RFC 3525
Gateway Control Protocol Version 1
Network Working Group C. Groves Request for Comments: 3525 M. Pantaleo Obsoletes: 3015 LM Ericsson Category: Standards Track T. Anderson Consultant T. Taylor Nortel Networks Editors June 2003 Gateway Control Protocol Version 1 Status of this Memo This document specifies an Internet standards track protocol for the Internet community, and requests discussion and suggestions for improvements. Please refer to the current edition of the "Internet Official Protocol Standards" (STD 1) for the standardization state and status of this protocol. Distribution of this memo is unlimited. Copyright Notice Copyright (C) The Internet Society (2003). All Rights Reserved.Abstract
This document defines the protocol used between elements of a physically decomposed multimedia gateway, i.e., a Media Gateway and a Media Gateway Controller. The protocol presented in this document meets the requirements for a media gateway control protocol as presented in RFC 2805. This document replaces RFC 3015. It is the result of continued cooperation between the IETF Megaco Working Group and ITU-T Study Group 16. It incorporates the original text of RFC 3015, modified by corrections and clarifications discussed on the Megaco E-mail list and incorporated into the Study Group 16 Implementor's Guide for Recommendation H.248. The present version of this document underwent ITU-T Last Call as Recommendation H.248 Amendment 1. Because of ITU-T renumbering, it was published by the ITU-T as Recommendation H.248.1 (03/2002), Gateway Control Protocol Version 1. Users of this specification are advised to consult the H.248 Sub- series Implementors' Guide at http://www.itu.int/itudoc/itu- t/com16/implgd for additional corrections and clarifications.
Conventions used in this document The key words "MUST", "MUST NOT", "REQUIRED", "SHALL", "SHALL NOT", "SHOULD", "SHOULD NOT", "RECOMMENDED", "MAY", and "OPTIONAL" in this document are to be interpreted as described in RFC 2119 [RFC2119].Table of Contents
1 Scope.........................................................5 1.1 Changes From RFC 3015.....................................5 1.2 Differences From ITU-T Recommendation H.248.1 (03/2002)...5 2 References....................................................6 2.1 Normative references......................................6 2.2 Informative references....................................9 3 Definitions..................................................10 4 Abbreviations................................................11 5 Conventions..................................................12 6 Connection model.............................................13 6.1 Contexts.................................................16 6.2 Terminations.............................................17 6.2.1 Termination dynamics.................................21 6.2.2 TerminationIDs.......................................21 6.2.3 Packages.............................................22 6.2.4 Termination properties and descriptors...............23 6.2.5 Root Termination.....................................25 7 Commands.....................................................26 7.1 Descriptors..............................................27 7.1.1 Specifying parameters................................27 7.1.2 Modem descriptor.....................................28 7.1.3 Multiplex descriptor.................................28 7.1.4 Media descriptor.....................................29 7.1.5 TerminationState descriptor..........................29 7.1.6 Stream descriptor....................................30 7.1.7 LocalControl descriptor..............................31 7.1.8 Local and Remote descriptors.........................32 7.1.9 Events descriptor....................................35 7.1.10 EventBuffer descriptor..............................38 7.1.11 Signals descriptor..................................38 7.1.12 Audit descriptor....................................40 7.1.13 ServiceChange descriptor............................41 7.1.14 DigitMap descriptor.................................41 7.1.15 Statistics descriptor...............................46 7.1.16 Packages descriptor.................................47 7.1.17 ObservedEvents descriptor...........................47 7.1.18 Topology descriptor.................................47 7.1.19 Error Descriptor....................................50 7.2 Command Application Programming Interface................50 7.2.1 Add..................................................51
7.2.2 Modify...............................................52
7.2.3 Subtract.............................................53
7.2.4 Move.................................................55
7.2.5 AuditValue...........................................56
7.2.6 AuditCapabilities....................................59
7.2.7 Notify...............................................60
7.2.8 ServiceChange........................................61
7.2.9 Manipulating and Auditing Context Attributes.........65
7.2.10 Generic Command Syntax..............................66
7.3 Command Error Codes......................................66
8 Transactions.................................................66
8.1 Common parameters........................................68
8.1.1 Transaction Identifiers..............................68
8.1.2 Context Identifiers..................................68
8.2 Transaction Application Programming Interface............69
8.2.1 TransactionRequest...................................69
8.2.2 TransactionReply.....................................69
8.2.3 TransactionPending...................................71
8.3 Messages.................................................72
9 Transport....................................................72
9.1 Ordering of Commands.....................................73
9.2 Protection against Restart Avalanche.....................74
10 Security Considerations.....................................75
10.1 Protection of Protocol Connections......................75
10.2 Interim AH scheme.......................................76
10.3 Protection of Media Connections.........................77
11 MG-MGC Control Interface....................................78
11.1 Multiple Virtual MGs....................................78
11.2 Cold start..............................................79
11.3 Negotiation of protocol version.........................79
11.4 Failure of a MG.........................................80
11.5 Failure of an MGC.......................................81
12 Package definition..........................................82
12.1 Guidelines for defining packages........................82
12.1.1 Package.............................................83
