CHAPTER 16

ISDN

16.1 REVIEW QUESTIONS

1.
a. Integrated: Allowing access to a variety of networks through digital pipes.
b. Services: Services offered to customers are bearer services, teleservices, and
supplementary services
c. Digital: replacement of the analog local loop with digital subscriber loops
d. Network: a network is a series of points or nodes interconnected by communi-
cation paths.
3. At first, the telecommunications networks were entirely analog and were used for
the transmission of analog information in the form of voice. With the advent of
digital processing, subscribers needed to exchange data as well as voice. Modems
were developed to allow the exchange of digital data using analog lines. Gradually,
telephone companies added digital technologies while continuing analog service to
their customers. Customers began to require access to different networks. The tele-
phone companies then created integrated digital networks (IDN) to meet these
needs. In the next step, customer services such as bearer services and teleservices
as well as supplementary services were integrated with the IDN; ISDN was devel-
oped.
5.
B: any kind of digital information in full duplex up to 64 Kbps
D: control signals for B channel and low data transfer (any kind of digital informa-
tion) up to 16 or 64 Kbps; may be used for telemetry and alarm transmission
H: all kinds of digital information, especially for high data rate applications such
as video and teleconferencing up to 384 Kbps, 1536 Kbps, or 1920 Kbps
7. BRI is designed to meet the needs of residential customers and small offices. PRI
is mostly used in large corporations.

55
56 CHAPTER 16 ISDN

9. An NT1 is a device that controls the physical and electrical termination of the
ISDN at the user’s premises and connects the user’s internal system to the digital
subscriber loop.
11. TE1 is any device that supports the ISDN standards.
13. A TA converts information coming from a T2 device in a non-ISDN format into a
format that can be carried by ISDN.
15. The ISDN is defined in three separate planes; the user plane, the control plane and
the management plane. Each of these planes are divided into the seven layers that
correspond with the seven layers of the OSI model.
17. The functions of the physical layer in ISDN are defined by ITU-T standards; I.430
for BRI and I.431 for PRI. These standards define, for instance, the mechanical
and electrical specifications of the R, S, T, U interfaces, encoding, multiplexing
channels, and power supply.
19. B channels use LAPB protocol, while D channels use LAPD protocol. Both proto-
cols are simplified subsets of HDLC that use asynchronous balanced mode.
21. The primary difference between N-ISDN and B-ISDN is the data rate. N-ISDN
supports 64 Kbps to 1.544 Mbps, while B-ISDN supports up to 600 Mbps.
23. B-ISDN offers an access method that allows a 155.520 Mbps full-duplex connec-
tion. Another method is the 155.520 Mbps output combined with a 622.080 Mbps
input. This method provides asymmetrical full-duplex network access. The
622.080 Mbps full-duplex method is designed for businesses that provide and
receive distributive services.

16.2 MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

25. b 27. d 29. b 31. c 33. a 35. a 37. d 39. a 41. b 43. c
45. a 47. c 49. b 51. b

16.3 EXERCISES
53. 4 bits per frame
55. 0000000011010001
57. ⇐ –H–1–B–0–I–1–E–1
59. With the ISDN address field, 1000 countries, 100 networks for each country, 1010
subscribers per network, 1040 TEs per subscriber and 1050 TEs in total can be
defined.
61. See Figure 16.1.
 SECTION 16.3 EXERCISES 57

Figure 16.1 Exercise 61

TE NT1 NT1 TE

ISDN Network

Setup
Setup
Setup ACK
Setup ACK

Connect
Connect
Connect ACK
Connect ACK
58 CHAPTER 16 ISDN