A resource for packet-switched conversational protocols Packetizer TM Copyright © 2003 H.323: Alive and Well Paul E. Jones Rapporteur for ITU-T Q.2/16

A resource for packet-switched conversational protocols 1 Packetizer TM Agenda What is H.323? Brief history of H.323 “What’s New” in H.323 standardization H.323 in the marketplace today H.323 Forum

A resource for packet-switched conversational protocols 2 Packetizer TM What is H.323? Recommendation H.323 is a standard published by the International Telecommunications Union Telecommunications Sector (ITU-T) –Formerly known as CCITT –Refer to –A permanent organ of the United Nations System (refer to

A resource for packet-switched conversational protocols 3 Packetizer TM What is H.323? (cont.) H.323 is the international standard for multimedia communications over packet-based networks, including the convergence of voice, video, and data communications H.323 has made strong progress in terms of maturity and rate of adoption H.323 standardization work continues within ITU-T Study Group 16 H.323 version 5 is scheduled for approval in May 2003

A resource for packet-switched conversational protocols 4 Packetizer TM H.323 Standardization The ITU-T is comprised of various “Study Groups” Study Group 16 (SG16), specifically “Question 2,” is responsible for standardization work related to H.323

A resource for packet-switched conversational protocols 5 Packetizer TM Study Group 16 Structure WP1 Facsimile and Modems WP2 MM Platform and Interworking WP3 Media Coding WP4 MM Framework E - Media coding 6 - Advanced video coding 7 - Wideband speech coding 8 - Speech coding at 4 Kbit/s 9 - Variable bit-rate speech coding 10 - Software tools and maintenance of speech coding standards 15 - Distributed speech recognition/distributed speaker verification D - Interoperability of MM Systems and Services F - Quality of Service and End to End Performance G - Security 1 - MM Systems, Terminals and Data Conferencing 2 - MM over Packet Networks (H.323) 3 - Infrastructure and Interoperability 4 – Video and Data Conferencing using Internet Supported Services 5 - Mobility for MM Systems and Services H - Accessibility to MM Systems and Services 11 - Modems 12 - DCE-DCE protocols for the PSTN and ISDN 13 - DTE-DCE Interfaces and Protocols 14 - Facsimile terminals A - MediaCom 2004 B - MM Architecture C - MM Applications and Services I – Emergency Telecommunications Services

A resource for packet-switched conversational protocols 6 Packetizer TM History of H.323 H.323 version 1 was first approved in 1996, with a focus on enterprise voice, video, and data collaboration H.323 version 2 was approved in 1998, with a focus on “Internet Telephony” H.323 version 3 was approved in 1999 with incremental improvements H.323 version 4 was approved in 2000 with major enhancements focused on the requirements of service providers

A resource for packet-switched conversational protocols 7 Packetizer TM H.323 Core Documents H.323 – “Umbrella” document that describes the usage of H.225.0, H.245, and other related documents for delivery of packet-based multimedia conferencing services H – Describes three signaling protocols (RAS, Call Signaling, and “Annex G”) H.245 – Multimedia control protocol (common to H.310, H.323, and H.324)

A resource for packet-switched conversational protocols 8 Packetizer TM Additional Documents H.235 – Security within H.245-based systems H.246 – Interworking with the PSTN H.450.x – Supplementary services H.460.x – Various H.323 protocol extensions H.501 – Protocol for mobility management and inter/intra-domain communication H.510 – User, terminal, and service mobility H.530 – Security specification for H.510

A resource for packet-switched conversational protocols 9 Packetizer TM Elements of an H.323 System Terminals Multipoint Control Units (MCUs) Gateways Gatekeeper Border / Peer Elements Referred to as “endpoints”

A resource for packet-switched conversational protocols 10 Packetizer TM Where We are Today… Voice, video, and data conferencing capability T.38 fax support Modem over IP support Many supplementary services defined Strong interoperability with other H.32x systems, including H.320 (ISDN) and H.323M (3GPP mobile wireless) Specification of media gateway decomposition (via H.248) Support for signaling and media security User, terminal, and service terminal mobility Support for emergency services signaling

A resource for packet-switched conversational protocols 11 Packetizer TM Where we are today… (cont.) Extremely wide deployment Billions of minutes of traffic per month worldwide (counting public networks only) More than 90% of all VoIP traffic today is H.323, with H.323 video traffic on the rise

A resource for packet-switched conversational protocols 12 Packetizer TM More Recent Enhancements Modem over IP support Local number portability Circuit map status reporting Call priority designation Extended Fast Connect Digit maps Querying for alternate routes QoS monitoring / reporting

A resource for packet-switched conversational protocols 13 Packetizer TM A Cry for Stability… Heard Enterprise and service providers have requested “stability”, citing a real need for a mature protocol that is not a “moving target” H.323 version 4 introduced a new extension mechanism, referred to as the “Generic Extensibility Framework” (GEF) that facilitates the addition of new features without making changes to the core standards All new features that are not considered horizontally useful are being added as separate, optional extensions via the GEF mechanism

A resource for packet-switched conversational protocols 14 Packetizer TM Ongoing Standards Work LDAP schema specifications Definition of usage of the H.323 URL, allowing the use of DNS and ENUM with H.323 Enhanced third-party call control Quality of Service Scalability enhancements Short message service H.323 version 5

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A resource for packet-switched conversational protocols 16 Packetizer TM Notable Events January 2002: IMTC approves the formation of the H.323 Forum as a part of its organization May 2002: H.323 Forum “kick-off” in Geneva and a web site June 2002: H.323 Forum at Collaborative East August 2002: Certification levels 1a/1b defined September 2002: First worldwide H.323 Forum video conference was held October 2002: H.323 Forum at VON October 2002: ETSI and OSP users group support H.323 Forum November 2002: H.323 Forum at Collaborative West November 2002: First H.323 Forum industry conference

A resource for packet-switched conversational protocols 17 Packetizer TM Where is H.323 Used? Wholesale transit Calling Card Voice Conferencing Voice VPNs Unified Communications IP-PBX PC-to-phone Video conferencing Distance Learning Call center IP-Centrex Mobility services Custom news / info Voice/Data/Video Collaboration Broadband residential More…

A resource for packet-switched conversational protocols 18 Packetizer TM H.323 Forum Web site Products / Services Standards White papers General industry links FAQs H.323 Forum mailing list Meeting minutes and presentations

A resource for packet-switched conversational protocols 19 Packetizer TM H.323 Activities Live conferences (two or three per year) Video conferences (three or four per year) Equipment certification requirements Strategic press releases Organized presentations at other conferences

A resource for packet-switched conversational protocols 20 Packetizer TM Getting Involved Join the mailing list! Participate in planning sessions Become a member of the H.323 Forum

A resource for packet-switched conversational protocols 21 Packetizer TM Informative H.323 Sites Packetizer H.323 Forum OpenH323

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