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Network Working Group F. Cuervo
Request for Comments: 2885 N. Greene
Category: Standards Track Nortel Networks
C. Huitema
Microsoft Corporation
A. Rayhan
Nortel Networks
B. Rosen
Marconi
J. Segers
Lucent Technologies
August 2000
Megaco Protocol version 0.8
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 (2000). All Rights Reserved.
Abstract
This document is common text with Recommendation H.248 as
redetermined in Geneva, February 2000. It must be read in
conjunction with the Megaco Errata, RFC 2886. A merged document
presenting the Megaco protocol with the Errata incorporated will be
available shortly.
The protocol presented in this document meets the requirements for a
media gateway control protocol as presented in RFC 2805.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. SCOPE..........................................................6
2. REFERENCES.....................................................6
2.1 Normative references..........................................6
2.2 Informative references........................................8
3. DEFINITIONS....................................................9
4. ABBREVIATIONS.................................................10
5. CONVENTIONS...................................................11
6. CONNECTION MODEL..............................................11
6.1 Contexts.....................................................14
6.1.1 Context Attributes and Descriptors....................15
6.1.2 Creating, Deleting and Modifying Contexts.............15
6.2 Terminations.................................................15
6.2.1 Termination Dynamics..................................16
6.2.2 TerminationIDs........................................17
6.2.3 Packages..............................................17
6.2.4 Termination Properties and Descriptors................18
6.2.5 Root Termination......................................20
7. COMMANDS......................................................20
7.1 Descriptors..................................................21
7.1.1 Specifying Parameters.................................21
7.1.2 Modem Descriptor......................................22
7.1.3 Multiplex Descriptor..................................22
7.1.4 Media Descriptor......................................23
7.1.5 Termination State Descriptor..........................23
7.1.6 Stream Descriptor.....................................24
7.1.7 LocalControl Descriptor...............................24
7.1.8 Local and Remote Descriptors..........................25
7.1.9 Events Descriptor.....................................28
7.1.10 EventBuffer Descriptor...............................31
7.1.11 Signals Descriptor...................................31
7.1.12 Audit Descriptor.....................................32
7.1.13 ServiceChange Descriptor.............................33
7.1.14 DigitMap Descriptor..................................33
7.1.15 Statistics Descriptor................................38
7.1.16 Packages Descriptor..................................39
7.1.17 ObservedEvents Descriptor............................39
7.1.18 Topology Descriptor.................................39
7.2 Command Application Programming Interface....................42
7.2.1 Add...................................................43
7.2.2 Modify................................................44
7.2.3 Subtract..............................................45
7.2.4 Move..................................................46
7.2.5 AuditValue............................................47
7.2.6 AuditCapabilities.....................................48
7.2.7 Notify................................................49
7.2.8 ServiceChange.........................................50
7.2.9 Manipulating and Auditing Context Attributes..........54
7.2.10 Generic Command Syntax...............................54
7.3 Command Error Codes..........................................55
8. TRANSACTIONS..................................................56
8.1 Common Parameters............................................58
8.1.1 Transaction Identifiers...............................58
8.1.2 Context Identifiers...................................58
8.2 Transaction Application Programming Interface................58
8.2.1 TransactionRequest....................................59
8.2.2 TransactionReply......................................59
8.2.3 TransactionPending....................................60
8.3 Messages.....................................................61
9. TRANSPORT.....................................................61
9.1 Ordering of Commands.........................................62
9.2 Protection against Restart Avalanche.........................63
10. SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS......................................64
10.1 Protection of Protocol Connections..........................64
10.2 Interim AH scheme...........................................65
10.3 Protection of Media Connections.............................66
11. MG-MGC CONTROL INTERFACE....................................66
11.1 Multiple Virtual MGs........................................67
11.2 Cold Start..................................................68
11.3 Negotiation of Protocol Version.............................68
11.4 Failure of an MG............................................69
11.5 Failure of an MGC...........................................69
12. PACKAGE DEFINITION...........................................70
12.1 Guidelines for defining packages............................71
12.1.1 Package..............................................71
12.1.2 Properties...........................................72
12.1.3 Events...............................................72
12.1.4 Signals..............................................73
12.1.5 Statistics...........................................73
12.1.6 Procedures...........................................73
12.2 Guidelines to defining Properties, Statistics and Parameters
to Events and Signals.......................................73
12.3 Lists.......................................................74
12.4 Identifiers.................................................74
12.5 Package Registration........................................74
13. IANA CONSIDERATIONS.........................................74
13.1 Packages....................................................74
13.2 Error Codes.................................................75
13.3 ServiceChange Reasons.......................................76
ANNEX A: BINARY ENCODING OF THE PROTOCOL (NORMATIVE).............77
A.1 Coding of wildcards..........................................77
A.2 ASN.1 syntax specification...................................78
A.3 Digit maps and path names....................................94
ANNEX B TEXT ENCODING OF THE PROTOCOL (NORMATIVE)................95
B.1 Coding of wildcards..........................................95
B.2 ABNF specification...........................................95
ANNEX C TAGS FOR MEDIA STREAM PROPERTIES (NORMATIVE)............107
C.1 General Media Attributes....................................107
C.2 Mux Properties..............................................108
C.3 General bearer properties...................................109
C.4 General ATM properties......................................109
C.5 Frame Relay.................................................112
C.6 IP..........................................................113
C.7 ATM AAL2....................................................113
C.8 ATM AAL1....................................................114
C.9 Bearer Capabilities.........................................116
C.10 AAL5 Properties............................................123
C.11 SDP Equivalents............................................124
C.12 H.245......................................................124
ANNEX D TRANSPORT OVER IP (NORMATIVE)...........................125
D.1 Transport over IP/UDP using Application Level Framing.......125
D.1.1 Providing At-Most-Once Functionality.................125
D.1.2 Transaction identifiers and three-way handshake......126
D.1.2.1 Transaction identifiers....................126
D.1.2.2 Three-way handshake........................126
D.1.3 Computing retransmission timers......................127
D.1.4 Provisional responses................................128
D.1.5 Repeating Requests, Responses and Acknowledgements...128
D.2 using TCP..................................................130
D.2.1 Providing the At-Most-Once functionality..........130
D.2.2 Transaction identifiers and three way handshake...130
D.2.3 Computing retransmission timers...................131
D.2.4 Provisional responses.............................131
D.2.5 Ordering of commands..............................131
ANNEX E BASIC PACKAGES..........................................131
E.1 Generic.....................................................131
E.1.1 Properties...........................................132
E.1.2 Events...............................................132
E.1.3 Signals..............................................133
E.1.4 Statistics...........................................133
E.2 Base Root Package...........................................133
E.2.1 Properties...........................................134
E.2.2 Events...............................................135
E.2.3 Signals..............................................135
E.2.4 Statistics...........................................135
E.2.5 Procedures...........................................135
E.3 Tone Generator Package......................................135
E.3.1 Properties...........................................135
E.3.2 Events...............................................136
E.3.3 Signals..............................................136
E.3.4 Statistics...........................................136
E.3.5 Procedures...........................................136
E.4 Tone Detection Package......................................137
E.4.1 Properties...........................................137
E.4.2 Events...............................................137
E.4.3 Signals..............................................139
E.4.4 Statistics...........................................139
E.4.5 Procedures...........................................139
E.5 Basic DTMF Generator Package................................140
E.5.1 Properties...........................................140
E.5.2 Events...............................................140
E.5.3 Signals..............................................140
E.5.4 Statistics...........................................141
E.5.5 Procedures...........................................141
E.6 DTMF detection Package......................................141
E.6.1 Properties...........................................142
E.6.2 Events...............................................142
E.6.3 Signals..............................................143
E.6.4 Statistics...........................................143
E.6.5 Procedures...........................................143
E.7 Call Progress Tones Generator Package.......................143
E.7.1 Properties...........................................144
E.7.2 Events...............................................144
E.7.3 Signals..............................................144
E.7.4 Statistics...........................................145
E.7.5 Procedures...........................................145
E.8 Call Progress Tones Detection Package.......................145
E.8.1 Properties...........................................145
E.8.2 Events...............................................145
E.8.3 Signals..............................................145
E.8.4 Statistics...........................................145
E.8.5 Procedures...........................................146
E.9 Analog Line Supervision Package.............................146
E.9.1 Properties...........................................146
E.9.2 Events...............................................146
E.9.3 Signals..............................................147
E.9.4 Statistics...........................................148
E.9.5 Procedures...........................................148
E.10 Basic Continuity Package...................................148
E.10.1 Properties..........................................148
E.10.2 Events..............................................148
E.10.3 Signals.............................................149
E.10.4 Statistics..........................................150
E.10.5 Procedures..........................................150
E.11 Network Package............................................150
E.11.1 Properties..........................................150
E.11.2 Events..............................................151
E.11.3 Signals.............................................152
E.11.4 Statistics..........................................152
E.11.5 Procedures..........................................153
E.12 RTP Package...............................................153
E.12.1 Properties..........................................153
E.12.2 Events..............................................153
E.12.3 Signals.............................................153
E.12.4 Statistics..........................................153
E.12.5 Procedures..........................................154
E.13 TDM Circuit Package........................................154
E.13.1 Properties..........................................155
E.13.2 Events..............................................155
E.13.3 Signals.............................................155
E.13.4 Statistics..........................................156
E.13.5 Procedures..........................................156
APPENDIX A EXAMPLE CALL FLOWS (INFORMATIVE).....................157
A.1 Residential Gateway to Residential Gateway Call.............157
A.1.1 Programming Residential GW Analog Line Terminations for
Idle Behavior..............................................157
A.1.2 Collecting Originator Digits and Initiating Termination
...........................................................159
Authors' Addresses..............................................168
Full Copyright Statement........................................170
1. SCOPE
This document defines the protocol 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 H.246. This
recommendation does not define how gateways, multipoint control units
or integrated 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 SCN signalling systems,
including tone signalling, ISDN, ISUP, QSIG, and GSM. National
variants of these signalling systems will be supported where
applicable.
