- 

70(WP2/16)©. The changes to be applied to COM-16-60 appear in TD-54(PLEN). 

TD-4(WP2/16), Liaison to SG16 on Draft Annex D to H.323, is from SG8. It presents a range of issues for 

resolution. The reply liaison is in TD-92(WP2/16), which was sent with the final text of H.323 Annex D 

attached. Although some complex issues were raised, TD-92(WP2/16) documents a compromise satisfactory to 

all. 

D.159© (D. Duehren, Brooktrout, US) proposes revisions to draft H.323 Annex D to Support T.38. The following 

were agreed: 

• In the H.323 options section, a reference would be added to T.38. 

• With regard to DTMF, RTP DTMF is removed, and will require tunneled H.245 in H.323 Annex D. This will 

also have to be done in T.38 Annex B. 

• It appears that the maxBitRate text from the previous liaison was lost by accident; the editor will add it back 

in. 

• The editor will adopt other changes such as removal of references to T.38 voice. 



D.212© (Eight Japanese companies) proposes Corrections to H.323 Annex D. The changes were accepted; the editor 

will make appropriate changes to indicate that the things specified (RTP/DTMF, non-fast start) don’t apply to 

interworking with T.38. 

D.213© (Eight Japanese companies) proposes TCP Support on H.323 Annex D. This document calls for TCP to 

be mandatory, with UDP optional, and makes suggestions for when each should be used. A compromise was 

adopted where TCP is mandatory in H.323 Annex D and UDP may be used as described in T.38. 

H.263+ (H.225.0 ANNEX I ) H.263+ VIDEO PACKETIZATION 

COM 16-70, H.225.0 Annex I, describes an RTP payload format for video data encoded according to the H.263v2 

(H.263+). This was approved without change. 

H.323 ANNEX F “SINGLE USE TERMINAL” 

TD-48(WP2/16) (J. Ott, Teles) is Draft H.323 Annex F, “Single Use Devices.” This document defines in 

particular Single Use Audio Devices that operate using H.323 protocols (are interoperable with H.323v2 devices) and 

are well suited for IP telephony applications. A number of changes were made including: 

• Fax is explicitly a possible future SUD 

• RTP DTMF was removed and H.245 tunneling inserted instead 

• H.323v3 will be modified to require support for Audio SUDs in MCUs and Gateways. 

TD-31(PLEN) is the initial text. It was reviewed and replaced by TD-51(PLEN). This Annex was Determined. 

H.323 ANNEX E “CONNECTION OVER UDP” 

TD-46(WP2/16) (D. Gurle, VocalTec, editor) is H.323 Annex E, “Call Connection over UDP.” H.323v2 

introduces the concept of Fast Connect which allows media cut-through in as little as two round-trips from callee to 

caller (including TCP messages) and in 2.5 round-trips from caller to callee. Using UDP instead of TCP, this can be 

reduced to one round-trip and 1.5 round-trips, respectively. By adding slightly to the call setup procedure over UDP, 

a full range of call-signalling messages may be supported. This is especially important when using the Gatekeeper- 

Routed-Model. It was reviewed, aligned with related work and modified. The first revision text appears in TD- 

19(PLEN). It was decided to put this document forward for Determination after further work. It was agreed that 

Section E.5 (specifics) would be an informative appendix and that new text would be provided prior to Decision. 

The final text for Determination appears as TD-47(PLEN). It was Determined. 

H.225.0V3 ANNEX G (GK TO GK COMMUNICATIONS) 

TD-42(WP2/16) (G. Freundlich, Lucent, Editor) is Draft H.255.0 Annex G - GK to GK Communication. This 

Annex describes communications between administrative domains in H.323 systems for the purpose of completing 

calls between the administrative domains. An administrative domain exposes itself to other administrative domains 

through a border, or edge, element. Annex G does not require an administrative domain to reveal details about its 

organization or architecture. Annex G does not mandate a specific system architecture within an administrative 

domain. Annex G supports the use of any call model (gatekeeper routed or direct endpoint). 

An extensive discussion was held and the following agreements reached:. 

a) It is a requirement to provide the endpoint type information to the caller, but this must be done in a scalable 

fashion, i.e., with some roll-up of endpoint type as in “here are 360,000 endpoints, they are all voice only.” 

Concern was expressed about duplicate listings of the same endpoint as a scaling problem. 

b) There will be push procedures, and they will be added using the Zone Update. These procedures will cover size of 

packets, number of templates that can be sent, and frequency of such updates. 

c) There are 3 kinds of mobility 

i) IP mobility – this will just happen, and is compatible with Annex G 

ii) H.323 address mobility – this may require some scheme of home GKs/foreign GKs 

iii) home environment mobility (future definition) [IP home environment & H.323 home environment] 

There is no need to make H.323 mobility a part of this determination. 

d) It is OK to call the zone request a zone request even though it sometimes does not describe a real zone. 

e) The scope of the document should reflect the requirements more but not limit the scope for all time. The focus of 

the scope is on address resolution. This would affect the title “Inter-Domain Relationships.” 



f) Signaling is really in H.246. 

g) Multi-casting for usage with the inter-domain protocols will be reviewed. This will be an option, as SLP 

(Service Location Protocol) is not very mature in the IETF. Multi-cast will be added as “for further study” and also 

based on proposals at the next experts’ meeting. 

i) The protocol is based on “rollup” and thus assumes non-random distribution. Thus, it is not reasonable to have 

“complete” freedom of number assignment in a non-clearinghouse environment. Of course, a universal number 

space can be provided by a clearing house, but this leads to issues related to the control of the clearing house. Thus 

the protocol will support both a fully flexible number scheme and non-fully flexible numbering scheme as chosen 

by the service provider. 

j) It was agreed to proceed with Annex G as SLP will not be sufficiently timely. 

k) Requirements for inter-zone 

i) predictable encoding size (not true for ASN.1) 

ii) very compact 

There were three proposals: 

i) templates in BER, with binary wrapper 

ii) binary wrapper, octet strings for templates 

iii) wrapper in BER, octet strings for templates 

The agreement is to propose that one of these three be chosen at the November experts’ meeting based on inputs. 

The protocol will be specified in ASN.1, then converted as needed when the white paper is issued. 

l) Future development of this annex will consider intra-domain (or GK to GK) communications and further develop 

this, either as part of this annex or as a new annex. The work may include specification of interface B (border 

element to gatekeeper) in Figure 1. 

D.164©, InterGK Communications with Distributed GK Architecture of Multiple Zones (R. Roy, AT&T), presents 

a method of extending H.323 to do address routing and caching. 

Text for Determination appears as TD-82(WP2), with a final version Determined as TD-61(PLEN). 

H.450.X IMPLEMENTORS GUIDE 

D.214 (Japan) provides editorial comments on Rec. H.450.1 (Generic Functional Protocol, QSIG based), H.450.2 

(Call Transfer), and H.450.3 (Call Diversion). All of these comments were accepted and will be put in the 

Implementors Guide, for version 2 of these Recommendations. 

H.450.4 (CALL HOLD) 

TD-49(WP2/16), “Call Hold Supplementary Service for H.323” (M. Korpi, Editor), notes that it appears that 

music on hold was always supplied; the text will be changed to indicate that music/video on hold may be supplied, 

but is not required. A number of other editorial comments were accepted. TD-34(PLEN) is the final text as 

Determined by SG16. 

H.450.5 (CALL PARK AND CALL PICKUP) 

TD-50(WP2/16) (M. Korpi, Editor) is draft Rec. H.450.5, Call Park and Call Pickup Supplementary Services for 

H.323. A number of changes were made. TD-35(PLEN) is the Determined text. 

H.450.6 (CALL WAITING) 

TD-51(WP2/16) (M. Korpi, Editor) is H.450.6, Call Waiting Supplementary Service for H.323. 

In section 5/7.1.1, mention is made of a subscription option; this needs to be explained as a local terminal 

configuration matter. 

G. Freundlich pointed out that if the GK knows that endpoint B does not provide supplementary services, the GK 

can provide the indications on the endpoint’s behalf; this will be added to section 7.3. 

These and other changes were made; TD-36(PLEN) is the Determined text. 



H.450.7(MESSAGE WAITING) 

TD-52(WP2/16) is H.450.7, Message Waiting Indication Supplementary Service for H.323. In section 7.5, 

procedures when the GK is not available to cache the messages need to be described. There are not any new 

messages needed, but some text was added. TD-40(PLEN) is the Determined text. 

H.450.8 (CALL IDENTIFICATION) 

TD-53(WP2/16) (G. Freundlich, Lucent, editor) is H.450.CallID, Call Identification Services for H.323. A 

discussion ensued, where it was held that not all of these features should be in H.450.x, and that perhaps this work 

should be split, with the number identification being part of the basic call, and the name being an H.450.x 

supplementary service. This work will continue toward modification of H.255.0v3, with focus on full ISDN 

transparency across H.323 networks. 

H.323 ANNEX I (H.323 OVER N-ISDN) 

D.171© (J.P. Blin, France Telecom) proposes H.323 draft Annex I, Point-to-Point H.323 Over ISDN. D.173© 

(J.P. Blin, France Telecom) proposes requirements for using H.323 on ISDN. See also the Q14/16 report below. 

The position of PictureTel was that H.323 terminals on ISDN should have a mandatory H.320 fall-back mode. The 

view was expressed that H.323 could and should be used over all network types. The main issue seemed to be 

whether it was necessary to standardize Annex I. 

Q13/16 considered this vision of universal usage of H.323, and breaking with H.320 over a period of time. It was 

suggested that this long term vision be considered part of the future work, especially toward a joint project for 

Questions 11, 12, 13, and 14/16. Among the ideas suggested for part of this work were: 

• A common upper layer, such as H.245, with different lower layers, perhaps as options. 

• A common core for all parts of the protocol that is tightly packed and can work well at a low bit rate, but with a 

set of layers that add quality up to much higher bit rates. This might include: 

– A layered audio coder 

– A layered video coder (possibly H.263+) 

– A layered control system 

The key idea in this approach is rather than creating a series of systems targeted at different transports, instead a 

single system would be designed to work over all transport systems and bit rates, including xDSL and cable 

modems. This work might replace or become H.24L. 

Although general enthusiasm was expressed for this idea, and it will be added to the work program, some voices 

urged caution given the number of new terminals that have been introduced by the ITU-T over the last five years. 

Contributions on this topic are solicited. The Q11/12/13/14 rapporteurs met with S. Campos Neto (WP3/16 chair) 

on this topic (layered audio/video coders) and conveyed the desire of the relevant Questions to work with WP3 on 

this new project. 

Annex I of H.323 was not brought forward for Determination due to the lack of consensus. 

D.156©, Comments on the Projected Annex/Appendix for H.323 over N-ISDN (H. Harasaki, NEC), examines the 

various options for interworking among current H.323 terminal types. 

H.323V3 

D.160© (USA) proposes the study of highly available H.323 networks. That is, how can H.323 networks recover 

when a gatekeeper and gateway (possibly supporting many active calls) fails. It was agreed that considerations of 

reliability, load balancing, and duplication are within the scope of Q13/16 insofar as they are reflected in the protocol 

itself. The rapporteur cautioned that although this was a worthy goal for H.323v3, the protocol should not become 

too burdensome, especially on a simple endpoint. 

TD-8(WP2/16), Use of High Layer Information (HLI) Information Element (SG11/Q20) seeks to correct the 

usage in H.323 Annex C of the BHLI (Broadband HLI), and contains a proposal for using the Generic identifier 

transport (GIT) information element. It was agreed that using the GIT was the appropriate way forward, but that a 

“pre-GIT” ATM system would require some special methods such as user-to-user information. This change will be 

made in H.323v3 and in the H.323 implementors guide. H.323v2 to H.323v3 interoperability will have to be taken 

into account. The new text will be sent to SG11 and the ATM Forum. TD-76(WP2/16) is the proposed reply 

liaison. This was re-written; TD-88(WP2/16) is the final liaison. 



TD-31(WP2/16), H.323 Media Transport over ATM (P.A. Probst, ATM Forum), contains a proposal for a new 

ATM Forum recommendation for carrying H.323 over ATM networks, especially in the context of IP to ATM to IP 

networks. It proposes a new type of gateway, an H.323 to H.323 “gateway” which does not affect the media stream, 

but does affect the control stream. It was noted that Figure 2-2 is very similar to Annex C, and could be adopted 

into Annex C. It is the intent of Q13/16 to adopt some of these ideas to enhanced Annex C to H.323v3. TD- 

87(WP2/16) is the response to the ATM Forum. 

TD-39(WP2/16) is a report from Q12/16 Rapporteur S. Okubo on efforts related to MPEG2 packetization, and 

also to multiplexing audio/ video in the same packet. This report covers the work of DAVIC, the IETF, and other 

groups. The need to evaluate the quality/focus on the existing IETF RFCs was mentioned as a major goal of this 

work. See also the Q12/16 report above for additional information. 

TOPICS FOR FUTURE WORK 

TD-31(GEN), Proposal to specify H.323 text conversation terminal (G. Hellström, Q9/16 Rapporteur), requests 

that Q13/16 take up the SUD (single use devices) (and non-SUD) H.323 text conversation terminal work as a 

follow-on to Annex F. The work will be taken up and contributions are solicited. 

Q14/16 WP2, COMMON PROTOCOLS, MCUS AND PROTOCOLS FOR INTERWORKING WITH 

H.300- SERIES TERMINALS 

The Q14/16 Rapporteur is G. Thom (Delta Information Systems, USA). TD-29(WP2/16) is the Q14/16 status 

report at the beginning of this meeting. TD-28(WP2/16) is the report of the previous interim rapporteurs 

meetings. TD-75(WP2/16) is the report of this Q14/16 meeting. Two interim meetings are planned jointly with 

Q11/16, Q12/16, Q13/16 and Q15/16: November 17-20, 1998, Torino, Italy, and February 23-26, 1999, New 

Jersey, USA. 

H.245 VERSION 4 APPROVAL 

COM16-59 contains H.245v4, Control protocol for multimedia communications. D.217© (P. Cordell, BT) 

proposes an object oriented approach to H.245 extension. This concept was previously presented in Cannes 8-11 

June, 1998 (See APC-1402, CSR-T Vol. 9.5) and was supported. However, it was determined at this meeting that 

D.217© was not ready to be included in H.245v4 and it should be deferred to H.245v5 (see below). It was agreed 

that COM16-59 as originally published should be put forward for Decision without the inclusion of D.217©. 

H.245v4 was approved (Decided) at the SG16 plenary. 

H.245 VERSION 5 DETERMINATION 

Q11/16 agreed to incorporate MPEG-4 video as a video codec in H-series terminals. The additions which need to be 

made to H.245 (originally contained in D.206©, Y. Kikuchi, T. Kawahara, Japan) are in TD-28(PLEN). Q11/16 

also approved H.223 Annex D (Optional multiplexing protocol for low bit rate multimedia communication over 

highly error prone channel) which requires additional support in H.245. These additions are contained in TD- 

39(PLEN). 

D.217©, Object Oriented Capability Sets (P. Cordell, BT) was not ready to be included in H.245v4 for Decision at 

this meeting. This will be studied during the interim meetings. It was agreed that the current text should be 

included in H.245v5 for Determination at this meeting. The revised text is in TD-39(PLEN). 

TD-39(PLEN) plus the additions in TD-28(PLEN) are the text of H.245v5 as Determined at the SG16 plenary. 

H.341 (H.MEDIAMIB) DETERMINATION 

TD-55(WP2/16) are the minutes of the H.Multimedia MIB BOF (Management Information Base Birds of a 

Feather), 8/25/98. Q14/16 discussed the relationship of H.341, Multimedia management information base, and the 

IETF. The IETF RTP (Real Time Protocol) MIB activities are within the Audio-Video Transport WG. The MIB is 

on standards track and should go to Last Call for Proposed Standard in 1998 or early 1999. Q14/16 will be able to 

reference it by RFC #. There was some question as to the best way to progress H.341. There are two approaches to 

moving forward with H.341: 

1. Develop the MIBs in Q14/16 (H.341) and attempt to get technical support from SNMP experts. 

2. Have the IETF develop the MIBs and Q14/16 develop H.341 which references them. 



The consensus of the group was to produce the multimedia MIBs in Q14/16, incorporate them in H.341, find SNMP 

experts in our organizations to review the work and provide technical assistance, and begin to sample implementations 

to verify the MIB process. This plan was communicated to the IETF in a liaison statement contained in TD- 

67(WP2/16). 

TD-23(WP2/16)©, draft H.341, was presented and discussed. Some editorial changes were identified. It was agreed 

that it was technically stable, there were no known flaws, and the draft should be moved forward for Determination at 

this meeting. It was pointed out that as a result of compilation and testing, some of the ASN.1 may change, but the 

content and structure was stable. H.341 (H.MediaMIB) was Determined by the SG16 plenary as TD-27(PLEN)©. 

TD-7(WP2/16) is a liaison from SG4 in response to the Q14/16 liaison in TD-28(WP 2/16) Annex 2-4 

(report of the interim rapporteurs meetings). This liaison had three points: 

• SG4 did not have time to review and comment on Q14/16’s MIBs 

• SG4 notes Q14/16’s use of SNMP and directs Q14/16 to their other liaison on management of IP based networks 

• SG4 provided information on fitting the multimedia tree into the TMN object identifier. 

TD-14(WP2/16), TD-5(GEN), TD-6(GEN), and TD-25(GEN), additional liaisons from SG4, were also 

reviewed. It was agreed that Q14/16 would send them another liaison acknowledging their interest in the 

management of IP-based networks, informing them of Q14/16’s work in this area, and recommending that they 

attempt to be interoperable (or at least be compatible) with SNMP. This liaison is contained in TD-80(WP2/16). 

REMOTE DEVICE CONTROL H.283 (H.RDC), H.282 (V.RDC) AND T.136 (T.RDC) DETERMINATION 

D.207©, H.282, V.RDC (A. Woollett, ImageCom), and D.208©, T.136, T.RDC (A. Woollett, ImageCom), are 

drafts of V.RDC (set of services and protocol for RDC) and T.RDC, respectively. T.RDC describes how to utilize 

V.RDC using T.120 as the lower layer protocol. Future recommendations may describe how to utilize V.RDC 

using other lower layer protocols. Editorial changes were identified. TD-22(WP2/16) (M. Duckworth, 

PictureTel) is draft H.283, H.RDC. H.RDC is a data link protocol to carry Common RDC (that part of RDC 

common to T.120 and H.323) protocol over UDP. The editor was directed to consider the use of the reliable UDP 

method of H.323 Annex E. If necessary, the method in H.323 Annex E should be extended so that there is a single 

reliable UDP protocol for use in H.323. Several editorial changes were identified. It was indicated that the use of 

H.283 in GW to GW communications needs more investigation. This will be indicated as an open issue. It was 

noted that this draft recommendation was more complete than anticipated. It was agreed that H.283 should be put 

forward for Determination at this meeting. The revised text, TD-38(PLEN)©, was Determined at the SG16 plenary. 

The revised text for Determination of H.282 (V.RDC) is contained in TD-24(PLEN) and for T.136 (T.RDC) in 

TD-25(PLEN). Both were Determined. 

H.246 ANNEX B (INTERWORKING) 

There has been little contribution to this work and the editor suggested that Determination be deferred until there is 

more support for this draft recommendation. This was agreed. TD-12(WP2/16), Liaison from Q11/11 on 

interoperability of H.series multimedia terminals with voice-only terminals on switched circuit networks, and liaison 

from Q7/15 on speech quality aspects of internet telephony, were reviewed. TD-12(WP2/16) notes that Q.699 

(DSS1/ISUP) provides some interworking descriptions. TD-13(WP2/16) notes that G.131 specifies the 

relationship between delay and talker echo that is acceptable. In general, an end-to-end one-way delay of 25 ms or 

more will require echo cancellation. The H.246 editor will take these issues into consideration for further 

development of Annex B. 

OTHER H.246 ANNEXES 

D.171© (J.P. Blin, France Telecom) is draft H.323 Annex I, Point-to-Point H.323 Over ISDN. D.173© (J.P. Blin, 

France Telecom) provides requirements for using H.323 on ISDN. D.156© (H. Harasaki, NEC) comments on the 

projected Annex/Appendix for H.323 over N-ISDN. In discussion, it was suggested that Q14/16 develop an Annex 

to H.246 which defines an H.323 to N-ISDN Gateway (GW) which does not convert to H.320 on the N-ISDN side. 

This would be used to allow H.323 terminals to connect via N-ISDN through the GW to an IP network. It would 

also allow efficient GW to GW connection using N-ISDN without the protocol conversion required to go to H.320. 

It was indicated that these exist today in the form of IP routers. No further action is indicated at this time. See also 

the Q13/16 report above. 

TD-31(WP2/16), H.323 Media Transport for ATM (P.A. Probst, ATM Forum), suggests an H.323 to H.323 

Annex C (H.323 on ATM) Gateway. It was determined that this was an ATM switch issue. No further action is 

indicated at this time. 



The following documents were discussed: 

D.188©, Media Control Aspects of the Proposed Gateway Device Control Protocol 

D.191©, Signalling Transport Aspects of the Proposed Gateway Device Control Protocol 

D.192©, Framework for the Proposed Gateway Device Control Protocol V4.2 

D.193©, Connection Control Aspects of the Proposed Gateway Device Control Protocol 

D.194©, Device Management Aspects of the Proposed Gateway Device Control Protocol 

D.195©, IPDC Base Protocol (all from Nortel, Canada) 

D.158©, Functional Partitioning of SCN/Packet Gateway (G. Freundlich, Lucent) 

Many concerns were noted. It was decided that a small group would draft a terms of reference for the Gateway 

Control Protocol stating the problem to be solved, requirements of a candidate solution, and restrictions on overlap 

with existing H.323 concepts. The result of this effort, TD-89(WP2/16), Terms of reference for additional study 

of H.323 gateways interworking with SCN, forms the basis for work on an Annex to H.246. To achieve greater 

scalability, the H.323 Gateway function may be further decomposed, and sub-functions contained within the H.323 

Gateway may be placed in different physical devices. This shows the possible arrangements of sub-functions and the 

resulting interfaces that may be of interest to standardize. 

