
Preliminary Data Sheet
June 1997
T7230A Primary Access Framer/Controller
21
Lucent Technologies Inc.
ISDN Primary Rate Interface
The integrated services digital network (ISDN) primary rate interface (PRI) specification is defined in two ways.
One is based on the North American T1 network and is defined in the AT&T Technical Reference 41449 [7]. The
other is based on the European CEPT digital trunk facility and is defined in ITU Recommendation I.431 [8]. Both
specifications deal with the physical layer (layer 1) characteristics of the network interface at the S and T reference
points for the 1.544 Mbits/s and 2.048 Mbits/s ISDN accesses. The ITU Recommendation I.431 is derived from ITU
Recommendations G.703 [9], G.704 [10], and G.733[10] that contain the electrical characteristics and the frame
structures already used by the PCM equipment, digital multiplexers, and digital switch exchange.
5-4555(F)r.1
Notes:
TE1 is a fully integrated terminal capable of handling ISDN protocols.
S reference point is a subscriber-side demarcation point for primary access at 1.544 Mbits/s or 2.048 Mbits/s.
NT1 and NT2 provide the network termination functions that connect the subscriber to the network. NT1 provides network access, and NT2
provides subscriber-side termination.
The T reference point is an internal point in the switching system that separates the NT1 and NT2 functions. If the NT1 and NT2 functions are
located within the switch, there is only one network termination (NT) and no physical interface T.
U reference point defines the interface at the network side.
Figure 5. ISDN Primary Rate Interface Reference Points
For both 1.544 Mbits/s and 2.048 Mbits/s primary rate transport, only the point-to-point configuration is required
between the NT and TE. The maximum point-to-point distance depends on the type of interconnecting wire pair.
ITU Recommendation G.703 [9] contains the electrical characteristics of transmitted and received pulses.
The following types of channels, as defined in ITU Recommendation I.412 [11], can be transported across the dig-
ital interface using time-multiplexing techniques:
I
B channels (64 kbits/s)
I
H0 channels (384 kbits/s)
I
H11 channels (1.536 Mbits/s)
I
H12 channels (1.920 Mbits/s)
I
D or E channels (64 kbits/s)
In addition, other functions such as bit timing, byte (octet) timing, frame alignment, and maintenance are provided
across the interface.
In the ISDN structure, traffic channels are combined with appropriate framing and housekeeping information into
one composite digital signal for each direction of transmission. Interfaces for the ISDN primary rate access are
active at all times; hence, no special activation or deactivation procedures are required.
The electrical specifications of the 1.544 Mbits/s interface are the same as those described in ITU Recommenda-
tion G.703 [9] and the AT&T Technical Reference 62411 [5]. In particular, the binary eight zero code suppression
line code is recommended for 1.544 ISDN applications. The frame structure is the same as extended superframe
(ESF). A frame contains 24 eight-bit time slots. Users’ traffic (voice or data channels) is transported in the 8-bit
time slots. Time slot 24 is assigned to the D channel or E channel when either of these channels are present.
NETWORK
TERMINATION 2
(NT2)
U
REFERENCE
POINT
NETWORK
TERMINATION 2
(NT2)
T
REFERENCE
POINT
NETWORK
TERMINATION 1
(NT1)
U
REFERENCE
POINT