The protocol definition in this document is common text with ITU-T
Recommendation H.248. It meets the requirements documented in RFC
2805.
2. REFERENCES
2.1 Normative references
ITU-T Recommendation H.225.0 (1998): "Call Signalling Protocols and
Media Stream Packetization for Packet Based Multimedia Communications
Systems".
ITU-T Recommendation H.235 (02/98): "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.323 (1998): "Packet Based Multimedia
Communication Systems".
ITU-T Recommendation I.363.1 (08/96), "B-ISDN ATM Adaptation Layer
specification: Type 1 AAL".
ITU-T Recommendation I.363.2 (09/97), "B-ISDN ATM Adaptation Layer
specification: Type 2 AAL".
ITU-T Recommendation I.363.5 (08/96), "B-ISDN ATM Adaptation Layer
specification: Type 5 AAL".
ITU-T Recommendation I.366.1 (06/98), "Segmentation and Reassembly
Service Specific Convergence Sublayer for the AAL type 2".
ITU-T Recommendation I.366.2 (02/99), "AAL type 2 service specific
convergence sublayer for trunking".
ITU-T Recommendation I.371 (08/96), "Traffic control and congestion
control in B-ISDN".
ITU-T Recommendation Q.763 (09/97), "Signalling System No. 7 - ISDN
user part formats and codes".
ITU-T Recommendation Q.765, "Signalling System No. 7 - Application
transport mechanism".
ITU-T Recommendation Q.931 (05/98): "Digital Subscriber Signalling
System No. 1 (DSS 1) - 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 (10/95), "Broadband Integrated Services
Digital Network (B-ISDN) - Digital Subscriber Signalling System No.
2 (DSS 2) - User-Network Interface (UNI) - Layer 3 specification for
basic call/connection control".
ITU-T Recommendation Q.2941.1 (09/97), "Digital Subscriber Signalling
System No. 2 - Generic Identifier Transport".
ITU-T Recommendation Q.2961 (10/95), "Broadband integrated services
digital network (B-ISDN) - Digital subscriber signalling system no.2
(DSS 2) - additional traffic parameters".
ITU-T Recommendation Q.2961.2 (06/97), "Digital subscriber signalling
system No. 2 - Additional traffic parameters: Support of ATM transfer
capability in the broadband bearer capability information element."
ITU-T Recommendation X.213 (11/1995), "Information technology - Open
System Interconnection - Network service definition plus Amendment 1
(08/1997), Addition of the Internet protocol address format
identifier".
ITU-T Recommendation V.76 (08/96), "Generic multiplexer using V.42
LAPM-based procedures".
ITU-T Recommendation X.680 (1997): "Information technology-Abstract
Syntax Notation One (ASN.1): Specification of basic notation".
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".
Rose, M. and D. Cass, "ISO Transport Service on top of the TCP,
Version 3", RFC 1006, May 1987.
Crocker, D. and P. Overell, "Augmented BNF for Syntax Specifications:
ABNF", RFC 2234, November 1997.
Handley, M. and V. Jacobson, "SDP: Session Description Protocol",
RFC 2327, April 1998.
Kent, S. and R. Atkinson, "IP Authentication Header", RFC 2402,
November 1998.
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 (05/99),"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 Q.724 (1988): "Signalling procedures".
Postel, J., "User Datagram Protocol", STD 6, RFC 768, August 1980.
Postel, J., "Internet protocol", STD 5, RFC 791, September 1981.
Postel, J., "TRANSMISSION CONTROL PROTOCOL", STD 7, RFC 793,
September 1981.
Simpson, W., "The Point-to-Point Protocol", STD 51, RFC 1661, July
1994.
Schulzrinne, H., Casner, S., Frederick, R. and V. Jacobson, "RTP: A
Transport Protocol for Real-Time Applications", RFC 1889, January
1996.
Schulzrinne, H., "RTP Profile for Audio and Video Conferences with
Minimal Control", RFC 1890, January 1996.
Kent, S. and R. Atkinson, "Security Architecture for the Internet
Protocol", RFC 2401, November 1998.
Deering, S. and R. Hinden, "Internet Protocol, Version 6 (IPv6)
Specification", RFC 2460, December 1998.
Handley, M., Schulzrinne, H., Schooler, E. and J. Rosenberg, "SIP:
Session Initiation Protocol", RFC 2543, March 1999.
Greene, N., Ramalho, M. and B. Rosen, "Media Gateway control protocol
architecture and requirements", RFC 2805, April 1999.
3. DEFINITIONS
Access Gateway: A type of gateway that provides a User to 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 performs 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 recommendation defines the following terms.
ATM Asynchronous Transfer Mode
BRI Basic Rate Interface
CAS Channel Associated Signalling
DTMF Dual Tone Multi-Frequency
FAS Facility Associated Signalling
GW GateWay
IANA Internet Assigned Numbers Authority
IP Internet Protocol
ISUP ISDN User Part
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 this 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.
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.
+------------------------------------------------------+
|Media Gateway |
| +-------------------------------------------------+ |
| |Context +-------------+ | |
| | | Termination | | |
| | |-------------| | |
| | +-------------+ +->| SCN Bearer |<---+->
| | | Termination | +-----+ | | Channel | | |
| | |-------------| | |---+ +-------------+ | |
<-+--->| RTP Stream |---| * | | |
| | | | | |---+ +-------------+ | |
| | +-------------+ +-----+ | | Termination | | |
| | | |-------------| | |
| | +->| SCN Bearer |<---+->
| | | Channel | | |
| | +-------------+ | |
| +-------------------------------------------------+ |
| |
| |
| +------------------------------+ |
| |Context | |
| +-------------+ | +-------------+ | |
| | Termination | | +-----+ | Termination | | |
| |-------------| | | | |-------------| | |
<-+->| SCN Bearer | | | * |------| SCN Bearer |<---+->
| | Channel | | | | | Channel | | |
| +-------------+ | +-----+ +-------------+ | |
| +------------------------------+ |
| |
| |
| +-------------------------------------------------+ |
| |Context | |
| | +-------------+ +-------------+ | |
| | | Termination | +-----+ | Termination | | |
| | |-------------| | | |-------------| | |
<-+--->| SCN Bearer |---| * |------| SCN Bearer |<---+->
| | | Channel | | | | Channel | | |
| | +-------------+ +-----+ +-------------+ | |
| +-------------------------------------------------+ |
| ___________________________________________________ |
+------------------------------------------------------+
Figure 1: Example of H.248 Connection Model
Figure 1 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.
The example below 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 below.
+------------------------------------------------------+
|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 T1
6.1 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.
. 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. Signals are MG
generated media streams such as tones and announcements as well as
line signals such as hookswitch. 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 section 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 Termination. The Terminations that
source/sink the digital channels are connected to a separate
Termination called the multiplexing Termination. This Termination
describes the multiplex used (e.g. how the H.221 frames are carried
over the digital channels used). The MuxDescriptor is used to this
end. If multiple media are carried, this Termination contains
multiple StreamDescriptors. The media streams can be associated with
streams sourced/sunk by other Terminations in the Context.
Terminations may be created which represent multiplexed bearers, such
as an ATM AAL2. 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 sections. 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. 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.
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 a Termination realizes a set of such Packages.
More information on definition of packages can be found in section
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.
6.2.4 Termination Properties and Descriptors
Terminations have properties. The properties have unique
PropertyIDs. Most properties have default values. When a
Termination is created, properties get their default values, unless
the controller specifically sets a different value. The default
value of a property of a physical Termination can be changed by
setting it to a different value when the Termination is in the null
Context. Every time such a Termination returns to the null Context,
the values of its properties are reset to this default value.
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. Properties not mentioned in the
command retain their prior values. Similarly, a property of a
Termination in a Context may have its value changed by the Modify
command. Properties not mentioned in the Modify command retain their
prior values. 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.
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 and/or actions to be
applied (e.g. Busy Tone) to the
Terminations.
Audit In Audit commands, identifies which
information is desired.
Packages In AuditValue, returns a list of Packages
realized by Termination.
DigitMap Instructions for handling DTMF tones at
the MG.
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.
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 and events (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
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.
7. COMMANDS
The protocol provides commands for manipulating the logical entities
of the protocol connection model, Contexts and Terminations.
Commands provide control at the finest level of granularity supported
by the protocol. For example, Commands exist to add Terminations to
a Context, modify Terminations, subtract Terminations from a Context,
and audit properties of Contexts or Terminations. Commands provide
for complete control of the properties of Contexts and Terminations.
This includes specifying which events a Termination is to report,
which signals/actions are to be applied to a Termination and
specifying the topology of a Context (who hears/sees whom).
Most commands are for the specific use of the Media Gateway
Controller as command initiator in controlling Media Gateways as
command responders. The exceptions are the Notify and ServiceChange
commands: Notify is sent from Media Gateway to Media Gateway
Controller, and ServiceChange may be sent by either entity. Below is
an overview of the commands; they are explained in more detail in
section 7.2.
1. Add. The Add command adds a termination to a context. The Add
command on the first Termination in a Context is used to create a
Context.
2. Modify. The Modify command modifies the properties, events and
signals of a termination.
3. Subtract. The Subtract command disconnects a Termination from its
Context and returns statistics on the Termination's participation
in the Context. The Subtract command on the last Termination in a
Context deletes the Context.
4. Move. The Move command atomically moves a Termination to another
context.
5. AuditValue. The AuditValue command returns the current state of
properties, events, signals and statistics of Terminations.