FUTURE TERMINAL TYPE 

There was a general discussion during the joint Q11/16, Q12/16, Q13/16, and Q14/16 session on the subject of a 

unifying terminal type which would be applicable to a wide variety of networks with various levels of quality of 

service. It was suggested that this terminal would use layered coding techniques for the audio, video and control 

streams. These streams would then be carried on different networks in a manner appropriate for that network and in a 

way that would enhance interoperability between terminals on different networks. Terms of reference for this work 

will be developed during the interim rapporteur meetings. 

Q15/16 WP3, ADVANCED VIDEO CODING 

The Q15/16 Rapporteur is G. Sullivan (PictureTel/USA). TD-16(WP3/16) is the report of the Q15 Rapporteur’s 

meeting in Whistler, British Columbia July 21-23, 1998. TD-19(WP3/16) is the status report of Q15/16 

activities. TD-17(WP3/16) is the Q15/16 agenda. TD-30(WP3/16) is the Q15/16 report of this meeting. 

Q15/16 has planned two interim meetings, November 3-6 in Seoul, Korea, and February 23 - 26, 1998 in New 

Jersey, with Qs 11/16 through 14/16. 

Q15/16, the video coding area within WP3, currently has two significant ongoing activities, H.263++ and H.26L. 

The H.263++ development effort is for near-term standardization of enhancements to produce a third version of the 

H.263 video codec for real-time telecommunication and related non-conversational services. The H.26L development 

effort identifies new video coding technology beyond the capabilities of incremental enhancements to H.263, for 

longer-term standardization. In addition to this focus on future needs, Q15/16 is tasked with maintaining the 

existing prior video coding standards (H.261, H.262, and H.263, and presumably H.120) as necessary. 

The primary means of document distribution within the Q15/16 Video Coding Experts Group is electronic, and 

Q15/16 documents are on an ftp site maintained by G. Sullivan of PictureTel: ftp://standard.pictel.com/video-site 

The group conducts its e-mail conversations over an e-mail reflector that is maintained by M. Zeug of Iterated 

Systems: itu-adv-video@listserv.iterated.com 

Requests for subscriptions and “unsubscriptions” for this e-mail reflector should be sent to the list manager: itu-advvideo-request@listserv.iterated.com 

H.262, AMENDMENT 5 DETERMINATION 

H.262, Amendment #5: Draft Amendment 5 (High Level for 4:2:2 Profile) to common text recommendation H.262 | 

IS 13818-2 (MPEG-2 video), was Determined as TD-26(GEN). 

JOINT DISCUSSIONS WITH QS 11/16, 12/16, 13/16, AND 14/16 

A joint session was held with Q11/16, Q12/16, Q13/16, Q14/16 and Q15/16 to discuss coordination issues. See the 

Q11, Q12, Q13 and Q14/16 reports for additional information. 

Common Text Document Handling for H.262 (MPEG-2 video) and H.222.0 (MPEG-2 system) 

The group discussed the coordination of scheduling of amendments to H.262 and H.222.0 with ISO/IEC JTC1 as 

addressed in TD-15(GEN), liaison from MPEG, ISO/IEC JTC1/SC29/WG11. A significant delay had been 

experienced in the publication of the amendments approved at the January/ February SG16 meeting (Amendments 3 



and 4 to H.262 and Amendments 3 and 4 to H.222.0), but it appears that the future work on these recommendations 

is synchronized well in SG16 and JTC1 (as long as the time between Decision and publication can be kept to a 

minimum). In particular, Amendment 5 to H.222.0 was Decided (as COM16-67), and Amendment 5 to H.262 and 

Amendment 6 to H.222.0 were Determined (as TD-26(GEN) and TD-30(PLEN), respectively) at this SG16 

meeting. TD-32(GEN) a liaison statement to ISO/IEC JTC1/SC29/WG11 (MPEG) was drafted and approved 

regarding publication of the common text standards H.222.0 | IS 13818-1 and H.262 | IS 13818-2 (a joint issue for 

Q12/16 and Q15/16). Q15/16 noted their efforts to facilitate timely publication of updates to these common text 

standards. 

Future Work Items 

The status of the Q15/16 H.263v3 and H.26L projects were discussed, and Q11/16 reported on its plan for an H.32L 

terminal project with a similar schedule. Q13/16 reported its work on “single use device” specifications in H.323 

(not at present including video use). 

PLANNING AND WORK ON H.263++ 

The current workplan of the H.263++ project is provided in Annex Q15.A of TD-62(PLEN), the WP3/16 report. 

Decision is planned for 2002 (see also CSR-T Vol. 9.2 for the work plan). 

The group discussed the current status of work on H.263++ and recalled the eight key technical areas that appear to 

be promising for further investigation: 

1. Error resilient data partitioning 

2. 4x4 motion compensation and DCT 

3. Adaptive quantization 

4. Reference picture selection enhancement 

5. Scalability enhancement 

6. IDCT mismatch reduction 

7. Deblocking and deringing filters (normative or informative) 

8. Error concealment (normative or informative) 

However, although these areas appear worthwhile for investigation, none of them have appeared to be fully mature 

yet in terms of having both a sufficiently stable technical content proposal and a high level of proven effectiveness 

and necessity confirmed by an independent implementation experiment. Thus Q15/16 has not yet created a draft for 

H.263v3 technical content. 

PLANNING AND WORK ON H.26L 

The current workplan of the H.26L project is provided in Annex Q15.A of TD-62(PLEN), the WP3/16 report (see 

also CSR-T Vol. 9.2 for the work plan). The H.26L project appears to be on track, and will continue to be led by 

the Q15/16 Associate Rapporteur, K. Hibi. A significant milestone for this project is scheduled for the next Q15/16 

Rapporteur’s meeting (Nov. 3-6, Seoul, Korea), at which technical proposals are expected for H.26L. 

FUTURE WORK 

Q11/16 has asked to collaborate closely with Q15/16 regarding the use of video communication on mobile networks. 

Progress is expected at the joint rapporteurs meeting in February 1999. 

The experts agreed to further consider the needs of video coding for sign language and lip reading communication, and 

in particular to review TD-35(GEN) provided by the Q9/16 rapporteur. 

Q16/16 AND Q17/16, MULTIMEDIA HARMONIZATION AND COORDINATION 

M. Matsumoto (Japan) is the Rapporteur of Q16/16 and Q17/16. T. Taylor (Nortel, Canada) is the assistant 

Rapporteur. The meeting agenda is TD-27(GEN). The Q16-17/16 meeting report is TD-81(PLEN). 

LIAISONS 

Some SG16 Rapporteurs complained that the volume of liaison documents directed to all Questions is excessively 

large, and liaisons in general require a substantial amount of time. They asked that Q16-17/16 get involved in 

document management to cut down the volume. 

TD-2(PLEN) is a request from ITU ICG (Intersector Coordination Group) SAT for a progress report on work 

related to satellite transmission. The liaison response notes that the only specifically satellite-related work in Study 



Group 16 is the recently Decided (2/98) H.324 Annex E (COM 16-R37), Initialization of acknowledgment timer 

T401 to allow operation over geostationary satellite channels. Because Working Party 1/16 takes account of channel 

worst-case characteristics when defining modem operation, the liaison requests that WP1/16 be informed if any new 

Recommendation modifies satellite transmission channel characteristics. 

TD-8(PLEN) (TSAG) is a description of procedures for coordination between the ITU-T and the IETF. It requires 

that Study Group 16 appoint one or more official contact persons to the IETF and notify the ISOC Vice President of 

Standards accordingly. J. Ott (Teles) and T. Taylor (Nortel) were nominated as contact points for SG16. 

TD-10(PLEN) is a TSAG contribution on interoperability testing. The nature of the desired response to this 

document was unclear and remains an open item. The document is related to GII project F.4 (see below). 

A New Joint Task Group On Multimedia Broadcast Evolution and Common Content Format has been established. 

SG16 will be asked to appoint a liaison officer to represent the Study Group on this Joint Task Group. 

THE NATURE OF Q16-17/16’S COORDINATION TASK 

Discussion resulted in enumeration of the aspects of the coordination task. 

It was noted that Q16-17/16 has two generic mechanisms for coordination: the framework Recommendation H.200, 

which must be revised to make it current, and the summaries of work status prepared by the Secretariat. 

PROMOTION OF THE WORK DONE ON MULTIMEDIA COMMUNICATIONS 

TD-28(GEN) (I. Sebestyen, Associate Q16-Q17/16 Rapporteur) recalls previous measures put in place to advertise 

the work of SG16, and notes that no contributions have been received for this purpose. Concern was expressed that 

MPEG-4 in particular is promoting its product far more vigorously than SG16. It was noted that, at the January 

meeting, each Working Party had prepared such a contribution describing the results of its work, but this material 

has apparently disappeared. 

The question of appropriate procedures for authorization of press releases was raised. Any press release should be 

made by agreement of the SG16 management team. 

REVISED SG16 SEMINAR ON MULTIMEDIA 

Chile has proposed that the spring, 1999 meeting of Study Group 16 be held at the University of Chile in Santiago. 

Because of the timing of the school year, space would be available only in the middle of May. The Study Group 

would have to assess whether the University’s facilities would meet the requirements for the meeting. 

The SG16 Chairman had proposed that a seminar on multimedia be held in conjunction with the meeting. M. 

Matsumoto (Q16-17/16 Rapporteur) has been working on details of this proposal, and presented them. The seminar 

would be held on World-Wide Telecommunications Day, 17 May 1999, with the Study Group meeting starting on 

the following day. 

The meeting generally approved M. Matsumoto’s proposals as the basis for further work. 

GLOBAL INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE (GII) PROJECTS 

TD-24(GEN) from JRG (Joint Rapporteur Group) on GII, July 20-24, 1998, Geneva, is the report on the third 

meeting of the JRG on GII. This includes reports on both the PINT and TIPHON activities. 

TD-5(PLEN) from Y. Robin-Champigneul as SG16 liaison on JRG/GII and TD-2(GEN) from SG13 are 

liaisons received on the GII project. SG13, the lead SG on GII, at their plenary meeting in June produced three 

Recommendations Y.100 (GII: General overview), Y.110 (GII: Principals and framework architecture), and Y.120 

GII: Scenario methodology. Y.110 defines four GII blocks, GII service packaging and cooperation service components, 

Middleware support components, Application/service creation support and GII interworking service 

components. Table 4 notes the accepted proposals from SG16 to participate in the GII projects. 

GII 

project 

No. 

Project name Project leader Collaborating Bodies 

F.3 Information appliance SG16 (Q2, 11, 12, 13, 17) 

T. Taylor 

SG8 (Q1, 3, 4), SG9 (Q17, 19, 20, 

24, 25, 27, 28), DAVIC, IEC 

TC100, JTC1 



F.4 End-to-end 

interoperability 

I.1 IP and 

telecommunications 

networks 

interrelationships 

SG16 (Q1, 2, 3, 12, 13, 14, 15, 

16, 17, 18) 

M. Matsumoto 

SG13 (SG11, 16 & IETF will 

lead the development of the 

resulting protocols.) M. 

Vandenameele, C.S. Lee 

SG8 (Q4, 6, 7, 9), SG9 (Q19, 24, 

29), SG12 (Q16, 18, 21) DAVIC, 

IEC TC 100, JTC1 

SG2, 3, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 

IETF, W3C, JTC1, ATM Forum, 

DAVIC, TIPHON 

I.2 Multimedia over IP SG16 J. Magill SG2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12(Q16, 18, 

21), 13, 15, JTC1, IETF, IMTC, 

TIPHON, DAVIC 

M.3 Technical framework for SG16 (Q1 + tbd) SG13 

electronic commerce 

M.4 Middleware for 

multimedia 

Project I.2, Multimedia Over IP 

SG16 (Q16, 17) 

M. Blaschitz 

Table 4. SG16 Participation in GII Projects 

SG7(Q24), SG10, OMG, TINA-C, 

DAVIC, Open Group 

The GII project I.2 (TD-29(GEN), Review of Multimedia over IP Standards, J. Magill, WP1/16 chair) reports 

findings on IP-related work in progress in a number of standards bodies. It was not clear what, if any, additional 

work should be done under project I.2. See the Q13/16 report above for additional details. 

Project M.4, Middleware For Multimedia 

The key point in this project collaboration is that Study Group 16 has the view of the end-to-end services to be 

provided. Study Group 10 is responsible for the network operating system which will support the implementation 

of those services. See Q216 report above for details. 

Project F.4, End-To-End Interoperability 

TD-21(GEN) (Q16-17/16 Rapporteur) reports on Project F.4, End-To-End Interoperability. Discussion revealed 

four possible views of interoperability which might be considered within the project. These views were discussed at 

length. It was agreed that the drafters of the GII project intended as an ultimate goal that any two terminals operating 

anywhere on the global network would be able to interoperate when accessing/providing the same service. 

It was noted that another GII project on network interworking exists. Thus project F.4 should focus on application 

interworking between the terminals, but should also feed requirements into the network interworking project, and in 

turn should take account of the results of the latter study. 

Further discussion concerned how to move forward in the project. The two possibilities might be to work with 

reference scenarios or to continue work on a general methodology for standards development. Another suggestion 

was to start with service descriptions and move down to scenarios and protocol profiles after that. It was pointed out 

that the service description for multimedia conferencing has already been standardized as Rec. F.702. This could be 

the starting point for scenario development. 

A modified version of TD-21(GEN) was subsequently reviewed and approved. TD-82(PLEN) is the liaison 

report from SG16 to JRG-GII for F.4. It defines Interoperability as the information exchange between service/ 

application entities. 

Project M.3, Electronic Commerce 

A draft of the project plan for project M.3 was presented with the proposal that Study Group 16 accept leadership of 

this project (Annex 1 to TD-81(PLEN), the Q16-17/16 meeting report). Extensive discussion resulted on whether 

Study Group 16 has the necessary resources and expertise to take on the project. It was agreed that we should be 

guided by the response to a call for interested persons to contribute to the work. Y. Robin-Champigneul 

(FT/CNET, France) accepted the task of project coordination for project M.3. 

It was agreed that the project plan should make reference to the extensive work on this topic in various working 

groups of the IETF and to the work of other bodies where this information is available. TD-85(PLEN) is the 

modified draft of the M.3 project plan. 



E-Mail Discussion Lists 

It was noted that the e-mail discussion lists which were to be set up for discussion of the different GII projects had 

not materialized. The meeting agreed that all discussion should go through the same list: the one allocated for discussion 

of Questions 16 and 17 at the TSB-SG16 site. M. Matsumoto will submit the names and e-mail addresses 

of all participants to the TIES Help-Desk personnel to enroll them as list subscribers. 

DRAFT OF THE MULTIMEDIA RECOMMENDATION MODEL 

A draft of the new MM Recommendation model was presented. The new draft presented an inventory of existing 

series of Recommendations rather than the desired framework. It was therefore rejected with instructions to the 

drafter (T. Taylor, Nortel) to seek instead to extend the framework provided in the original document. Suggestions 

were presented for the proposed Appendices listing current Recommendations in force; these lists should crossreference 

between the individual Recommendations and the systems to which they are applicable. 

Q18/16 WP1, INTERACTION OF HIGH-SPEED VOICEBAND DATA SYSTEMS WITH SIGNAL 

PROCESSING 

There were no contributions on this topic and no discussion. No interim meetings are required. 

At the WP1 plenary, the WP1 Chairman reported that the Rapporteur for Q18/16, M. Sherif (AT&T), was no longer 

able to continue as Rapporteur as his work area had changed and he is no longer involved in standards activities. The 

WP1 chair thanked M. Sherif for his contribution to the work of Working Party 1/16. 

D.174© (France Telecom) proposes the transfer of Question 18/16 to Study Group 15 where the work may be more 

appropriate, and where more of the relevant experts are participating. 

WP1 agreed with the France Telecom proposal and accordingly TD-56(WP1/16), a Liaison Statement to SG15, 

was prepared proposing that they consider taking over this Question. 

Q19/16 WP3, EXTENSION TO EXISTING ITU-T SPEECH CODING STANDARDS AT BIT RATES 

BELOW 16 KBIT/S 

S. Hayashi (NTT/Japan) is the Q19/16 Rapporteur. TD-20(WP3/16) is the Q19/16 agenda and prior meeting 

report; TD-32(WP3/16) is the Q19/16 meeting report. No interim meetings are planned. 

ANNEX C TO G.729 APPROVAL 

The work on G.729 (CS-ACELP) Annexes C, D and E took place in the WP 3/16 meeting. 

The technical content of G.729 Annex C (Floating point specification for G.729 and G.729 Annex A) was reviewed 

based on COM16-45, as revised by SG16 during the January-February meeting of SG16 (see COM16-R29, pp. 2-4, 

with updated file sizes), on Annex 2 to TSB Circular Letter 101, and on D.185© (FT/CNET), Bug correction in 

G.729 Annex C. The group unanimously agreed to incorporate the suggested technical changes, as summarized in 

TD-16(PLEN). G.729 Annex C was approved (Decided) by SG16 as COM 16-45 plus TD-16(PLEN). 

ANNEX D TO G.729 APPROVAL 

COM16-65 presents the text of new Annex D to G.729, - 6.4 kbit/s CS-ACELP. The characterization test 

methodology was drafted at the SG16 February meeting and revised and approved in SQEG (speech quality experts 

group Q22/12) in March 1998. FT/CNET and NTT performed the characterization tests of Version 1.2 of the 

algorithm and presented the test results. All the requirements were met in both laboratories except for the DCR 

(Degradation Category Rating) test method under high levels of car noise. It was explained by speech assessment 

experts present at the meeting that there was not sufficient evidence to conclude whether or not G.729 Annex D has 

problems with car noise. The group agreed to add a note warning of potential performance limitations with high 

levels of car noise and unanimously agreed that G.729 Annex D should be approved by SG16. It was Decided as 

TD-43(PLEN)©. 

ANNEX E TO G.729 APPROVAL 

D.186© (France Telecom/University of Sherbrooke) presents design considerations on the test vectors for Annex E 

to Recommendation G.729; this was recognized as useful information. 



COM16-66 presents the draft text of Annex E to Recommendation G.729 - 11.8-kbit/s CS-ACELP speech coding 

algorithm, which is the higher bit-rate extension designed to accommodate a wide range of input signals such as 

speech with various background noise and music. This coder was developed by France Telecom/CNET and 

University of Sherbrooke, and was originally submitted to the Q19/16 Rapporteur’s meeting in September 1997. 

The design of test vectors for verification or correct implementation of this algorithm was presented by University of 

Sherbrooke. The characterization test methodology was drafted in the SG16 February meeting and revised and 

approved in SQEG/SG12. Ericsson, FT/CNET and NTT performed the characterization tests of version 1.2 of the 

algorithm and presented the test results. All the requirements were met in all the laboratories and some objectives 

were also met. The group unanimously agreed that the algorithm has adequate performance and that it should be 

approved by SG16. It was Decided as TD-44(PLEN). 

CORRIGENDUM FOR ANNEX H TO G.728 APPROVAL 

Annex H of G.728 (Variable bit rate LD-CELP operation mainly for DCME at rates less than 16 kbit/s) lacked the 

detailed description on the modified pseudo-code to be used in the calculation of log-gain (GSTATE(1)). The 

corrigendum proposed in D.215© (Mitsubishi) provides the additional description on the calculation of GSTATE(1) 

and the additional values for codebook-related arrays. Q19/16 agreed that the corrigendum should be published in an 

Implementer’s Guide. It was approved as TD-49(PLEN). 

ANNEX I - G.728 DETERMINATION 

Proposed Annex I to G.728 (extensions for robust performance in the presence of frame erasures) used to be an 

extension of the LD-CELP codec that modified the decoder algorithm to be operated under burst error conditions of 

mobile radio channels. This extension was suspended because some quality loss was previously found in subjective 

tests performed with Japanese sentences. D.107 (R. Cox, AT&T) from the January 1998 SG16 meeting presented 

an improved frame-erasure concealment algorithm that intends to overcome the quality loss in the previous proposal. 

The meeting agreed that this algorithm is valuable not only at 16 kbit/s but also at 12.8 and 9.6 kbit/s under 

variable-rate operation. The terms of reference for this extension algorithm is attached as Annex B to TD- 

32(WP3/16), the Q19/16 meeting report. The test methodology for this extension was drafted in February 1998 

meeting and approved by SQEG/12 March 1998. 

AT&T tested this algorithm in North American English and NTT tested it in Japanese. The results from both test 

laboratories were reviewed at this meeting (D.155© and D.203©, respectively). All the requirements were met 

except for a few conditions that were unique to each of the two languages and were recognized to have little statistical 

significance. The group unanimously agreed that this proposal should be submitted for Determination at this 

meeting. G.728 Annex I was Determined as TD-48(PLEN). 

VBD CAPABILITY FOR THE 40-KBIT/S EXTENSION OF G.728 

Although the final version of the test methodology of voice-band data (VBD) capability was finalized in February 

1998, no action was taken by the proponent of the candidate algorithm (ECI/MOC Israel) to start testing. No 

progress was made during this meeting. The group reviewed the schedule and would like to come to closure on the 

issue at the next meeting. The rapporteur will personally contact the proponent to clarify the situation. The terms 

of reference for this extension algorithm is attached as Annex A to TD-32(WP3/16), the Q19/16 meeting report. 

PROPOSAL OF IMPROVING VAD 

D.145© (CSELT) is a new algorithm to improve VAD (Voice Activity Detector) performance when it is used with a 

digital speech coding algorithm. This new VAD was developed by the University of Catania and is based on an 

improved (adaptive) version of the Fuzzy VAD presented (as AH-Q19-06) in September, 1997 at the Bethesda, MD, 

Q19/16 meeting. Performance evaluation with both subjective and objective measures was presented in comparison 

with Annex B to G.729 identifying the improvement over G.729 Annex B. The meeting thanked CSELT for the 

information and suggested that a concrete proposal be submitted via contribution for the establishment of a new 

work item. 

LIAISON STATEMENTS 

TD-28(WP3/16) from Q19/16, Q20/16 and Q21/16 to both SQEG/12 and ITU-R TG8/1 notifies them of the 

approval of Annexes C, D, and E to Recommendation G.729 and of the Determination of Annex I to 

Recommendation G.728. SG16 thanks SQEG/12 for elaborating the characterization test methodology and analyzing 

the test results for both draft Annexes D and E to G.729. It also thanks SQEG/12 for reviewing the 

evaluation test methodology for the proposed Annex I to G.728. WP3/16 would like to ask SQEG/12 and Q14/12 

to consider the identification of proper methods for the assessment of VAD/CNI/DTX (discontinuous transmission) 



algorithms in particular in the presence of background noise, which will be part of future standardization work in 

SG16. 

