H.

323
Ng Tai Hung

Introduction

We have learned

IP, UDP, RTP Signaling ISUP, Integrated Services Digital Network User Part

The set-up and tear-down of the sessions

In traditional telephony networks

A component of the Signaling System 7 (SS7)

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H.323, ITU-T recommendation

The 1st version, 1996

Visual Telephone Systems and Equipment for Local Area Network which Provide A Non-Guaranteed Quality of Service Packet-based Multimedia Communications Systems Widely implemented in VoIP solutions

Version 2, 1998

Version 4

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The H.323 Architecture

Entities

Terminals Gateways Gatekeepers MCUs Parts of H.225.0 - RAS, Q.931 H.245 RTP/RTCP Audio/video codecs

Protocols

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H.323 Architecture

H.323 Network Architecture and Components

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Terminals

Endpoint on a LAN Supports real-time, 2-way communications with another H.323 entity Must support:

Voice - audio codecs Signaling and setup - Q.931, H.245, RAS Video Data

Optional support:

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Gateways

Interface between the LAN and the switched circuit network Mandatory Functions

Transmission Format Translation Communication Procedure Translation Call Setup and Clearing On Both Sides Media Format Translation

Optional Function

Example: IP/PSTN gateway

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Gatekeepers

Optional, but must perform certain functions if present

e.g., Netmeeting does not use gatekeepers?

Manage a zone (a collection of H.323 devices) Usually one gatekeeper per zone

alternate gatekeeper might exist for backup and load balancing

Typically a software application

implemented on a PC, but can be integrated in a gateway or terminal

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 Mandatory functions:

Address translation (routing) Admission control Minimal bandwidth control - request processing Zone management Call control signaling - direct handling of Q.931 signaling between endpoints Call authorization, bandwidth management, and call management using some policy Gatekeeper management information (MIB) Directory services
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Optional functions:

MCUs

MCU - Multipoint Control Unit

Endpoint that supports conferences between 3 or more endpoints Can be stand-alone device or integrated into a gateway, gatekeeper or terminal

Typically consists of multi-point controller (MC) and multi-point processor (MP)

MC - handles control and signaling for conference support MP - receives streams from endpoints, processes them, and returns them to the endpoints in the conference
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MC and MP
Terminal 1
MC

Terminal 2

Gatekeeper 1
MC

Gatekeeper 2
MC MP

Gatekeeper 3

LAN

MC

MC

MP

MC

MP MCU 2

MC

Gateway 1

Gateway 2

Gateway 3

MCU 1

T1521250-96

NOTE Gateway, Gatekeeper and MCU can be a single device.

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Centralized Conference

MCU handles both signaling (MC) and stream processing (MP)

MCU
(MC+MP)

media stream (unicast) control message

Terminal

Terminal

Terminal

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De-centralized Conference

MCU handles only signaling

streams go directly between endpoints In this case MCU functions without MP

MCU
(MC)

media stream (multicast) control message

media stream (multicast) control message

Terminal

media stream (multicast)

Terminal
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Hybrid Multipoint Conference

Terminal
video stream (multicast)

audio stream (unicast) control message

MCU
video stream (multicast)

(MC+MP)

audio stream (unicast) audio stream (unicast) control message control message

Terminal

video stream (multicast)

Terminal

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Mixed Multipoint Conference

Decentralized side Centralized side

Terminal Terminal

Terminal

MCU (MC+MP)

Terminal

Terminal
multicast audio and video unicast audio and video

Terminal

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Overview of H.323 Singaling

Audio codecs (G.711, G.723.1, G.728, etc.) and video codecs (H.261, H.263) Media streams transported on RTP/RTCP

RTP carries actual media RTCP carries status and control information

RTP/RTCP carried unreliably on UDP Signaling is transported reliably over TCP

RAS - registration, admission, status (over UDP) Q.931 - call setup and termination H.245 - capabilities exchange
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H.323 Protocol Stack

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Overview of H.323 Protocols

H.225.0, a two-part protocol

A variant of ITU-T recommendation Q.931, the ISDN layer 3 spec.