6. AuditCapabilities. The AuditCapabilities command returns all the
possible values for Termination properties, events and signals
allowed by the Media Gateway.
7. Notify. The Notify command allows the Media Gateway to inform the
Media Gateway Controller of the occurrence of events in the Media
Gateway.
8. ServiceChange. The ServiceChange Command allows the Media Gateway
to notify the Media Gateway Controller that a Termination or group
of Terminations is about to be taken out of service or has just
been returned to service. ServiceChange is also used by the MG
to announce its availability to an MGC (registration), and to
notify the MGC of impending or completed restart of the MG. The
MGC may announce a handover to the MG by sending it a
ServiceChange command. The MGC may also use ServiceChange to
instruct the MG to take a Termination or group of Terminations in
or out of service.
These commands are detailed in sections 7.2.1 through 7.2.8
7.1 Descriptors
The parameters to a command are termed Descriptors. A Descriptor
consists of a name and a list of items. Some items may have values.
Many Commands share common Descriptors. This subsection enumerates
these Descriptors. Descriptors may be returned as output from a
command. Parameters and parameter usage specific to a given Command
type are described in the subsection that describes the Command.
7.1.1 Specifying Parameters
Command parameters are structured into a number of descriptors. In
general, the text format of descriptors is
DescriptorName=<someID>{parm=value, parm=value_.}.
Parameters may be fully specified, over-specified or under-specified:
1. Fully specified parameters have a single, unambiguous value that
the command initiator is instructing the command responder to use
for the specified parameter.
2. Under-specified parameters, using the CHOOSE value, allow the
command responder to choose any value it can support.
3. Over-specified parameters have a list of potential values. The
list order specifies the command initiator's order of preference
of selection. The command responder chooses one value from the
offered list and returns that value to the command initiator.
Unspecified mandatory parameters (i.e. mandatory parameters not
specified in a descriptor) result in the command responder retaining
the previous value for that parameter. Unspecified optional
parameters result in the command responder using the default value of
the parameter. Whenever a parameter is underspecified or
overspecified, the descriptor containing the value chosen by the
responder is included as output from the command.
Each command specifies the TerminationId the command operates on.
This TerminationId may be "wildcarded". When the TerminationId of a
command is wildcarded, the effect shall be as if the command was
repeated with each of the TerminationIds matched.
7.1.2 Modem Descriptor
The Modem descriptor specifies the modem type and parameters, if any,
required for use in e.g. H.324 and text conversation. The descriptor
includes the following modem types: V.18, V.22, V.22bis, V.32,
V.32bis, V.34, V.90, V.91, Synchronous ISDN, and allows for
extensions. By default, no modem descriptor is present in a
Termination.
7.1.3 Multiplex Descriptor
In multimedia calls, a number of media streams are carried on a
(possibly different) number of bearers. The multiplex descriptor
associates the media and the bearers. The descriptor includes the
multiplex type:
. H.221
. H.223,
. H.226,
. V.76,
. Possible Extensions
and a set of TerminationIDs representing the multiplexed inputs, in
order. For example:
Mux = H.221{ MyT3/1/2, MyT3/2/13, MyT3/3/6, MyT3/21/22}
7.1.4 Media Descriptor
The Media Descriptor specifies the parameters for all the media
streams. These parameters are structured into two descriptors, a
Termination State Descriptor, which specifies the properties of a
termination that are not stream dependent, and one or more Stream
Descriptors each of which describes a single media stream.
A stream is identified by a StreamID. The StreamID is used to link
the streams in a Context that belong together. Multiple streams
exiting a termination shall be synchronized with each other. Within
the Stream Descriptor, there are up to three subsidiary descriptors,
LocalControl, Local, and Remote. The relationship between these
descriptors is thus:
Media Descriptor
TerminationStateDescriptor
Stream Descriptor
LocalControl Descriptor
Local Descriptor
Remote Descriptor
As a convenience a LocalControl, Local, or Remote descriptor may be
included in the Media Descriptor without an enclosing Stream
descriptor. In this case, the StreamID is assumed to be 1.
7.1.5 Termination State Descriptor
The Termination State Descriptor contains the ServiceStates property,
the EventBufferControl property and properties of a termination
(defined in Packages) that are not stream specific.
The ServiceStates property describes the overall state of the
termination (not stream-specific). A Termination can be in one of
the following states: "test", "out of service", or "in service". The
"test" state indicates that the termination is being tested. The
state "out of service" indicates that the termination cannot be used
for traffic. The state "in service" indicates that a termination can
be used or is being used for normal traffic. "in service" is the
default state.
Values assigned to Properties may be simple values
(integer/string/enumeration) or may be underspecified, where more
than one value is supplied and the MG may make a choice:
. Alternative Values: multiple values in a list, one of which must
be selected
. Ranges: minimum and maximum values, any value between min and max
must be selected, boundary values included
. Greater Than/Less Than: value must be greater/less than specified
value
. CHOOSE Wildcard: the MG chooses from the allowed values for the
property
The EventBufferControl property specifies whether events are
buffered following detection of an event in the Events Descriptor, or
processed immediately. See section 7.1.9 for details.
7.1.6 Stream Descriptor
A Stream descriptor specifies the parameters of a single bi-
directional stream. These parameters are structured into three
descriptors: one that contains termination properties specific to a
stream and one each for local and remote flows. The Stream Descriptor
includes a StreamID which identifies the stream. Streams are created
by specifying a new StreamID on one of the terminations in a Context.
A stream is deleted by setting empty Local and Remote descriptors for
the stream with ReserveGroup and ReserveValue in LocalControl set to
"false" on all terminations in the context that previously supported
that stream.
StreamIDs are of local significance between MGC and MG and they are
assigned by the MGC. Within a context, StreamID is a means by which
to indicate which media flows are interconnected: streams with the
same StreamID are connected.
If a termination is moved from one context to another, the effect on
the context to which the termination is moved is the same as in the
case that a new termination were added with the same StreamIDs as the
moved termination.
7.1.7 LocalControl Descriptor
The LocalControl Descriptor contains the Mode property, the
ReserveGroup and ReserveValue properties and properties of a
termination (defined in Packages) that are stream specific, and are
of interest between the MG and the MGC. Values of properties may be
underspecified as in section 7.1.1.
The allowed values for the mode property are send-only, receive-only,
send/receive, inactive and loop-back. "Send" and "receive" are with
respect to the exterior of the context, so that, for example, a
stream set to mode=sendonly does not pass received media into the
context. Signals and Events are not affected by mode.
The boolean-valued Reserve properties, ReserveValue and ReserveGroup,
of a Termination indicate what the MG is expected to do when it
receives a local and/or remote descriptor.
If the value of a Reserve property is True, the MG SHALL reserve
resources for all alternatives specified in the local and/or remote
descriptors for which it currently has resources available. It SHALL
respond with the alternatives for which it reserves resources. If it
cannot not support any of the alternatives, it SHALL respond with a
reply to the MGC that contains empty local and/or remote descriptors.
If the value of a Reserve property is False, the MG SHALL choose one
of the alternatives specified in the local descriptor (if present)
and one of the alternatives specified in the remote descriptor (if
present). If the MG has not yet reserved resources to support the
selected alternative, it SHALL reserve the resources. If, on the
other hand, it already reserved resources for the Termination
addressed (because of a prior exchange with ReserveValue and/or
ReserveGroup equal to True), it SHALL release any excess resources it
reserved previously. Finally, the MG shall send a reply to the MGC
containing the alternatives for the local and/or remote descriptor
that it selected. If the MG does not have sufficient resources to
support any of the alternatives specified, is SHALL respond with
error 510 (insufficient resources).
The default value of ReserveValue and ReserveGroup is False.
A new setting of the LocalControl Descriptor completely replaces the
previous setting of that descriptor in the MG. Thus to retain
information from the previous setting the MGC must include that
information in the new setting. If the MGC wishes to delete some
information from the existing descriptor, it merely resends the
descriptor (in a Modify command) with the unwanted information
stripped out.
7.1.8 Local and Remote Descriptors
The MGC uses Local and Remote descriptors to reserve and commit MG
resources for media decoding and encoding for the given Stream(s) and
Termination to which they apply. The MG includes these descriptors
in its response to indicate what it is actually prepared to support.
The MG SHALL include additional properties and their values in its
response if these properties are mandatory yet not present in the
requests made by the MGC (e.g., by specifying detailed video encoding
parameters where the MGC only specified the payload type).
Local refers to the media received by the MG and Remote refers to the
media sent by the MG.
When text encoding the protocol, the descriptors consist of session
descriptions as defined in SDP (RFC2327). In session descriptions
sent from the MGC to the MG, the following exceptions to the syntax
of RFC 2327 are allowed:
. the "s=", "t=" and "o=" lines are optional,
. the use of CHOOSE is allowed in place of a single parameter
value, and
. the use of alternatives is allowed in place of a single parameter
value.
When multiple session descriptions are provided in one descriptor,
the "v=" lines are required as delimiters; otherwise they are
optional in session descriptions sent to the MG. Implementations
shall accept session descriptions that are fully conformant to
RFC2327. When binary encoding the protocol the descriptor consists of
groups of properties (tag-value pairs) as specified in Annex C. Each
such group may contain the parameters of a session description.
Below, the semantics of the local and remote descriptors are
specified in detail. The specification consists of two parts. The
first part specifies the interpretation of the contents of the
descriptor. The second part specifies the actions the MG must take
upon receiving the local and remote descriptors. The actions to be
taken by the MG depend on the values of the ReserveValue and
ReserveGroup properties of the LocalControl descriptor.
Either the local or the remote descriptor or both may be
. unspecified (i.e., absent),
. empty,
. underspecified through use of CHOOSE in a property value,
. fully specified, or
. overspecified through presentation of multiple groups of
properties and possibly multiple property values in one or more
of these groups.