Q20/16 WP3, AUDIO AND WIDEBAND CODING IN PUBLIC TELECOMMUNICATION 

NETWORKS 

R. Drogo De Iacovo (CSELT/Italy) is the Q20/16 Rapporteur. TD-8(WP3/16) is the meeting agenda. TD- 

9(WP3/16) is the Q20/16 progress report. TD-29(WP3/16) is the report of this meeting. The current 

objectives of Question 20/16 are to evaluate the results of the selection test and plan for future activities. 

WIDEBAND CODEC TEST RESULTS 

COM16-71 (PictureTel) is a detailed description of the PictureTel candidate algorithm for the wideband (50 - 7000 

Hz) audio coder for multimedia communications with a 16 kHz sample rate. 

TD-10(WP3/16) (Rapporteur) contains version 1.2 (May 1998) of the Subjective Selection Test Plan for the ITU- 

T Wideband codec. Five listening laboratories participating in the selection listening tests (DT Berkom, FT/CNET, 

FUB, NORTEL and NTT-AT) and presented their results. All of them were judged compliant in meeting its 

deliverables according to the contents of the signed Memorandum of Understanding. This work was funded by 

PictureTel, who provided the candidate algorithm, at the 50% level. Each of the listening laboratories are expected to 

send a bill for the balance to ITU-T TSB for payment. 

D.146© CSELT - FUB 

D.151© Deutsche Telekom Berkom GmbH 

D.184© France Telecom/CNET 

D.190© Nortel 

D.204© NTT/NTT-AT 

TD-12(WP3/16) (Q22/12/SGEQ/12 Chairman, P. Usai, CSELT) presents a global analysis of the wideband codec 

selection tests. From the global analysis it was shown that the codec under test (CuT) has very good performance 

with music signals and with background noise at 32 kbit/s. In the presence of clean speech, however, the CuT 

doesn’t provide the required performance in many cases. An overview of the selection test results is included in 

Annex Q20.A of the Q20/16 meeting report, TD-29(WP3/16) which also includes Terms of Reference and 

associated time schedules. 

The following areas were identified as clearly needing improvement before the terms of reference can be said to be 

met: 

• Clean speech with frame erasures - performance at the three bit rates 

• Tandem clean speech performance for 24 and 32 kbit/s 

• Two and three tandem performance with office noise at 16 kbit/s 

• Three tandem performance with frequency harmonic noise at 16 kbit/s. 

It was concluded that the measured performance of the tested algorithm does not satisfy all the terms of reference, in 

particular for speech signals in (a) tandem connections and in (b) connections with 3% random frame erasure. 

After the discussion on the selection test results, it was agreed to restart the competition for a 24, 32 kbit/s wideband 

algorithm for speech and music signal with a very short time schedule. D.196© (Canada) raises the need to consider 

new standardization of a 7-kHz codec at 16 kbit/s and below devoted for speech signals. 

TEST RESULTS AND ORGANIZATION OF FUTURE ACTIVITIES 

D.161© (Lucent) expresses concern on the present state of the standardization activities with regards to wideband 

speech coding. It requests that no further compromises be made in the relaxing of requirements. 

As a first way forward, Q20/16 discussed the possibility of considering specific applications and, taking into account 

the conditions with requirement met, starting an optimization phase. Due to the number of failures in meeting the 

requirements and the lack of organizations willing and able to enter this optimization phase in order to improve the 

codec performance, it was decided to explore other ways to go forward. 

Taking into account the need to proceed rapidly towards an ITU-T wideband standard and, at the same time, noting 

the state of the art in wideband coding, Q20/16 agreed to proceed with a very short time schedule for a 24, 32 kbit/s 

wideband algorithm capable of coping with speech and music signals; it was agreed to leave the wideband 16 kbit/s 

(and around) bit-rate(s) as a longer new project activity mainly focused on speech signals. 



For the 24 and 32 kbit/s algorithms this assures fair competition; it allows other candidates to participate in the 

selection process. 

Consequently, the Terms of Reference and time schedule were revised (Annex Q20.B to TD-29(WP3/16)) and the 

following agreements were reached. The aim is to have the standard algorithm at the end of the very short time 

schedule: 

1. The qualification phase is not performed and no qualification test is required of the candidate proponents; they 

have to sign a Letter Of Intent (LOI) and send it to ITU-T TSB (F. Bigi). The LOI represents a commitment for 

the proponents to enter the selection phase and share the cost of the subjective tests. The total amount to be 

shared will be known when the MoUs (Memoranda of Understanding) are prepared by ITU-T TSB and sent to the 

interested parties. 

Editor’s note: On October 7, 1998, an e-mail from S. Campos-Neto noted that the Letter of Intent is now available 

from the ITU at: 

ftp://account@ties.itu.int/u/tsg16/sg16/wp3/loi.rev1.doc 

where “account” is a valid TIES account with access to the SG16 Informal FTP area. 

The Rapporteur for Q20/16 will also be informed by the candidate proponents of their intentions and the 

Rapporteur will notify the Q20/16 reflector of candidate submissions. 

2. Two MoUs will be prepared by ITU-T TSB, as in the previous wideband exercise: MoU “A” between ITU-T and 

candidate proponents, MoU “B” between ITU-T and listening laboratories. 

3. Each candidate proponent will perform the fixed-point software host laboratory processing for its own candidate 

conditions. As done in the previous wideband selection test, the candidate proponent will process the candidate 

conditions, and the listening laboratories will provide pre-processing of the source material and processing of 

reference conditions utilizing the ITU-T Software Tool Library. 

Spot checking of the processing done at the proponent laboratories will be performed; the procedure will be 

coordinated by the Rapporteur for Q20/16. The spot checking will be started after the end of the host laboratory 

sessions and will require that each candidate proponent check the processing performed by another proponent. 

With this aim, each candidate proponent shall receive, under NDA (Non Disclosure Agreement), the executable 

code and batch files to perform the spot checking activity. CD-ROM is the preferred media to exchange files 

(unless differently agreed) in DOS format and executables for a Pentium Windows 95 platform. Moreover, a 

similar spot checking activity should be performed by listening laboratories as regards the pre-processed source 

material and processing of the reference conditions using the same exchange media and platform as agreed for the 

above-mentioned spot checking activity carried out at the host laboratories. 

4. The time schedule for wideband coding at 24 and 32 kbit/s (see Annex Q20.B of TD-29(WP3/16)) was 

prepared, planning for Determination in May 1999 and Decision in September 1999 (co-located meeting with 

SG12). 

5. The Terms of Reference (ToR) were reviewed and it was agreed to leave the 16 kbit/s for a subsequent new 

standardization activity. The 16 kbit/s compared to G.722 at 48 kbit/s (one third of bit-rate reduction) is not 

achievable with the current state of the art. Moreover, looking at the results gained in the testing of ITU-T 

wideband coding during the past five years, it was concluded from the test results that the state of the art likely 

allows a reduction of 24 kbit/s while maintaining the same performance of G.722 for speech and music. Based 

on actual test results, the ToR were revised, calling for an algorithm at 24, 32 kbit/s that matches the G.722 

performance at 48, 56 kbit/s, respectively, whereas the objective, that will be tested in the selection phase, 

remains matching G.722 performance at 56, 64 kbit/s. 

6. The Rapporteur will also send the Liaison Statement originated by Q20/16 to the SQEG/SG12 e-mail reflector 

and directly to the SQEG Chairman to minimize the risk of delay in the wideband time schedule. 

Q20/16 specifically addressed the issue of sharing 100% of the total cost of the subjective tests among candidate 

proponents. If PictureTel is a candidate proponent, it should be taken into account that they already paid for the 

previous selection exercise and a compensation mechanism should be adopted to equally distribute the final 

expenditure. 



The feeling of many potential candidates present at the meeting was that it would be very difficult for them to gain 

acceptance of this proposal by their respective managements. For that reason they did not accept this compensation 

mechanism and asked to share 100% of the new costs among proponents, including PictureTel. 

Nevertheless, when the actual set of candidate proponents is known, the question can then be decided by the 

proponents. 

Editor’s note: As of October 28, LOIs from PictureTel and NTT have been received and accepted by the ITU. 

Lucent Technologies previously notified the Rapporteur that they do not wish to participate in this phase. 

Q20/16 also addressed the issue of C-source code availability and proper distribution. It was agreed that an escrow 

copy of the C-source code will be sent by each of the proponents to the ITU-T TSB (deadline is two months before 

the SG16 meeting). No software distribution will take place before the SG16 meeting. At the next SG16 meeting, 

if a Determination occurs, the issue of software distribution will be addressed and the guidelines that are expected 

from TSAG on the subject will be properly considered. 

Starting from the considerations contained in D.196 (Canada), it was agreed to request contributions for a new 

wideband (7 kHz) coding activity around 16 kbit/s with focus on speech. An Annex to TD-29(WP3/16) contains 

a summary of possible applications and technical features for the new wideband algorithm as discussed within 

Q20/16. These include: ISDN videotelephony on Basic Rate Access, ISDN wideband telephony (e.g., for 

multichannel applications), wideband transmission over Internet, packet applications (B-ISDN with ATM, PCME, 

DCME), wideband over indoor wireless and cellular, and PSTN applications (e.g., point-to-point links for business 

applications). 


TD-01(WP3/16) is a liaison from Task Group 8/1 on Speech and Multimedia coding for IMT-2000. It requests 

continuing information on the performance of the extension to G.729 at 11.8 kbit/s, and other candidate set(s) of 

video and audio codecs for IMT-2000 applications. 

TD-04(WP3/16) is a reply from Q22/12 (February 1998 meeting) on the progress of speech coding testing and 

related issues. BT, France Telecom, Nortel, NTT and Rockwell have identified themselves as provisionally able to 

conduct the tests. However the issue of funding will need to be addressed by SG16. 

TD-06(WP3/16) is a liaison from MPEG with comments on audio coding and audio verification tests, and a copy 

of MPEG-4 Audio Verification Test Specifications - NADIB (Narrow Band Digital Broadcasting) Part. This liaison 

notes that MPEG-4 is focused on narrow band audio broadcasting, music on the Internet and mobile video 

transmission; verification testing will be aimed at evaluating the performance in these specific application areas. 

TD-28(WP3/16) contains all the output liaison statements from Q19/16, Q20/16 and Q21/16 regarding Progress 

on Speech Coding Issues. Included in TD-28(WP3/16) is a liaison to inform SQEG (Q22/12) about the updated 

Terms of Reference and time schedule for ITU-T wideband coding at 24, 32 kbit/s. It also asks support in 

developing an appropriate selection test plan. The liaison requests to have the selection test plan for wideband 

coding at 24, 32 kbit/s ready at the end of next SG12 meeting (December 4, 1998). 

TD-28(WP3/16) also includes two other liaisons to ITU-R TG 8/1 and SG11 asking advice on foreseen 

applications and related requirements for the new wideband coding activity around 16 kbit/s started at the present 

SG16 meeting. 

Q21/16 WP3, ENCODING OF SPEECH SIGNALS AT BIT RATES AROUND 4-KBIT/S 

The Q21/16 Rapporteur is P. Barrett (BT, UK). The Q21/16 agenda is TD-21(WP3/16); the report of interim 

activities is TD-22(WP3/16). TD-23(WP3/16) is the report of this Q21/16 meeting. No interim meetings are 

planned. 

The current objective of Q21/16 is to select an algorithm or algorithms that are likely to meet the terms of reference 

for the future ITU-T 4-kbit/s speech coding standard (G.4k). Candidate proposals are assessed on the basis of 

subjective test results produced according to the 4-kbit/s qualification test plan. 

SUMMARY 

Q21/16 reviewed qualification results from eight organizations. However, none of the proposals fully met the 

requirements necessary to enter the selection phase; further submissions will be reviewed in September, 1999. A 



new qualification procedure has been defined whereby the subjective tests for all 4-kbit/s candidates will be performed 

using a common laboratory (or laboratories). The terms of reference (ToR) for speech coding at 4-kbit/s remain 

unchanged. The revised target for approval of G.4k is the first quarter of 2001. 

RESULTS 

During the WP3/16 Plenary in February 1998, it was agreed that organizations submitting candidates to Q21/16 

would be required to provide demonstration speech material as a qualification deliverable. A procedure for the 

production and distribution of the demonstration material, based on the use of common unprocessed speech, was 

agreed by correspondence during July and August 1998. The Rapporteur received processed material from all eight 

candidate proponents by the agreed deadline of 2 September. This was placed on the ITU-T ftp server using a 

filename mapping known only to the Rapporteur. 

The Rapporteur stressed that the purpose of this demonstration material was to provide WP3/16 with an indication of 

the current performance of 4-kbit/s speech coding technology, and that although the demonstration material might 

contribute to the decision over whether to begin the 4-kbit/s selection phase, it would not be considered when 

deciding which particular algorithms could go forward. 

Q21/16 agreed that the demonstration material would be removed from the ITU-T ftp server after this Study Group 

meeting, and that the filename mapping would remain secret. 

CANDIDATE PROPOSALS 

Candidate proposals were presented by COMSAT, Fujitsu, Matsushita, Mitsubishi, NTT, Rockwell/Nortel, Toshiba 

and Voxware. A summary of the algorithms and qualification results is given in Annex Q21.A to the Q21/16 

meeting report, TD-23(WP3/16). Input documents are shown in Table 5. 

SCHEDULE 

Q21/16 reviewed the qualification results with respect to the ToR (Terms of Reference) for 4-kbit/s speech coding. 

Although it was acknowledged that further delay in Q21/16 could lead to G.4k missing some windows of opportunity, 

the consensus of the meeting was that the ITU-T 4-kbit/s speech codec should deliver the performance reflected 

in the ToR. Given that none of the candidates passed all of the requirements, Q21/16 decided to postpone the 

deadline for candidate submissions. 

It was agreed that the next Q21/16 qualification tests will be coordinated by SG16, and performed at a common 

laboratory (or laboratories). The main disadvantages of this approach are the need for candidate proponents to pay 

external organizations to perform the subjective tests, and the additional delay incurred by the use of a small number 

of laboratories. However, these factors were felt to be outweighed by the advantage of removing variables such as 

source material, test language and replay equipment from the qualification phase. The number of listening laboratories 

and languages has yet to be agreed, but at least two listening laboratories (COMSAT and Nortel) stated that, in 

principle, they were interested in participating. BT provisionally stated that it could act as host laboratory. 

Organizations wishing to submit a 4-kbit/s speech coding algorithm to Q21/16 must make a verbal declaration of 

intent during the next SG16 meeting, otherwise their candidate will not be included in the qualification phase. 

Organizations wishing to act as a laboratory for the qualification phase should provide the following information to 

the Rapporteur not later than six weeks before the SG16 meeting in May 1999: 

1. The cost per candidate, per experiment; 

2. The maximum number of candidates that can be accommodated; 

3. The time required to perform the listening phase for different numbers of candidate algorithms (one to the 

maximum number inclusive); 

4. Whether the laboratory will perform the host laboratory function. 

Number Source Title 

D.152© Mitsubishi High Level description of Mitsubishi 4 kbit/s codec and test results 

D.154 Matsushita High Level description of Matsushita 4 kbit/s codec and test results 

D.157© COMSAT Qualification test results of COMSAT 4 kbit/s codec 

D.165© COMSAT High Level description of COMSAT 4 kbit/s codec 

D.175© Rockwell High Level description of Rockwell/Nortel 4 kbit/s codec 

D.176© Rockwell Qualification test results of Rockwell/Nortel 4 kbit/s codec 



D.177© Rockwell IPR statement 

D.178© Voxware High Level description of Voxware 4 kbit/s codec 

D.179© Voxware Qualification test results of Voxware 4 kbit/s codec 

D.180© Voxware IPR statement 

D.201© Fujitsu High Level description of Fujitsu 4 kbit/s codec and test results 

D.205© NTT High Level description of NTT 4 kbit/s codec and test results 

D.209© Toshiba High Level description of Toshiba 4 kbit/s codec and test results 

Table 5. Input Documents for ITU-T 4-kbit/s speech coding standard (G.4k). 

In order to keep the cost of the qualification phase to a minimum, it was agreed that the experiments funded by the 

candidate proponents will only be performed in a single language (which will be the same for both qualification 

experiments). Proposals from laboratories wishing to repeat the qualification experiments in a second or third 

language will be considered if they incur little or no extra cost to the candidate proponents. 

The cost per candidate, per experiment is expected to be in the order of US$10K (i.e., US$20K per candidate). 

The schedule was revised such that the new target date for Decision of the ITU-T 4-kbit/s speech coding 

recommendation (G.4k) is the first quarter of 2001. The revised schedule is in Annex Q21.C to TD-23(WP3/16), 

the Q21/16 meeting report. 

TERMS OF REFERENCE AND QUALIFICATION TEST PLAN 

TD-13(WP3/16) (Q21/16 Rapporteur, P. Barrett) is the subjective qualification test plan for 4-kbit/s coding. 

There were no contributions on the ToR, although Voxware noted that in their qualification tests the provisional 

requirement for random bit errors (G.729 at a BER of 0.1%) gave better performance than G.726. The Rapporteur 

invited contributions on this topic, and stated that he would investigate the possibility of obtaining bit error patterns 

from Q11/16. The performance requirements for random bit errors and bursty detected frame erasures remain for 

further study. 

The requirement to pass DTMF signals was questioned, because systems using low bit-rate speech codecs 

increasingly send this information by means of signaling. A note was added to the ToR to reflect this fact, but the 

need to pass DTMF tones remains a requirement. 

One of the candidate proponents stated that they were unable to find a telephone handset meeting the specification in 

P.830. It was agreed that a liaison statement will be sent to Q22/12 (SQEG) requesting clarification on the use of 

headphones in future 4-kbit/s subjective tests (contained in TD-28(WP3/16), draft liaison statements from Q19, 

20 and 21/16). 

Finally, it was also suggested that the processing diagrams in the qualification test plan are unclear with respect to 

the inclusion of G.711 stages. New diagrams will be prepared for approval by SQEG. 


A liaison statement was drafted to inform SQEG of the revised 4-kbit/s schedule and qualification procedure, and to 

request guidance on the use of headphones in future 4-kbit/s qualification and selection tests. 

A liaison statement was drafted to ITU-R TG 8/1 to inform them of the revised 4-kbit/s schedule and terms of 

reference. 

Q22/16 WP3, SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE TOOLS FOR STANDARDIZATION OF SPEECH AND 

AUDIO CODING ALGORITHMS 

The Q22/16 Rapporteur is S. F. Campos-Neto (COMSAT/USA). TD-18(WP3/16) is a report of the interim 

activities. The Q22/16 meeting report is contained in the WP3/16 report, TD-62(PLEN). No interim meetings 

of Q22/16 are planned. 

Currently Q22/16 is dealing with the maintenance and future enhancements of the STL96 (Software Tool Library96). 

At the last SG16 meeting, an “unofficial” update (evolving STL, eSTL) was made available (the evolving STL 

released in January 1998 [eSTL9801] is available to ITU-T members under request from the Rapporteur) and the list 

of action points (see TD-62(PLEN), Annex Q22.A) was revised. 



Little progress was performed in this period (see TD-18(WP3/16), the report of the interim activities), although 

some minor bugs were corrected and identified, and some preliminary studies were performed. 

On the investigation of the alternative calculation of the active level method proposed by Prof. Kabal (COM 16- 

R28), preliminary comparison showed almost identical measurements when the speech files had been pre-equalized to 

-26 dBov. Further tests will investigate the effect for a range of input speech level files. When finalized, the results 

will be posted to the WP 3/16 reflector. 

The modified (to fix the bugs identified) demo programs will be uploaded to the ITU-T informal FTP area for SG16 

under the WP3 Q22 directory. Editor’s note: an e-mail from S. Campos-Neto on October 5, 1998 noted that these 

files have been uploaded to: 

ftp://account@ties.itu.ch/u/tsg16/sg16/wp3/q22/new-9809/new9809.zip 

where “account” (without quotes) is a valid TIES account and password. 


Q22/16 reviewed TD-3(WP3/16), a Liaison Statement from Q13/12 on the PSQM (P.861, Objective quality 

measurement of telephone-band [300-3400 Hz] speech codecs, 2/98) software and from Q14/12 on speech voltmeter 

aspects (P.56, Objective measurement of active speech level) related to software tools. 

The group noted the guidelines on the use of test vectors for testing the PSQM implementation, but the Rapporteur 

reported that the reference implementation of the PSQM software has been taken out of circulation by the TSB, due 

to IPR issues related to P.861. As a consequence, this work was temporarily halted. 

Regarding the speech voltmeter, the group created an action item to identify and implement optional filter programs 

to band-limit the input signals used by the speech voltmeter demo programs. 

Q23/16 WP1, PCM MODEMS 

The Q23/16 Rapporteur is L. Brown (Motorola ISG, USA). The agenda for the meeting is TD-24(WP1/16). 

TD-14(WP1/16) is the report of the Red Bank, New Jersey, Q23/16 Rapporteur meeting (May 1998); TD- 

15(WP1/16) is the report of the Quebec City, Canada, Q23/16 Rapporteur meeting (July 1998). An interim 

Rapporteurs meeting is planned for December 7-10, 1998 in San Diego, California. 

LIAISON 

TD-4(WP1/16) is a liaison from SG15 concerning voice-band data over ATM networks. It recognizes the 

concerns of Q23/16 regarding adaptive build-out delay. Q8/15 added text noting the use of a fixed (300 μs - 2 ms 

network operator set) build-out buffer to delay playout of the packet/cells. The approved liaison reply (TD- 

39(WP1/16)) thanks Q8/15 for their work but raises the issue of when adaptive delay is used. It notes that a 

statement in I.741 specifying a means to disable adaptive build-out in the case of a data call might be helpful. 

TD-6(WP1/16) is a liaison from Q4/15 to multiple SGs concerning identification and characteristics of PSTN 

signals that may interfere with splitterless ADSL (G.lite). The liaison reply, in TD-52(WP1/16) notes the 

possibility of billing tones (see ETS 300 001) as signals outside the 4 kHz band. 

