(Continuation of Question 10/15)

Background and justification

Considering the growing interest of optimizing telecommunication networks for the support of IP-type traffic, the development of interoperable IP equipment is a priority. In accordance with the methodology followed by ITU-T SG 15 for the standardization of SDH, ATM and WDM network element functions, work under this Question should recommend a library of IP switching and routing functions.

The possibility to build equipment by associating IP switching and routing functions with SDH, ATM and/or WDM transport functions will facilitate the deployment of IP equipment in heterogeneous transport networks.

Responsibilities under this Question for draft and published Recommendations include:

I.731: Types and general characteristics of ATM equipment

I.732: Functional characteristics of ATM equipment

I.73ip: IP NE functions and IP over ATM mechanisms

Question

• What enhancements or new Recommendations are required to define equipment for:
• IP Layer Functions?
• IP over ATM mechanisms?
• IP over SDH mechanisms?
• IP over WDM mechanisms?
• What enhancements or new Recommendations are required to define switching and routing equipment for inter-working between IP and other networks, supporting services like, voice, multimedia, etc.?
• What enhancements are required to existing Recommendations I.731 and I.732 in order to provide new ATM transfer capabilities defined in Recommendation I.371 for supporting Resource Management, Traffic Management and Congestion Control?
• What capabilities are required to support ATM performance parameters (as defined in Recommendations I.356 and I.357), new network capabilities for OAM (as defined in Recommendation I.610), new signalling requirements (as defined in the Q-series Recommendations) and possible additional interface requirements?
• What enhancements or new Recommendations are required to define network elements for inter-working between ATM and other networks, supporting services like, voice, N-ISDN, multimedia, Frame Relay, etc.?

Study items

Study items to be considered include modelling (from the Network Element point of view) of:

• IP forwarding and multicasting
• MPLS
• ATM traffic parameters

Specific tasks

• Revisions to Recommendations I.731 and I.732 by 2002
• Draft new Recommendations for a library of IP layer atomic functions by 2002
• Draft new Recommendations for a library of IP/ATM and ATM/OTN functions by 2002
• Draft new Recommendations for a library of IP/OTN (and IP/SDH) functions by 2002

For the library of atomic functions involving the OTN and the SDH, a close cooperation with Q.9/15 is required. Q.9/15 is responsible for some processes of this library (e.g. mapping of ATM and IP on OTN).

Relationships

• Series of Recommendations on transport equipment : G.geq, G.783, G.798
• Question 13/4 on TMN principles
• ITU-T SG 13 on IP and ATM related issues
• ADSL Forum on network access
• IETF WG diffserv, WG rsvp, WG MPLS