Where the descriptors have been passed from the MGC to the MG, they
are interpreted according to the rules given in section 7.1.1, with
the following additional comments for clarification:
(a) An unspecified Local or Remote descriptor is considered to be a
missing mandatory parameter. It requires the MG to use whatever was
last specified for that descriptor. It is possible that there was no
previously-specified value, in which case the descriptor concerned is
ignored in further processing of the command.
(b) An empty Local (Remote) descriptor in a message from the MGC
signifies a request to release any resources reserved for the media
flow received (sent).
(c) If multiple groups of properties are present in a Local or Remote
descriptor or multiple values within a group, the order of preference
is descending.
(d) Underspecified or overspecified properties within a group of
properties sent by the MGC are requests for the MG to choose one or
more values which it can support for each of those properties. In
case of an overspecified property, the list of values is in
descending order of preference.
Subject to the above rules, subsequent action depends on the values
of the ReserveValue and ReserveGroup properties in LocalControl.
If ReserveGroup is true, the MG reserves the resources required to
support any of the requested property group alternatives that it can
currently support. If ReserveValue is true, the MG reserves the
resources required to support any of the requested property value
alternatives that it can currently support.
NOTE - If a Local or Remote descriptor contains multiple groups of
properties, and ReserveGroup is true, then the MG is requested to
reserve resources so that it can decode or encode the media stream
according to any of the alternatives. For instance, if the Local
descriptor contains two groups of properties, one specifying
packetized G.711 A-law audio and the other G.723.1 audio, the MG
reserves resources so that it can decode one audio stream encoded in
either G.711 A-law format or G.723.1 format. The MG does not have to
reserve resources to decode two audio streams simultaneously, one
encoded in G.711 A-law and one in G.723.1. The intention for the use
of ReserveValue is analogous.
If ReserveGroup is true or ReserveValue is true, then the following
rules apply.
. If the MG has insufficient resources to support all alternatives
requested by the MGC and the MGC requested resources in both
Local and Remote, the MG should reserve resources to support at
least one alternative each within Local and Remote.
. If the MG has insufficient resources to support at least one
alternative within a Local (Remote) descriptor received from
the MGC, it shall return an empty Local (Remote) in response.
. In its response to the MGC, when the MGC included Local and
Remote descriptors, the MG SHALL include Local and Remote
descriptors for all groups of properties and property values it
reserved resources for. If the MG is incapable of supporting at
least one of the alternatives within the Local (Remote)
descriptor received from the MGC, it SHALL return an empty Local
(Remote) descriptor.
. If the Mode property of the LocalControl descriptor is RecvOnly
or SendRecv, the MG must be prepared to receive media encoded
according to any of the alternatives included in its response to
the MGC.
. If ReserveGroup is False and ReserveValue is false, then the MG
SHOULD apply the following rules to resolve Local and Remote to a
single alternative each:
. The MG chooses the first alternative in Local for which it is
able to support at least one alternative in Remote.
. If the MG is unable to support at least one Local and one Remote
alternative, it returns Error 510 (Insufficient Resources).
. The MG returns its selected alternative in each of Local and
Remote.
A new setting of a Local or Remote Descriptor completely replaces the
previous setting of that descriptor in the MG. Thus to retain
information from the previous setting the MGC must include that
information in the new setting. If the MGC wishes to delete some
information from the existing descriptor, it merely resends the
descriptor (in a Modify command) with the unwanted information
stripped out.
7.1.9 Events Descriptor
The EventsDescriptor parameter contains a RequestIdentifier and a
list of events that the Media Gateway is requested to detect and
report. The RequestIdentifier is used to correlate the request with
the notifications that it may trigger. Requested events include, for
example, fax tones, continuity test results, and on-hook and off-hook
transitions.
Each event in the descriptor contains the Event name, an optional
streamID, an optional KeepActive flag, and optional parameters. The
Event name consists of a Package Name (where the event is defined)
and an EventID. The ALL wildcard may be used for the EventID,
indicating that all events from the specified package have to be
detected. The default streamID is 0, indicating that the event to be
detected is not related to a particular media stream. Events can
have parameters. This allows a single event description to have some
variation in meaning without creating large numbers of individual
events. Further event parameters are defined in the package.
The default action of the MG, when it detects an event in the Events
Descriptor, is to send a Notify command to the MG. Any other action
is for further study.
If the value of the EventBufferControl property equals LockStep,
following detection of such an event, normal handling of events is
suspended. Any event which is subsequently detected and occurs in the
EventBuffer Descriptor is added to the end of the EventBuffer (a FIFO
queue), along with the time that it was detected. The MG SHALL wait
for a new EventsDescriptor to be loaded. A new EventsDescriptor can
be loaded either as the result of receiving a command with a new
EventsDescriptor, or by activating an embedded EventsDescriptor.
If EventBufferControl equals Off, the MG continues processing based
on the active EventsDescriptor.
In the case that an embedded EventsDescriptor being activated, the MG
continues event processing based on the newly activated
EventsDescriptor (Note - for purposes of EventBuffer handling,
activation of an embedded EventsDescriptor is equivalent to receipt
of a new EventsDescriptor).
When the MG receives a command with a new EventsDescriptor, one or
more events may have been buffered in the EventBuffer in the MG. The
value of EventBufferControl then determines how the MG treats such
buffered events.
Case 1
If EventBufferControl = LockStep and the MG receives a new
EventsDescriptor it will check the FIFO EventBuffer and take the
following actions:
1. If the EventBuffer is empty, the MG waits for detection of events
based on the new EventsDescriptor.
2. If the EventBuffer is non-empty, the MG processes the FIFO queue
starting with the first event:
a) If the event in the queue is in the events listed in the new
EventsDescriptor, the default action of the MG is to send a
Notify command to the MGC and remove the event from the
EventBuffer. Any other action is for further study. The time
stamp of the Notify shall be the time the event was actually
detected. The MG then waits for a new EventsDescriptor. While
waiting for a new EventsDescriptor, any events matching the
EventsBufferDescriptor will be placed in the EventBuffer and
the event processing will repeat from step 1.
b) If the event is not in the new EventsDescriptor, the MG
SHALL discard the event and repeat from step 1.
Case 2
If EventBufferControl equals Off and the MG receives a new
EventsDescriptor, it processes new events with the new
EventsDescriptor.
If the MG receives a command instructing it to set the value of
EventBufferControl to Off, all events in the EventBuffer SHALL be
discarded.
The MG may report several events in a single Transaction as long as
this does not unnecessarily delay the reporting of individual events.
For procedures regarding transmitting the Notify command, refer to
the appropriate annex for specific transport considerations.
The default value of EventBufferControl is Off.
Note - Since the EventBufferControl property is in the
TerminationStateDescriptor, the MG might receive a command that
changes the EventBufferControl property and does not include an
EventsDescriptor.
Normally, detection of an event shall cause any active signals to
stop. When KeepActive is specified in the event, the MG shall not
interrupt any signals active on the Termination on which the event is
detected.
An event can include an Embedded Signals descriptor and/or an
Embedded Events Descriptor which, if present, replaces the current
Signals/Events descriptor when the event is detected. It is
possible, for example, to specify that the dial-tone Signal be
generated when an off-hook Event is detected, or that the dial-tone
Signal be stopped when a digit is detected. A media gateway
controller shall not send EventsDescriptors with an event both marked
KeepActive and containing an embedded SignalsDescriptor.
Only one level of embedding is permitted. An embedded
EventsDescriptor SHALL NOT contain another embedded EventsDescriptor;
an embedded EventsDescriptor may contain an embedded
SignalsDescriptor.
An EventsDescriptor received by a media gateway replaces any previous
Events Descriptor. Event notification in process shall complete, and
events detected after the command containing the new EventsDescriptor
executes, shall be processed according to the new EventsDescriptor.
7.1.10 EventBuffer Descriptor
The EventBuffer Descriptor contains a list of events, with their
parameters if any, that the MG is requested to detect and buffer when
EventBufferControl equals LockStep (see 7.1.9).
7.1.11 Signals Descriptor
A SignalsDescriptor is a parameter that contains the set of signals
that the Media Gateway is asked to apply to a Termination. A
SignalsDescriptor contains a number of signals and/or sequential
signal lists. A SignalsDescriptor may contain zero signals and
sequential signal lists. Support of sequential signal lists is
optional.
Signals are defined in packages. Signals shall be named with a
Package name (in which the signal is defined) and a SignalID. No
wildcard shall be used in the SignalID. Signals that occur in a
SignalsDescriptor have an optional StreamID parameter (default is 0,
to indicate that the signal is not related to a particular media
stream), an optional signal type (see below), an optional duration
and possibly parameters defined in the package that defines the
signal. This allows a single signal to have some variation in
meaning, obviating the need to create large numbers of individual
signals. Finally, the optional parameter "notifyCompletion" allows a
MGC to indicate that it wishes to be notified when the signal
finishes playout. When the MGC enables the signal completion event
(see section E.1.2) in an Events Descriptor, that event is detected
whenever a signal terminates and "notifyCompletion" for that signal
is set to TRUE. The signal completion event of section E.1.2 has a
parameter that indicates how the signal terminated: it played to
completion, it was interrupted by an event, it was halted because a
new SignalsDescriptor arrived, or the signal did not complete for
some other reason.
The duration is an integer value that is expressed in hundredths of a
second.
There are three types of signals:
. on/off - the signal lasts until it is turned off,
. timeout - the signal lasts until it is turned off or a specific
period of time elapses,
. brief - the signal duration is so short that it will stop on its
own unless a new signal is applied that causes it to stop; no
timeout value is needed.
If the signal type is specified in a SignalsDescriptor, it overrides
the default signal type (see Section 12.1.4). If duration is
specified for an on/off signal, it SHALL be ignored.