TD-13(GEN) is a liaison from SG15 requesting comment and identification of contacts pertaining to their draft 

ANT (access network transport) standardization plan; Q23/16 approved a liaison reply, indicating that they should add 

the V-series Recommendations from SG16 and delete the cited H.2xx documents, which do not relate to access 

transport. The liaison is in TD-44(WP1/16). 

RECOMMENDATION V.90, PCM MODEM 

Q23/16 agreed to the editorial changes to draft Recommendation V.90 (COM 16-64) given in TD-6(PLEN) items 

2-5. They also considered and approved, with revision, the proposed Appendix I (example network configuration) for 

V.90 contained in TD-6(PLEN). The updated text for the Appendix is contained in TD-45(PLEN). 

PROPOSED RECOMMENDATION V.ADM 

TD-23(WP1/16) is the updated issues list for the ongoing work on PCM modems as updated at the Q23/16 

Rapporteur meeting in Quebec City. This was revised to TD-40(WP1/16), which was then approved by Q23/16. 

TD-19(WP1/16), the proposed baseline text for V.adm, based on the agreements reached at the Quebec City 

meeting (July 1998), was approved with minor revision. 



D.162© (B. Barazesh, Lucent) proposes work on the definition of Phase 1 of the handshake for V.adm, in particular 

on the detection of “clear” channels, i.e., channels with no digital impairments. D.199© (K. Chu, Rockwell, US) 

addresses several of the open issues on V.adm. D.200© (T. Liau, Rockwell, US) raises concern regarding the use of 

a DC offset for the V.adm digital connectivity probing sequence. TD-33(WP1/16) is a compilation of the 

contributions from the Quebec City meeting addressing open issues for V.adm. 

TD-41(WP1/16) is the report of an ad hoc session that reached agreement on open issues for V.adm. The revised 

report is in TD-51(WP 1/16). It reports that one proposed set of DCP (Digital connectivity probing) signals 

(repeating octets) would be before CM and after optional CI in Phase 1 or alternatively a DC offset could be added to 

CM and JM Phase 1 signals. 

During the deliberations, the group also approved the following: 

• Inclusion of an Appendix discussing the typical network configuration for V.adm 

• Optional support of V.8bis ahead of Phase 1 startup for V.adm 

• The use of the signal point represented by Ucode 66 for SCR in Phase 3 

• Handling of interchange circuits 104 and 106 during resynchronization and retrain, and circuits 107 and 109 during 

disconnect (after a 6 second timeout). 

The Rapporteur will update the issues list to reflect all of the agreements reached during this meeting. 

TD-46(PLEN) is the revised text for proposed Recommendation V.adm incorporating all of the agreements. 

The remaining open issues for V.adm are: 

• Finalization of the provisional agreement on the structure of Phase 1 of the startup procedure, which depends on 

the definition of robust DCPc (calling) and DCPa (answering) signals 

• Further consideration of test loops (section 9) 

• Clarifications to the Scope and the Title of the Recommendation pertaining to the definition of switched digital 

network, and type(s) of network over which V.adm is intended to operate 

• Work on Appendix describing typical network configurations for V.adm 

These issues will be addressed at the interim Rapporteur’s meeting. 

Q23/16 agreed that proposed Recommendation V.adm is sufficiently mature to be forwarded to SG16 for 

Determination. V.91 (former V.adm) was Determined at the closing plenary as TD-72(PLEN). 

V.ADM INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY 

To date, the following companies have indicated verbally that they may have Intellectual Property pertaining to 

proposed Recommendation V.adm: Lucent Technologies, Rockwell, 3Com, Motorola, Matsushita, and Lake 

Datacomms. 



MEETING ROSTER OF STUDY GROUP 16, SEPTEMBER 14 – 25, 1998, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND 

Pierre-André Probst, Swisscom, Switzerland SG16 Chair 

George Helder, PictureTel, US SG16 Vice Chair 

John Magill, Lucent, UK SG16 Vice Chair 

Federico Tosco, CSELT, Italy SG16 Vice Chair 

Country Company Name 

ETSI Gur Kimchi 

ETSI Paolo Usai 

INMARSAT Eyal Trachtman 

INTELSAT Andrew C. Lee 

TSB Fabio Bigi 

Austria Gerhard List 

Austria Post und Telekom Austria Michael Blaschitz 

Austria Post und Telekom Austria Paul Muzak 

Austria Post und Telekom Austria Klaus Sambor 

Brazil Georges Claessen 

Canada Redwan Salami 

Canada Thomas Taylor 

Canada Mitel Dave Walker 

Canada Nortel (Canada) Nicole Gallant 

Canada Nortel (Canada) Peter Yue 

Chile Eduardo Vera 

China Yu Hong Bin 

China Fei Wen Duan 

China Jiang Lin Tao 

China Xu Yun Tao 

China Dai Xiao Hui 

China Lin Xin Yue 

Finland Helsinki Telephone Co. Markus Backstrom 

Finland Helsinki Telephone Co. Juha Kauppi 

Finland Helsinki Telephone Co. Teemu Varonen 

Finland Nokia Matti Alkula 

Finland Nokia Ari Heikkinen 

Finland Nokia Harri Honko 

Finland Nokia Marko Luomi 

Finland Nokia Lippo Rantanen 

Finland Nokia Pekka Rissanen 

France Daniel Battu 

France Jean Pierre Blin 

France Lucien Bourgeat 

France Pierre Combescure 

France Yves Robin-Champigneul 

France France Telecom Gerard Dupin 

France France Telecom Isabelle Haignere 

France France Telecom Claude Lamblin 

France France Telecom Franck Lelong 

France France Telecom Catherine Quinquis 

France France Telecom Georges Sebek 

France MATRA Telecommunications Francois Capman 

France MATRA Telecommunications Carlo Murgia 

France MATRA Telecommunications Didier Rocchia 

France SAGEM Gerard Lachaussee 

Germany Manfred Magele 

Germany Rolf Ruggeberg 

Germany Istvan Sebestyen 

Germany Alcatel SEL Klemens Adler 



Germany Deutsche Telekom Ralf-Rainer Damm 

Germany Deutsche Telekom Siegfried Rausch 

Germany Deutsche Telekom Joachim Stegmann 

Germany Siemens Robert Callaghan 

Germany Siemens Martin Euchner 

Germany Siemens Gerard Hofer 

Germany Siemens Karl Klaghofer 

Germany Siemens Markku Korpi 

Germany Siemens Gerald Meyer 

Germany Siemens Imre Varga 

Germany Siemens Bernard Wimmer 

Germany TELES Jorg Ott 

Germany TELES Stephen Wenger 

Hungary MATAV Hungarian Telecomm Tivadar Szabo 

Ireland Lake Datacomms Michel McLaughlin 

Israel Ami Amir 

Israel Philippe Klein 

Israel Goory Ronen 

Israel Sasha Ruditiski 

Israel Uzi Shalev 

Italy Giuseppe Rinaldo 

Italy Mauro Falcone 

Italy CSELT Rosario Drogo De Iacovo 

Italy CSELT Federico Tosco 

Italy Italtel Renata Guarneri 

Japan Mitsuji Matsumoto 

Japan Junichi Nakazawa 

Japan Sakae Okubo 

Japan Akihiko Tsukui 

Japan Canon Masao Hosaka 

Japan CIAJ Keiichi Hibi 

Japan Fujitsu Yasuji Ota 

Japan Fujitsu Kiyoshi Sakai 

Japan KDD Shigeyuki Sakazawa 

Japan KDD Hideaki Yamada 

Japan Matsushita Electric Industrial Akira Atsuta 

Japan Matsushita Electric Industrial Hioryuki Ehara 

Japan Mitsubishi Electric Yushi Naito 

Japan Mitsubishi Electric Hirohisa Tasaki 

Japan NEC Yoshihisa Aotani 

Japan NEC Hidenobu Harasaki 

Japan NEC Masahiro Serizawa 

Japan NTT Shiji Hayashi 

Japan NTT Naoki Kobayashi 

Japan NTT Hiroshi Koyano 

Japan NTT Kazunori Mano 

Japan NTT Takahiro Muraki 

Japan NTT Shigeaki Sasaki 

Japan NTT Mobile Comm Network Toshiro Kawahara 

Japan NTT Mobile Comm Network Takashi Suzuki 

Japan Oki Electric Industry Yasuo Aoyagi 

Japan Oki Electric Industry Yasubumi Chimura 

Japan Oki Electric Industry Minoru Miyazaki 

Japan Toshiba Masimi Akamine 

Japan Toshiba Barry Aronson 

Japan Toshiba Eizo Fujisawa 

Japan Toshiba Yoshihiro Kikuchi 

Japan Toshiba Kimio Miseki 



Japan Toshiba Hirokazu Tanaka 

Japan Toshiba Toshiaki Watanabe 

Korea Don Whan Hyun 

Korea Samsung Yong Duk Cho 

Morocco Driss Lamsane 

Poland Andrzej Wykrota 

Slovak Republic Slovak Telecom Aljosa Salgovic 

Spain Enrique Berrojalvis 

Sweden Gunnar Hellstrom 

Sweden L.M. Ericsson Bo Burman 

Sweden L.M. Ericsson Eric Ekudden 

Sweden L.M. Ericsson Magnus Hallenstal 

Sweden L.M. Ericsson Jan Holm 

Sweden L.M. Ericsson Mickey Nasiri 

Sweden L.M. Ericsson Anders Svennevik 

Sweden Telia Annika Kilegran 

Switzerland Armin Blum 

Switzerland Rene Koch 

Switzerland Siemens Schweiz Rudolph Hasler 

Switzerland Swisscom Pierre-André Probst 

Syrian Arab Republic Souad Dahdal 

Syrian Arab Republic Mohamed Rafic Ghannam 

Syrian Arab Republic Nabil Kisrawi 

Syrian Arab Republic Bassema Koueder 

Thailand Somyot Tanapirunthorn 

The Netherlands KPN Jeroen De Muijnck 

The Netherlands KPN Cor Quist 

UK William Pechy 

UK BT Paul Barrett 

UK BT Alistar Farquharson 

UK BT Mike Nilsson 

UK BT Joseph Pointer 

UK BT Andrew Woollett 

UK GPT Nicholas Winch 

UK Hayes Microcomputer Products John Moughton 

UK Lucent Mike Buckley 

UK Lucent John Magill 

UK MADGE Michele Bozier 

UK MADGE Andrew Draper 

UK Panasonic Standards Europe Alan Pugh 

UK Racal Datacom Chris Firth 

Ukraine Igor Usov 

Ukraine Mykola Vakulenko 

Ukraine Alexander Varnosov 

USA An Nguyen 

USA Andrea Saks 

USA Bruce Degrasse 

USA Gary Fereno 

USA Granger Kelley 

USA Mark Neibert 

USA Patrick Murphy 

USA Paul Jones 

USA Radhika Roy 

USA 3-COM Fred Lucas 

USA 3-COM Richard Stuart 

USA 3-COM Richard Williams 

USA Analog Devices Rao Nuthalapati 

USA Ascend Comm Dale Skran 



USA AT&T Richard Cox 

USA Bell Atlantic Katrina Hopkins 

USA Bellcore Raymond Hapeman 

USA Bellcore Ralph Jensen 

USA Bellcore Hong Liu 

USA Cirrus Logic Vedavalli Krishnan 

USA Cisco Systems Rich Bowen 

USA COMSAT Corp. Simao Campos-Neto 

USA COMSAT Corp. Suat Yeldener 

USA Databeam Neil Starkey 

USA Delta Information Systems Gary Thom 

USA ESS Technology Jordan Cookman 

USA Hayes Microcomputer Products Bruce Adams 

USA IBM Ali Sadri 

USA Intel Narjala Bhasker 

USA Intel Vineet Kumar 

USA Lucent Carle G. Wray 

USA Lucent Glen Freundlich 

USA Lucent Sean Ramprashad 

USA Lucent Zhongjin Yang 

USA Microsoft Jane Dailey 

USA Microsoft Toby Nixon 

USA Motorola Info. Systems Les Brown 

USA Nokia Senthil Sengodan 

USA Nortel (USA) Francois Audet 

USA Nortel (USA) Slobodan Jovanovic 

USA PictureTel Antony Crossman 

USA PictureTel Mark Duckworth 

USA PictureTel Kaynam Hedayat 

USA PictureTel George Helder 

USA PictureTel David Lindbergh 

USA PictureTel Patrick Luthi 

USA PictureTel Marshall Schachtman 

USA PictureTel Gary Sullivan 

USA Polycom Matt Collier 

USA Qualcom Amitav Das 

USA Qualcom Peter Jackson 

USA Rockwell International Keith T. Chu 

USA Rockwell International Tom Geary 

USA Rockwell International Thomas C. Liau 

USA Sun Microsystems Jenn Yeh 

USA Videoserver Georges Kajos 

USA Videoserver Mark Reid 

USA Videoserver Irina Suconick 

USA Voxware Robert Zopf 

USA VTEL Smita Gupta 

USA VTEL Joon Maeng 



REPORT OF ETSI TM6 ACCESS TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS ON METALLIC 

CABLES, SEPTEMBER 21 – 25, 1998, VIENNA, AUSTRIA 

Note: As of November 1, 1998, any user can now access, free of charge, the complete range of ETSI Publications, 

including European Standards in the telecommunications series (EN, ETS, I-ETS, TCR-TR, AN, EG, ES, ETR, 

GTS, NET, SR, TBR, TR, TS). Use the Publications Download application located at 

http://webapp.etsi.org/publicationssearch to download individual copies of ETSI Publications in Adobe Acrobat 

Reader format (.pdf). 

H.-J. Frizlen (ETSI STF, Ericsson) is the TM6 Chair. Sixty-two delegates, representing fifteen countries including 

Slovenia and the Czech Republic and including new delegates from the former TM3 Working Party A, were 

registered. 

Documents TD-1 and TD-2 are the agenda and summary of work items extracted from the ETSI database. TD-0 (A. 

Carrick, ASCOM and acting TM6 secretary) is the updated list of abstracts received at the start of the meeting. 

The new group ANAI (Access Network Architecture and Interfaces), formerly TM3 Working Party A, now takes part 

in the TM6 work; it will hold fewer meetings than TM6, roughly one meeting of ANAI for two TM6 meetings. B. 

Orth (DTAG) is the temporary rapporteur of ANAI. 

Except for the ISDN-BA rapporteur, whose work is completed, the TM6 rapporteurs (ADSL, VDSL and 

HDSL/SDSL) were confirmed. Two new rapporteurs were appointed within ANAI: A. Profumo (ITALTEL) is 

rapporteur of the RTR/TM-03075, “Broad-band access digital section and NT functional requirements”; P. Battistello 

(France Telecom) is rapporteur of REN/TM-03086, “Cell based UNI for 155 Mbit/s and 622 Mbit/s”. 

An editing group, chaired by Mr. Gindle (Austrian Telecom), will establish a list of definitions and abbreviations 

relating to TM6 documents. This is not a rapporteur group because of the short duration of its task, and no work 

item was created within TM6. 

The TM6 Chair attended the TM meeting held in Helsinki September 14-18. The terms of references of TM6 have 

been changed because of the merger with the former TM3 working group; TM6 number remains TM6 because of its 

relations to T1E1 and ITU-T. 

FSAN (FULL SERVICE ACCESS NETWORK) LIAISON 

D. Clark (British Telecom) gave a presentation (WD-23) of the activity of FSAN and invited manufacturers to 

participate in the FSAN Boston meeting, October 7-8, 1998. FSAN, a telco oriented body, was convened to define 

the system requirements (especially spectral compatibility issues) for VDSL as an integral part of a full service 

access network. Since the work of FSAN is vital to TM6, some members felt that this work should be done within 

ETSI. The TM6 Chair stated that collaboration with FSAN has been good and did not see any reason why it should 

not continue. 

T1E1 LIAISON 

There are no formal liaison officers from T1E1 to TM6, and the TM6 Chair regrets that situation. L. Humphrey 

(Nortel) read a liaison statement from E. Eckert (Chair, T1E1) to the TM6 Chair indicating completion of work on 

ADSL document issue 2 and gave a verbal report of the last T1E1 meeting. All letter ballot comments on T1.413 

issue 2 have been resolved; it should now be moving to publication. ANSI will most likely recommend that work 

on xDSL (all the different Digital Subscriber Line services) be started within ITU-T, especially when dealing with 

spectral compatibility; the work within T1E1 on spectral compatibility has not been very successful and has led 

more to a spectral incompatibility. The RADSL (Rate-Adapting ADSL) document has been sent to vote as a 

Technical Report, not a Standard. 

ADSL FORUM LIAISON 

B. Dugerdil (Motorola), the official liaison between TM6 and ADSL, was unable to attend the last ADSL Forum 

meeting. 

Liaison statements WD-01 (transmittal document requesting ETSI comment on WD-02) and WD-02 (working text 

for ATM over ADSL Recommendation) were received from ADSL. They were assigned to ANAI for study and 

reply. 


TM LIAISON 


At the instigation of British Telecom in the TM meeting, TM approved a liaison statement to ITU-T SG15 Q4 

stating that ITU-T should not start work on VDSL (Very high speed ADSL) as long as the regional standard bodies 

have not completed their work. TM6 was asked to endorse liaison statement WD-05 (from Deutsche Telekom AG, 

France Telecom, Telia, Sagem, Nokia and Sonera in support of the earlier BT position) and to add names to the list 

of members supporting those liaison statements; TM6 drafted a similar liaison statement concerning SDSL (WD-06, 

source BT, Deutsche Telekom AG, France Telecom, Telia and Sagem). Some members feel that ITU-T should be 

kept aware of the progress of the work within ETSI; others feel the contrary. 

Also at the instigation of British Telecom in the TM meeting, two working documents (WD-03 and WD-04) were 

liaised to TM6 concerning potential problems raised by the application of the just-approved CTR (Common 

Technical Requirements) 21; one problem is that a non-voice TE (Terminal Equipment) approved to CTR 21 (TBR 

[Technical Basis for Registration] 21, Requirements for pan-European approval for connection to the analog PSTN) 

may generate noise above 200 kHz which will disturb ADSL and other xDSL TEs; another problem is that CTR 21 

cannot be applied to G.lite-like TEs and/or to other TEs specified by the Home Appliance Association and which use 

the non-voice part of the available line spectrum; there is a gap in the pan-European approval requirements for that 

equipment. An ad-hoc group was constituted under the responsibility of K. Foster (BT); the conclusions of that 

group are contained in WD-13. WD-13 notes that TBR-21 is technically flawed and should be fixed quickly. It is 

primarily deficient in the lack of sending level limits above 200 kHz. Liaisons were drafted to TRAC (Technical and 

Regulatory and Approvals Committee responsible for pan-European approval of TE) and the ETSI Board to 

determine whether a new TBR is required for DSL. 

ISDN TRANSPORT 

HDSL (HIGH-RATE DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER LOOP) 

After some periods of instability, the HDSL document (issue 5 of TS 152) is finally stable. TD-52, Request for 

Clarification of Subclause 7.7.3.2 (C. Heidelberger, Schmid Telecom AG), gives a minor editorial comment 

concerning the application of the scrambler only to the ISDN bits and not to synchronization and to the justification 

bits. With this agreed modification, the issue 5 of now TS 101 135 will go to TM for approval and publication. 

S. Schmoll (Alcatel) indicated that the ITU Recommendation G.991.1 on multi-pair HDSL, based on TS 101 135, 

is likely to be approved at the October SG15 meeting. WD-21, the Living List of HDSL, has therefore been closed 

after six years of work. 

HDSL2 

A T1E1.4 working draft of the HDSL2 Standard from ADC Telecommunications was tabled as WD-07; no 

discussion took place on this document, which is not on the present list of work items of TM6. 

ANAI (ACCESS NETWORK ARCHITECTURE AND INTERFACES) 

Two work items are assigned to ANAI: 

RTR/TM-03075, Broad-band access digital section and NT functional requirements (Rapporteur, A. Profumo) 

REN/TM-03086, Cell based UNI for 155 Mbit/s and 622 Mbit/s/s (Rapporteur, P. Battistello) 

It is assumed that another work item will be phasing out DTS/TM03024 revisions to TS 101 272 (Requirements of 

Optical Access Networks for evolving services). WD-16 gives part of the preceding meeting (May, 1998) report. B. 

Orth (DTAG), coordinator of ANAI, presented the report of ANAI activity (Vienna Sept. 21-25, 1998) in WD-17. 

TS 101 272, REQUIREMENTS OF OPTICAL ACCESS NETWORKS FOR EVOLVING SERVICES 

TD-6 (S. Webster, NEC) is the second version of items for the possible revision of TS 101 272 V1.1.1 (the former 

DTS/TM-03024). Agreements reached at the final TM3 meeting in Sophia Antipolis, May 1998, have been 

incorporated. 

At the last meeting of the FSAN OAN group, a document with the required editorial changes to the draft 

recommendation G.983 (G.983.1, G.PONB for ATM-PON System) was provided for the next ITU-T SG15 meeting 

in October 1998. TD-9, Proposals for the Living List of TS 101 272 (I. Marlow, Deutsche Telecom AG), provides 

a part of the ITU-T document, including all those changes which had not been submitted to ETSI before this 

meeting. The remaining part of the ITU-T document was already incorporated in TS 101 272 during the TM 

approval. In sum, these changes are to maintain alignment of G.983 and TS 101 272. 



REN/TM-03086 (REVISION OF ETS 300 299) 

TD-7, Simulation result on the simplified mechanism proposed for DSS synchronization process (P. Battistello, 

FranceTelecom-CNET), was presented for information. It provides simulation results based on real implementation 

for the simplified DSS synchronization mechanism which was proposed in ETSI TM3 Bern meeting (TD-02) and 

which is still in the Living List as “Under Study.” These simulation results confirm the theoretical analysis detailed 

in previous contribution. 

TD-8, ANAI Technical Comments on ETS 300 299 (P. Battistello, FranceTelecom-CNET), addresses three technical 

points that should be clarified during the next revision of ETS 300 299. These technical points are: 

1) Applicability of HEC (header error control) single bit error correction mode (§10.3.1) 

2) HEC regeneration and header scrambling (§10.5.3.3) 

3) Automatic scrambling detection (§10.5.3.3) 

WD-20 includes for information the latest text of the ITU-T I.432.1 Recommendation. 

