Short History of Study Group 17
The following is a short history of Study Group 17 and the related X-series and Z-series of Recommendations.
As many of you know SG 17 was formed by the merger of Study Groups 7 and 10 in 2001.
Study Group 7 had its roots back to the Joint Working Party on New Data Networks, which was created by the IVth
Plenary Assembly of the CCITT in 1968. Table 1 below shows the evolution over the various study periods and the
study group leadership until the merger with SG 10 in 2001. The work program evolved significantly over this time.
In the late 60s and early 70s, the work focused on digital leased lines and digital circuit switched data networks
with the first X-series Recommendations approved at the December 1972 Vth CCITT Plenary Assembly. Packet switched
networks was the hot topic of the 70s and 80s with the first edition of the famous X.25 Recommendation approved in 1976.
An ever increasing number of packet data network Recommendations were developed and approved in 1980, 1984 and 1988.
Work on Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) in conjunction with ISO and IEC began in the early 80s and was very intense
through the 80s and 90s. By 2000, this work had reached maturity and SG VII began to build its efforts on security.
Study Group 10 had its roots as part of the work of CCITT Study Group XI with three Questions on languages for
stored program control telephone exchanges adopted by the Vth CCITT Plenary Assembly in 1972. Table 2 below shows
the evolution over the various study periods and the study group leadership until the merger with SG 7. In 1976,
skeleton Recommendations on Specification and Description Language (SDL) and Man-Machine Language (MML) were adopted
as the first Z-series Recommendations. These were further developed in the next 8 years along with CHILL with
approvals in 1980 and 1984. The VIIIth CCITT Plenary Assembly in October 1984 established Study Group 10.
By 2000, a suite of Z-series Recommendations was in place with MSC (Message Sequence Chart) as the major addition
in the 1990s. Focus in the later years moved to aligning ITU-T languages, such as SDL and MSC, to OMG’s UML
(Unified Modeling Language).
In 2001, TSAG agreed to merge Study Groups 7 and 10 to form Study Group 17 (7 + 10 = 17). The chairman of the two
study groups became co-chairmen of the new Study Group 17 and all the vice chairmen of the two study groups became
vice chairman of the new Study Group 17. Table 3 below shows the evolution of Study Group 17 over the two study
periods and the study group leadership. A major change was made at WTSA-04 when the remaining data network work
was transferred to Study Group 13 and the major focus of Study Group 17 was shifted to security while also continuing
its work on languages. By WTSA-08, a substantial set of security Recommendations had been approved.
Table 4 shows the history of X and Z series Recommendations approved by the various CCITT Plenary Assemblies.
After 1988, Recommendations were developed, approved and published individually, rather than in the sequence
of color books published every four years. The X-series expanded in scope over the years from New data networks
to Data communication networks to Data networks and open system communications to Security, data networks and
open system communications. In a similar manner, the Z-series expanded over the years from Programming languages
for SPC exchanges to Programming languages, to Languages and general software aspects for telecommunication systems.
Tables 5, 6, 7 and 8 show the current set of 325 Recommendations and Supplements under the responsibility of
Study Group 17 (as of 15 September 2008).
Table 1 - Leadership of Study Group 7 and predecessors
Study Period |
Designation |
Name |
Chairman |
Vice Chairmen |
Number of Questions |
1969-1972 |
JWP/NRD |
New data networks |
O. A. Ohlmer (Germany) |
V. C. MacDonald |
1 |
1973-1976 |
Study Group VII |