A sequential signal list consists of a signal list identifier, a
sequence of signals to be played sequentially, and a signal type.
Only the trailing element of the sequence of signals in a sequential
signal list may be an on/off signal. If the trailing element of the
sequence is an on/off signal, the signal type of the sequential
signal list shall be on/off as well. If the sequence of signals in a
sequential signal list contains signals of type timeout and the
trailing element is not of type on/off, the type of the sequential
signal list SHALL be set to timeout. The duration of a sequential
signal list with type timeout is the sum of the durations of the
signals it contains. If the sequence of signals in a sequential
signal list contains only signals of type brief, the type of the
sequential signal list SHALL be set to brief. A signal list is
treated as a single signal of the specified type when played out.
Multiple signals and sequential signal lists in the same
SignalsDescriptor shall be played simultaneously.
Signals are defined as proceeding from the termination towards the
exterior of the Context unless otherwise specified in a package.
When the same Signal is applied to multiple Terminations within one
Transaction, the MG should consider using the same resource to
generate these Signals.
Production of a Signal on a Termination is stopped by application of
a new SignalsDescriptor, or detection of an Event on the Termination
(see section 7.1.9).
A new SignalsDescriptor replaces any existing SignalsDescriptor. Any
signals applied to the Termination not in the replacement descriptor
shall be stopped, and new signals are applied, except as follows.
Signals present in the replacement descriptor and containing the
KeepActive flagshall be continued if they are currently playing and
have not already completed. If a replacement signal descriptor
contains a signal that is not currently playing and contains the
KeepActive flag, that signal SHALL be ignored. If the replacement
descriptor contains a sequential signal list with the same identifier
as the existing descriptor, then
. the signal type and sequence of signals in the sequential signal
list in the replacement descriptor shall be ignored, and
. the playing of the signals in the sequential signal list in the
existing descriptor shall not be interrupted.
7.1.12 Audit Descriptor
The Audit Descriptor specifies what information is to be audited.
The Audit Descriptor specifies the list of descriptors to be
returned. Audit may be used in any command to force the return of a
descriptor even if the descriptor in the command was not present, or
had no underspecified parameters. Possible items in the Audit
Descriptor are:
Modem
Mux
Events
Media
Signals
ObservedEvents
DigitMap
Statistics
Packages
EventBuffer
Audit may be empty, in which case, no descriptors are returned. This
is useful in Subtract, to inhibit return of statistics, especially
when using wildcard.
7.1.13 ServiceChange Descriptor
The ServiceChangeDescriptor contains the following parameters:
. ServiceChangeMethod
. ServiceChangeReason
. ServiceChangeAddress
. ServiceChangeDelay
. ServiceChangeProfile
. ServiceChangeVersion
. ServiceChangeMGCId
. TimeStamp
See section 7.2.8.
7.1.14 DigitMap Descriptor
A DigitMap is a dialing plan resident in the Media Gateway used for
detecting and reporting digit events received on a Termination. The
DigitMap Descriptor contains a DigitMap name and the DigitMap to be
assigned. A digit map may be preloaded into the MG by management
action and referenced by name in an EventsDescriptor, may be defined
dynamically and subsequently referenced by name, or the actual
digitmap itself may be specified in the EventsDescriptor. It is
permissible for a digit map completion event within an Events
Descriptor to refer by name to a DigitMap which is defined by a
DigitMap Descriptor within the same command, regardless of the
transmitted order of the respective descriptors.
DigitMaps defined in a DigitMapDescriptor can occur in any of the
standard Termination manipulation Commands of the protocol. A
DigitMap, once defined, can be used on all Terminations specified by
the (possibly wildcarded) TerminationID in such a command. DigitMaps
defined on the root Termination are global and can be used on every
Termination in the MG, provided that a DigitMap with the same name
has not been defined on the given Termination. When a DigitMap is
defined dynamically in a DigitMap Descriptor:
. A new DigitMap is created by specifying a name that is not yet
defined. The value shall be present.
. A DigitMap value is updated by supplying a new value for a name
that is already defined. Terminations presently using the
digitmap shall continue to use the old definition; subsequent
EventsDescriptors specifying the name, including any
EventsDescriptor in the command containing the DigitMap
descriptor, shall use the new one.
. A DigitMap is deleted by supplying an empty value for a name that
is already defined. Terminations presently using the digitmap
shall continue to use the old definition.
The collection of digits according to a DigitMap may be protected by
three timers, viz. a start timer (T), short timer (S), and long timer
(L).
1. The start timer (T) is used prior to any digits having been
dialed.
2. If the Media Gateway can determine that at least one more digit is
needed for a digit string to match any of the allowed patterns in
the digit map, then the interdigit timer value should be set to a
long (L) duration (e.g. 16 seconds).
3. If the digit string has matched one of the patterns in a digit
map, but it is possible that more digits could be received which
would cause a match with a different pattern, then instead of
reporting the match immediately, the MG must apply the short timer
(S) and wait for more digits.
The timers are configurable parameters to a DigitMap. The Start
timer is started at the beginning of every digit map use, but can be
overridden.
The formal syntax of the digit map is described by the DigitMap rule
in the formal syntax description of the protocol (see Annex A and
Annex B). A DigitMap, according to this syntax, is defined either by
a string or by a list of strings. Each string in the list is an
alternative event sequence, specified either as a sequence of digit
map symbols or as a regular expression of digit map symbols. These
digit map symbols, the digits "0" through "9" and letters "A" through
a maximum value depending on the signalling system concerned, but
never exceeding "K", correspond to specified events within a package
which has been designated in the Events Descriptor on the termination
to which the digit map is being applied. (The mapping between events
and digit map symbols is defined in the documentation for packages
associated with channel-associated signalling systems such as DTMF,
MF, or R2. Digits "0" through "9" MUST be mapped to the
corresponding digit events within the signalling system concerned.
Letters should be allocated in logical fashion, facilitating the use
of range notation for alternative events.)
The letter "x" is used as a wildcard, designating any event
corresponding to symbols in the range "0"-"9". The string may also
contain explicit ranges and, more generally, explicit sets of
symbols, designating alternative events any one of which satisfies
that position of the digit map. Finally, the dot symbol "." stands
for zero or more repetitions of the event selector (event, range of
events, set of alternative events, or wildcard) that precedes it. As
a consequence of the third timing rule above, inter-event timing
while matching the dot symbol uses the short timer by default.
In addition to these event symbols, the string may contain "S" and
"L" inter-event timing specifiers and the "Z" duration modifier. "S"
and "L" respectively indicate that the MG should use the short (S)
timer or the long (L) timer for subsequent events, over-riding the
timing rules described above. A timer specifier following a dot
specifies inter-event timing for all events matching the dot as well
as for subsequent events. If an explicit timing specifier is in
effect in one alternative event sequence, but none is given in any
other candidate alternative, the timer value set by the explicit
timing specifier must be used. If all sequences with explicit timing
controls are dropped from the candidate set, timing reverts to the
default rules given above. Finally, if conflicting timing specifiers
are in effect in different alternative sequences, the results are
undefined.
A "Z" designates a long duration event: placed in front of the
symbol(s) designating the event(s) which satisfy a given digit
position, it indicates that that position is satisfied only if the
duration of the event exceeds the long-duration threshold. The value
of this threshold is assumed to be provisioned in the MG.
A digit map is active while the events descriptor which invoked it is
active and it has not completed. A digit map completes when:
. a timer has expired, or
. an alternative event sequence has been matched and no other
alternative event sequence in the digit map could be matched
through detection of an additional event (unambiguous match), or
. an event has been detected such that a match to a complete
alternative event sequence of the digit map will be impossible no
matter what additional events are received.
Upon completion, a digit map completion event as defined in the
package providing the events being mapped into the digit map shall be
generated. At that point the digit map is deactivated. Subsequent
events in the package are processed as per the currently active event
processing mechanisms.
Pending completion, successive events shall be processed according to
the following rules:
1. The "current dial string", an internal variable, is initially
empty. The set of candidate alternative event sequences includes
all of the alternatives specified in the digit map.
2. At each step, a timer is set to wait for the next event, based
either on the default timing rules given above or on explicit
timing specified in one or more alternative event sequences. If
the timer expires and a member of the candidate set of
alternatives is fully satisfied, a timeout completion with full
match is reported. If the timer expires and part or none of any
candidate alternative is satisfied, a timeout completion with
partial match is reported.
3. If an event is detected before the timer expires, it is mapped to
a digit string symbol and provisionally added to the end of the
current dial string. The duration of the event (long or not long)
is noted if and only if this is relevant in the current symbol
position (because at least one of the candidate alternative event
sequences includes the "Z" modifier at this position in the
sequence).
4. The current dial string is compared to the candidate alternative
event sequences. If and only if a sequence expecting a long-
duration event at this position is matched (i.e. the event had
long duration and met the specification for this position), then
any alternative event sequences not specifying a long duration
event at this position are discarded, and the current dial string
is modified by inserting a "Z" in front of the symbol representing
the latest event. Any sequence expecting a long-duration event at
this position but not matching the observed event is discarded
from the candidate set. If alternative event sequences not
specifying a long duration event in the given position remain in
the candidate set after application of the above rules, the
observed event duration is treated as irrelevant in assessing
matches to them.
5. If exactly one candidate remains, a completion event is generated
indicating an unambiguous match. If no candidates remain, the
latest event is removed from the current dial string and a
completion event is generated indicating full match if one of the
candidates from the previous step was fully satisfied before the
latest event was detected, or partial match otherwise. The event
removed from the current dial string will then be reported as per
the currently active event processing mechanisms.
6. If no completion event is reported out of step 5 (because the
candidate set still contains more than one alternative event
sequence), processing returns to step 2.