BROAD-BAND ACCESS DIGITAL SECTION AND NT FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS (DTR/TM-03007) 

TD-18, Proposed Methodology for xDSL NT1 Functional Specification (R. Boden, Philips), suggests a possible 

way to specify NT (Network Termination) functionality by using a functional modeling approach; this specification 

method is based on functional decomposition of the equipment into atomic functions. The equipment is then 

described by its P2S Equipment Functional Specification which lists the atomic functions, their interconnection and 

any overall performance objectives. 

WD-18 is the reply to WD-1 received from ADSL, which accepts that the final version of the TR shall include 

comments regarding VB56 usage, F4 flows, and the inconsistency to route a single path via different links. 

The following were presented for information: 

WD-11 (NEC, Functional architecture for xDSL Dual Latency) 

WD-14 (Nortel to the ADSL Forum, a simple device protocol) 

WD-15 (Nortel to the ADSL Forum, a new NT type between NT1 and NT2) 

MISCELLANEOUS 

TD-20, Application of DTM in Access Network (M. Meninger, SPT TELECOM), summarizes basic properties of a 

new transfer mode (DTM [Dynamic Transfer Mode]) and asks if TM6 should consider its applicability in access 

network. 

The forthcoming ANAI meeting will be held the last week of November. J. Besseyre (Consultelecom) asked if the 

ANAI meeting might be not be held in Sophia Antipolis at the same time as the SDSL/VDSL meeting, 24-27 

November, 1998; since ANAI is now part of TM6, some delegates agreed that it should meet at the same time to 

profit from the synergism between the former TM3 and TM6 and to avoid unnecessary travel. 

SDSL 

The SDSL session was chaired by S. Schmoll (Alcatel). S. Schmoll highlighted first the difference between the US 

requirements and the European operator-expressed requirements in terms of transport of ISDN, reach, remote 

powering, latency, and power available/needed to/by the SDSL equipment. 

The operator requirements are dealt with first. 

• TD-51, Functional Requirements for SDSL (C. Pellicer Losato, Telefonica), expresses Telefonica’s functional 

requirements. It suggests that narrowband services (e.g., telephony) should be transported in the digital core 

frame to avoid the requirement for a splitter and that remote power feeding should be optional. 

• TD-45 (L. Tempestilli, Telecom Italia and L. Magnone, CSELT) indicates the requirements for SDSL seen by 

Telecom Italia; the existing solutions for HDSL (2B1Q and CAP) should be investigated first before looking into 

new modulation solutions. 

• TD-37, Further Requirements on SDSL (T. Stefansson, Telia Research AB), presents their requirements based on 

a target application of SOHO IP applications. 

• WD-08 presents a late contribution on the requirements for SDSL as seen by France Telecom. It suggests reach 

of 4.5 km at 384 kbit/s and 3 km at 2.048 mbit/s on 0.4 mm wires. 



Once those later requirements were known, as well as some changes expressed by BT, the discussion concentrated on 

TD-4, Requirements for a SDSL Transmission System (S. Schmoll, Alcatel): Five operators (BT, Deutsche 

Telekom, Finnet Group, PT Austria, and Telia) presented a list of their requirements for a SDSL transmission 

system. These requirements are taken from the report of the Luleå meeting, sub-clause 4.4. 

A lengthy discussion took place; the most controversial topics were splitter versus in-frame transmission of the 

POTS/ISDN services, need for remote powering of the “lifeline” service, and of the SDSL modem in part or in 

totality. “Range is more important than bit rate.” Bit rate is defined as the actual data rate available to the SDSL 

data user. It does not include the overhead for framing, signaling and management and may be quite different for 

splitter vs. non-splitter solutions. The SDSL user data bit rate does not assume any baud rate on the line. As a 

result of this discussion, there were a few conclusions agreed by all delegates, contained in WD-24: 

• Data bit rate 384 kbit/s/s to 2.304 kbit/s/s 

• Reach of 3 kms at 2.048 kbit/s/s and reach of 4.7 kms at 384 kbit/s/s (same reach as basic rate ISDN) 

• Granularity nx64 kbit/s (user bit rate) 

• A management channel (which may be a logical channel) is needed with a bit rate of up to 64 kbit/s 

• No handshaking; no rate adaptation but fixed rates at installation time. 

Items for further study are: remote powering numbers (POTS power) and splitter vs. in-frame solutions. 

TD-25, Central Office Powering for SDSL (M. Sorbara, GlobeSpan), describes some power budgeting guidelines for 

SDSL system dissipation supporting lifeline applications via the NTU. To provide the associated lifeline service for 

the voice channel, the NTU (network termination unit) would need to be powered from the central office. Depending 

on the power dissipation of the components in the NTU, the reach of SDSL may be limited by either NTU power 

dissipation or core modem transmission capability. This contribution recommends that power budgeting be 

incorporated in the SDSL report. As a result of this TD, an ad-hoc group was formed; the conclusions are given in 

the full meeting report and in WD-19. WD-19 contains conclusions that were not agreed by some delegates and that 

are different from the conclusions reached by the ad-hoc meeting. Operators are invited to contribute on the power 

needs of a POTS telephone; the figure of 450 mW seems overoptimistic. 

TD-39, Remote Powering (M Kempe, Siemens) addresses the issue of remote powering in SDSL. Its conclusions 

come very close to TD-25 and were also considered by the ad-hoc group on powering budget. 

TD-26, Customer Premises Wiring for SDSL (M. Sorbara, GlobeSpan) describes various premises wiring scenarios. 

One of the key requirements for SDSL is to simultaneously provision a data channel along with either a telephone or 

ISDN channel. If SDSL service is to be provisioned in the residential environment (for either business or consumer 

applications), then the impact on premises wiring must be considered. This contribution recommends that premises 

wiring be included in the Living List and in the SDSL report. 

TD-12, SDSL: POTS Splitter Considerations (A. Carrick, Ascom AG), proposes various items for addition to the 

Living List for SDSL for further study, based on the results of laboratory tests of simple proof-of-concept POTS 

splitters tested with existing TS 101 135 HDSL systems. While most operators initially had put in their 

requirements of no splitter and imbedded transmission, this presentation asks the questions in terms of performance 

and challenges the actual requirements for no-splitter operation. 

For maximum reach at minimum power, the POTS splitter band offers excellent SNR (Signal to Noise Ratio) 

which cannot be easily recovered elsewhere in the spectrum. TD-38, Capacity and POTS Splitters (M. Kempe, 

Siemens), shows that, from a capacity point of view and for both PAM (Pulse Amplitude Modulation) and 

CAP/QAM (Carrier-less Amplitude Modulation Phase Modulation/Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) modulation 

formats, there is a clear advantage in carrying POTS in a digital form via in-band transport rather than using an 

analog form via a POTS splitter. 

TD-30 on mixed crosstalk issues from Lucent and Cicada Semiconductor was postponed to the next meeting because 

it proposes line coding considerations. It notes that ANSI T1E1.4 chose the OPTIS (Overlapped PAM Transmission 

with Interlocking Spectra) line code for HDSL2. 

TD-3, SDSL Spectral Compatibility Issues (A. Carrick, Ascom AG), presents a summary of the signal spectra that 

could be expected in the access environment, and illustrates the possible cross-talk into SDSL. The artificial shaped 

noise model used previously to represent crosstalk in the local network is inadequate for this new environment, and a 

new test noise model must be developed. It should be based upon an agreement as to the other systems with which 

SDSL is expected to share the network, and the amount of performance degradation that existing systems can tolerate 

when SDSL is added to the network. While this presentation was well received, some delegates felt that it gives an 

unfair representation of the actual OPTIS performance in a European environment. 



TD-10, SDSL: Baseline Proposals for Performance Requirements (A. Carrick, Ascom AG), presents proposals for 

baseline performance requirements as a starting point for the design of the new optimum line code for SDSL. It presents 

performance curves for the HDSL systems of TS 101 135, and it proposes that the new optimum SDSL 

system should be designed to outperform the first generation HDSL systems by the order of 6 dB, with an additional 

4 dB improvement gained by optimizing the test noise. 

TD-11, SDSL: Proposed Requirements for Bit Rate Granularity (A. Carrick, Ascom AG, Study Point 3 of the 

Living List for DTS / TM-06011-1, Functional requirements for SDSL), proposes a bit rate granularity of n x 128 

kbit/s for SDSL systems. This contribution is based on the analysis of existing HDSL systems, although a 

granularity of n x 256 kbit/s should be for further study for line rates exceeding 1536 kbit/s. While this 

contribution was well received by the manufacturers, the operators seemed to keep their requirement for a granularity 

of n x 64 kbit/s. 

TD-43, Noise Model Wish List for SDSL Performance Test (R. Van den Brink, KPN), provides a wish list of 

information required to generate a comprehensive noise model for the SDSL tests. The contribution uses the 

existing VDSL noise specification and points out areas that need to be investigated. WD-27 provides a copy of the 

foils presented by R. Van den Brink in relation to the content of TD-27, presented in the VDSL discussion but also 

applicable to SDSL. 

LIVING LIST 

The following Living List (WD-25) was established by the rapporteur: 

SP1-1 Functional requirements 

SP1-2 Investigation of an optimal line code 

SP1-3 Rate Adaptation 

SP1-4 Asymmetric transmission methods 

SP1-5 Creation of an appropriated noise model 

SP1-6 Network Termination functions of sub-channels (new) 

SP1-7 Feasibility of defining a suitable reference point MIB (new) 

SP1-8 Management of link failure (new) 

SP1-9 Power budget for remote power feeding (new) 

SP1-10 Transport of narrow-band signals (new) 

SP1-11 POTS premises wiring considerations (new) 

Even though the noise model for SDSL is not yet defined (see discussion on VDSL, below), contributions are 

invited on transmission and electrical characteristics. 

COEXISTENCE WITH ISDN 

ADSL 

TD-5 (G. Rose, ETSI Secretary) contains results and comments from TM6 approval for DTS/TM-06006 (ADSL: 

Coexistence of ADSL and ISDN BA on the same pair and ADSL extended bit-rates). In order to achieve consensus, 

the rapporteur and the TM6 Chair asked to resolve the “no” vote from BT (British Telecom). A new point was added 

to the ADSL living list to study the ADSL performance on test loops. The TM delegates also decided to open a new 

work item to issue a new document corresponding to the new T1E1 ADSL issue 2 document. A discussion followed 

as to which document should be the base for ETSI’s new document: G.lite, T1E1, or UAWG documents, none of 

which are compatible with each other. The T1E1 document was agreed to be the base for any new ETSI document. 

TD-49 (P. Reusens, Alcatel) suggests corrections to some of the time-outs in the diagrams; the corrections were 

accepted for the ADSL over ISDN document. 

TD-47, Definition of the C-TONE for ADSL over ISDN (P. Reusens, Alcatel), was accepted. The sets of tones used 

in ETSI TM6 DTS/TM-06006 do not include the C-TONE (defined in ANSI T1.413 issue 2 for ADSL above 

POTS). Within G.dmt, C-TONE disappears completely, because it is replaced by G.handshake (G.hs). However, in 

the (unlikely) case that a purely tone-based activation of the ADSL over ISDN is defined, we still need to define C- 

TONE. The proposal is to put it on tone 82, which is an even carrier, and not a multiple of 8. (Multiples of 8 are 

now accepted for the carriers used by downstream in G.hs for G.dmt.) A new study point was added to the ADSL 

Living List and a note in the document will be added. 



WD-10 and TD-48, Safety of ADSL above POTS or ISDN according to IEC 950 (P. Reusens, Alcatel), raises the 

issue that when one adds the DC voltage, the ISDN voltage, and the ADSL voltage, one comes out with a voltage 

across the line which exceeds the IEC limit of 120V. According to the (rigorous) interpretation of the IEC 950 

regulations, the sum of all signals of the telephone line must be considered “dangerous”, when the ISDN battery 

(nominally above 90 V DC) and both the ISDN and the ADSL AC signals are present on the line. It appears that 

the IEC 950 regulation is not aware of xDSL technology and is applying unnecessarily strict rules. It seems 

necessary to study the safety of the xDSL products in the IEC and to specify new rules for these xDSL cases above 

ISDN. One delegate from Alcatel Germany is attending the IEC conference in Toronto and this establishes an 

informal link to IEC; S. Schmoll (Alcatel) will inform TM6 delegates of the result of that discussion in the 

forthcoming meeting of TM6. 

TD-46, Framework Proposal for Revision of ETSI ADSL Technical Specs (L. Magnone, CSELT, rapporteur of 

ADSL), proposes a revision to ETR 328 (ADSL technical report based on T1.413 issue 1) as well as a revision to 

the just approved TS-06006 (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) - Coexistence of ADSL and ISDN BA on 

the same pair and ADSL extended bit-rates [revision of T1.413]). TM6 delegates agreed to create a new work item 

(European-specific ADSL requirements based on ANSI T1.413 issue 2) to be drafted by G. Rose (ETSI Secretariat). 

This is contained in WD-26 and was approved by TM6. All other work items in ADSL are closed. 

TD-50, G.lite: bit-swap (P. Reusens, Alcatel), states that different standardization bodies are involved in the G.lite 

variant of ADSL; in G.lite bit-swap is proposed but is not yet agreed; technically, bit-swap is judged a necessary element 

in protecting DMT transmission against varying noise sources. This contribution presents its technical 

merits and encourages European manufacturers and operators to endorse bit-swap, to make it mandatory in any ETSI 

document and to vote in favor in the ITU-T. The meeting agreed that bit-swap should be mandatory in Europe; 

individual members are asked to contribute into the ITU-T. (See also the discussion on bit swap in the WP1/15 

report in this issue of CSR-T.) 

TD-27, Proposal for SDSL performance tests (R. Van den Brink, KPN), is a detailed proposal for test loops, noise 

models and test requirements on SDSL. The framework of this text is mainly based on the VDSL performance tests, 

but dedicated to the SDSL frequency band. It enables well-defined performance simulations on SDSL to support the 

future definition of realistic SDSL requirements such as spectral masks, bit rates, loop length, etc. While TD-27 

was presented in the ADSL session and the VDSL session, it also applies to SDSL. The TM6 chair proposed to 

make an ETSI Technical Report out of this document; however, R. Van den Brink did not agree to become the 

rapporteur for this ETR, so TD-27 will become a permanent TM6 document instead; this vital document needs to 

have inputs for SDSL which are encouraged for the forthcoming TM6 meeting. The set of foils that were presented, 

which are somewhat different from the content of TD-27, were tabled as WD-22. 

VDSL 

This VDSL session did not have any document for approval. B. Waring, rapporteur for VDSL, asked delegates for 

more participation between meetings so as to move the work faster. The session consisted of a presentation of most 

of the contributions and a discussion on how to advance the VDSL specification. 

TD-34, TC Sublayer-ATM Transport Protocol Specific TC (V. Oaxman, Lucent technologies for VDSL Coalition), 

proposes a specification of the ATM Transport Specific Transmission Convergence sublayer (ATM-TC) which describes 

the ATM-based service transmission over VDSL system. This document defines a minimum set of 

requirements to deliver an ATM service from the ONU to the customer premises. 

TD-41, ATM-TC for VDSL (L. Humphrey, Nortel/Bay Networks), outlines an ATM TC for VDSL which 

accommodates power saving and crosstalk saving modes by allowing the transmitter to enter a low power state 

during transmission of idle cells. This proposal was not yet accepted by the VDSL Alliance and may be subject to 

reconsideration if dynamic power saving becomes relevant. 

TD-33, VDSL Payload Rates for Symmetric Services (V. Oaxman, Lucent technologies for VDSL Coalition), 

proposes a new set of payload bit-rates for performance evaluation of VDSL link transporting symmetric services. 

The document is based on previous contributions to TM6. The new definition of evaluation rates provides an 

effective usage of VDSL payload for symmetric services, the main component of which is SDH. The proposed 

approach is independent of the line coding and of the modulation technology. 

TD-40, VDSL Frame-OAM and Narrow-Band Service Delivery (L. Humphrey, Nortel), proposes a format for a 

generalized clear Embedded Operations Channel (EOC) channel which supports transmission of network timing reference 

and maintenance indicator bits. The method also supports the in-band transmission of n x 64 kbit/s telephony 



channels and multiple plesiochronous independent streams. TD-40 was accepted as input to study points SP1-14 and 

SP 1-20. 

TD-28 (K. Jacobsen, Amati/TI) is the latest draft of the VDSL Alliance’s DMT proposal for VDSL. The proposal 

specifies both a time-division duplexed (TDD) and frequency-division duplexed (FDD) system. In both cases, 

compliant modems support both symmetric and asymmetric transmission. Support of 1:1, 2:1, 3:1, 4:1, 6:1 and 

8:1 transmission is mandatory, as is rate adaptivity at start-up. Support of ATM is also required. TD-28 is to be 

incorporated into the draft of TM 06 003-2. 

TD-31 (V. Oaxman, Lucent technologies for VDSL Coalition) proposes line coding, modulation and duplexing 

methods for VDSL systems using single carrier technologies (CAP and QAM). It specifies a PMD sub-layer for 

both NT and LT which complies with the VDSL system requirements as specified in DTS/TM-06003-1. The 

proposal supports all the ETSI downstream rates with either symmetric or asymmetric upstream rates. The proposed 

coding and modulation methods provide full interoperability between CAP and QAM transceivers. This document 

was accepted for draft TM6 003-2. 

TD-32 (V. Oaxman, Lucent technologies for VDSL Coalition) proposes a specification for the VDSL transmission 

frame format, frame delineation algorithm, randomization and FEC methods. The proposed frame format optionally 

contains Fast and Slow virtual data channels and provides both for single and dual latency operations. The 

transmission frame header bears frame alignment, NTR and control information. The proposed methods are 

independent of the line coding modulation technology. This document was accepted for draft TM6 003-2. 

TD-17 (K. Foster, BT) summarizes the progress in resolving the following VDSL Living List items : SP1-1, SP1- 

2, SP1-20, SP2-9. It collates the e-mail discussion which has occurred since the last TM6 meeting and makes some 

proposals to progress the work. 

TD-13, Editor’s report on the ANSI VDSL System Requirements (J. Cioffi, Stanford University, Editor for the 

VDSL ANSI) attaches Rev 16a of the ANSI VDSL System Requirements. It differs from the Rev 16 official liaison 

only in the correction of some typographical errors found after the San Antonio meeting and posted on the T1E1.4 

web page. Also included here for information is the editor’s summary of differences with ETSI TM6 Phase I 

technical report for VDSL. These are probably of a nature that a single implementation could be designed that will 

comply with both specifications. 

TD-14, Mixed Loading for Splitterless DSL Operation (J. Cioffi, Stanford University), describes a method for 

recovering from abrupt line changes, like off-hook impedance changes in splitterless operation, without service disruption. 

The method allows a guarantee of a fixed high-quality continuous service on the line that is augmented by a 

rate-adaptive non-guaranteed data rate. This method would allow the option of not using any fast-training in 

splitterless DSL operation, thus preserving quality of service for DSL even when operating without splitters. 

TD-15, Further Results on Peak-to-Average Ratio Reduction (J. Cioffi, Stanford University), shows that if PAR 

reduction is done on these Nyquist rate samples, the PAR of the continuous time wave form can increase significantly, 

but if we extend the tone-reservation and tone-injection algorithms to reduce the PAR at twice the Nyquist 

rate, the continuous time PAR can be efficiently reduced. Moreover, for the tone-injection method we can extend 

our previous algorithms to include the effects of the transmit filter, which leads to PAR reductions of more than 5 

dB at the AFE input. 

TD-16, Mitigation of DSL Crosstalk via Multi-user Detection and CDMA (J. Cioffi, Stanford University), presents 

fundamentals of multi-user detection and multi-user information theory to suggest that the current DSL approach to 

modeling and specification of DSL spectral compatibility are overly pessimistic. Some examples and fundamental 

information-theoretic results suggest that crosstalk can be substantially mitigated without coordination or access to 

inputs or outputs of crosstalking pairs, depending on the level of background additive white Gaussian (AWG) noise. 

TD-19, A Request for Clarification from the Telcos on the VDSL Requirements (M. Kempe, Siemens/Savan), raises 

five issues for clarification of the requirements as part of the feedback from the equipment suppliers to the Telcos, 

prior to the definition of Part 2 of the VDSL specification. 

TD-21, Throughput of Short Range VDSL Services (A. Kliger, Metalink), corrects the results of a former 

contribution. The former contribution considered the transport of S3 with transmitted mask M1. This contribution 

take the slow decline of mask M1 between 10 MHz and 20 MHz into account. It also considers a flat PSD mask of 

-70 dBm/Hz and -75 dBm/Hz between 10 and 20 MHz. It concludes that with those modifications, the performance 

of S3 and S4 services are improved significantly. 



TD-42, Specification of crest distribution mask for noise in performance test (R. Van den Brink, KPN), states that 

the current VDSL performance test puts insufficient requirements on the nature of the noise signals to be used in the 

performance test. It proposes to use a mask for the crest distribution function of the test noise. As the shape of the 

mask is not yet defined, this document did not convince all delegates. 

TD-35, Achievable bit rates with the constant power back-off method (T. Kessler, DTAG), notes that the achievable 

upstream bit rates of VDSL with NTs distributed along a cable have been calculated for different maximum distances. 

For a maximum distance of 1.5 km, a bit rate of 13 Mbit/s upstream and 13 Mbit/s downstream cannot be achieved 

with FSAN-noise and constant power back-off. The required dynamic range depends on the maximum distance and 

the reference frequency. It is suggested that only a management system can set optimal power back-off for all VDSL 

systems within a cable. 

TD-17 from the Luleä meeting describes various power backoff methods to reduce the effect of FEXT coupling from 

short lines into long lines in the distributed cable topology. The contribution examined three alternatives. TD-29, 

Proposal to Use Frequency-Dependent Upstream Power Backoff (K. Jacobsen, Amati/TI), examines the 

implementation complexities of the constant power backoff and reference length methods. It concludes that the 

reference length method should be used by VDSL systems to maximize performance. TD-29, together with TD-35, 

was added to study point 1-18 of the VDSL Living List. 