12.1.2 Properties..........................................84
12.1.3 Events..............................................85
12.1.4 Signals.............................................85
12.1.5 Statistics..........................................86
12.1.6 Procedures..........................................86
12.2 Guidelines to defining Parameters to Events and Signals.86
12.3 Lists...................................................87
12.4 Identifiers.............................................87
12.5 Package registration....................................88
13 IANA Considerations.........................................88
13.1 Packages................................................88
13.2 Error codes.............................................89
13.3 ServiceChange reasons...................................89
ANNEX A Binary encoding of the protocol.......................90 A.1 Coding of wildcards......................................90 A.2 ASN.1 syntax specification...............................92 A.3 Digit maps and path names...............................111 ANNEX B Text encoding of the protocol.........................113 B.1 Coding of wildcards.....................................113 B.2 ABNF specification......................................113 B.3 Hexadecimal octet coding................................127 B.4 Hexadecimal octet sequence..............................127 ANNEX C Tags for media stream properties......................128 C.1 General media attributes................................128 C.2 Mux properties..........................................130 C.3 General bearer properties...............................130 C.4 General ATM properties..................................130 C.5 Frame Relay.............................................134 C.6 IP......................................................134 C.7 ATM AAL2................................................134 C.8 ATM AAL1................................................136 C.9 Bearer capabilities.....................................137 C.10 AAL5 properties........................................147 C.11 SDP equivalents........................................148 C.12 H.245..................................................149 ANNEX D Transport over IP.....................................150 D.1 Transport over IP/UDP using Application Level Framing ..150 D.1.1 Providing At-Most-Once functionality................150 D.1.2 Transaction identifiers and three-way handshake.....151 D.1.3 Computing retransmission timers.....................152 D.1.4 Provisional responses...............................153 D.1.5 Repeating Requests, Responses and Acknowledgements..153 D.2 Using TCP...............................................155 D.2.1 Providing the At-Most-Once functionality............155 D.2.2 Transaction identifiers and three-way handshake.....155 D.2.3 Computing retransmission timers.....................156 D.2.4 Provisional responses...............................156 D.2.5 Ordering of commands................................156 ANNEX E Basic packages.......................................157 E.1 Generic.................................................157 E.2 Base Root Package.......................................159 E.3 Tone Generator Package..................................161 E.4 Tone Detection Package..................................163 E.5 Basic DTMF Generator Package............................166 E.6 DTMF detection Package..................................167 E.7 Call Progress Tones Generator Package...................169 E.8 Call Progress Tones Detection Package...................171 E.9 Analog Line Supervision Package.........................172 E.10 Basic Continuity Package...............................175 E.11 Network Package........................................178 E.12 RTP Package............................................180
E.13 TDM Circuit Package....................................182
APPENDIX I EXAMPLE CALL FLOWS (INFORMATIVE)...................184
A.1 Residential Gateway to Residential Gateway Call.........184
A.1.1 Programming Residential GW Analog Line Terminations
for Idle Behavior...................................184
A.1.2 Collecting Originator Digits and Initiating
Termination.........................................186
APPENDIX II Changes From RFC 3015............................195
Intellectual Property Rights..................................210
Acknowledgments...............................................211
Authors' Addresses............................................212
Full Copyright Statement......................................213
1 Scope
The present document, which is identical to the published version of
ITU-T Recommendation H.248.1 (03/2002) except as noted below, defines
the protocols used between elements of a physically decomposed
multimedia gateway. There are no functional differences from a
system view between a decomposed gateway, with distributed sub-
components potentially on more than one physical device, and a
monolithic gateway such as described in ITU-T Recommendation H.246.
This document does not define how gateways, multipoint control units
or interactive voice response units (IVRs) work. Instead it creates
a general framework that is suitable for these applications.
Packet network interfaces may include IP, ATM or possibly others.
The interfaces will support a variety of Switched Circuit Network
(SCN) signalling systems, including tone signalling, ISDN, ISUP, QSIG
and GSM. National variants of these signalling systems will be
supported where applicable.
1.1 Changes From RFC 3015
The differences between this document and RFC 3015 are documented in
Appendix II.
1.2 Differences From ITU-T Recommendation H.248.1 (03/2002)
This document differs from the corresponding ITU-T publication in the
following respects:
- Added IETF front matter in place of the corresponding ITU-T
material.
- The ITU-T summary is too H.323-specific and has been omitted.
- The IETF conventions have been stated as governing this document.
As discussed in section 5 below, this gives slightly greater
strength to "should" requirements.
- The Scope section (just above) has been edited slightly to suit
its IETF context.
- Added normative references to RFCs 2026 and 2119.
- Figures 4, 5, and 6 show the centre of the context for greater
clarity. Also added Figure 6a showing an important additional
example.
- Added a paragraph in section 7.1.18 which was approved in the
Implementor's Guide but lost inadvertently in the ITU-T approved
version.
- This document incorporates corrections to the informative examples
in Appendix I which also appear in H.248.1 version 2, but which
were not picked up in H.248.1 (03/2002).
- This document includes a new Appendix II listing all the changes
from RFC 3015.