A digit map is activated whenever a new event descriptor is applied
to the termination or embedded event descriptor is activated, and
that event descriptor contains a digit map completion event which
itself contains a digit map parameter. Each new activation of a
digit map begins at step 1 of the above procedure, with a clear
current dial string. Any previous contents of the current dial
string from an earlier activation are lost. While the digit map is
activated, detection is enabled for all events defined in the package
containing the specified digit map completion event. Normal event
behaviour (e.g. stopping of signals unless the digit completion event
has the KeepActive flag enabled) continues to apply for each such
event detected, except that the events in the package containing the
specified digit map completion event other than the completion event
itself are not individually notified.
Note that if a package contains a digit map completion event, then an
event specification consisting of the package name with a wildcarded
ItemID (Property Name) will activate a digit map if the event
includes a digit map parameter. Regardless of whether a digit map is
activated, this form of event specification will cause the individual
events to be reported to the MGC as they are detected.
As an example, consider the following dial plan:
0 Local operator
00 Long distance operator
xxxx Local extension number
(starts with 1-7)
8xxxxxxx Local number
#xxxxxxx Off-site extension
*xx Star services
91xxxxxxxxxx Long distance number
9011 + up to 15 digits International number
If the DTMF detection package described in Annex E (section E.6) is
used to collect the dialled digits, then the dialling plan shown
above results in the following digit map:
(0| 00|[1-7]xxx|8xxxxxxx|Fxxxxxxx|Exx|91xxxxxxxxxx|9011x.)
7.1.15 Statistics Descriptor
The Statistics parameter provides information describing the status
and usage of a Termination during its existence within a specific
Context. There is a set of standard statistics kept for each
termination where appropriate (number of octets sent and received for
example). The particular statistical properties that are reported
for a given Termination are determined by the Packages realized by
the Termination. By default, statistics are reported when the
Termination is Subtracted from the Context. This behavior can be
overridden by including an empty AuditDescriptor in the Subtract
command. Statistics may also be returned from the AuditValue
command, or any Add/Move/Modify command using the Audit descriptor.
Statistics are cumulative; reporting Statistics does not reset them.
Statistics are reset when a Termination is Subtracted from a Context.
7.1.16 Packages Descriptor
Used only with the AuditValue command, the PackageDescriptor returns
a list of Packages realized by the Termination.
7.1.17 ObservedEvents Descriptor
ObservedEvents is supplied with the Notify command to inform the MGC
of which event(s) were detected. Used with the AuditValue command,
the ObservedEventsDescriptor returns events in the event buffer which
have not been Notified. ObservedEvents contains the RequestIdentifier
of the EventsDescriptor that triggered the notification, the event(s)
detected and the detection time(s). Detection times are reported
with a precision of hundredths of a second. Time is expressed in
UTC.
7.1.18 Topology Descriptor
A topology descriptor is used to specify flow directions between
terminations in a Context. Contrary to the descriptors in previous
sections, the topology descriptor applies to a Context instead of a
Termination. The default topology of a Context is that each
termination's transmission is received by all other terminations.
The Topology Descriptor is optional to implement.
The Topology Descriptor occurs before the commands in an action. It
is possible to have an action containing only a Topology Descriptor,
provided that the context to which the action applies already exists.
A topology descriptor consists of a sequence of triples of the form
(T1, T2, association). T1 and T2 specify Terminations within the
Context, possibly using the ALL or CHOOSE wildcard. The association
specifies how media flows between these two Terminations as follows.
. (T1, T2, isolate) means that the Terminations matching T2 do not
receive media from the Terminations matching T1, nor vice versa.
. (T1, T2, oneway) means that the Terminations that match T2
receive media from the Terminations matching T1, but not vice
versa. In this case use of the ALL wildcard such that there are
Terminations that match both T1 and T2 is not allowed.
. (T1, T2, bothway) means that the Terminations matching T2 receive
media from the Terminations matching T1, and vice versa. In this
case it is allowed to use wildcards such that there are
Terminations that match both T1 and T2. However, if there is a
Termination that matches both, no loopback is introduced;
loopbacks are created by setting the TerminationMode. CHOOSE
wildcards may be used in T1 and T2 as well, under the following
restrictions:
. the action (see section 8) of which the topology descriptor is
part contains an Add command in which a CHOOSE wildcard is used;
. if a CHOOSE wildcard occurs in T1 or T2, then a partial name
SHALL NOT be specified.
The CHOOSE wildcard in a topology descriptor matches the
TerminationID that the MG assigns in the first Add command that uses
a CHOOSE wildcard in the same action. An existing Termination that
matches T1 or T2 in the Context to which a Termination is added, is
connected to the newly added Termination as specified by the topology
descriptor. The default association when a termination is not
mentioned in the Topology descriptor is bothway (if T3 is added to a
context with T1 and T2 with topology (T3,T1,oneway) it will be
connected bothway to T2).
The figure below and the table following it show some examples of the
effect of including topology descriptors in actions. In these
examples it is assumed that the topology descriptors are applied in
sequence.
Context 1 Context 2 Context 3
+------------------+ +------------------+ +------------------+
| +----+ | | +----+ | | +----+ |
| | T2 | | | | T2 | | | | T2 | |
| +----+ | | +----+ | | +----+ |
| ^ ^ | | ^ | | ^ |
| | | | | | | | | |
| +--+ +--+ | | +---+ | | +--+ |
| | | | | | | | | |
| v v | | v | | | |
| +----+ +----+ | | +----+ +----+ | | +----+ +----+ |
| | T1 |<-->| T3 | | | | T1 |<-->| T3 | | | | T1 |<-->| T3 | |
| +----+ +----+ | | +----+ +----+ | | +----+ +----+ |
+------------------+ +------------------+ +------------------+
1. No Topology Desc. 2. T1, T2 Isolate 3. T3, T2 oneway
Context 1 Context 2 Context 3
+------------------+ +------------------+ +------------------+
| +----+ | | +----+ | | +----+ |
| | T2 | | | | T2 | | | | T2 | |
| +----+ | | +----+ | | +----+ |
| | | | ^ | | ^ ^ |
| | | | | | | | | |
| +--+ | | +---+ | | +--+ +--+ |
| | | | | | | | | |
| v | | v | | v v |
| +----+ +----+ | | +----+ +----+ | | +----+ +----+ |
| | T1 |<-->| T3 | | | | T1 |<-->| T3 | | | | T1 |<-->| T3 | |
| +----+ +----+ | | +----+ +----+ | | +----+ +----+ |
+------------------+ +------------------+ +------------------+
4. T2, T3 oneway 5. T2, T3 bothway 6. T1, T2 bothway
Figure 4: A Sequence Of Example Topologies
Topology Description
1 No topology descriptors
When no topology descriptors are included, all
terminations have a both way connection to all
other terminations.
2 T1, T2, Isolate
Removes the connection between T1 and T2.
T3 has a both way connection with both T1 and
T2. T1 and T2 have bothway connection to T3.
3 T3, T2, oneway
A oneway connection from T3 to T2 (i.e. T2
receives media flow from T3). A bothway
connection between T1 and T3.
4 T2, T3, oneway
A oneway connection between T2 to T3.
T1 and T3 remain bothway connected
5 T2, T3 bothway
T2 is bothway connected to T3. This results in
the same as 2.
6 T1, T2 bothway (T2, T3 bothway
and T1,T3 bothway may be implied
or explicit).
All terminations have a bothway connection to
all other terminations.
A oneway connection must implemented in such a way that the other
Terminations in the Context are not aware of the change in topology.
7.2 Command Application Programming Interface
Following is an Application Programming Interface (API) describing
the Commands of the protocol. This API is shown to illustrate the
Commands and their parameters and is not intended to specify
implementation (e.g. via use of blocking function calls). It
describes the input parameters in parentheses after the command name
and the return values in front of the Command. This is only for
descriptive purposes; the actual Command syntax and encoding are
specified in later subsections. All parameters enclosed by square
brackets ([. . . ]) are considered optional.
7.2.1 Add
The Add Command adds a Termination to a Context.
TerminationID
[,MediaDescriptor]
[,ModemDescriptor]
[,MuxDescriptor]
[,EventsDescriptor]
[,SignalsDescriptor]
[,DigitMapDescriptor]
[,ObservedEventsDescriptor]
[,EventBufferDescriptor]
[,StatisticsDescriptor]
[,PackagesDescriptor]
Add( TerminationID
[, MediaDescriptor]
[, ModemDescriptor]
[, MuxDescriptor]
[, EventsDescriptor]
[, SignalsDescriptor]
[, DigitMapDescriptor]
[, AuditDescriptor]
)
The TerminationID specifies the termination to be added to the
Context. The Termination is either created, or taken from the null
Context. For an existing Termination, the TerminationID would be
specific. For a Termination that does not yet exist, the
TerminationID is specified as CHOOSE in the command. The new
TerminationID will be returned. Wildcards may be used in an Add, but
such usage would be unusual. If the wildcard matches more than one
TerminationID, all possible matches are attempted, with results
reported for each one. The order of attempts when multiple
TerminationIDs match is not specified.
The optional MediaDescriptor describes all media streams.
The optional ModemDescriptor and MuxDescriptor specify a modem and
multiplexer if applicable. For convenience, if a Multiplex Descriptor
is present in an Add command and lists any Terminations that are not
currently in the Context, such Terminations are added to the context
as if individual Add commands listing the Terminations were invoked.
If an error occurs on such an implied Add, error 471 - Implied Add
for Multiplex failure shall be returned and further processing of the
command shall cease.
The EventsDescriptor parameter is optional. If present, it provides
the list of events that should be detected on the Termination.
The SignalsDescriptor parameter is optional. If present, it provides
the list of signals that should be applied to the Termination.