TD-36, VDSL Deployment, Services, and Customers, Part 2: Shared access with flexible symmetry (D. Bengstrom, 

Telia Research AB), introduces the fact that customer initiatives regarding VDSL deployment reveal potent nichemarkets 

for VDSL and raise technical issues as well. The concept of “Shared access” business case is discussed, as 

well as the corresponding network structure and the requirements it puts on VDSL. The new application is a 

building LAN shared among several tenants and communicating with the outside building world through VDSL. 

TD-36 was added to the Living List study point 1-20 and was sent to ADSL Forum as a liaison (WD-28). 

TD-44, Noise model Wish List for VDSL Performance Test (R. Van den Brink, KPN), addresses the information 

that is required to complete the VDSL noise model. Although much progress has been made, there are still areas 

where operator input is required to generate a noise model that is representative of the VDSL reality. 

As a result of these contributions, the VDSL Living Lists (for part 1 and part 2) will be updated; some study points 

will be deleted due to lack of contributions. 

Jacques Besseyre, Consultelecom 

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For more details visit http://www.csrstds.com. To receive a complimentary issue of 

either of CSR’s technical journals, please contact Elaine Baskin, tel +1 650 856-9018, 

fax +1 650 856-6591, e-mail: ebaskin@csrstds.com 



REPORT OF WORKING PARTY 1/15, NETWORK ACCESS 

OCTOBER 12 – 23, 1998 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND 

The Working Party 1/15 (Network Access) chair is A. Nunn (UK). COM 15-R 9 is the previous meeting report. 

TD-38(PLEN) is the report of this meeting. TD-40(PLEN) is the status of the WP1/15 Recommendations. 

TD-41(PLEN) contains the liaison statements sent from this meeting. 

The Working Party proposed the ITU TSAG a new standardization area, Access Networks, and requested the TSAG 

allocate an appropriate code (TD-41(PLEN), WP1/15 liaisons, Annex 12). 

The questions currently allocated to WP 1/15 are: 

Q Title Rapporteur 

1/15 Access Network Transport R. Feigel, Bosch 

2/15 Characteristics of Optical Systems in Local Access Networks T. Finegan, BT 

3/15 DCEs for Digital Leased Circuits G. Sebek, France Telecom 

4/15 DCEs for Subscriber Access Systems R. Stuart, 3Com 

TD-51(WP1/15) contains proposed revisions to the Questions in WP1/15. The titles and text of Q2/15 and 

Q4/15 were revised to reflect the requirements of networks optimized for the transport of IP and IP-based services. 

The new titles are: 

Q2/15 Characteristics of Optical Systems in Local Access Networks for Transport and Distribution 

Q4/15 Transceivers for Subscriber Access Systems 

The text of the revised Questions is in TD-72(PLEN). 

WP1/15 RECOMMENDATIONS APPROVED AT SG15 

Q Approved Recommendations Document(s) 

2/15 G.983.1, G.PONB for ATM-PON (Asynchronous Transfer TD-26(PLEN 2/98), TD-39 

Mode - Passive Optical Network) System 

(WP1/15 2/98) + COM 15-110 

4/15 G.991.1 (G.hdsl) High Bitrate Digital Subscriber Line (HDSL) TD-38(PLEN 2/98) + COM 15- 

Transmission System on Metallic Local Lines 

123 

Table 1. Recommendations Approved (Decided) at Working Party 1/15, October 1998. 

WP1/15 RECOMMENDATIONS DETERMINED AT SG15 

Q Determined Recommendation Document(s) 

3/15 V.300, ex V.144K, A 144 kbit/s Data Circuit Terminating Equipment 

Standardized for Use on Digital Point-to-Point Leased Circuits 

TD-43 (PLEN) 

4/15 G.992.1 (G.dmt) Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) Transceivers TD-44 (PLEN)© 

4/15 G.992.2 (G.lite) Splitterless Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) 

Transceivers 

TD-45 (PLEN)© 

4/15 G.994.1 (G.hs) Handshake Procedures for Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) 

Transceivers 


4/15 G.995.1 (G.ref) Overview of Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) Recommendations TD-47 (PLEN)© 

4/15 G.996.1 (G.test) Test Procedures for Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) Transceivers TD-48 (PLEN)© 

4/15 G.997.1 (G.ploam) Physical Layer Management for Digital Subscriber Line 

(DSL) Transceivers 


Table 2. Recommendations Determined at Working Party 1/15, October 1998. 

Q1/15, ACCESS NETWORK TRANSPORT 

The Question 1/15 Rapporteur is R. Feigel, (Bosch, Germany). The agenda is TD-23(WP1/15). The report on 

the interim activities prior to this meeting is TD-21(WP1/15). TD-33(WP1/15) is the report of Q1/15 from 

the SG15 February 1998 Meeting. TD-35(WP1/15) is the list of input documents at this meeting. No interim 

meetings are scheduled. 



ANT STANDARDIZATION 

The feedback received from the various Standardization Groups to whom the initial draft of ANT (Access Network 

Transport) Standardization (TD-17 WP1/15)) was sent for comment, additions and contact has been positive and 

constructive. The feedback was incorporated into the final draft of the Standardization Plan, which was completed at 

this meeting of SG15. TD-54(PLEN) provides the ANT model, ANT scenarios (including wireless, satellite and 

cable) and an extensive overview of existing standards activity. An initial draft of the Work Plan was also prepared 

(TD-55(PLEN)) and should be further developed. The Work Plan continues coordination and liaison with other 

standards bodies to maintain the Standardization Plan. 

TD-18(WP1/15) (R. Feigel, Bosch Telecom) is a table of ETSI radio related Standards for inclusion in the 

Standardization Plan. 

TD-19(WP1/15) (R. Feigel, Bosch Telecom) contains a table of Standards from several bodies (mostly ITU-R) for 

inclusion in Standardization plan. 

With the completion of the Standardization plan covering the work of both the ITU-T and ITU-R, Q1/15 plans to 

establish contact with the relevant external standards bodies so that details of their standards can be incorporated into 

the plan. 

Both the ANT Standardization Plan and Work Plan will be “living” documents, since they will require continued 

updating. Hence it is envisaged they will be published in the COM 15-R series of documents. TD-20(WP1/15) 

(R. Feigel, Bosch Telecom) is a proposal for a web-based ANT Standardization Plan. Once the presentation 

methodology for these documents is finalized, it is hoped that the Standardization Plan and the Work Plan will be 

migrated to a web site. 

TD-18(PLEN) (Chair, WP1 SG15) reports activities and achievements of Q1/15 as the core Question supporting 

SG15’s role as Lead Study Group for ANT. It reflects the objectives for this meeting. 

INPUT DOCUMENTS TO Q1/15 REGARDING THE ANT STANDARDIZATION PLAN 

TD-1(GEN) (ICG for IMT-2000, R. Blane, Inmarsat) reports on the progress of the Intersector Coordination 

Group for IMT-2000. The list of Standards in this liaison was incorporated in the ANT Standardization Plan, A2.3. 

This list has to be revised, as not all listed Standards seem to belong to ANT. 

TD-6(GEN) (ITU-T SG4, M. Klerer, AT&T) is a proposal for integrated management of telecom networks and IP 

networks. SG4 notes its responsibility in GII for integrated management of telecommunication networks and IP 

networks. The issue was incorporated in the ANT Work Plan as well as the Standardization Plan. 

TD-13(GEN) (ITU-R WP 9B, Y. Schifres, TRT Lucent) is a liaison that notes the responsibility of WP9B for 

technical studies on Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) and points to a first revision of the Hybrid Fiber Radio 

Recommendation ITU-R F.1332. The Recommendation was added to the Standardization Plan; a liaison with the 

attached new ANT Standardization Plan was sent as a reply (TD-41(PLEN) Annex 2). 

TD-16(GEN) (ITU-T SG4, D. Sidor, Nortel) notes that SG4 as the lead Study Group for Telecommunications 

Management Network (TMN) has installed a Project Management Team (PMT) for TMN. A list of TMN-related 

Recommendations is included. Q1/15 asks in a liaison reply (TD-41(PLEN) Annex 3) if they would prepare a list 

of ANT-related TMN documents for inclusion in the ANT Standardization Plan. 

TD-3(WP1/15) (ITU-T SG5, J. Erreygers, Raychem) contains a well-prepared table of K.series Recommendations 

for inclusion in the ANT Standardization Plan. A reply (TD-41(PLEN) Annex 6) with the ANT Standardization 

Plan attached was sent asking for further contact. 

TD-6(WP1/15) (ITU-T SG12, C. Dvorak, AT&T) confirms SG12’s expertise on transmission delay and echo 

control and proposes the inclusion of G.114 and G.131 in the ANT Standardization Plan. A liaison (TD- 

41(PLEN) Annex 7) with the ANT Standardization Plan attached was sent back asking for further close 

cooperation. 

TD-8(WP1/15) (ITU-T SG13, T. Kent, BT, R. Townsend, Lucent, Y. Maeda, NTT, and D. Cooper, Nortel) is a 

liaison that contains several comments and suggestions from various Questions in SG13 on the ANT Standardization 

Plan, especially on the use of the interface point XNI between access and customer premises networks. Some 

issues like the presentation of the scenario figures need further consideration. A liaison (TD-41(PLEN) Annex 11) 

was sent back asking for further close cooperation; it notes that the ANT Standardization Plan is a living document. 



TD-11(WP1/15) (ITU-R WP 8A, J. Costa, Nortel) gives information about the task of a JRG of WP8A and 

WP9B. Attached is a draft on “Performance and availability requirement an objectives for FWA” and a list of 

frequency band allocations used in several countries. Both issues were added to the ANT Work Plan and the 

Standardization Plan. A liaison (TD-41(PLEN) Annex 14) was sent back containing the new Standardization Plan 

and asking for further close cooperation. 

TD-12(WP1/15) (ITU R Task Group 8-1 J. Costa, Nortel) notes that Task Group 8-1 is working on radio aspects 

of IMT-2000; they consider the IMT-2000 radio interface as equivalent to the XNI (Customer Network Interface) in 

the ANT model, and the Radio Access Network (RAN) interface to the SNI (Service Node Interface). A list of 

relevant M.series Recommendations is recommended for inclusion into the ANT Standardization Plan. The 

Recommendations were included in the plan, and a liaison (TD-41(PLEN) Annex 8) was sent back asking for 

further cooperation. 

TD-13(WP1/15) (ITU-R Task Group 8-1 A. Kumar, Telecommunications Engineering Centre) contains a 

working document on “proposed FWA (Fixed Wireless Access).” The issue of FWA was added to the ANT issues 

list in the ANT Work and Standardization Plan. A liaison (TD-41(PLEN) Annex 9) was sent back asking for 

further cooperation. 

TD-14(WP1/15) (ITU-T SG9, R. Catchpole, Nortel ) gives comments and information in the field of CATV 

(Cable Television). It proposes the inclusion of J.112 (Transmission systems for interactive cable television 

systems) and other Recommendations in the Standardization Plan. The Recommendations were included, J.series 

Recommendations references were updated, and a liaison (TD-41(PLEN) Annex 1) was sent back asking for further 

cooperation. 

TD-16(WP1/15) (ITU-R JRG 8A-9B, Y. Schifres, Lucent) informs Q1/15 of the JRG 8A-9B’s work on a new 

analog user/network (UNI) interface for FWA. A draft of the electrical requirements is attached. The issue was included 

in the ANT Work and Standardization Plan; a responsible SG in ITU has yet to be identified. A liaison (TD- 

41(PLEN) Annex 2) was sent back. An ETSI draft has been identified dealing with this issue. 

TD-36(WP1/15) (ITU-T SG16, L. Brown, Motorola) notes the approval of Recommendation V.90, defining 

modems for Internet access. V.90 has been included in the ANT Standardization Plan. A liaison (TD-41(PLEN) 

Annex 10) was sent back asking for ongoing cooperation; the new ANT Standardization Plan was attached. 

TD-17(PLEN) (SG15 representatives to ICG IMT-2000) reports of the third meeting of ICG IMT-2000. The 

issue of standardization of satellite transmission-related access networks was added to the issues list in the ANT 

Work and Standardization Plan. 

ADDITIONAL INCOMING DOCUMENTS AND LIAISONS 

TD-1(PLEN) (ITU-T SG2) contains a questionnaire on the Year 2000 Millennium Compliance. It was provided 

for information. 

TD-9(PLEN) (ITU-T TSAG, F. Brett, Nortel) contains information for the collaboration between ITU-T and the 

Internet Society (ISOC) and the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). The issue is incorporated in the ANT 

Work and Standardization Plan. Q1/15 will contact the bodies via their web pages, and results will be reported to 

TSAG. 

TD-10(PLEN) (ITU-T TSAG, K. Park, ETRI, Rep. of Korea) informs Q1/15 about the ITU’s pre-publication 

policy (Recommendations appear on the web 4 weeks after SG approval), the informal FTP areas (IFTP), 

publication of Formal Language Descriptions, and document submission formats. 

TD-16(PLEN) (ITU-T SG13) reports the June meeting of Intersector Coordination Group (ICG) SAT. It includes 

consideration for the future collaboration between ITU-T and ITU-R on satellite matters as well as a work plan 

related to satellite issues. 

TD-7(GEN) (SG4, M. Klerer, AT&T, and T. Rutt, Lucent) contains updated information on SG4’s 

responsibilities for GII projects. 

TD-12(GEN) (ITU-T SG13, H. Schink, Siemens) contains the allocation of Work on the GII Standardization 

Projects and their description. Q1/15 covers the Project N.1, Architecture and layer 1 aspects of narrowband/ 

broadband access infrastructures for GII. 

TD-2(WP1/15) (ITU-T SG4, A. Gillespie, BT) comments on the presentation of management interfaces in the 

ANT Standardization Plan and proposes to show clearer distinction between management interfaces and OAM 



(Operations, Administration, and Maintenance) flows which are embedded in the transmission flows between network 

elements (e.g., the F1, F2 and F3 flows of SDH and the F4 an F5 flows of ATM). Since there is not enough expertise 

on OAM flows in the group, a liaison (TD-41(PLEN) Annex 13) was sent back asking for further 

clarification and a suitable diagram. 

TD-5(WP1/15) (ITU-T SG11, R. Pandya, Nortel) asks for information about updated work schedules in field of 

IMT-2000. 

REVISION OF Q1/15 WORKPLAN 

The updated Q1/15 workplan is in Annex 3 of TD-38(PLEN), the WP1/15 report. There were only minor 

changes to the Q1/15 Work Plan. Q1/15 will not longer produce Recommendations. The area of related standards 

was expanded to full services access networks. Some information about the issue of several Standards Organizations 

was added to Table 1, Phased Approach to ANT Coordination with Critical Organizations. 

REVISION AND UPDATE OF THE ANT WORK PLAN 

TD-55(PLEN) is the Access Network Transport Work Plan dated October 20, 1998. 

The list of contacts was restructured to show all presently known contact persons with names and addresses. 

Additional/ supplemental contacts will be obtained via correspondence. Results will be reported to the TSB. 

The list “ANT Issues identified” was expanded. Gaps and open issues were added from the input documents to this 

meeting and from those identified in the meeting discussions. 

No progress was made on prioritization, plan for missing standards, and plan for conflicting standards. 

The liaison tracking list has yet to be updated. 

The installation of an interactive Web Page for Q1/15 ANT Standardization activities should be pursued in the near 

future. 

REVISION AND UPDATE OF DRAFT ANT STANDARDIZATION PLAN 

TD-54(PLEN) is the Access Network Transport Draft Standardization Plan, dated October 20, 1998. It is based on 

the draft ANT Standardization Plan from the February 1998 SG15 meeting. All changes –even those of the Tel 

Aviv interim meeting– are identified by change marks; only the figures of the Scenarios do not show all the change 

marks. A clean copy will be provided in the Q1/15 IFTP area (ANTPL1098.DOC) 

The main results from this meeting are 

• Insertion of the expanded “ANT Issues identified” list from the ANT Work Plan in 6.1.3 

• A2.2, a list of Standards not assigned up to this meeting, has been completed, but changes were not incorporated 

in ANNEX 2.1. Liaisons (TD-41(PLEN) Annex 4 and Annex 5) to ANSI, ATMF, EIA/TIA, ETSI, ADSL 

Forum, DAVIC and ITU-T SG5 were sent asking for help in revising A2.2 in order to have the correct 

assignments. 

• A2.3 was added. It contains a list of all standards which were added in this meeting. A2.3 needs a careful check, 

to verify whether all listed documents relate to ANT. This check should be done by correspondence. 

It was agreed to advance the draft ANT Standardization Plant to “Issue 1” status. 

Q2/15, CHARACTERISTICS OF OPTICAL SYSTEMS IN LOCAL ACCESS NETWORKS 

The Question 2/15 Rapporteur is T. Finegan (BT, UK). An interim meeting will be held January 27-29, 1999, in 

USA (hosted by Lucent Technologies). 

Recommendation G.983.1, G.PONB for ATM-PON (Asynchronous Transfer Mode - Passive Optical Network) 

System, was approved (Decided) at the opening Plenary, as TD-26(PLEN 2/98), TD-39 (WP1/15 2/98) + 

COM 15-110. 

Following the approval of G.983.1, the Q2/15 objective was to focus on a draft new Recommendation covering the 

management and control of ATM-PON. 

Following the review of documents in the WP1/15 plenary, only four documents remained for consideration in 

Q2/15. TD-6(PLEN) (P. Wery, Nortel) ADSL Forum Request, TD-17(PLEN) (SG15 Representative to ICG 



IMT-2000) Summary of Third Meeting of ICG IMT-2000, and TD-22(PLEN), List of White Contributions, were 

taken for information; it was agreed that no further action was required. 

The text of Question 2/15 was reviewed in connection with the transport of IP and some modifications were agreed. 

The revised text is given in TD-72(PLEN). 

DRAFT RECOMMENDATION G.983.2 

The main focus of the meeting was D.457 (Y. Maeda, NTT), Proposed ONT/NT (ONU [optical network unit] in 

the FTTH configuration/NT [network termination] in the FTTB, FTTC and FTTCab configuration) Management and 

Control Interface (omci) specifications for a new draft Recommendation G.983.omci. The experts agreed that the 

work in the next eight months should concentrate on the development of a draft new Recommendation G.983.2 - 

“ONT/NT management and control interface specifications.” The target for this draft new Recommendation is 

Determination at the June/July 1999 meeting of SG15. 

D.457 provides the initial text to be considered. It was agreed to use this document as a basis for this work and that 

Y. Maeda (NTT) will be the editor. Some minor editorial items were pointed out in this text and these will be 

updated. In particular, it was agreed that in Table 6 of this document, the primary rate 2 Mbit/s E1 should be 

included, consequently Table 9 will be updated with the 2M REC and 2M AIS. 

The UPC function, which is not included in this document, should be the subject of future contributions. 

In order to achieve the challenging target of Determination at the next meeting of SG15, an interim meeting will be 

held January 27-29, 1999, in the USA hosted by Lucent Technologies. At this meeting it is intended to: 

• Consider the contributions and changes to the clauses in this document; 

• Agree to a stable document; 

• Prepare a white contribution for the June/July 1999 meeting of SG15. 

Although this is a very challenging target, it is essential that this document be available at this stage of the ATM- 

PON development; it is unlikely to be of benefit a year later. The Agenda for the interim meeting is given in Annex 

4 to TD-38(PLEN). 

The status of the Q2/15 Recommendations included in the WP1/15 Work Plan was reviewed and updated. 

Q3/15, DCES FOR DIGITAL LEASED CIRCUITS 

Because there were no contributions addressed to this Question, it was agreed to deal with any Q3/15 matters during 

the WP1/15 plenary sessions. 

The text of draft new Recommendation V.300 (ex V.144k, TD-43(PLEN), A. Nunn) was reviewed; it was agreed 

to forward it to the SG15 plenary for Determination. This DCE is intended for use on 128 kbit/s (or 144 kbit/s) 

digital point-to-point leased circuits other than ISDN. The DCE specified includes rate adaption, end-to-end 

signaling, testing and multiplexing features. However, the line signal and the signaling rate is considered a national 

matter and is not specified. It was noted that some further editorial work is required on this draft new 

Recommendation and it was agreed that the Rapporteur would submit a white contribution containing the revised 

text to the next SG15 meeting. 

Q4/15, DCES FOR SUBSCRIBER ACCESS SYSTEMS 

R. Stuart (3Com) is the Q4/15 Rapporteur. TD-15(WP1/15) is a report from the four Interim Rapporteurs 

meetings. Three interim meetings were approved for 1999: Jan. 18 - 22, Portland, OR; Mar 29 - Apr. 2, 

Melbourne, Australia; and May 10 - 14, Boston, MA. TD-40(WP1/15) is the proposed Q4/15 agenda. 

Recommendation G.991.1, High speed Digital Subscriber Line (HDSL) Transceivers, was approved (Decided) at the 

opening Plenary, as TD-38(PLEN 2/98) + COM 15-123. 

Q4/15 agreed to new titles for the Q4/15 Recommendations as follows: 



Rec. No. Rec. Name Recommendation Title 

G.990 General 

G.991.1 G.hdsl High Speed Digital Subscriber Line (HDSL) Transceivers 

G.991.2 Reserved for possible future HDSL Recommendations 

G.992.1 G.dmt Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) Transceivers 

G.992.2 G.lite Splitterless Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) Transceivers 

G.993 Reserved for possible future VDSL Recommendations 

G.994.1 G.hs Handshake Procedures for Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) Transceivers 

G.995.1 G.ref Overview of Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) Recommendations 

G.996.1 G.test Testing Procedures for Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) Transceivers 

G.997.1 G.ploam Physical Layer Management for Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) 

Transceivers 

Q4/15 agreed to plan for second generation versions of all Recommendations; the present Editors will maintain the 

Issues List for the second generation versions, at least until final approval of the present Recommendations. The 

Rapporteur will select new Editors, as appropriate, for second generation Recommendations. C. Hansen (Intel) 

indicated he plans to hand over the editorship of G.992.2 after Decision (final approval). 

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS (IPR) 

32 companies have indicated IP interest in the xDSL G.series Recommendations. All listed below except Lucent 

have provided notification by either contribution or a letter to the TSB: 

3Com Compaq Paradyne 

Alcatel Fujitsu PC-Tel 

Altocom GDC Racal Datacom 

Amati GlobeSpan Rockwell 

AMD Itex SAS 

Aware Lucent Stanford Univ. 