- This document includes an Acknowledgements section listing the
authors of RFC 3015 but also many other people who contributed to
the development of the Megaco/H.248.x protocol.
- Moved the Intellectual Property declaration to its usual place in
an IETF document and added a reference to declarations on the IETF
web site.
2 References
The following ITU-T Recommendations and other references contain
provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute
provisions of this RFC. At the time of publication, the editions
indicated were valid. All Recommendations and other references are
subject to revision; all users of this RFC are therefore encouraged
to investigate the possibility of applying the most recent edition of
the Recommendations and other references listed below. A list of the
currently valid ITU-T Recommendations is regularly published.
2.1 Normative references
- ITU-T Recommendation H.225.0 (1999), Call signalling protocols and
media stream packetization for packet-based multimedia
communication systems.
- ITU-T Recommendation H.235 (1998), Security and encryption for
H-Series (H.323 and other H.245-based) multimedia terminals.
- ITU-T Recommendation H.245 (1998), Control protocol for multimedia
communication.
- ITU-T Recommendation H.246 (1998), Interworking of H-series
multimedia terminals with H-series multimedia terminals and
voice/voiceband terminals on GSTN and ISDN.
- ITU-T Recommendation H.248.8 (2002), H.248 Error Codes and Service
Change Reasons.
- ITU-T Recommendation H.323 (1999), Packet-based multimedia
communication systems.
- ITU-T Recommendation I.363.1 (1996), B-ISDN ATM adaptation layer
(AAL) specification: Type 1 AAL.
- ITU-T Recommendation I.363.2 (1997), B-ISDN ATM adaptation layer
(AAL) specification: Type 2 AAL.
- ITU-T Recommendation I.363.5 (1996), B-ISDN ATM adaptation layer
(AAL) specification: Type 5 AAL.
- ITU-T Recommendation I.366.1 (1998), Segmentation and Reassembly
Service Specific Convergence Sublayer for the AAL type 2.
- ITU-T Recommendation I.366.2 (1999), AAL type 2 service specific
convergence sublayer for trunking.
- ITU-T Recommendation I.371 (2000), Traffic control and congestion
control in B-ISDN.
- ITU-T Recommendation Q.763 (1999), Signalling System No. 7 - ISDN
user part formats and codes.
- ITU-T Recommendation Q.765.5 (2001), Application transport
mechanism - Bearer independent call control (BICC).
- ITU-T Recommendation Q.931 (1998), ISDN user-network interface
layer 3 specification for basic call control.
- ITU-T Recommendation Q.2630.1 (1999), AAL type 2 signalling
protocol (Capability Set 1).
- ITU-T Recommendation Q.2931 (1995), Digital Subscriber Signalling
System No. 2 (DSS2) - User-Network Interface (UNI) - Layer 3
specification for basic call/connection control.
- ITU-T Recommendation Q.2941.1 (1997), Digital Subscriber
Signalling System No. 2 - Generic identifier transport.
- ITU-T Recommendation Q.2961.1 (1995), Additional signalling
capabilities to support traffic parameters for the tagging option
and the sustainable call rate parameter set.
- ITU-T Recommendation Q.2961.2 (1997), Additional traffic
parameters: Support of ATM transfer capability in the broadband
bearer capability information element.
- ITU-T Recommendation Q.2965.1 (1999), Digital subscriber
signalling system No. 2 - Support of Quality of Service classes.
- ITU-T Recommendation Q.2965.2 (1999), Digital subscriber
signalling system No. 2 - Signalling of individual Quality of
Service parameters.
- ITU-T Recommendation V.76 (1996), Generic multiplexer using V.42
LAPM-based procedures.
- ITU-T Recommendation X.213 (1995), Information technology - Open
Systems Interconnection - Network service definition plus
Amendment 1 (1997), Addition of the Internet protocol address
format identifier.
- ITU-T Recommendation X.680 (1997), Information technology -
Abstract Syntax Notation One (ASN.1): Specification of basic
notation.
- ITU-T Recommendation X.690 (1997), Information Technology - ASN.1
Encoding Rules: Specification of Basic Encoding Rules (BER),
Canonical Encoding Rules (CER) and Distinguished Encoding Rules
(DER).
- ATM Forum (1996), ATM User-Network Interface (UNI) Signalling
Specification - Version 4.0.
[RFC 1006] Rose, M. and D. Cass, "ISO Transport Service on top of the
TCP, Version 3", STD 35, RFC 1006, May 1987.
[RFC 2026] Brander, S., "The Internet Standards Process -- Revision
3", BCP 9, RFC 2026, October 1996.