The set-up and tear-down of connections Call signaling or Q.931 signaling Registration, Admissions, and Status Between endpoints and gatekeepers

RAS signaling

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H.245, control protocols

Used between two or more endpoints Manage the media streams of a session

Capability exchange

RAS, Q.931 and H.245

RAS to obtain permission from a gatekeeper

RAS channel Call-signaling channel H.245 control channel

Q.931 to establish communication and set up the call

H.245 to negotiate media parameters

Media streams over logical channels

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H.323 Addressing

An entity in the H.323 network

A network address, an IP address URL, Uniform Resource Locator

E.g., ras://GK1@somedomain A port number appended RAS, a default port number = 1719

The TSAP, Transport Service Access Point

An id for a particular logical channel at a given entity GK UDP Discovery Port = 1718 GK UDP Reg and Status Port = 1719 Call-signaling TCP Port =1720
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Terminal and gateways

Have one or more aliases Can take any number of forms

Must be unique within a zone

E.164 number Video codec is optional

Codecs

H.261 QCIF

G.711 (A-law and -law) is mandatory

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RAS Signaling

Used between a GK and endpoints in its zone

Since a GK is optional GK Discovery Registration Unregistration Admission Bandwidth Change Endpoint Location: GK (address translation) Disengage Status Resource Availability: GW GK Non-standard

Defined in H.225.0

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Gatekeeper Discovery

Find a suitably accommodating GK

Several GKs, backup GK Known addresses, multicast 224.0.1.41:1718 GK id: if empty, soliciting GKs Optionally, indicating one or more GKs to try

GRQ GK-request

GCF GK-Confirm

I cannot help you, but try the GK next door

Only one GK can be choosed With a reason (e.g., a lack of resource)

GRJ GK-Reject

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GK Discovery

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Endpoint Reg and Reg Cancellation

To become controlled by a GK RegistrationRequest (RRQ)

RAS signaling port is 1719 Includes

An address for RAS messages An address for call-signaling messages An alias One or more redundant addresses and aliases Optional TTL, keepAlive parameters

RegistrationReject (RRJ) RegistrationConfirm (RCF)

May assign an alias

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UnregistrationRequest (URQ)

Cancel registration By endpoints By GKs

UnregistrationConfirm (UCF) UnregistraionReject (URJ)

For an unregistered endpoint

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Endpoint Location

Request a real address of an alias LocationRequest (LRQ)

To a GK or the GK discovery multicast address A GK can also send an LRQ A call-signaling address An RAS signaling address The endpoint is not registered

LocationConfirm (LCF)

LocationReject (LRJ)

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Admission

Request permission from a GK to participate in a call AdmissionRequest (ARQ)

The type of the call (e.g., two-party or multi-party) The endpoints own id A call identifier (a unique string) A call-reference value (an integer) Information of the other party

Aliases Signaling address

Bandwidth (mandatory) TransportQOS: endpoint or GK to reserve the resource

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AdmissionConfirm (ACF)

Many of the same parameters as ARQ

A firm order from the GK

Optional in ARQ; mandtory in ACF The endpoint sends call signaling directly or via the GK

callModel

AdmissionReject (ARJ)

With a reason

Bandwidth, address translation, unregistered endpoint

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Direct call signaling

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GK-routed call signaling

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Pregranted Admission

to minimize call setup delay A GK provide an endpoint with admission in advance the RCF includes the parameter preGrantedARQ

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Bandwidth Change

Request an increase or decrease in allocated bandwidth

Can change without request if within the limit in ACF

The new bandwidth, the call id

BandwidthRequest (BRQ)

BCF BRJ The GK can also request an endpoint to change the bandwidth

The endpoint must comply A reduction in bandwidth

Closely tied to H.245 signaling (for logical channels)

Require an existing logical channel to be closed and reopened

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An example bandwidth change

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Status

A GK be informed of the status of an endpoint InformationRequestResponse (IRR)

Endpoint information The active call information

Call id, call reference value, call type, the bandwidth RTP session information (CNAME, RTP/RTCP address, etc.)