Analog Devices Matsushita Sumitomo 

Bell Atlantic Mitsubishi Texas Instr. 

Centillium Motorola VoCAL Tech. 

Cirrus Logic NEC Siemens AG 

Cisco PairGain 

All companies which have made an indication have done so indicating they will be in accordance with 2.2 of the ITU 

Patent Policy. The Rapporteur reminded the meeting that for those companies which had only provided a 

contribution, that it was necessary that they also provide a letter to the ITU Director indicating their IP position. 

NEW WORK ON VDSL, HDSL, AND SDSL 

D.333C1 (R. Hamdi, Compaq, USA) proposes that SG15 start work on enhancements to G.lite to provide longer 

loop reach, and higher performance after G.lite is Determined. D.408 (Y. Okamura, NEC, Japan) proposes 

continuation of the work on Annex C (Japanese TCM ISDN) of G.dmt to reduce latency after G.dmt is Determined. 

The contributions note a goal of Determination for these follow-on Recommendations in 2000. 

D.279 (K. Foster, BT, UK) proposes that the work on G.vdsl be deferred until work has progressed in the Regional 

Standards bodies. D.326 (G. Zedler, Deutsche Telekom) and D.343 (A. Johansson, Ericsson, Sweden) essentially 

echo D.279. 

D.330 (T. Starr, Ameritech, USA) proposes that, immediately following the finalization of the present set of 

Recommendations, work proceed on G.vdsl and G.hdsl2. It recommends that the initial focus be on spectral 

compatibility, defining international system requirements, and the feasibility of common handshake procedures. 

D.406 (S. Palm, Matsushita, Japan, representing multiple Japanese manufacturers) essentially echoes D.330. 

D.328 (G. Zedler, Deutsche Telekom) proposes that work on G.sdsl and G.hdsl2 be deferred until the work has been 

progressed in the Regional Standards bodies. 

During the discussion, BT explained that their concern mainly centered on the availability of enough human 

resources to track this work in multiple forums. In the end, the Rapporteur ended the discussion by stating that the 



SG15 management team had directed him to proceed with work on these Recommendations. Using this as 

justification, the Rapporteur obtained the group’s agreement to proceed with the work on G.vdsl and G.hdsl2. 

Q4/15 agreed to commence work on a VDSL (G.vdsl) and an HDSL2/SDSL (G.shdsl) Recommendation. In making 

this agreement, Q4/15 recognized the guidance provided by the SG15 management team as presented in Section 6, 

Guidelines for the meeting of Working Parties, of TD-5(PLEN). Q4/15 determined to take every advantage of the 

good work already started or published by ETSI TM-6, ANSI T1E1.4, the ADSL Forum and other regional standard 

groups in regard to this work. This should be done by encouraging the member companies to contribute to the work 

of the ITU and to encourage close and frequent liaison on the work by each committee. Concerning the timing of 

this new work however, it is understood by all that Q4/15’s first priority will be to complete the editorial work on 

the Determined Recommendations at the January 1999 Rapporteurs Meeting. Accordingly, it is not expected that 

serious consideration of the new Recommendations will be practical until the proposed March/April 1999 meeting in 

Australia. An initial focus on the International Requirements, on Spectral Compatibility Issues (particularly for 

VDSL), and the integration/application of G.hs/G.994.1 to these Recommendations was agreed. 

Q4/15 agreed that liaison person(s) should be appointed to provide improved communications between regional 

standards groups. This person(s) should carry unbiased communications between the groups and should not therefore 

hold a position in either group. The Rapporteur requested candidate(s) for such positions. 

The new Recommendation development work will be conducted under the following designated names: 

Rec. Name Recommendation Title 

G.shdsl Single pair High speed Digital Subscriber Line (SHDSL) Transceivers 

G.vdsl Very high speed Digital Subscriber Line (VDSL) Transceivers 

G.LITE 

C. Hansen (Intel) is the editor of G.992.2, G.lite, Splitterless ADSL Transceivers. 

D.419 (F. Van der Putten, Alcatel, Belgium) proposes changes to the text of G.dmt and G.lite to bring them into 

alignment with T1.413. 

D.284 (G. Sebek, France Telecom) proposes that specific statements should be included in G.lite and G.dmt to 

clarify that interworking with T1.413 issue 2 is possible. It proposes that this interworking should not require 

changes to the hardware. Appropriate text will be added to G.ref. 

D.445 (T. Starr, Ameritech, USA) provides a pointer to ANSI T1.413 Issue 2 for information only. 

D.467 (R. Townsend, Lucent, USA) proposes that the present text of G.lite be Determined at this meeting. 

D.334 (L. Brown, Motorola, USA) proposes that the entire suite of xDSL recommendations be Determined at this 

meeting. 

D.407 (S. Palm, Matsushita, Japan, representing Multiple Japanese Companies) proposes that the SG15 Determine 

the present texts for xDSL Recommendations and proceed immediately with work on newer versions. 

D.325 (R. Hamdi, Compaq, USA) proposes two additional table rows in G.lite. It also provides a simple home 

wiring model. The group accepted the additional test cases proposed. It was proposed that a section be added entitled 

“acoustic levels” which would contain the values to reflect the points raised in TD-7(WP1/15) from SG12. This 

liaison provides guidance from SG12 on acceptable levels of interference from ADSL systems into POTS. After 

some discussion, it was decided to include this sort of information in either G.lite or G.test. 

D.420 (F. Van der Putten, Alcatel, Belgium) proposes additional code points (with supporting text) for G.hs 

(standard information field), G.dmt and G.lite (identification filed); it notes the need to specify how G.dmt and G.lite 

are supposed to handle information conveyed in G.hs. 

D.333C1 (R. Hamdi, Compaq, USA) proposes that work immediately start on enhancements to G.lite after 

Determination of the present text. A question was raised as to whether starting work on the next generation of a 

Recommendation before it was even approved was in conflict with ITU rules. There was no resolution of this issue. 

Bit-swap 

D.281 (F. Van der Putten, Alcatel, Belgium) and D.311 (S. Cascelli, Alcatel, Italy) provide a rationale for making 

bit swap mandatory in G.lite. They claim the benefits of improved performance and more reliable fast-retrain 

operation. D.337 (G. Joncour, FranceTelecom) supports the position in D.281. 



D.327 (G. Zedler, Deutsche Telekom) reports that the majority of ETSI members would require that bit-swap be 

made a mandatory requirement in European implementations. D.338 (A. Johansson, Ericsson, Sweden) and D.430 

(R. Feigel, Bosch, Germany) support the position in D.327. 

D.331 (T. Starr, Ameritech, USA) proposes that bit-swap be made optional in G.lite. 

D.431 (R. Venkatraman, Silicon Automation Systems, India) proposes that bit-swap be made optional. Opponents 

of mandatory bit-swap based their arguments on the premise that the protocol has not been shown to be robust. 

Proponents stated that their tests did not show any problems with robustness. It was also proposed that a code point 

could be added to G.hs to provide early identification of bit-swap. An ad hoc group was formed to look into this 

issue. 

No agreements were reached at the first ad hoc on bit swap but several “compromises” were tabled. The following 

proposals were made: 

• Optional 

• Mandatory 

• Optional with Auto-adaptation (new) 

• Rate Adaption (RA) mandatory 

• RA optional 

• RA mandatory with recommendation to use bit swap if a splitter is present 

• Mandatory, with Auto-disabling (new) 

• Optional, with a recommendation to use bit swap when splitters are used (new) 

The auto-adaptation proposal received the most discussion. It was decided to convene another ad hoc group to “flesh 

out” the proposals. 

TD-46(WP1/15) (J. Mueller, 3Com) is the report of the second bit-swap ad hoc group. Most of the meeting was 

spent addressing two of the alternatives, specifically, “the Addition of Rate Adaptive Capability (bit-swap optional)” 

and “Adding Auto Disabling (bit-swap mandatory).” In line with the group’s charter, no recommendation was made. 

It does however, recommend the adding of a specific time interval (within 400 ms) for the response to the bit-swap 

request message to Section 11.2.7 of G.dmt. 

An informal paper developed during the meeting (WD-bit-unn, F. Van der Putten, Alcatel, Belgium, with France 

and Italy) offered a compromise which essentially proposes that bit-swap be made optional. It proposes that bitswap 

text (lifted from G.dmt) be added to G.lite. It further proposes that the transmitter be allowed to respond with 

either an ACK (acknowledge) or an UTC (Unable to Comply) and that it recommend (but not mandate) that an ACK 

be sent if the environment includes an in-line filter or a POTS splitter. It also proposes text, which includes the 400 

ms value proposed above. After conferring in delegations outside of the meeting, the group accepted this proposal. 

Transfer Delay 

D.339 (A. Johansson, Ericsson, Sweden) proposes the specification of a single transfer delay with a value of 10 

ms. It was clarified that this was proposed as a test value. Sweden later accepted the compromise reached below as 

also satisfying their requirements. 

D.317 (S. Abbas, Centillium Technology, USA, representing Multiple US Companies) proposes a general formula 

for guidance in computing the max payload transfer delay. It also provides a value of 14 ms that should be met under 

a given set of circumstances. D.391 (R. Venkatraman, Silicon Automation Systems, India) proposes that the 

delay not be specified in the Recommendation. D.397 (G. Reina, Orckit Communications, Israel) agrees with 

D.391 based on the premise that it is not practical to measure. 

There was considerable discussion following these papers. It was finally decided to accept the proposal in D.317 

with the first number in the formula changed from “6.25” to “4.00” and the required value changed to “10 + (S x 

D)/4 ms” from “14 ms when (S x D)


D.418 (F. Van der Putten, Alcatel, Belgium) proposes the addition of provision for power management initiation 

by the ATU-C. This paper was addressed in the power control ad hoc group. 

D.421 (D. Van Bruyssel, Alcatel, Belgium) proposes solutions for problems identified in the transition from the L3 

to the LO state. Proposals are identified with escaping from a failed fast retrain, escaping to fast retrain from full 

initialization and going to fast retrain from the idle state. 

The group agreed to the “fast retrain truncate” proposal (which addresses the escape from a failed fast retrain) made in 

Annex A to D.421. In line with the second proposal, the group agreed that the ATU-C not be allowed to NAK a 

request for fast retrain issued by the ATU-R. The mechanism of using a code point in G.hs. to initiate this escape 

was agreed (see D.420, F. Van Der Putten, Alcatel). The exact placement of the code point was put off for further 

discussion. The decision on the proposals in Annex C (proposed text for fast retrain initiated from idle state) and 

Annex E (proposed text for state diagrams) of D.421 was deferred pending discussion in an ad hoc session on “fast 

retrain/power management.” 

TD-47(WP1/15) (R. Hamdi, Compaq, USA) is the report of the report of the Fast Retrain/ Power Management 

Ad hoc. It includes proposed revised text for Annexes A through D: 

A - Proposed Text for Fast Retrain Truncate 

B - Proposed Text for Transition from L3 to L0 

C - Proposed Text for Fast Retrain Initiated From Idle State 

D - Proposed Text for Escape to Fast Retrain 

D.423 (D. Van Bruyssel, Alcatel, Belgium) proposes that the PSD levels for C-PILOT-FR1 and R_RECOV be 

maintained at the level of preceding signals rather than allowing them to be dropped to a vendor discretionary level as 

presently specified. The group agreed to the proposal in Annex A (proposed changes to fast retrain procedures) of 

D.423. 

D.466 (K. Cone, Lucent) examines the impact on ATM of the L0 to L1 transition and concludes that this will not 

cause a problem. It also concludes that the L1 state must support a minimum ATM data rate of 32 kbit/s in order to 

support ATM signaling protocols. No text changes are proposed. 

D.368 (J. Carlo, TI) proposes changes in values of the R-LINE PROBE and C-REVERB-FR6 signals used in fast 

retrain. The meeting agreed to the new value of 512 ms for R-LINE PROBE. It also agreed to an exact value of 400 

ms for C-REVERB-FR6. 

D.366 (F. Van der Putten, Alcatel, Belgium) analyzes the timing recovery procedures in G.dmt and G.lite and 

concludes that they are adequate to work with G.hs. 

TD-43(WP1/15) (T. Cole, AMD) is the report of the ad hoc group on Power Management. This report proposes 

replacement text. It recommends the removal of the L2 state (and reserving it for future use by the ITU-T), and 

reserving the Power Management states 128 through 255 for vendor-specific use. The group accepted the report and 

the proposals. 

European Performance Requirements 

WD-12(WP1/15) is a report of the ad hoc group on European performance Requirements for G.dmt and G.lite. It 

was clarified that the Europeans would require in-line filters in any installations. The group accepted the technical 

proposals. These include having separate regional performance requirements (Annexes) in both G.lite and G.dmt, 

revising the European G.lite and G.dmt test cases (to include longer loops and increased data rates with lower noise) 

and to rename Kirkby noise to Euro-K noise. 

Trellis Coding, 1-bit Constellations, and Improved Efficiency Framing 

D.392 (R. Venkatraman, Silicon Automation Systems, India) proposes that the one-bit constellation be mandatory 

in both G.lite and G.dmt. 

D.332 (R. Hamdi, Compaq, USA) proposes that Trellis coding, 1-bit constellation, and efficiency framing not be 

included in G.lite at this time. 

D.342 (A. Johansson, Ericsson, Sweden) proposes to include a Trellis coding option. Later in the meeting, 

Sweden offered a compromise which would involve putting information on Trellis coding in an Appendix which 

would be purely informative. Deutsche Telekom and France expressed support for this compromise. The editor 

obtained the groups’ agreement to the wording below for the text of the proposed Appendix: 



“In anticipation of future revisions of this Recommendation manufacturers are encouraged to implement and 

investigate implementing the performance of Trellis coding in a splitterless environment as specified in 

Recommendation 992.1. Implementers wishing to investigate the use of Trellis coding should negotiate its use 

via the non-standard facilities capabilities of G.hs.” 

D.400 (G. Reina, Orckit, Israel) proposes to include a Trellis coding option. 

D.316 (S. Abbas, Centillium, USA, representing Multiple US Companies) proposes 1-bit constellations for future 

versions of G.lite. 

D. 396 (G. Reina, Orckit, Israel) proposes including a 1-bit constellation option. 

D.392 (R. Venkatraman, Silicon Automation Systems, India) proposes a mandatory 1-bit constellation. 

D.318 (S. Abbas, Centillium, USA, representing Multiple US Companies) proposes increased framing efficiency 

for G.lite-bis. 

D. 398 (G. Reina, Orckit, Israel) proposes an optional efficient framing mode. 

The group agreed to study the inclusion of trellis coding, 1-bit constellation and increased efficiency framing in 

future issues of G.lite. Eventually it was agreed to leave trellis coding (see wording above), 1-bit constellations and 

increased efficiency framing for further study. 

Miscellaneous 

D.388 (A. Verme, Silicon Automation Systems, India) describes what is characterized as a low complexity method 

for reducing Peak-to-Average (PAR) power. 

D.389 (A. Verme, Silicon Automation Systems, India) notes that, as it is possible to design PAR power reduction 

schemes that are totally transparent to the receiver, no provision for PAR management needs to be specified in the 

Recommendation. 

D.340 (A. Johansson, Ericsson, Sweden) proposes the inclusion of an echo canceling option in G.lite. There was 

no discussion as G.lite presently specifies an echo canceling option. 

D.399 (G. Reina, Orckit Communications, Israel) notes a flaw in the formula used to compute the power constraint 

and recommends that it either be modified or removed. 

Resolution and Final G.lite Agreements 

WD-4(WP1/15) (C. Hansen) is an interim version of the G.lite Recommendation. During the meeting the editor 

reviewed the changes to this document point-by-point, obtaining agreement to the changed items. The accuracy of 

the power formula in Annex A and Annex B was again brought up. Annex B - An issue relating to the use of a100 

ohm impedance for the 0-4 kHz measurement was raised. In the tables in Annex B it was agreed to replace the term 

“FDM G.lite” with “Annex A G.lite” 

TD-44(WP1/15) (C. Hansen, Intel, USA) proposes revised text for sections 11.2 and 11.3, (Handshake ATU-C 

and Handshake ATU-R, respectively) which incorporates the agreements made at this meeting. It was accepted. 

Eventually all open issues were resolved; TD-45(PLEN)© (C. Hansen, Intel, USA) is the final text of G.992.2 

(G.lite) which was Determined by SG15. 

G.DMT 

S. Palm (Matsushita) is the editor of G.992.1, G.dmt, ADSL Transceivers. 

TD-26(WP1/15) (S. Palm, Matsushita, Japan) is the Issues List for G.dmt 

TD-07(WP1/15) (S. Palm, Matsushita, Japan) is a liaison from SG12 responding to a request for information on 

ADSL interference into POTS. 

TD-37(WP1/15) (L. Brown, Motorola, USA) from SG16 provides a pointer to where information on billing 

tones could be obtained. 

TD-10(WP1/15) (T. Geary and G. Sullivan, SG16 Q11 and Q15 Rapporteurs) provides characteristics of various 

multimedia applications which could be provided over xDSL facilities. 



TD-27(WP1/15) (T. Geary, SG16 Q11 Rapporteur) identifies some possible approaches to multimedia 

applications: 

• Entire xDSL capacity is devoted to delivery of IP without any special QoS support 

• Some of the xDSL capacity is devoted to baseband voice and some to IP. 

• A QoS aware protocol (“probably ATM”) is used to convey voice and IP. 

TD-28(WP1/15) (G. Sullivan, Q15/16 Rapporteur) provides information on the video coding work in SG16. 

TD-36(WP1/15) (L. Brown, Motorola, USA) reports on the progress of Rec. V.90. It offers L. Brown as a 

liaison officer. 

TD-06(GEN) from SG4 provides a proposal for integrated management of telecom and IP networks; it requests 

comments. 

TD-08(GEN) from SG12 Q18 reports on their study on voice quality over IP. 

TD-09(GEN) (S. Palm, Matsushita, Japan) from SG12 reports on the acoustical properties of “hands free” 

modems contained in P.30 Group audio terminal, P.340 Transmission characteristics of hands-free telephones, P.341 

Transmission characteristics for wideband (150-8000 Hz) digital hands-free telephony terminals, and P.342 

Transmission characteristics for telephone-band (300-3400 Hz) digital loud-speaking and hands-free telephony 

terminals. 

TD-24(GEN) (L. Brown, Motorola, USA) from SG16 discusses modem testing and requests information from 

SG15 on the digital network characteristics. 

Interworking with T1.413 issue 2 

D.284 (G. Sebek, France Telecom) proposes that specific statements should be included in G.lite and G.dmt to 

clarify that interworking with T1.413 issue 2 is possible. It proposes that this interworking should not require 

changes to the hardware. 

D.341 (A. Johansson, Ericsson, Sweden) proposes that an Annex be added to G.dmt (or G.hs as verbally amended 

by the presenter) which would provide a pointer to T1.413. 

D.419 (F. Van der Putten, Alcatel, Belgium) proposes changes to G.dmt to further align it with T1.413 issue 2. It 

further proposes that if these changes are accepted into G.dmt, they should also be incorporated into G.lite. The 

group generally accepted all of the proposals in this contribution. 

After discussion, it was finally decided that the interworking issue would be discussed under G.hs (see below). 

European Performance Requirements 

D.424 (D. Van Bruyssel, Alcatel, Belgium) proposes performance requirements for the European loops to be 

included in G.dmt. D. Van Bruyssel stated that the information in this document was superseded by WD- 

12(WP1/15), a report of the Ad Hoc group on European Performance Requirements for G.dmt and G.lite. A final 

decision on the status of the proposals in WD-12(WP1/15) was deferred in response to a request from France. 

N. Billington (BT) reported on the recommendations of the European test case ad hoc. The proposal is to modify 

Annex G by deleting section 3.1 and to use the tables in WD-12(WP1/15). The group accepted this proposal 

pending agreement on final text. 

Transfer Delay 

D.339 (A. Johansson, Ericsson, Sweden) proposes the specification of a single transfer delay with a value of 10 

ms. The proposal was to incorporate this value into the appropriate Annex. It was clarified that this test would 

only be related to the crosstalk tests (not the impulse noise tests). The final decision was deferred pending the 

development of text in the editing group. It was later agreed to include the 10 ms limit in Annex F, ATU-x 

Classification and Performance for Region A (Other than Europe). However, concerns were expressed when it was 

proposed to add this to Annex G, ATU-x Classification and Performance for Region B (Europe). 

D.408 (Y. Okamura, NEC, Japan) proposes the continued study of a means to reduce the latency figure for Annex 

C (Specific Requirements for an ADSL System Operating in the Same Cable as ISDN) with the goal of closing this 

issue at the January Rapporteurs’ meeting. The group agreed to this work plan. 

D.448 (W. Matsumoto, Mitsubishi, Japan) proposes the Low Payload Transfer Delay method as one of the latency 

reduction methods in a revised G.dmt Annex C. 


Miscellaneous 


D.376 (J. Torres and V. Demjanenko, VoCAL Technologies, USA) proposes that an optional Serial Concatenated 

Convolutional coder be included in future versions of G.dmt. 

D.420 (F. Van der Putten, Alcatel, Belgium) proposes code points, and was discussed under G.hs. The group, 

however, gave its endorsement to the proposals contained in Section 3.2 as they applied to G.dmt. 

G.dmt Final Text 

TD-44(PLEN)© (S. Palm, Matsushita, Japan) is the final text for G.992.1 (G.dmt) Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber 

Line (ADSL) Transceivers. It was Determined at the SG15 plenary. 

G.REF 

S. Abbas, Centillium Technologies) is the editor of G.995.1, G.ref, Overview of DSL Recommendations. 

TD-24(WP/15) (S. Abbas, Centillium Technologies, USA) is the draft Recommendation G.ref as input to this 

meeting. However, as WD-05(WP1/15) represented an update to this, it was not presented. A detailed review of 

WD-05(WP1/15) was made. 

TD-38(WP1/15) (S. Abbas, Centillium Technologies, USA) is the G.ref issues list. 

TD-47(PLEN)© (S. Abbas, Centillium Technologies, USA) is the final text for G.995.1 (G.ref), Overview of 

Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) Recommendations. It was Determined at the SG15 plenary. 