[RFC 2119] Bradner, S., "Key words for use in RFCs to Indicate Requirement Levels", BCP 14, RFC 2119, March 1997. [RFC 2234] Crocker, D., Ed. and P. Overell, "Augmented BNF for Syntax Specifications: ABNF", RFC 2234, November 1997. [RFC 2327] Handley, M. and V. Jacobson, "SDP: Session Description Protocol", RFC 2327, April 1998. [RFC 2402] Kent, S. and R. Atkinson, "IP Authentication Header", RFC 2402, November 1998. [RFC 2406] Kent, S. and R. Atkinson, "IP Encapsulating Security Payload (ESP)", RFC 2406, November 1998.2.2 Informative references
- ITU-T Recommendation E.180/Q.35 (1998), Technical characteristics of tones for the telephone service. - CCITT Recommendation G.711 (1988), Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) of voice frequencies. - ITU-T Recommendation H.221 (1999), Frame structure for a 64 to 1920 kbit/s channel in audiovisual teleservices. - ITU T Recommendation H.223 (1996), Multiplexing protocol for low bit rate multimedia communication. - ITU-T Recommendation H.226 (1998), Channel aggregation protocol for multilink operation on circuit-switched networks - ITU-T Recommendation Q.724 (1998), Signalling procedures. - ITU-T Recommendation Q.764 (1999), Signalling system No. 7 - ISDN user part signalling procedures. - ITU-T Recommendation Q.1902.4 (2001), Bearer independent call control protocol - Basic call procedures. [RFC 768] Postel, J., "User Datagram Protocol", STD 6, RFC 768, August 1980. [RFC 791] Postel, J., "Internet Protocol", STD 5, RFC 791, September 1981. [RFC 793] Postel, J., "Transmission Control Protocol", STD 7, RFC 793, September 1981.
[RFC 1661] Simpson, W., Ed., "The Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP)", STD 51, RFC 1661, July 1994. [RFC 1889] Schulzrinne, H., Casner, S., Frederick, R. and V. Jacobson, "RTP: A Transport Protocol for Real-Time Applications", RFC 1889, January 1996. [RFC 1890] Schulzrinne, H. and G. Fokus, "RTP Profile for Audio and Video Conferences with Minimal Control", RFC 1890, January 1996. [RFC 2401] Kent, S. and R. Atkinson, "Security Architecture for the Internet Protocol", RFC 2401, November 1998. [RFC 2460] Deering, S. and R. Hinden, "Internet Protocol, Version 6 (IPv6) Specification", RFC 2460, December 1998. [RFC 2543] Handley, M., Schulzrinne, H., Schooler, E. and J. Rosenberg, "SIP: Session Initiation Protocol", RFC 2543, March 1999. [RFC 2805] Greene, N., Ramalho, M. and B. Rosen, "Media Gateway Control Protocol Architecture and Requirements", RFC 2805, April 2000.3 Definitions
This document defines the following terms: Access gateway: A type of gateway that provides a User-Network Interface (UNI) such as ISDN. Descriptor: A syntactic element of the protocol that groups related properties. For instance, the properties of a media flow on the MG can be set by the MGC by including the appropriate descriptor in a command. Media Gateway (MG): The media gateway converts media provided in one type of network to the format required in another type of network. For example, a MG could terminate bearer channels from a switched circuit network (e.g., DS0s) and media streams from a packet network (e.g., RTP streams in an IP network). This gateway may be capable of processing audio, video and T.120 alone or in any combination, and will be capable of full duplex media translations. The MG may also play audio/video messages and perform other IVR functions, or may perform media conferencing.
Media Gateway Controller (MGC): Controls the parts of the call state that pertain to connection control for media channels in a MG. Multipoint Control Unit (MCU): An entity that controls the setup and coordination of a multi-user conference that typically includes processing of audio, video and data. Residential gateway: A gateway that interworks an analogue line to a packet network. A residential gateway typically contains one or two analogue lines and is located at the customer premises. SCN FAS signalling gateway: This function contains the SCN Signalling Interface that terminates SS7, ISDN or other signalling links where the call control channel and bearer channels are collocated in the same physical span. SCN NFAS signalling gateway: This function contains the SCN Signalling Interface that terminates SS7 or other signalling links where the call control channels are separated from bearer channels. Stream: Bidirectional media or control flow received/sent by a media gateway as part of a call or conference. Trunk: A communication channel between two switching systems such as a DS0 on a T1 or E1 line. Trunking gateway: A gateway between SCN network and packet network that typically terminates a large number of digital circuits.4 Abbreviations
This RFC document uses the following abbreviations: ALF Application Layer Framing ATM Asynchronous Transfer Mode CAS Channel Associated Signalling DTMF Dual Tone Multi-Frequency
FAS Facility Associated Signalling
GSM Global System for Mobile communications
GW GateWay
IANA Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (superseded by Internet
Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers - ICANN)
IP Internet Protocol
ISUP ISDN User Part
IVR Interactive Voice Response
MG Media Gateway
MGC Media Gateway Controller
NFAS Non-Facility Associated Signalling
PRI Primary Rate Interface
PSTN Public Switched Telephone Network
QoS Quality of Service
RTP Real-time Transport Protocol
SCN Switched Circuit Network
SG Signalling Gateway
SS7 Signalling System No. 7
5 Conventions
In the H.248.1 Recommendation, "SHALL" refers to a mandatory
requirement, while "SHOULD" refers to a suggested but optional
feature or procedure. The term "MAY" refers to an optional course of
action without expressing a preference. Note that these definition
are overridden in the present document by the RFC 2119 conventions
stated at the beginning of this document. RFC 2119 has a more
precise definition of "should" than is provided by the ITU-T.