IRQ or ACF with an irrFrequency parameter

willRespondToIRR parameter

IACK INACK

An IRR message in error

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Disengage

The end of the call DisengageRequest (DRQ)

Call id, call reference value, a disengage reason (e.g., normalDrop)

DCF DRJ

For an unregistered endpoint not a call party

The GK might issue DRQ to an endpoint

The endpoint must

Close the session Respond to the GK with a DCF message

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Resource Availability

ResourceAvailableIndicate (RAI)

An gateway sends to a GK The available call capacity and bandwidth for each protocol almostOutofResource parameter

RseourceAvailableConfirm (RAC)

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Service Control

SCI (ServiceControlIndication) SCR (ServiceControlResponse) to enable advanced features RIP

Request in Progress

A given request takes longer the the timeout period The expected delay and the reason After timeout, the RAS message can be retransmitted

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Call Signaling

For the establishment and tear-down of calls Q.931 modified by rec. H.225.0

Reuse some messages with few modifications Specify a number of rules regarding the usage of information elements defined in Q.931

E.g., no Transit Network Selection, Certain Q.931 mandatory information forbidden or optional
Convey all of the extra information needed in H.323 E.g., H.245 addresses to be used for logical channel

A clever use of User-to-User information element

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Setup

The first call-signaling message Q.931 Protocol Discriminator A call reference Bearer Capability

RTP information, such as payload type A gateway needs to perform the mapping
Mandatory: Call id, call type, conference id, the caller information Optional: source alias, destination alias, H.245 address, destination call-signaling address
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User-to-User information element

Call Proceeding

Optional call-establishment procedures are underway Mandatory

Protocol discriminator, call reference, and message type, user-to-user User-to-user: similar to the setup message

Alerting

The called user is being alerted The same parameters as Call Proceeding

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Progress

sent by a called gateway the Cause information in-band tones the User-to-User info. same as Call-Proceeding

Connect

The called party has accepted the call Must be sent if the call is to be completed

Call Proceeding and Alerting are optional

User-to-User information

The same as Call Proceeding Plus Conference Identifier

The same as Setup

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Release Complete

Terminate a call No Release message

In ISDN, Release and Release Complete

Cause information element, optional

Otherwise, a Release reason in User-to-User

Facility (Q.932)

A call should be redirected Also be used for supplementary services User-to-User contains reason parameter

E.g., routeCallToGatekeeper
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Interaction between Call Signaling and H.245

Call signaling: call establishment and tear-down H.245: the negotiation and establishment of media streams When to begin the exchange of H.245 messages?

Between the Setup and Connect messages Equipment dependent

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Call Scenarios

Basic Call without GKs

Reliable transport

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Call with GKs and Direct-Endpoint Call Signaling

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Gatekeeper routed/direct-endpoint call signaling

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Gatekeeper-routed call signaling

EP <-> GK <-> GK <-> EP ARJ with a cause code of routeCallToGatekeeper A Facility with a reason indicating the call be rerouted

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Optional calledendpoint signaling

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H.245 Control Signaling

To establish and control media streams

Agree on the media formats and bandwidth Multiplexing multiple media streams No actual media A generic protocol for the control of media streams How it works in an H.323?

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H.245 Message Groupings

Requests

Require the recipient to perform some action and response In reply to Requests Require the recipient to perform some action, but no response is necessary Of an informational nature only

Response

Commands

Indications

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The Concept of Logical Channels

A Logical channel

A unidirectional media path An IP address and port number Has a number Two logical channels exist Potentially in different formats Or a bidirectional channel consists of two logical channels Logical channel number and media information (RTP payload type) An RTP port Permanently open
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A two-party conversation

An endpoint issues Open Logical Channel

Far endpoint responds with Open Logical Channel Ack

Messages over H.245 Control Channel (channel number 0)

H.245 Procedures

Capabilities Exchange

Share information regarding receive and transmit capabilities Indicate a preference TerminalCabilitySet message

A request message A sequence number plus the types of audio and video formats Empty with a sequence number With a reason for rejection

TerminalCapabilitySetAck

TerminalCapabilitySetReject

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TerminalCapabilitySetRelease

If no response within a timeout period Request terminal Capability information Request to indicate all of its capabilities Or request confirmation about specific capabilities A command message that is replied