G.HS 

L. Brown (Motorola) is the editor of G.994.1, G.hs, Handshake Procedures for DSL Transceivers. 

D.293 (S. Palm, Matsushita, Japan representing multiple Japanese comapnies) proposes adding the tone index 64 

to indicate incompatibility with Annex A. 

D.329 (T. Starr, Ameritech, USA) proposes a mechanism for initiating a connection with legacy equipment 

(T1.413). 

D.404 (S. Palm, Matsushita, Japan) proposes refinements to G.hs. The proposals were broken down into “editorial 

matters,” “completion of open items and text deficiencies,” and “configuring xTU-R G.hs using G.ploam.” The 

editorial proposals in section 2 were accepted. 

D.414 (F. Van der Putten, Alcatel, Belgium) proposes changes to G.hs to help clarify the text. The proposal for a 

modulation formula was accepted; editorial changes will be made to clarify Octet transparency and parsing of data 

blocks. 

WD-hs(WP1/15) (L. Brown, Motorola, USA) is the report of the G.hs ad hoc group. Agreements reached: 

• New text for T1.413 interworking 

• Flag corruption, the length of Message Type and Revision 

• The structure of the Vendor ID field 

• The maximum transmit power 

• Adding tone index 64 to Table 1 

• Adding an appendix for provider code information 

• The inclusion of sample sessions in an appendix 

• Moving the Level 2 and lower PARS back to G.hs 

• Moving the spectral coding information to the standard information field 

GS-016R2(WP1/15) (L. Brown, Motorola, USA) is the updated Issues List for G.hs. The editor briefly reviewed 

the changes to this document, obtaining agreement to the changed items. He then got the agreement of the group to 

close the majority of the open issues. The proposals in D.420, code points for G.hs (F. Van der Putten, Alcatel, 

Belgium), were addressed. It was agreed to accept the tables proposed in section 3.1. 

TD-31(WP1/15)© (L. Brown, Motorola, USA) is the draft Recommendation G.hs and the Issues List. There was 

considerable discussion about the provision of a feature for indicating that the xTU-C is connected but not ready to 

start a G.hs session. It was decided to put a placeholder here and address this at the January Rapporteurs meeting. It 

was agreed to assign the fast retrain code point as a level 2 PAR. Conversely, C-TONE was moved up to a level 1 

PAR. The group also agreed that there would only be three levels of parsing. 



GS-006(WP1/15) (L. Brown, Motorola, USA) is the final text of G.994.1 (G.hs) proposed for Determination. 

During the point-by-point review of the text, the French delegation once again raised the issue of the need for a more 

definitive specification of the support of interworking with T1.413 issue 2. With the caveat that some text would be 

developed to satisfy the French concern, the group accepted the document for Determination. G.994.1 (G.hs) 

Handshake Procedures for Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) Transceivers, was Determined as TD-46(PLEN)© at the 

SG15 plenary. 

G.TEST 

M. Tzannes (Aware) is the editor of G.996.1, G.test, Test Procedures for DSL Transceivers. 

D.314 (T. Cole, AMD, USA, representing Multiple US Companies) proposes a modification to the test procedures 

in G.test to take into account that in-line filters might be used in the field, by allowing the use of in-line filters in 

the tests if appropriate. 

D.443 (K. Kikushima, NTT, Japan) proposes revisions to the section of G.test that relates to testing G.lite in the 

presence of TCM-ISDN disturbers. The in-home wiring models were accepted. 

D.444 (K. Kikushima, NTT, Japan) proposes simple models for off-hook, on-hook impedances, which could allow 

repeatability of testing. 

D.416 (F. Van der Putten, Alcatel, Belgium) proposes to use appropriate values and formulas from T1.413 issue 2 

to further align the work. 

WD-POTS-QOS(WP1/15) (M. Tzannes, Aware) is the output of the POTS QoS ad hoc. It contains some 

minor text modifications to clearly specify where an in-line filter would be inserted in the test set if it were 

appropriate. 

TD-48(PLEN)© (M. Tzannes, Aware) is the final text of G.test proposed for Determination. Draft Recommendation 

G.996.1 Test Procedures for Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) Transceivers, was Determined at the SG15 plenary. 

G.PLOAM 

A. Johansson, Ericsson) is the editor of G.997.1, G.ploam, Physical Layer Management for DSL Transceivers. 

WD-01R1© (A. Johansson, Ericsson, Sweden) is the text of draft Recommendation G.ploam including the changes 

given in TD-22(WP1/15). 

D.417 (F. Van der Putten, Alcatel, Belgium) proposes clarifying text changes to sections 7, 8, and the Appendix of 

the Draft Recommendation. The group accepted the proposed changes. 

TD-49(PLEN)© (A. Johansson, Ericsson, Sweden) is the final text of G.997.1 (G.ploam) Physical Layer 

Management for Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) Transceivers proposed for Determination. It was Determined at the 

SG15 plenary. 

Dick Brandt dB Consulting 



WP1/15 PARTIAL MEETING ROSTER, OCTOBER 12 – 23, 1998, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND 

Peter Wery, Nortel, Canada SG15 Chair 

Gastone Bonaventura, Telecom Italia, Itay SG15 Vice Chair 

Makoto Yamashita, NTT, Japan SG15 Vice Chair 

Andrew Nunn, BT, UK WP1/15 Chair 

Austria Post und Telekom Austria Gunter Reisinger 

Belgium Frank Van Der Putten 

Belgium Alcatel Bell Jan De Groote 

Belgium Alcatel Bell Danny Van Bruyssel 

Canada Peter Wery 

Canada Mitel Gordon Reesor 

Canada Mitel Silvana Rodrigues 

Canada Newbridge Networks F. Tian 

Canada Nortel Christian Bourget 

Canada Teleglobe Canada Surendra Sharma 

China Chen Yun Zhi 

China He Yida 

China Jiang Jing 

China Mao Qian 

China Peng Yang 

China Ren Shun Yao 

China Wang Jun Hua 

China Wei Le Ping 

China Zhang Zhi Yi 

Denmark Danish Electronics Industry Flemming Gerdstrom 

Denmark Tele Danmark Rune Hylsberg Jacobsen 

Finland Eino Jauhiainen 

Finland Vesa H. Kaiharju 

Finland Helsinki Telephone Co. Pasi Poikolainen 

Finland Helsinki Telephone Co. Seppo Tormala 

Finland Nokia Jouko Tormenen 

Finland Nokia Leif Wikberg 

France Gilles Joncour 

France Alain Lhermitte 

France Luc Peyrat 

France EUTELSAT Malcom Jones 

France France Telecom Georges Sebek 

France IBM Europe Sedat Oelcer 

France T.R.T. Yannik Schifres 

Germany Hans L. Koffler 

Germany Gunther Zedler 

Germany Alcatel SEL Seigfried Schmoll 

Germany Alcatel SEL Karl-Albert Turban 

Germany Bosch Walter Bourdon 

Germany Bosch Reinhold Feigel 

Germany Deutsche Telekom Ralf-Rainer Damm 

Germany Deutsche Telekom Andreas Templin 

Germany Siemens Paul Drugh 

Germany Siemens Franz Fimpel 

Germany Siemens Neal King 

Germany Siemens Hans-Joerg Thaler 

Germany Siemens Peter Wildenauer 

Germany Wandel und Goltermann Wolfgang Miller 

Great Britain Andrew Nunn 

Great Britain BT Nigel Billington 

Great Britain BT Tim Finegan 



Great Britain BT Ian Mann 

Great Britain BT Jerry Skorkowski 

Great Britain Cable & Wireless Philip King 

Great Britain GPT Ghani Abbas 

Great Britain Lucent Technologies John Magill 

Great Britain Racal Datacom Chris Firth 

Great Britain Tektronix UK Mark Lum 

Greece OTE Harris Katopodis 

Hungary MATAV Hungarian Telecomm Laszlo Barna 

India Surinder Kumar Malhotra 

India Silicon Automation Systems T. Arvind 

India Silicon Automation Systems Rajagiopalan Venkatraman 

Israel Reina Guy 

Israel Amir Ilevitzky 

Israel Ken Krechmer 

Israel Ilan Sharfer 

Israel National Semiconductor Avraham Gal 

Israel National Semiconductor Salvatore Napolitano 

Italy Sergio Cascelli 

Italy Marconi Massimiliano Amirfeiz 

Italy Marconi Davide Pagnotta 

Italy Pirelli Cavi e Sistemi Paolo Boero 

Italy Telcom Italia G. Bonaventura 

Japan Seiichi Takagi 

Japan Toshiro Kato 

Japan DDI Koichiro Tahara 

Japan Fujitsu Yutaka Awata 

Japan Fujitsu Akinori Kamijo 

Japan Fujitsu Ryoji Okita 

Japan Fujitsu Haruo Yamashita 

Japan Hitachi Tohru Kazawa 

Japan KDD Yoshinori Namihira 

Japan Matsushita Electric Industrial Stephen Palm 

Japan Mitsubishi Electric Wataru Matsumoto 

Japan Mitsubishi Electric Yushi Naito 

Japan NEC Yoshiyuki Moriguchi 

Japan NEC Yusaku Okamura 

Japan NTT Koji Kikushima 

Japan NTT Yoichi Maeda 

Japan NTT Kazuhiro Oda 

Japan NTT Masaharu Ohashi 

Japan NTT Makoto Yamashita 

Japan Oki Electric Industry Kazuho Kawagushi 

Japan Oki Electric Industry Yoshihiro Kondo 

Japan Oki Electric Industry Akihiro Takahashi 

Japan Sumitomo Electric Industries Kazuya Matsumoto 

Japan Toshiba Hiroshi Fukinuki 

Japan Toshiba Yasumasa Kikunaga 

Japan Toshiba Takeshi Sugoh 

Korea Yun Bin-Yeong 

Korea Korea Telecom Myung-Jun Kim 

Mexico Lucio Adame 

Netherlands KPN Stefan Op De Beek 

Netherlands Lucent Technologies Netherlands Peter Stassar 

Norway Jarle Kiil 

Norway Telenor AS Vidar Skovli 

Russia Yuri Alekseev 

Singapore Singapore Telecom Herjit Singh 



Slovak Republic Slovak Telecom Jozef Nosik 

Spain Telefonica de Espana Gonzalo Sanchez Gilo 

Sweden Anders Hoglund 

Sweden Jorgen Karlsson 

Sweden L.M. Ericsson Albin Johansson 

Switzerland Hassane Makki 

Switzerland AscomTech Angus Carrick 

Switzerland AscomTech Kurt F. Gfeller 

Switzerland Swisscom Yu Wang 

Switzerland TSB Paolo Rosa 

Syrian Arab Republic Siba Attasi 

Syrian Arab Republic Kamal Awad 

Syrian Arab Republic Roula Massouh 

Ukraine Tetyana Andrushko 

Ukraine Mykola Biryukov 

Ukraine Anatoly Glushkovskyy 

Ukraine Viktor Katok 

Ukraine V. Victor Panteleev 

Ukraine Vartan Saroyan 

USA Elaine Baskin 

USA Steven Blackwell 

USA John Chen 

USA Marcos Maranhao 

USA James E. Matthews 

USA John McDonough 

USA Soching Tsai 

USA Benson Wang 

USA 3-COM Joseph Mueller 

USA 3-COM Richard Stuart 

USA Advanced Micro Devices Terry Cole 

USA Ameritech Services Tom Starr 

USA Analog Devices Rao Nuthalapati 

USA AT&T Deborah Brungard 

USA AT&T D. Sparrell 

USA Aware Marcos Tzannes 

USA Bay Networks Aleksandar Purkovic 

USA Bellcore Zhi-Wei Lin 

USA Centillium Technology Syed Abbas 

USA Centillium Technology Guozhu Long 

USA CIENA Corporation Jerry Shrimpton 

USA CIRRUS Logic Mandayam Krishnan 

USA Cisco Systems Amir Hindie 

USA Cisco Systems John Joyce 

USA COMPAQ Rabah Hamdi 

USA Corning Mark Soulliere 

USA Corning Steven E. Swanson 

USA ESS Technology Yuanjie Chen 

USA ESS Techonology Ping Dong 

USA General DataCom Yri Goldstein 

USA GlobeSpan Technologies Daniel Battu 

USA GTE BD&I Gary McAninch 

USA Intel Chris Hansen 

USA Intel Barry O'Mahony 

USA Level One Hanan Herzberg 

USA Lucent Technologies Subramanian Ambati 

USA Lucent Technologies Randall Brown 

USA Lucent Technologies Kevin Cone 

USA Lucent Technologies John Eaves 



USA Lucent Technologies Song Jiang 

USA Lucent Technologies Hing-Kam Lam 

USA Lucent Technologies Rick Townsend 

USA MCI Telecommunications Daryl C. Tannis 

USA Motorola Information Systems Richard Brandt 

USA Motorola Information Systems Les Brown 

USA Motorola Information Systems Ken Cavanaugh 

USA Motorola Information Systems Bernard Dugerdil 

USA Pair Gain George Zimmerman 

USA Paradyne Corp. R.K. Smith 

USA PC-TEL Gary Anwyl 

USA PC-TEL Enrico Cadorin 

USA Pulsecom Dennis Rauschmayer 

USA Rockwell International Glen Griffith 

USA Rockwell International Ragnar Jonsson 

USA RSA Communications Raymond Chen 

USA SBC Technology Resources Richard McDonald 

USA SBC Technology Resources John Roquet 

USA Texas Instruments James Aslanis 

USA Texas Instruments James Carlo 

USA VoCAL Technologies Joan Alberto Torres 

Communications Standards Review – Telecommunications 

regularly covers the following committee meetings: 

TIA TR-29 Facsimile 

TR-30 Modems 

TR-41 User Premises Equipment 

ITU-T SG8 Telematic Terminals 

SG15 WP1 Network Access 

SG16 Multimedia 

ETSI ATA Analog Terminal Access 

DTA Digital Terminal Access 

MTA Multimedia Terminals 

TC SP Speech Processing 

TC STQ Speech Transmission Quality 

TIPHON Voice Over Internet 

TM6 Transmission & Multiplexing 



ACRONYM DEFINITIONS 

AAL ATM Adaptive Layer 

ACELP Algebraic Code Excited Linear Predictor 

ACTS Advanced Communications Technology Satellite 

ADSL Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line 

AFE Analog Front End 

AIS Alarm Indication Signal 

ANAI Access Network Architecture and Interfaces 

ANSI American National Standards Institute 

ANT Access Network Transport (Q1/15) 

API Application Programming Interface 

ASN Abstract Symbol Notation 

ATM Asynchronous Transfer Mode 

B-ISDN Broadband ISDN 

BER Bit Error Rate 

BOF Birds of a Feather 

CELP Code Excited Linear Prediction 

CI Call Indicator (V.8) 

CM Call Menu 

CNI Calling Number Identification 

CORBA Common Object Request Broker Architecture 

CPE Customer Premise Equipment 

CS-ACELP Conjugate Structure -Algebraic Code Excited Linear Predictive 

DAVIC Digital Audio-Visual Council 

DC Direct Current 

DCE Data Circuit Terminating Equipment 

DCME Digital Circuit Multiplication Equipment 

DCT Discrete Cosine Transform 

DMT Discrete Multi-tone Carrier 

DSS1 Digital Subscriber Signaling 1 

DTE Data Terminal Equipment 

DTMF Dual Tone Multi Frequency 

ETSI European Telecommunications Standards Institute 

EURESCOM European Inst. for Research & Strategic Studies in Telecommunications 

FEC Forward Error Control 

FEXT Far End Cross Talk 

FSAN Full Service Access Networks 

FTTB Fiber to the Building 

FTTC Fiber to the Curb 

FTTCab VDSL to the cabinet 

FTTH Fiber to the Home 

FWA Fixed Wireless Access 

GII Global Information Infrastructure 

GK GateKeeper 

GSM Global System for Mobile Communications 

HSD High Speed Data Channel 

ICG Intersector Coordination Group 

IDCT Inverted Discrete Cosign Transform 

IE Protocol Discriminator Information Element 

IEC International Electrotechnical Committee 

IETF Internet Engineering Task Force 

IFTP Informal FTP area 

IMT International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT-2000) 

IP Internet Protocol 

IPDC IP Device Control 

IPR Intellectual Property Rights 

iptel Internet Protocol Telephony (IETF Working Group) 

ISDN Integrated Services Digital Network 



ISDN-BA ISDN basic access 

ISOC Internet Society 

ISUP ISDN User Part 

JM Joint Menu 

JRG Joint Rapporteurs Group 

LATA Local Access Transport Area 

LD-CELP Low Delay CELP 

LOI Letter of Intent 

LSD Low Speed Data channel 

LT Line Termination 

MAP Mobile Application Part 

MCS Multi-point Control Services (T.122) 

MCU Multi-point Control Unit 

MIB Management Information Base 

MLP Multi-Layer Protocol 

MMUSIC Multiparty Multimedia Session Control (WG) 

MOU Memorandum of Understanding 

MPEG Motion Picture Experts Group 

N-ISDN Narrowband ISDN 

NT Network Termination 

NTR Network Timing Reference marker 

OAM Operations, Administration, and Maintenance 

OAN Optical Access Network 

OMG Object Management Group 

ONU Optical Network Unit 

OPTIS Overlapped PAM Transmission with Interlocking Spectra 

PAM Pulse Amplitude Modulation 

PAR Peak to Average Ratio 

PCM Pulse Code Modulation 

PCME Packet Circuit Multiplication Equipment 

PDH Packet Digital Hierarchy 

PINT PSTN Interworking (IETF) 

PMD Physical Media Dependent Layer 

PON Passive Optical Network 

POTS Plain Old Telephone Service 

PSD Power Spectral Density 

PSQM Perceptual Subjective Quality Measure 

PSTN Public Switched Telephone Network 

QoS Quality of Service 

RBS Robbed-bit signaling 

RDC Remote Device Control 

REC RECeive alarm 

RFC Designation for an Internet Standard 

RTP Real Time Transport Protocol 

SAT Satellite 

SCN Switched Circuit Network 

SCR Selective Call Rejection 

SDH Synchronous Digital Hierarchy 

SDL Specification and Description Language 

SDSL Symmetrical high bit rate Digital Subscriber Line 

SG Study Group (ITU, CCITT) 

SLP Service Location Protocol 

SMG Special Mobile Group 

SNMP Simple Network Management Protocol 

SOHO Small Office Home Office 

SUD Single Use Device 

TA Terminal Adapter 

TBR Technical Basis for Regulation (ETSI standard) 



TC Technical Committee 

TC Transmission Convergence Layer 

TCP Transmission Control Protocol 

TINA Telecommunications Information Networking Architecture 

TSAG Telecommunication Standardization Advisory Group 

TSB Telecommunications Standardization Board (ITU) 

UDP User Datagram Protocol 

UMTS Universal Mobile Telecommunications System 

UNI User-Network Interface 

UPC Usage Parameter Control 

VAD Voice Activity Detector 

VDSL Very high speed ADSL 

WG Working Group 

xDSL all the different Digital Subscriber Lines 

XNI Customer Network Interface 

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The next issue of Communications Standards Review – Telecommunications (Vol. 10 #1) is scheduled for 

January 1999. 



1998 STANDARDS COMMITTEE MEETING SCHEDULES 

AS OF NOVEMBER 4, 1998 

Subject to Change without Notice 

Committee Date(s) Location 

Q1/8, Q3/8, Q4/8 

Rapporteur 

Nov 2 - 6 UK 

Q15/16 Rapp. Nov 3 - 6 Seoul, Korea 

TR-29 Nov 9 - 13 Arlington, VA 

TR-30 Nov 9 - 13 Clearwater, FL 

ETSI DTA Nov 16 - 18 Berlin, Germany 

TR-41 Nov 16 - 20 Palm Springs, CA 


Q11-14/16 Rapp. Nov 17 - 20 Torino, Italy 

ETSI TM6 (only Nov 24 - 27 Sophia Antipolis, 

VDSL and SDSL) 

France 

T1E1 Nov 0-Dec 4 Texas 

ETSI ATA Dec 7 - 11 South Africa 

Q4/16, Q10/16, 

Q23/16 Rapp. 

Dec 7 - 10 San Diego, CA 

1999 STANDARDS COMMITTEE MEETING SCHEDULES 

AS OF NOVEMBER 4, 1998 

Subject to Change without Notice 


Q1/16 Rapp. January Tokyo 

ETSI TIPHON Jan 11 - 15 S. Antipolis, Fr. 

Q4/15 Rapp. Jan 18 - 22 Orlando 

Q3/16 Rapp. Jan 19 - 21 California 

TR-29 Feb 8 - 10 Newport Bch, CA 

TR-30 Feb 8 - 11 --- 

TR-41 Feb 21 - 26 Sarasota, FL 

ETSI TM6 Feb 22 - 26 Tel Aviv, Israel 

Q11-15/16 Rapp. Feb 23 - 26 New Jersey, US 

ETSI TIPHON March New Jersey, USA 

T1E1 Mar 8 - 12 --- 

ITU-T SG8 Mar24-Apr 1 Geneva 

Q4/15 Rapp. Mar29-Apr 2 Melbourne 

TR-30 Apr 12 - 15 --- 

ETSI TIPHON May Belgium 

ETSI TM6 May 3 - 7 Grenoble, France 

Q4/15 Rapp. May 10 - 14 Boston, MA 

T1E1.4 Interim May 17 - 18 Boston, MA 


TR-41 May 17 - 21 --- 

ITU-T SG16 May 18 - 28 Santiago, Chile 

T1E1 Jun 7 - 11 --- 

TR-30 Jun 14 - 17 California 

ITU-T SG15 Jun 21-Jul 2 Geneva 

Q15/16 Rapp. July --- 

ETSI TIPHON July Manchester, UK 

TR-30 Aug 9 - 12 Quebec City, PQ 

TR-41 Aug 23 - 27 --- 

T1E1 Aug 22 - 23 --- 

ETSI TM6 Sep 20 - 24 UK 

TR-30 Oct 11 - 14 Baltimore, MD 

Q15/16 Rapp. November 

TR-41 Nov 15 - 19 Reno, NV 

TR-30 Nov29-Dec 2 --- 

ETSI TM6 Nov29-Dec 3 Netherlands 

T1E1 Dec 6 - 10 --- 

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