New networks for data transmission |
V. C. MacDonald (Canada) |
N. R. Crane (Australia)
H. Gabler (Germany)
A. E. Serrure (Belgium) |
1 (25 points) |
1977-1980 |
Study Group VII |
New networks for data transmission |
V. C. MacDonald (Canada) |
J. Chapman (UK)
N. R. Crane (Australia)
M. Kato (Japan)
A. Texier (France) |
34 |
1981-1984 |
Study Group VII |
Data communication networks |
V. C. MacDonald (Canada) |
H. V. Bertine (USA)
M. Kato (Japan)
L. Lavandera Sanchez (Spain)
A. Texier (France)
J. O. Wedlake (UK) |
41 |
1985-1988 |
Study Group VII |
Data communication networks |
J. O. Wedlake (UK) |
H. V. Bertine (USA)
P. G. Bowie (Canada)
P. Guinaudeau (France)
L. Lavandera Sanchez (Spain)
R. Parodi (Italy)
S. Tomita (Japan) |
48 |
1989-1992 |
Study Group VII |
Data communications networks |
J. O. Wedlake (UK) |
H. V. Bertine (USA)
P. G. Bowie (Canada)
L. Lavandera Sanchez (Spain)
J. Park (Australia)
R. Parodi (Italy)
P. Puges (France)
S. Tomita (Japan) |
15 |
1993-1996 |
Study Group 7 |
Data networks and open systems communications |
H. V. Bertine (USA) |
V. Ossipov (Russia)
S. Tomita (Japan)
C. H. Yim (Korea) |
25 |
1997-2000 |
Study Group 7 |
Data networks and open system communications |
H. V. Bertine (USA) |
Y. H. Lee (Korea)
Y. Hiramatsu (Japan)
V. Ossipov (Russia) |
25 |
2001-16/9/01 |
Study Group 7 |
Data networks and open systems communications |
H. V. Bertine (USA) |
B.-M. Chin (Korea)
V. Ossipov (Russia) |
14 |
Table 2 - Leadership of Study Group 10 and predecessors
Study Period |
Designation |
Name |
Chairman |
Vice Chairmen |
Number of Questions |
1973-1976 |
Study Group XI |
Telephone switching and signalling |
J. S. Ryan (USA) |
T. Moussa (Cameroon)
P. Plehiers (Belgium)
P. Sterndorff (Denmark) |
3 out of 11 |
1977-1980 |
Study Group XI |
Telephone switching and signalling |
J. S. Ryan (USA) |
C. A. Adeoye (Nigeria)
P. Plehiers (Belgium)
P. Sterndorff (Denmark) |
3 out of 13 |
1981-1984 |
Study Group XI |
Telephone switching and signalling |
J. S. Ryan (USA) |
P. Collet (France)
S. Kano (Japan)
P. Plehiers (Belgium)
P. Sterndorff (Denmark) |
3 out of 19 |
1985-1988 |
Study Group X |
Languages and methods for telecommunications applications |
C. Carrelli (Italy) |
K. Katzeff (Sweden)
N. A. Martellotto (USA)
K. Schulz (Germany) |
9 |
1989-1992 |
Study Group X |
Languages for telecommunication applications |
C. Carrelli (Italy) |
O. F. Faergemand (Denmark)
B. Lindberg (S)
K. Schulz (Germany) |
12 |
1993-1996 |
Study Group 10 |
Languages for telecommunication applications |
O. F. Faergemand (Denmark) |
K. Schulz (Germany) |
10 |
1997-2000 |
Study Group 10 |
Languages and general software aspects for telecommunication systems |
A. Sarma (Germany) |
A. Meisingset (Norway) |
13 |
2001-16/9/2001 |
Study Group 10 |
Languages and general software aspects for telecommunication systems |
A. Sarma (Germany) |
V. Efimouchkine (Russia)
A. Meisingset (Norway)
O. Monkewich (Canada) |
13 |
Table 3 - Leadership of Study Group 17
Study Period |
Designation |
Name |
Chairman |
Vice Chairmen |
Number of Questions |
17/9/2001-2004 |
Study Group 17 |
Data networks and telecommunication software |
Co-chairmen:
Herbert Bertine (USA)
and
Amardeo Sarma (Germany) |
Byoung-Moon Chin (Korea)
Vladimir Efimouchkine (Russia)
Arve Meisingset (Norway)
Ostap Monkewich (Canada)
V. Ossipov (Russia) |
27 |
2005-2008 |
Study Group 17 |
Security, languages and telecommunication software |
Herbert Bertine (USA) |
Jianyong Chen (China)
Byoung-Moon Chin (Korea)
Arkadiy Kremer (Russia)
Arve Meisingset (Norway)
Ostap Monkewich (Canada)
Yu Watanabe (Japan) |
15 |
Table 4 - CCITT Plenary Assemblies and Recommendations Approved
Study Period |
Book |
Plenary Assembly |
Dates |
X-series Recommendations |
Z-series Recommendations |
1969-1972 |
Green Book |
Vth CCITT Plenary Assembly |
4-15 December 1972 |
11 (Public data networks - X.1, X.2, X.20, X.21, X.30, X.31, X.32, X.33,
X.40, X.50, X.70) |
|
1973-1976 |
Orange Book |
