On The User Network InterEace In Broadband-ISDN
?mar M. Ali
Alcatel N.V., Brussels. Belgium
Abstract
This paper discusses several issues related
to the user network interface in
Broadband-ISDN , which is the subject of
standardization activities in the CCITT
committees. The contentions issue of
whether such an interface should support
synchronous or asynchronous modes of
operation will be addressed.
Introduction
While the technical issues related to the
Integrated Services Digital Networks (ISDN)
have been reaching maturity and commercial-
ization, wide interest has been given to
the extension of ISDN to include services
requiring bandwidths much larger than those
available in ISDN. namely good (-enhanced,
extended, high-deEinition,etc) quality
video services, be it dialogue (e.g.
videotelephone) or distributive (e.g.
Television programs). Due to economical
considerations, it is desirable to provide
all such services in one integrated
(digital) network, hence giving rise to
Broadband ISDN. or B-ISDN. The advance in
technologies. e.g. custom VLSIs, optical
techniques for transmission is enhancing
the progress of these systems.Uithin the
CCITT, the group working on B-ISDN services
has drawn an exhaustive list of services
which could be offered in B-ISDN.
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The access of the subscriber (customer) to
the network will be through the
user-network interface (UNI). which is the
subject of on-going activities and "heated"
discussions in the CCITT to standardize it.
Thus far, two basic concepts (and
combinations therefore) have been advanced,
related to the mode of operation of such an
interface:
0 Synchronous transfer mode (STR)
0 Asynchronous transfer mode (Am).
In the former case, the information is
available periodically in fixed length
bith-words (or octets). giving rise to the
so called "Time-Address" systems, where the
information is identified or demultiplexed
based on time-axis information. In the
latter case, the information is available
in blocks with fixed or variable length
(the recurrence and length of the blocks
are dependent on the information bits
available to be transported), giving rise
to the so called "Label-Address" systems,
where the information is demultiplexed
through information in the labels.
The natural question arises:
Should the UN1 support a synchronous
transfer mode of operation or an
asynchronous transfer mode of operation?
The rest of the paper attempts to discuss
alternatives as the answer to this question.
0 1988 IEEE 0217
 Services in B - ISDN Frame Structure of the UN1

Generally speaking. two broad groups of Basically, there are three possible
services, to be provided in B-ISDN, can be alternative solutions to the UN1
distinguished: organization (or frame structure):
-Those "best " supported by STM 0 synchronous Time Division STD (e.g.
-Those "best" supported by ATH octet-structured)
0 full ATD (frame completely cell-
This first group includes services whose structured)
signals are either continuous in time or 0 STD within which the payload is
(to use the CCITT jargon), when digitized, structured in an Asynchronous Time
form a continuous stream of bits. To this Division ATD mode (payload cell -
group belong important signals such as structured within STD-frame)
video, sound and even speech (assuming The third alternative can be viewed as a
simple. classical form of coding of such combination of the former two. Another
signals). The resulting bit rates vary solution would be the start-stop technique
between 64 kbit/s up to 1 Gbit/s. This which will not be discussed here due to its
group of services is offered in point-to- inherent synchronization problems and the
point connections (for dialogue services), related complexity.
as well as point-to-multi-point (for In order to establish their merits, the
distributive services) connections. three dieferent alternatives to the UN1
structure must be compared with each other
The second group of services includes against the three design parameters
signals that are non-continuous in time, or mentioned above.
discontinuous bit-stram oriented. A good
example of such signals is pure data The main features of the ATD solution are:
(computer. telex. etc). The bursts of bit 0 Flexibility : services can be expanded/
rates involved here vary from 64 kbit/s up altered easily without requiring any
to a few Mbit/s (e.g. for computer-data re-structuring or re-dimensioning of
bank connections). This type of services the network or switching exchanges.
requires basically multipoint connections This leads to the idea of programmable
(real or virtual). interface (at the discretion of the
customer) and of "intelligent network
Three basic issues, or design parameters, termination. OE course, this implies a
regarding the UN1 have to be addressed: higher degree of functionality, and
0 overall system flexibility hence complexity, of the terminals
0 overall system complexity (hardware, and/or switching exchange. The basic
software, operational) potential and advantage of this
0 overall system cost flexibility is when a customer has a
The above design parameters interact in a large number of sources to be connected
complex manner with each other, making the to a multitude of other customers (or
optimum solution to the UN1 not a clear cut. distributed databases), especially in a