SendTerminalCapabilitySet

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Master-Slave Determination

One of the endpoints needs to be the master

Of particular importance for the setup of a multi-party conference A terminal type value

Compare two pieces of information at each entity

A terminal without an MC: 50 A gateway without an MC: 60 An MCU for audio, vedio: 190 An MCU managing a conference: 240 (the highest)

A random number (1..16,777,215)

Master-Slave Determination message Master-Slave Determination Ack

A master or slave indication

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Establishing and Releasing Media Streams

For media exchange

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Open Unidirectional Logical Channel

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Open Bidirectional Logicl Channels

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Closing Logic Channels and Ending a session

CloseLogicalChannel, CloseLogicalChannelAck Only the initiator can issue Or the receiving end can humbly request A bidirectional channel can be closed by either end Once all logical channels are closed

EndSession, EndSession commands

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Close a Logical Channel

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A Slow Start

Plus Capability exchange Master-slave determination

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Fast-connect Procedure

The Setup

A faststart element

OpenLogicalChannel requests

No H.245 control channel

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H.245 Message Encapsulation

is encapsulated with Q.931 messages Set the element h245Tunneling true in the first Q.931 message The h245Control element contains the encapsulated data Conflict with the faststart element Use Facility

when no Q.931 message can be used to start a separate H.245 control channel

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Conference Calls

MC manage multi-point conference A Pre-Arranged Conference

Establish a call with the MCU Communication Mode command (H.245)

The MCU specifies the conference mode

Specify all the sessions in the conference The transmit requirements of each endpoint, not the receive requirements

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An Ad-Hoc Conference

Expand an existing two-party call

One the the endpoints must contain an MC

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New Features in H.323 Version 2

H.235 - security and authentication, i.e. passwords for registration with gatekeeper H.450.x - supplementary services such as call transfer and forwarding Fast call setup:

Bypasses some setup messages Triggered by Q.931 Fast Start message that contains basic capabilities

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New Features in H.323 Version 2 (cont.)

Mechanism to specify alternative gatekeepers to endpoints Gatekeeper can request forwarding of Q.931 information on direct routed calls; only RADCOM can play back H.323 streams off a network: a true differentiation Smoother integration of T.120 (optional standard for data)

T.120 channel opened like any H.323 channel

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T.120 Data Channel

Defined in T.120 A Channel Between Endpoints A Reliable Channel Functions

Transport Data Multipoint Delivery Internetworking PSTN, ISDN LAN (TCP/IP, IPX)

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The Future of H.323

Inter-Gatekeeper Communication: Current H.323 standards do not provide an inter-zone model that scales well for large networks Inter-gatekeeper protocols being discussed to enable gatekeepers to efficiently locate one another to route calls to non-local address Hierarchical arrangements with clearing house gatekeepers have been proposed This is critical for widespread interoperability between VoIP service providers

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H.323 Version 3

Modest improvements to H.323 version 2 Maintaining and Reusing Connections Conference out of Consultation Caller ID Language Preference Usage of Annex E/H.323 Remote Device Control Generic Capabilities Annex G/H.225.0 - Communication between Administrative Domains
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Annex E/H.323 - Protocol for Multiplexed Call Signaling Transport Annex F/H.323 - Simple Endpoint Type H.341 - H.323 Series MIB Supplementary Services

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H.323 Version 4

Many new enhancements Gateway Decomposition Multiplexed Stream Transmission Supplementary Services Annex K/H.323 Annex L/H.323 H.450.8 - Name Identification Service H.450.9 - Call Completion H.450.10 - Call Offer H.450.11 - Call Intrusion
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Additive Registrations Alternate Gatekeepers Usage Information Reporting Endpoint Capacity Caller Identification Service Tones and Announcements Mapping Aliases Indicating Desired Protocols Bandwidth Management Reporting Call Status
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Enhancements to Annex D (Real-Time Fax) Call Linkage Tunneling QoS H.245 in Parallel with Fast Connect Generic Extensibility Framework H.323 URL Call Credit-Related Capabilities DTMF Relay via RTP
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The Decomposed Gateway

Media gateway Media gateway controller

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