VIth CCITT Plenary Assembly |
27 September – 8 October 1976 |
24 (Public data networks) |
3 (SDL – Z.100-series)
8 (MML – Z.300-series) |
1977-1980 |
Yellow Book |
VIIth CCITT Plenary Assembly |
10-21 November 1980 |
39 (Public data networks) |
4 (SDL – Z.100-series)
1 (CHILL – Z.200)
9 (MML – Z.300-series) |
1981-1984 |
Red Book |
VIIIth CCITT Plenary Assembly |
8-19 October 1984 |
56 (Public data networks)
9 (OSI – X.200-series)
8 (MHS – X.400-series)) |
5 (SDL – Z.100-series)
1 (CHILL – Z.200)
15 (MML – Z.300-series) |
1985-1988 |
Blue Book |
IXth CCITT Plenary Assembly |
14-25 November 1988 |
72 (Public data networks)
23 (OSI – X.200-series)
9 (MHS – X.400-series))
8 (Directory – X.500-series)) |
1 (SDL – Z.100)
1 (FDTs – Z.110)
1 (CHILL – Z.200)
19 (MML – Z.300-series) |
Table 5 - E-series Recommendations under the responsibility of Study Group 17*
OVERALL NETWORK OPERATION, TELEPHONE SERVICE, SERVICE OPERATION AND HUMAN FACTORS
Subject |
Recommendation Series |
Number of Texts |
International operation |
E.100-E.229 |
2 |
General provisions concerning Administrations
|
E.104-E.119 |
2 |
Network management |
E.400-E.489 |
1 |
International network management |
E.405-E.419 |
1 |
|
Table 6 - F-series Recommendations under the responsibility of Study Group 17*
NON-TELEPHONE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES
Subject |
Recommendation Series |
Number of Texts |
Message Handling Services |
F.400-F.499 |
13 |
Directory Services |
F.500-F.549 |
3 |
|
Table 7 - X-series Recommendations under the responsibility of Study Group 17*
DATA NETWORKS, OPEN SYSTEM COMMUNICATIONS AND SECURITY
Subject |
Recommendation Series |
Number of Texts |
Open Systems Interconnection |
X.200-X.299 |
77 |
Model and notation |
X.200-X.209 |
2 |
Service definitions |
X.210-X.219 |
18 |
Connection-mode protocol specifications |
X.220-X.229 |
20 |
Connectionless-mode protocol specifications |
X.230-X.239 |
11 |
PICS proformas |
X.240-X.259 |
9 |
Protocol Identification |
X.260-X.269 |
3 |
Security Protocols |
X.270-X.279 |
2 |
Layer Managed Objects |
X.280-X.289 |
5 |
Conformance testing |
X.290-X.299 |
7 |
Message Handling Systems |
X.400-X.499 |
25 |
Directory |
X.500-X.599 |
16 |
OSI networking and system aspects |
X.600-X.699 |
71 |
Networking |
X.600-X.629 |
16 |
Efficiency |
X.630-X.639 |
8 |
Quality of service |
X.640-X.649 |
2 |
Naming, Addressing and Registration |
X.650-X.679 |
10 |
Abstract Syntax Notation One (ASN.1) |
X.680-X.699 |
35 |
Security |
X.800-X.849 |
21 |
OSI applications |
X.850-X.899 |
18 |
Commitment, Concurrency and Recovery |
X.850-X.859 |
3 |
Transaction processing |
X.860-X.879 |
4 |
Remote operations |
X.880-X.889 |
8 |
Generic applications of ASN.1 |
X.890-X.899 |
3 |
Open distributed processing |
X.900-X.999 |
15 |
Telecommunication security |
X.1000-X.1999 |
34 |
|
Table 8 - Z-series Recommendations under the responsibility of Study Group 17*
LANGUAGES AND GENERAL SOFTWARE ASPECTS FOR TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEMS
Subject |
Recommendation Series |
Number of Texts |
Formal description techniques (FDT) |
Z.100-Z.199 |
23 |
Specification and Description Language (SDL)
|
Z.100-Z.109 |
8 |
Application of formal description techniques
|
Z.110-Z.119 |
2 |
Message Sequence Chart (MSC)
|
Z.120-Z.129 |
3 |
Extended Object Definition Language (eODL)
|
Z.130-Z.139 |
0 |
User Requirements Notation (URN)
|
Z.150-Z.159 |
1 |
Testing and Test Control Notation (TTCN) |
Z.160-Z.179 |
9 |
Programming languages |
Z.200-Z.299 |
1 |
CHILL: The ITU-T high level language |
Z.200-Z.209 |
1 |
Quality |
Z.400-Z.499 |
2 |
Quality of telecommunication software |
Z.400-Z.409 |
1 |
Quality aspects of protocol-related Recommendations |
Z.450-Z.459 |
1 |
Methods |
Z.500-Z.599 |
1 |
Methods for validation and testing |
Z.500-Z.519 |
1 |
Middleware |
Z.600-Z.699 |
2 |
Processing environment architectures |
Z.600-Z.609 |
2 |
|
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