Northern UTA220/UTA220k - Manual (Page 35)

UTA220/UTA220k
4-1
ISDN
Chapter 4
ISDN
This chapter provides information to help you set up and use
your Terminal Adaptor (TA). For users unfamiliar with TAs,
some fundamental Integrated Services Digital Network
(ISDN) concepts are presented first. If you are already familiar
with ISDN you may skip over this section, but the ISDN
Switches and the ISDN Addresses and Identifiers sections
contain information pertinent to the switch configuration of the
TA and should be reviewed.
ISDN BASICS
ISDN is a global system that provides a variety of high-speed
digital telecommunication services including voice, data,
images, and video, integrated on one network. As ISDN
evolves it will provide the same types of services as the existing
analog networks (voice and low-speed data), plus new services
made possible by recent advances in computers and digital data
communications.
ISDN is based on standards that define the interfaces between
the network and the equipment connected to it. This
standardization permits communication between ISDN
systems and equipment manufactured by different vendors
world wide.
ISDN Standards
ISDN standards are set by the International Consultative
Committee for Telegraph and Telephone (CCITT), an
organization that establishes communications
recommendations under the auspices of the United Nations.
Because ISDN technology advances faster than the CCITT can
establish standards, a number of de-facto standards have been
developed by manufacturers of telephone equipment. While
these set the precedence for CCITT standards eventually
agreed to, there are enough differences that those who set up
ISDN equipment (such as TAs) must be aware of them.
National ISDN
The U.S.A. and Canada have an ISDN standard for North
America called National ISDN. The first version of this
standard, National ISDN One (NI-1), is being adopted by
equipment manufacturers and network providers. When fully
deployed, NI-1 will make understanding and configuring
ISDN equipment easier and more efficient.