VoIP Working Group 9th Annual Technologies for Critical Incident Preparedness Conference and Exposition Luke Klein-Berndt Command, Control and Interoperability Science and Technology Directorate November 8, 2007

VoIP Working Group Background A developing technology, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) transmits voice conversations using Internet networks and protocols commonly used by businesses and consumers.  Today, multiple products and applications support VoIP for communications among emergency response radios, dispatch centers, and infrastructure.  To date, most VoIP use in land mobile radios has been with proprietary protocols. Unfortunately, because manufacturers use different technical approaches, these products are often incompatible.   The VoIP Working Group—with practitioner and manufacturer collaboration—reached consensus on requirements, and agreed to create standards-based approaches to connect VoIP devices with each other, regardless of manufacturer. Voice-Over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) is not the silver bullet it’s commonly thought   VoIP, however, is a powerful technology for connecting systems over a network-of-networks that’s ubiquitous, standards-based, and robust: the internet.  2

VoIP Interfaces IP Radio System Broadband System VoIP Radio Bridge PSTN Data Radio System IP Broadband System VoIP Radio Bridge Donor Radio Console Computer Remote Site Donor Radio 3 3

Task #1: VoIP Bridging Devices Release simple version of the first interface: bridging devices. Bridging devices will allow interoperability between the following: traditional radio systems telephones personal computers Hand-held data devices Work is nearing completion on Phase I of the task.   4

Bridging Systems Interface A defined IP interface for voice communication between two bridging devices that connect dissimilar radio systems PSTN Data Radio System IP Broadband System VoIP Radio Bridge Donor Radio Console Computer Remote Site 5

VoIP Working Group Next Steps The VoIP Working Group is continuing work on a more sophisticated version of the bridging interface. The VoIP Working Group then will pursue work on other interfaces, e.g., system to subscriber unit, subscriber unit to subscriber unit.   6