6 Connection model
The connection model for the protocol describes the logical entities, or objects, within the Media Gateway that can be controlled by the Media Gateway Controller. The main abstractions used in the connection model are Terminations and Contexts. A Termination sources and/or sinks one or more streams. In a multimedia conference, a Termination can be multimedia and sources or sinks multiple media streams. The media stream parameters, as well as modem, and bearer parameters are encapsulated within the Termination. A Context is an association between a collection of Terminations. There is a special type of Context, the null Context, which contains all Terminations that are not associated to any other Termination. For instance, in a decomposed access gateway, all idle lines are represented by Terminations in the null Context. Following is a graphical depiction of these concepts. The diagram of Figure 1 gives several examples and is not meant to be an all-inclusive illustration. The asterisk box in each of the Contexts represents the logical association of Terminations implied by the Context.
+------------------------------------------------------+ |Media Gateway | | +-------------------------------------------------+ | | |Context +-------------+ | | | | | Termination | | | | | |-------------| | | | | +-------------+ +->| SCN Bearer |<---+-> | | | Termination | +-----+ | | Channel | | | | | |-------------| | |---+ +-------------+ | | <-+--->| RTP Stream |---| * | | | | | | | | |---+ +-------------+ | | | | +-------------+ +-----+ | | Termination | | | | | | |-------------| | | | | +->| SCN Bearer |<---+-> | | | Channel | | | | | +-------------+ | | | +-------------------------------------------------+ | | | | | | +------------------------------+ | | (NULL Context) |Context | | | +-------------+ | +-------------+ | | | | Termination | | +-----+ | Termination | | | | |-------------| | | | |-------------| | | | | SCN Bearer | | | * |------| SCN Bearer |<---+-> | | Channel | | | | | Channel | | | | +-------------+ | +-----+ +-------------+ | | | +------------------------------+ | | | | | | +-------------------------------------------------+ | | |Context | | | | +-------------+ +-------------+ | | | | | Termination | +-----+ | Termination | | | | | |-------------| | | |-------------| | | <-+--->| SCN Bearer |---| * |------| SCN Bearer |<---+-> | | | Channel | | | | Channel | | | | | +-------------+ +-----+ +-------------+ | | | +-------------------------------------------------+ | | ___________________________________________________ | +------------------------------------------------------+ Figure 1: Examples of Megaco/H.248 Connection Model
The example in Figure 2 shows an example of one way to accomplish a call-waiting scenario in a decomposed access gateway, illustrating the relocation of a Termination between Contexts. Terminations T1 and T2 belong to Context C1 in a two-way audio call. A second audio call is waiting for T1 from Termination T3. T3 is alone in Context C2. T1 accepts the call from T3, placing T2 on hold. This action results in T1 moving into Context C2, as shown in Figure 3. +------------------------------------------------------+ |Media Gateway | | +-------------------------------------------------+ | | |Context C1 | | | | +-------------+ +-------------+ | | | | | Term. T2 | +-----+ | Term. T1 | | | | | |-------------| | | |-------------| | | <-+--->| RTP Stream |---| * |------| SCN Bearer |<---+-> | | | | | | | Channel | | | | | +-------------+ +-----+ +-------------+ | | | +-------------------------------------------------+ | | | | +-------------------------------------------------+ | | |Context C2 | | | | +-------------+ | | | | +-----+ | Term. T3 | | | | | | | |-------------| | | | | | * |------| SCN Bearer |<---+-> | | | | | Channel | | | | | +-----+ +-------------+ | | | +-------------------------------------------------+ | +------------------------------------------------------+ Figure 2: Example Call Waiting Scenario / Alerting Applied to T1
+------------------------------------------------------+ |Media Gateway | | +-------------------------------------------------+ | | |Context C1 | | | | +-------------+ | | | | | Term. T2 | +-----+ | | | | |-------------| | | | | <-+--->| RTP Stream |---| * | | | | | | | | | | | | | +-------------+ +-----+ | | | +-------------------------------------------------+ | | | | +-------------------------------------------------+ | | |Context C2 | | | | +-------------+ +-------------+ | | | | | Term. T1 | +-----+ | Term. T3 | | | | | |-------------| | | |-------------| | | <-+--->| SCN Bearer |---| * |------| SCN Bearer |<---+-> | | | Channel | | | | Channel | | | | | +-------------+ +-----+ +-------------+ | | | +-------------------------------------------------+ | +------------------------------------------------------+ Figure 3. Example Call Waiting Scenario / Answer by T16.1 Contexts
A Context is an association between a number of Terminations. The Context describes the topology (who hears/sees whom) and the media mixing and/or switching parameters if more than two Terminations are involved in the association. There is a special Context called the null Context. It contains Terminations that are not associated to any other Termination. Terminations in the null Context can have their parameters examined or modified, and may have events detected on them. In general, an Add command is used to add Terminations to Contexts. If the MGC does not specify an existing Context to which the Termination is to be added, the MG creates a new Context. A Termination may be removed from a Context with a Subtract command, and a Termination may be moved from one Context to another with a Move command. A Termination SHALL exist in only one Context at a time.