The DigitMapDescriptor parameter is optional. If present, defines a
DigitMap definition that may be used in an EventsDescriptor.
The AuditDescriptor is optional. If present, the command will return
descriptors as specified in the AuditDescriptor.
All descriptors that can be modified could be returned by MG if a
parameter was underspecified or overspecified. ObservedEvents,
Statistics, and Packages, and the EventBuffer Descriptors are
returned only if requested in the AuditDescriptor. Add SHALL NOT be
used on a Termination with a serviceState of "OutofService".
7.2.2 Modify
The Modify Command modifies the properties of a Termination.
TerminationID
[,MediaDescriptor]
[,ModemDescriptor]
[,MuxDescriptor]
[,EventsDescriptor]
[,SignalsDescriptor]
[,DigitMapDescriptor]
[,ObservedEventsDescriptor]
[,EventBufferDescriptor]
[,StatisticsDescriptor]
[,PackagesDescriptor]
Modify( TerminationID
[, MediaDescriptor]
[, ModemDescriptor]
[, MuxDescriptor]
[, EventsDescriptor]
[, SignalsDescriptor]
[, DigitMapDescriptor]
[, AuditDescriptor]
)
The TerminationID may be specific if a single Termination in the
Context is to be modified. Use of wildcards in the TerminationID may
be appropriate for some operations. If the wildcard matches more than
one TerminationID, all possible matches are attempted, with results
reported for each one. The order of attempts when multiple
TerminationIDs match is not specified. The CHOOSE option is an error,
as the Modify command may only be used on existing Terminations.
The remaining parameters to Modify are the same as those to Add.
Possible return values are the same as those to Add.
7.2.3 Subtract
The Subtract Command disconnects a Termination from its Context and
returns statistics on the Termination's participation in the Context.
TerminationID
[,MediaDescriptor]
[,ModemDescriptor]
[,MuxDescriptor]
[,EventsDescriptor]
[,SignalsDescriptor]
[,DigitMapDescriptor]
[,ObservedEventsDescriptor]
[,EventBufferDescriptor]
[,StatisticsDescriptor]
[,PackagesDescriptor]
Subtract(TerminationID
[, AuditDescriptor]
)
TerminationID in the input parameters represents the Termination that
is being subtracted. The TerminationID may be specific or may be a
wildcard value indicating that all (or a set of related) Terminations
in the Context of the Subtract Command are to be subtracted. If the
wildcard matches more than one TerminationID, all possible matches
are attempted, with results reported for each one. The order of
attempts when multiple TerminationIDs match is not specified. The
CHOOSE option is an error, as the Subtract command may only be used
on existing Terminations. ALL may be used as the ContextID as well
as the TerminationId in a Subtract, which would have the effect of
deleting all contexts, deleting all ephemeral terminations, and
returning all physical terminations to Null context.
By default, the Statistics parameter is returned to report
information collected on the Termination or Terminations specified in
the Command. The information reported applies to the Termination's
or Terminations' existence in the Context from which it or they are
being subtracted.
The AuditDescriptor is optional. If present, the command will return
descriptors as specified in the AuditDescriptor. Possible return
values are the same as those to Add.
When a provisioned Termination is Subtracted from a context, its
property values shall revert to:
. the default value, if specified for the property and not
overridden by provisioning,
. otherwise, the provisioned value.
7.2.4 Move
The Move Command moves a Termination to another Context from its
current Context in one atomic operation. The Move command is the
only command that refers to a Termination in a Context different from
that to which the command is applied. The Move command shall not be
used to move Terminations to or from the null Context.
TerminationID
[,MediaDescriptor]
[,ModemDescriptor]
[,MuxDescriptor]
[,EventsDescriptor]
[,SignalsDescriptor]
[,DigitMapDescriptor]
[,ObservedEventsDescriptor]
[,EventBufferDescriptor]
[,StatisticsDescriptor]
[,PackagesDescriptor]
Move( TerminationID
[, MediaDescriptor]
[, ModemDescriptor]
[, MuxDescriptor]
[, EventsDescriptor]
[, SignalsDescriptor]
[, DigitMapDescriptor]
[, AuditDescriptor]
)
The TerminationID specifies the Termination to be moved. It may be
wildcarded. If the wildcard matches more than one TerminationID, all
possible matches are attempted, with results reported for each one.
The order of attempts when multiple TerminationIDs match is not
specified. By convention, the Termination is subtracted from its
previous Context. The Context to which the Termination is moved is
indicated by the target ContextId in the Action. If the last
remaining Termination is moved out of a Context, the Context is
deleted.
The remaining descriptors are processed as in the Modify Command.
The AuditDescriptor with the Statistics option, for example, would
return statistics on the Termination just prior to the Move.
Possible descriptors returned from Move are the same as for Add.
Move SHALL NOT be used on a Termination with a serviceState of
"OutofService".
7.2.5 AuditValue
The AuditValue Command returns the current values of properties,
events, signals and statistics associated with Terminations.
TerminationID
[,MediaDescriptor]
[,ModemDescriptor]
[,MuxDescriptor]
[,EventsDescriptor]
[,SignalsDescriptor]
[,DigitMapDescriptor]
[,ObservedEventsDescriptor]
[,EventBufferDescriptor]
[,StatisticsDescriptor]
[,PackagesDescriptor]
AuditValue(TerminationID,
AuditDescriptor
)
TerminationID may be specific or wildcarded. If the wildcard matches
more than one TerminationID, all possible matches are attempted, with
results reported for each one. The order of attempts when multiple
TerminationIDs match is not specified. If a wildcarded response is
requested, only one command return is generated, with the contents
containing the union of the values of all Terminations matching the
wildcard. This convention may reduce the volume of data required to
audit a group of Terminations. Use of CHOOSE is an error.
The appropriate descriptors, with the current values for the
Termination, are returned from AuditValue. Values appearing in
multiple instances of a descriptor are defined to be alternate values
supported, with each parameter in a descriptor considered
independent.
ObservedEvents returns a list of events in the EventBuffer,
PackagesDescriptor returns a list of packages realized by the
Termination. DigitMapDescriptor returns the name or value of the
current DigitMap for the Termination. DigitMap requested in an
AuditValue command with TerminationID ALL returns all DigitMaps in
the gateway. Statistics returns the current values of all statistics
being kept on the Termination. Specifying an empty Audit Descriptor
results in only the TerminationID being returned. This may be useful
to get a list of TerminationIDs when used with wildcard.
AuditValue results depend on the Context, viz. specific, null, or
wildcarded. The TerminationID may be specific, or wildcarded. The
following illustrates other information that can be obtained with the
Audit Command:
ContextID TerminationID Information Obtained
Specific wildcard Audit of matching
Terminations in a Context
Specific specific Audit of a single
Termination in a Context
Null Root Audit of Media Gateway state
and events
Null wildcard Audit of all matching
Terminations in the Null
Context
Null specific Audit of a single
Termination outside of any
Context
All wildcard Audit of all matching
Terminations and the Context
to which they are associated
All Root List of all ContextIds
7.2.6 AuditCapabilities
The AuditCapabilities Command returns the possible values of
properties, events, signals and statistics associated with
Terminations.
TerminationID
[,MediaDescriptor]
[,ModemDescriptor]
[,MuxDescriptor]
[,EventsDescriptor]
[,SignalsDescriptor]
[,ObservedEventsDescriptor]
[,EventBufferDescriptor]
[,StatisticsDescriptor]
AuditCapabilities(TerminationID,
AuditDescriptor
)
The appropriate descriptors, with the possible values for the
Termination are returned from AuditCapabilities. Descriptors may be
repeated where there are multiple possible values. If a wildcarded
response is requested, only one command return is generated, with the
contents containing the union of the values of all Terminations
matching the wildcard. This convention may reduce the volume of data
required to audit a group of Terminations.
Interpretation of what capabilities are requested for various values
of ContextID and TerminationID is the same as in AuditValue.
The EventsDescriptor returns the list of possible events on the
Termination together with the list of all possible values for the
EventsDescriptor Parameters. The SignalsDescriptor returns the list
of possible signals that could be applied to the Termination together
with the list of all possible values for the Signals Parameters.
StatisticsDescriptor returns the names of the statistics being kept
on the termination. ObservedEventsDescriptor returns the names of
active events on the termination. DigitMap and Packages are not
legal in AuditCapability.
7.2.7 Notify
The Notify Command allows the Media Gateway to notify the Media
Gateway Controller of events occurring within the Media Gateway.
Notify(TerminationID,
ObservedEventsDescriptor,
[ErrorDescriptor]
)
The TerminationID parameter specifies the Termination issuing the
Notify Command. The TerminationID shall be a fully qualified name.
The ObservedEventsDescriptor contains the RequestID and a list of
events that the Media Gateway detected in the order that they were
detected. Each event in the list is accompanied by parameters
associated with the event and an indication of the time that the
event was detected. Procedures for sending Notify commands with
RequestID equal to 0 are for further study.
Notify Commands with RequestID not equal to 0 shall occur only as the
result of detection of an event specified by an Events Descriptor
which is active on the termination concerned.
The RequestID returns the RequestID parameter of the EventsDescriptor
that triggered the Notify Command. It is used to correlate the
notification with the request that triggered it. The events in the
list must have been requested via the triggering EventsDescriptor or
embedded events descriptor unless the RequestID is 0 (which is for
further study).
7.2.8 ServiceChange
The ServiceChange Command allows the Media Gateway to notify the
Media Gateway Controller that a Termination or group of Terminations
is about to be taken out of service or has just been returned to
service. The Media Gateway Controller may indicate that
Termination(s) shall be taken out of or returned to service. The
Media Gateway may notify the MGC that the capability of a Termination
has changed. It also allows a MGC to hand over control of a MG to
another MGC.
