NETW590/IP

Telephony/Voice Over
Internet Protocol (IP)

McGraw-Hill/Irwin

Copyright 2011 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Week 1
Foundations of
Telecommunications

McGraw-Hill/Irwin

Copyright 2011 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Chapter 1: Introduction to
VOIP Networks
TCO A: Define and describe what IP
Telephony/VoIP is and is not. Also
describe the current landscape of the IP
Telephony/VoIP arena. Specifically,
describe where IP Telephony/VoIP is
being used today, identify where it came
from, what technology preceded it, and
how it integrates into the existing
Telecom Architecture (TDM equipment
and network services (PSTN)) that are in
place today.
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Chapter 1: Introduction to
VOIP Networks
TCO A Key Concepts:
Explain the basic architecture of the Public
Switched Telephone Network.
Determine the major differences between
Voice over IP and the PSTN.
Evaluate some of the key difficulties
associated with integrating Voice over IP
with the PSTN.
Describe the key players involved in Voice
over IP.

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Chapter 2: Basics of VOIP

TCO B: Examine IP Telephony/VoIP
fundamentals including, but not limited
to:

QoS
Codecs and Protocols
Terminology
Network Assessment
Applications
Architecture

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Chapter 2: Basics of VOIP

TCO B Key Concepts:
Explain what signaling is and why it is
essential.
Analyze the advantages/disadvantages of
digital and analog transmissions.
Analyze the architectural differences
between the Internet and the PSTN.
Explain the key differences between circuit
switching and packet switching.
Understand core concepts and components of
the Public Switched Telephone Network
(PSTN) and IP Telephony/VoIP
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Chapter 1: Key Points

A telephone switch
Reduces the number of dedicated lines between
telephone subscribers
Utilizes the concept of multiplexing
Capable of handling hundreds of simultaneous calls

The Public Switched Telephone Network

(PSTN) and routing:
Is Required for calls covering long distances and
multiple switches
Effectively creates a dedicated circuit
Trunks are used to carry simultaneous calls using
TDM
Uses a connection hierarchy that routes calls using a
numbering scheme and signaling protocol
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Chapter 1: Key Points

Signaling System 7 (SS7):
Sets up and terminates calls

Time Division Multiplexing (TDM)

Is the means by which calls are carried on
trunks
Uses multiple frames
Enables simultaneous calls on a single
physical connection

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Chapter 2: Key Points

In a VOIP System, voice is:
Digitized
Packetized

In the traditional PSTN, voice traffic

was:
Analog, at least for the last mile connection

In a VOIP System the call models are:

Internet to Internet
PSTN to Internet (and Vice Versa)
PSTN to PSTN via the Internet
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Chapter 2: Key Points

Address discovery refers to:
Determining the destination of the call after
initiation

The VOIP Gateway:

Enables the inter-operation of signaling
Sits on the border of two different types of
networks

The media gateway in a VoIP network:

Performs transcoding functions (IP/TDM)

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Chapters 1 & 2: Discussion

Questions
Explain what a telephone switch does.
What are trunks used for in the
traditional PSTN?
Describe SS7 in terms of what it does,
and its major characteristics.
What is the purpose of a VoIP gateway?
Describe three major overall differences
between VoIP and the traditional PSTN
Why is address discovery important in a
VoIP network?
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