The maximum number of Terminations in a Context is a MG property. Media gateways that offer only point-to-point connectivity might allow at most two Terminations per Context. Media gateways that support multipoint conferences might allow three or more Terminations per Context.6.1.1 Context attributes and descriptors
The attributes of Contexts are: - ContextID. - The topology (who hears/sees whom). The topology of a Context describes the flow of media between the Terminations within a Context. In contrast, the mode of a Termination (send/receive/...) describes the flow of the media at the ingress/egress of the media gateway. - The priority is used for a Context in order to provide the MG with information about a certain precedence handling for a Context. The MGC can also use the priority to control autonomously the traffic precedence in the MG in a smooth way in certain situations (e.g., restart), when a lot of Contexts must be handled simultaneously. Priority 0 is the lowest priority and a priority of 15 is the highest priority. - An indicator for an emergency call is also provided to allow a preference handling in the MG.6.1.2 Creating, deleting and modifying Contexts
The protocol can be used to (implicitly) create Contexts and modify the parameter values of existing Contexts. The protocol has commands to add Terminations to Contexts, subtract them from Contexts, and to move Terminations between Contexts. Contexts are deleted implicitly when the last remaining Termination is subtracted or moved out.6.2 Terminations
A Termination is a logical entity on a MG that sources and/or sinks media and/or control streams. A Termination is described by a number of characterizing Properties, which are grouped in a set of Descriptors that are included in commands. Terminations have unique identities (TerminationIDs), assigned by the MG at the time of their creation.
Terminations representing physical entities have a semi-permanent existence. For example, a Termination representing a TDM channel might exist for as long as it is provisioned in the gateway. Terminations representing ephemeral information flows, such as RTP flows, would usually exist only for the duration of their use. Ephemeral Terminations are created by means of an Add command. They are destroyed by means of a Subtract command. In contrast, when a physical Termination is Added to or Subtracted from a Context, it is taken from or to the null Context, respectively. Terminations may have signals applied to them (see 7.1.11). Terminations may be programmed to detect Events, the occurrence of which can trigger notification messages to the MGC, or action by the MG. Statistics may be accumulated on a Termination. Statistics are reported to the MGC upon request (by means of the AuditValue command, see 7.2.5) and when the Termination is taken out of the call it is in. Multimedia gateways may process multiplexed media streams. For example, Recommendation H.221 describes a frame structure for multiple media streams multiplexed on a number of digital 64 kbit/s channels. Such a case is handled in the connection model in the following way. For every bearer channel that carries part of the multiplexed streams, there is a physical or ephemeral "bearer Termination". The bearer Terminations that source/sink the digital channels are connected to a separate Termination called the "multiplexing Termination". The multiplexing termination is an ephemeral termination representing a frame-oriented session. The MultiplexDescriptor for this Termination describes the multiplex used (e.g., H.221 for an H.320 session) and indicates the order in which the contained digital channels are assembled into a frame. Multiplexing terminations may be cascades (e.g., H.226 multiplex of digital channels feeding into a H.223 multiplex supporting an H.324 session). The individual media streams carried in the session are described by StreamDescriptors on the multiplexing Termination. These media streams can be associated with streams sourced/sunk by Terminations in the Context other than the bearer Terminations supporting the multiplexing Termination. Each bearer Termination supports only a single data stream. These data streams do not appear explicitly as streams on the multiplexing Termination and they are hidden from the rest of the context. Figures 4, 5, 6, and 6a illustrate typical applications of the multiplexing termination and Multiplex Descriptor.
+-----------------------------------+ | Context +-------+ | +----+ | | | Circuit 1 -|--| TC1|---------+ Tmux | | | +----+ (Str 1) | | Audio +-----+ | | | +-----*-----+ |----- | +----+ | H.22x | Stream 1 | | Circuit 2 -|--| TC2|---------+ multi-| | TR1 | | +----+ (Str 1) | plex | |(RTP)| | | | | Video | | | +----+ | +-----*-----+ |----- Circuit 3 -|--| TC3|---------+ | Stream 2 | | / +----+ (Str 1) | | +-----+ / | +-------+ | / +-----------------\-----------------+ Audio, video, and control \ signals are carried in frames Tmux is an ephemeral with two spanning the circuits. explicit Stream Descriptors and a Multiplex Descriptor. Figure 4: Multiplexed Termination Scenario - Circuit to Packet (Asterisks * denote the centre of the context) Context +--------------------------------------+ | +-------+ +-------+ | +----+ | | | | +----+ Circuit 1 ----| TC1|---+ Tmux1 | Audio | Tmux2 +---| TC4|--- +----+ | +---*----+ | +----+ | | | Str 1 | | | +----+ | H.22x | | H.22x | +----+ Circuit 2 ----| TC2|---+ multi-| | multi-+---| TC5|--- +----+ | plex | | plex | +----+ | | | Video | | | +----+ | +---*----+ | +----+ Circuit 3 ----| TC3|---+ | Str 2 | +---| TC6|--- +----+ | | | | +----+ | +-------+ +-------+ | +-----------------\-----/--------------+ \ / Tmux1 and Tmux2 are ephemerals each with two explicit Stream Descriptors and a Multiplex Descriptor. Figure 5: Multiplexed Termination Scenario - Circuit to Circuit (Asterisks * denote the centre of the context)