TerminationID,
[ServiceChangeDescriptor]
ServiceChange(TerminationID,
ServiceChangeDescriptor
)
The TerminationID parameter specifies the Termination(s) that are
taken out of or returned to service. Wildcarding of Termination
names is permitted, with the exception that the CHOOSE mechanism
shall not be used. Use of the "Root" TerminationID indicates a
ServiceChange affecting the entire Media Gateway.
The ServiceChangeDescriptor contains the following parameters as
required:
. ServiceChangeMethod
. ServiceChangeReason
. ServiceChangeDelay
. ServiceChangeAddress
. ServiceChangeProfile
. ServiceChangeVersion
. ServiceChangeMgcId
. TimeStamp
The ServiceChangeMethod parameter specifies the type of ServiceChange
that will or has occurred:
1) Graceful - indicates that the specified Terminations will be taken
out of service after the specified ServiceChangeDelay; established
connections are not yet affected, but the Media Gateway Controller
should refrain from establishing new connections and should
attempt to gracefully tear down existing connections. The MG
should set termination serviceState at the expiry of
ServiceChangeDelay or the removal of the termination from an
active context (whichever is first), to "out of service".
2) Forced - indicates that the specified Terminations were taken
abruptly out of service and any established connections associated
with them were lost. The MGC is responsible for cleaning up the
context (if any) with which the failed termination is associated.
At a minimum the termination shall be subtracted from the context.
The termination serviceState should be "out of service".
3) Restart - indicates that service will be restored on the specified
Terminations after expiration of the ServiceChangeDelay. The
serviceState should be set to "inService" upon expiry of
ServiceChangeDelay.
4) Disconnected - always applied with the Root TerminationID,
indicates that the MG lost communication with the MGC, but it was
subsequently restored. Since MG state may have changed, the MGC
may wish to use the Audit command to resynchronize its state with
the MG's.
5) Handoff - sent from the MGC to the MG, this reason indicates that
the MGC is going out of service and a new MGC association must be
established. Sent from the MG to the MGC, this indicates that the
MG is attempting to establish a new association in accordance with
a Handoff received from the MGC with which it was previously
associated.
6) Failover - sent from MG to MGC to indicate the primary MG is out
of service and a secondary MG is taking over.
7) Another value whose meaning is mutually understood between the MG
and the MGC.
The ServiceChangeReason parameter specifies the reason why the
ServiceChange has or will occur. It consists of an alphanumeric
token (IANA registered) and an explanatory string.
The optional ServiceChangeAddress parameter specifies the address
(e.g., IP port number for IP networks) to be used for subsequent
communications. It can be specified in the input parameter
descriptor or the returned result descriptor. ServiceChangeAddress
and ServiceChangeMgcId parameters must not both be present in the
ServiceChangeDescriptor or the ServiceChangeResultDescriptor. The
serviceChangeAddress provides an address to be used within the
context of the association currently being negotiated, while the
ServiceChangeMgcId provides an alternate address where the MG should
seek to establish another association.
The optional ServiceChangeDelay parameter is expressed in seconds.
If the delay is absent or set to zero, the delay value should be
considered to be null. In the case of a "graceful"
ServiceChangeMethod, a null delay indicates that the Media Gateway
Controller should wait for the natural removal of existing
connections and should not establish new connections. . For
"graceful" only, a null delay means the MG must not set serviceState
"out of service" until the termination is in the null context.
The optional ServiceChangeProfile parameter specifies the Profile (if
any) of the protocol supported. The ServiceChangeProfile includes
the version of the profile supported.
The optional ServiceChangeVersion parameter contains the protocol
version and is used if protocol version negotiation occurs (see
section 11.3).
The optional TimeStamp parameter specifies the actual time as kept by
the sender. It can be used by the responder to determine how its
notion of time differs from that of its correspondent. TimeStamp is
sent with a precision of hundredths of a second, and is expressed in
UTC.
The optional Extension parameter may contain any value whose meaning
is mutually understood by the MG and MGC.
A ServiceChange Command specifying the "Root" for the TerminationID
and ServiceChangeMethod equal to Restart is a registration command by
which a Media Gateway announces its existence to the Media Gateway
Controller. The Media Gateway is expected to be provisioned with the
name of one primary and optionally some number of alternate Media
Gateway Controllers. Acknowledgement of the ServiceChange Command
completes the registration process. The MG may specify the transport
ServiceChangeAddress to be used by the MGC for sending messages in
the ServiceChangeAddress parameter in the input
ServiceChangeDescriptor. The MG may specify an address in the
ServiceChangeAddress parameter of the ServiceChange request, and the
MGC may also do so in the ServiceChange reply. In either case, the
recipient must use the supplied address as the destination for all
subsequent transaction requests within the association. At the same
time, as indicated in section 9, transaction replies and pending
indications must be sent to the address from which the corresponding
requests originated. This must be done even if it implies extra
messaging because commands and responses cannot be packed together.
The TimeStamp parameter shall be sent with a registration command and
its response.
The Media Gateway Controller may return an ServiceChangeMgcId
parameter that describes the Media Gateway Controller that should
preferably be contacted for further service by the Media Gateway. In
this case the Media Gateway shall reissue the ServiceChange command
to the new Media Gateway Controller. The Gateway specified in an
ServiceChangeMgcId, if provided, shall be contacted before any
further alternate MGCs. On a HandOff message from MGC to MG, the
ServiceChangeMgcId is the new MGC that will take over from the
current MGC.
The return from ServiceChange is empty except when the Root
terminationID is used. In that case it includes the following
parameters as required:
. ServiceChangeAddress, if the responding MGC wishes to specify an
new destination for messages from the MG for the remainder of the
association;
. ServiceChangeMgcId, if the responding MGC does not wish to
sustain an association with the MG;
. ServiceChangeProfile, if the responder wishes to negotiate the
profile to be used for the association;
. ServiceChangeVersion, if the responder wishes to negotiate the
version of the protocol to be used for the association.
The following ServiceChangeReasons are defined. This list may be
extended by an IANA registration as outlined in section 13.3
900 Service Restored
901 Cold Boot
902 Warm Boot
903 MGC Directed Change
904 Termination malfunctioning
905 Termination taken out of service
906 Loss of lower layer connectivity (e.g. downstream sync)
907 Transmission Failure
908 MG Impending Failure
909 MGC Impending Failure
910 Media Capability Failure
911 Modem Capability Failure
912 Mux Capability Failure
913 Signal Capability Failure
914 Event Capability Failure
915 State Loss
7.2.9 Manipulating and Auditing Context Attributes
The commands of the protocol as discussed in the preceding sections
apply to terminations. This section specifies how contexts are
manipulated and audited.
Commands are grouped into actions (see section 8). An action applies
to one context. In addition to commands, an action may contain
context manipulation and auditing instructions.
An action request sent to a MG may include a request to audit
attributes of a context. An action may also include a request to
change the attributes of a context.
The context properties that may be included in an action reply are
used to return information to a MGC. This can be information
requested by an audit of context attributes or details of the effect
of manipulation of a context.
If a MG receives an action which contains both a request to audit
context attributes and a request to manipulate those attributes, the
response SHALL include the values of the attributes after processing
the manipulation request.
7.2.10 Generic Command Syntax
The protocol can be encoded in a binary format or in a text format.
MGCs should support both encoding formats. MGs may support both
formats.
The protocol syntax for the binary format of the protocol is defined
in Annex A. Annex C specifies the encoding of the Local and Remote
descriptors for use with the binary format.
A complete ABNF of the text encoding of the protocol per RFC2234 is
given in Annex B. SDP is used as the encoding of the Local and
Remote Descriptors for use with the text encoding as modified in
section 7.1.8.
7.3 Command Error Codes
Errors consist of an IANA registered error code and an explanatory
string. Sending the explanatory string is optional. Implementations
are encouraged to append diagnostic information to the end of the
string.
When a MG reports an error to a MGC, it does so in an error
descriptor. An error descriptor consists of an error code and
optionally the associated explanatory string.
The identified error codes are:
400 - Bad Request
401 - Protocol Error
402 - Unauthorized
403 - Syntax Error in Transaction
404 - Syntax Error in TransactionReply
405 - Syntax Error in TransactionPending
406 - Version Not Supported
410 - Incorrect identifier
411 - The transaction refers to an unknown ContextId
412 - No ContextIDs available
421 - Unknown action or illegal combination of actions
422 - Syntax Error in Action
430 - Unknown TerminationID
431 - No TerminationID matched a wildcard
432 - Out of TerminationIDs or No TerminationID available
433 - TerminationID is already in a Context
440 - Unsupported or unknown Package
441 - Missing RemoteDescriptor
442 - Syntax Error in Command
443 - Unsupported or Unknown Command
444 - Unsupported or Unknown Descriptor
445 - Unsupported or Unknown Property
446 - Unsupported or Unknown Parameter
447 - Descriptor not legal in this command
448 - Descriptor appears twice in a command
450 - No such property in this package
451 - No such event in this package
452 - No such signal in this package
453 - No such statistic in this package
454 - No such parameter value in this package
455 - Parameter illegal in this Descriptor
456 - Parameter or Property appears twice in this Descriptor
461 - TransactionIDs in Reply do not match Request
462 - Commands in Transaction Reply do not match commands in
request
463 - TerminationID of Transaction Reply does not match
request
464 - Missing reply in Transaction Reply
465 - TransactionID in Transaction Pending does not match any
open request
466 - Illegal Duplicate Transaction Request
467 - Illegal Duplicate Transaction Reply
471 - Implied Add for Multiplex failure
500 - Internal Gateway Error
501 - Not Implemented
502 - Not ready.
503 - Service Unavailable
504 - Command Received from unauthorized entity
505 - Command Received before Restart Response
510 - Insufficient resources
512 - Media Gateway unequipped to detec