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bidirectional operations mode. However, hardware, software and operations. A
this potential would be reduced if a large disadvantage of this system is that
number of subscribers is not available multipoint-to-multipoint connections are
simultaneously to use this facility. not possible.
Transmission efficiency : The trans- Guaranteed Quality of services: Since each
mission capacity can be utilized more service is allocated a fixed (sufficient)
efficiently (e.g.through the use of amount of bandwidth throughout the duration
statistical multiplexing), because only of the connection, any degree of quality
the "useful" data (i.e. with least can be guaranteed for that service.
redundancy) need be transmitted. Also, Hore recently, there have been some
bursty data can be transmitted effi- discussions regarding the definition of a
ciently (bandwidth on demand). However. hybrid UNI. This should be seen as an
this gain can be achieved only with attempt to reach a workable compromise
populations of signals or data belong- between the different alternative
ing to a number of customers clustered solutions, keeping as many advantages of
together in one transmission medium. these different solutions as possible. The
Modularity of switchinq exchanqe: Only hybrid UN1 can have different forms,
one switching exchange can handle all ranging from an STD-frame Structure
types of services. This. in turn, will allowing, within it, fixed locations to be
lead to additional complexity of such used in ATD-mode. to a fully ATD-frame
an exchange (compared with an exchange structure with certain cells "reserved" for
handling only one type of services). in STH-services.
terms of hardware. software and network
management. A large amount of research is still
Blocking. packet loss. propagation delay required to bring the ATD-solution for the
Procedures have to be devised to UN1 to "industrial product'' maturity; in
guarantee a set level of performance particular, the following issues should be
when blocking, packet loss or addressed:
propagation delays occur. A number of 0 Capability to support continuous
techniques are available to reduce this bitstream oriented services:
effect by, e.g.. using long buffers, - sequence integrity
reservation of channel capacity, giving - transfer and overall delay
priority to a service, additional requirements
effort for data security. Such - clock synchronization
procedures could be shared between the - effect of transmission errors
(customer) terminals and the network. 0 Characteristics and parameters:
- cell format and functionalities
The features of the STD solution are: - header functionalities. organization
0 Low complexitv: the functionality of and size
this type of UN1 is limited (dealing - ATn synchronization
with a finite set of allowable - AT?! architecture and access control
services), thus leading to simplified - ATH connections control and monitoring

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 Status of CCITT activities for the manuEacturing industry.

In the last Hamburg meeting of study group Conclusions

XVIII during June-July 1987, two "packages"
were identified for further study A number of candidates are available for
(regarding UN1 and the Network -Node the implementation of the UN1 in B-ISDN.
Interface "1): Alternative solutions have their advantages
I: 9 rows x 270 columns, 155520 kbit/s and disadvantages. The compromize solution
(CEPT. Japan) should have the following features:
11: 13 rows x 180 columns, 149760 kbit/s
(North America) Guaranteed high quality of services for
continuous bit stream oriented signals
Three options were recognized in these efficient handling of discontinous
packages (requiring further study), in signa1s
preparation for the next CCITT group XVIlI compatibility with narrowband ISDN
experts meeting in Seoul. Korea (25.1.88): allowing early introduction of B-ISDN
0 STD (octet structured, fixed allocation (if and when the market is available)
corresponding to the H-channels) straightforward inclusion of distribu-
0 ATD within the payload (synchronous tion services (including High
frame structure, with payload arranged Definition Television)
in cells). flexibility to assign capacity for STN-
0 full ATD (including all overheads and and ATH--based services, as well as
signalling) adaptability to new services.
universal network
After the Hamburg meeting, the North
American position has shifted to accept This means that the best solution to the
package I. However, there are indications UN1 problem would be a hybrid one, which
that some of the CEPT countries are could mean an STD structure enhanced for
rethinking their position and consequently ATU- based services. an ATD structure
withdrawing their support for package I. enhanced for STU- based services, or
This adds to the general confusion on the combinations thereof. Further research and
international scene and it is difficult to pre-development work will be required
predict in which direction the CCITT act- (laboratory prototypes and field trials) to
ivities are going. If an agreement at the establish the merits and potential of the
Seoul meeting cannot be reached, one would different possible solutions. The
have to wait at least for the next CCITT preference of one solution to another will
study period (to be completed in 1992) depend on the particular application at
before any international standards can be hand (with its own set of traffic and
agreed on. Until then, it is highly services requirements).
probable that regional standards will be
unavoidable, a situation not very favorable

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