+-----------------------------------+ | Context +-------+ | +----+ | | | Circuit 1 -|--| TC1|---------+ Tmux | | | +----+ (Str 1) | | Audio +-----+ | | | +-----*-----+ TR1 |----- | +----+ | H.22x | Stream 1 |(RTP)| Circuit 2 -|--| TC2|---------+ multi-| +-----+ | +----+ (Str 1) | plex | | | | | | Video +-----+ | +----+ | +-----*-----+ TR2 |----- Circuit 3 -|--| TC3|---------+ | Stream 2 |(RTP)| / +----+ (Str 1) | | +-----+ / | +-------+ | / +-----------------\-----------------+ Audio, video, and control \ Tmux is an ephemeral with two signals are carried in frames explicit Stream Descriptors and spanning the circuits. and a Multiplex Descriptor. Figure 6: Multiplexed Termination Scenario - Single to Multiple Terminations (Asterisks * denote the centre of the context) Context +---------------------------------------------+ | +-------+ +-------+ | Cct 1 +----+ | | | | Audio +-----+ ----| TC1|---+ Tmux1 | | Tmux2 +-----*-----| TR1 |----- +----+ | | | | Stream 1 |(RTP)| | | | Data | | +-----+ Cct 2 +----+ | H.226 +-------+ H.223 | | ----| TC2|---+ multi-|(Str 1)| multi-| Control +-----+ +----+ | plex | | plex +-----*-----+ Tctl|----- | | | | | Stream 3 +-----+ Cct 3 +----+ | | | | | ----| TC3|---+ | | | +-----+ +----+ | | | +-----*-----+ TR2 |----- | +-------+ | | Video |(RTP)| | +-------+ Stream 2 +-----+ | | +---------------------------------------------+ Tmux1 has a Multiplex Descriptor and a single data stream. Tmux2 has a Multiplex Descriptor with a single bearer and three explicit Stream Descriptors. Figure 6a: Multiplexed Termination Scenario - Cascaded Multiplexes (Asterisks * denote the centre of the context) Note: this figure does not appear in Rec. H.248.1
Terminations may be created which represent multiplexed bearers, such as an ATM AAL Type 2 bearer. When a new multiplexed bearer is to be created, an ephemeral Termination is created in a Context established for this purpose. When the Termination is subtracted, the multiplexed bearer is destroyed.6.2.1 Termination dynamics
The protocol can be used to create new Terminations and to modify property values of existing Terminations. These modifications include the possibility of adding or removing events and/or signals. The Termination properties, and events and signals are described in the ensuing subclauses. An MGC can only release/modify Terminations and the resources that the Termination represents which it has previously seized via, e.g., the Add command.6.2.2 TerminationIDs
Terminations are referenced by a TerminationID, which is an arbitrary schema chosen by the MG. TerminationIDs of physical Terminations are provisioned in the Media Gateway. The TerminationIDs may be chosen to have structure. For instance, a TerminationID may consist of trunk group and a trunk within the group. A wildcarding mechanism using two types of wildcards can be used with TerminationIDs. The two wildcards are ALL and CHOOSE. The former is used to address multiple Terminations at once, while the latter is used to indicate to a media gateway that it must select a Termination satisfying the partially specified TerminationID. This allows, for instance, that a MGC instructs a MG to choose a circuit within a trunk group. When ALL is used in the TerminationID of a command, the effect is identical to repeating the command with each of the matching TerminationIDs. The use of ALL does not address the ROOT termination. Since each of these commands may generate a response, the size of the entire response may be large. If individual responses are not required, a wildcard response may be requested. In such a case, a single response is generated, which contains the UNION of all of the individual responses which otherwise would have been generated, with duplicate values suppressed. For instance, given a Termination Ta with properties p1=a, p2=b and Termination Tb with
properties p2=c, p3=d, a UNION response would consist of a wildcarded TerminationId and the sequence of properties p1=a, p2=b,c and p3=d. Wildcard response may be particularly useful in the Audit commands. The encoding of the wildcarding mechanism is detailed in Annexes A and B.6.2.3 Packages
Different types of gateways may implement Terminations that have widely differing characteristics. Variations in Terminations are accommodated in the protocol by allowing Terminations to have optional Properties, Events, Signals and Statistics implemented by MGs. In order to achieve MG/MGC interoperability, such options are grouped into Packages, and typically a Termination realizes a set of such Packages. More information on definition of packages can be found in clause 12. An MGC can audit a Termination to determine which Packages it realizes. Properties, Events, Signals and Statistics defined in Packages, as well as parameters to them, are referenced by identifiers (Ids). Identifiers are scoped. For each package, PropertyIds, EventIds, SignalIds, StatisticsIds and ParameterIds have unique name spaces and the same identifier may be used in each of them. Two PropertyIds in different packages may also have the same identifier, etc. To support a particular package the MG must support all properties, signals, events and statistics defined in a package. It must also support all Signal and Event parameters. The MG may support a subset of the values listed in a package for a particular Property or Parameter. When packages are extended, the properties, events, signals and statistics defined in the base package can be referred to using either the extended package name or the base package name. For example, if Package A defines event e1, and Package B extends Package A, then B/e1 is an event for a termination implementing Package B. By definition, the MG MUST also implement the base Package, but it is optional to publish the base package as an allowed interface. If it does publish A, then A would be reported on the Package Descriptor in AuditValue as well as B, and event A/e1 would be available on a termination. If the MG does not publish A, then only B/e1 would be available. If published through AuditValue, A/e1 and B/e1 are the same event.
For improved interoperability and backward compatibility, an MG MAY publish all Packages supported by its Terminations, including base Packages from which extended Packages are derived. An exception to this is in cases where the base packages are expressly "Designed to be extended only".6.2.4 Termination properties and descriptors
Terminations have properties. The properties have unique PropertyIDs. Most properties have default values, which are explicitly defined in this protocol specification or in a package (see clause 12) or set by provisioning. If not provisioned otherwise, the properties in all descriptors except TerminationState and LocalControl default to empty/"no value" when a Termination is first created or returned to the null Context. The default contents of the two exceptions are described in 7.1.5 and 7.1.7. The provisioning of a property value in the MG will override any default value, be it supplied in this protocol specification or in a package. Therefore if it is essential for the MGC to have full control over the property values of a Termination, it should supply explicit values when ADDing the Termination to a Context. Alternatively, for a physical Termination the MGC can determine any provisioned property values by auditing the Termination while it is in the NULL Context. There are a number of common properties for Terminations and properties specific to media streams. The common properties are also called the Termination state properties. For each media stream, there are local properties and properties of the received and transmitted flows. Properties not included in the base protocol are defined in Packages. These properties are referred to by a name consisting of the PackageName and a PropertyId. Most properties have default values described in the Package description. Properties may be read-only or read/write. The possible values of a property may be audited, as can their current values. For properties that are read/write, the MGC can set their values. A property may be declared as "Global" which has a single value shared by all Terminations realizing the package. Related properties are grouped into descriptors for convenience. When a Termination is added to a Context, the value of its read/write properties can be set by including the appropriate descriptors as parameters to the Add command. Similarly, a property of a Termination in a Context may have its value changed by the Modify command.
Properties may also have their values changed when a Termination is
moved from one Context to another as a result of a Move command. In
some cases, descriptors are returned as output from a command.
In general, if a Descriptor is completely omitted from one of the
aforementioned Commands, the properties in that Descriptor retain
their prior values for the Termination(s) upon which the Command
acts. On the other hand, if some read/write properties are omitted
from a Descriptor in a Command (i.e., the Descriptor is only
partially specified), those properties will be reset to their default
values for the Termination(s) upon which the Command acts, unless the
package specifies other behavior. For more details, see clause 7.1
dealing with the individual Descriptors.
The following table lists all of the possible descriptors and their
use. Not all descriptors are legal as input or output parameters to
every command.
Descriptor name Description
Modem Identifies modem type and properties when
applicable
Mux Describes multiplex type for multimedia
Terminations (e.g., H.221, H.223, H.225.0) and
Terminations forming the input mux
Media A list of media stream specifications (see 7.1.4)
TerminationState Properties of a Termination (which can be defined
in Packages) that are not stream specific
Stream A list of remote/local/localControl descriptors for
a single stream
Local Contains properties that specify the media flows
that the MG receives from the remote entity.
Remote Contains properties that specify the media flows
that the MG sends to the remote entity.
LocalControl Contains properties (which can be defined in
packages) that are of interest between the MG and
the MGC.
Events Describes events to be detected by the MG and what
to do when an event is detected.
EventBuffer Describes events to be detected by the MG when
Event Buffering is active.
Signals Describes signals (see 7.1.11) applied to
Terminations.
Audit In Audit commands, identifies which information is
desired.
Packages In AuditValue, returns a list of Packages realized
by Termination.
DigitMap Defines patterns against which sequences of a
specified set of events are to be matched so they
can be reported as a group rather than singly.
ServiceChange In ServiceChange, what, why service change
occurred, etc.
ObservedEvents In Notify or AuditValue, report of events observed.
Statistics In Subtract and Audit, report of Statistics kept on
a Termination.
Topology Specifies flow directions between Terminations in a
Context.
Error Contains an error code and optionally error text;
it may occur in command replies and in Notify
requests.
6.2.5 Root Termination
Occasionally, a command must refer to the entire gateway, rather than
a Termination within it. A special TerminationID, "Root" is reserved
for this purpose. Packages may be defined on Root. Root thus may
have properties, events and statistics (signals are not appropriate
for root). Accordingly, the root TerminationID may appear in:
- a Modify command - to change a property or set an event
- a Notify command - to report an event
- an AuditValue return - to examine the values of properties and
statistics implemented on root
- an AuditCapability - to determine what properties of root are
implemented
- a ServiceChange - to declare the gateway in or out of service. Any other use of the root TerminationID is an error. Error code 410 - Incorrect identifier shall be returned in these cases.
(page 26 continued on part 2)
