Reasons for the question

The emergence of multi-operator environments in a number of countries and the increasing liberalisation of networks and infrastructure will stimulate an open competitive environment. Such an environment underlines the need for customers to generally expect the same service presentation irrespective of the access and core networks used to deliver such services.

The Virtual Home Environment (VHE) is an environment, which presents the user with a common look and feel interface and service experience regardless of location, terminal type and network. It applies to both mobile and fixed networks, for both circuit switched and packet switched services.

Close co-operation and collaboration between ITU-T and external SDOs and forums will be required to ensure that standardisation work is not duplicated in ITU-T.

Question

What are the additional signalling requirements needed for the support of Virtual Home Environment (VHE) in existing and future fixed networks?

Task objectives

The aim of the tasks is to produce a set of signalling requirements for Virtual Home Environment (VHE) in the fixed network, which will be forwarded to the protocol groups developing signalling protocols.

1) In conjunction with the IMT2000 Special Study Group VHE question for mobile networks examine the current definitions for VHE and produce a consistent set of high-level descriptions for VHE including the interactions with other services.

1^st Deliverable: 2Q2001.

2) Define and assess the high level architecture/capabilities to support VHE and assess the impact on the fixed network ISDN, B-ISDN, IN and in consultation with SG 13, SG 16, the Study Group on IMT2000 and beyond and the IETF for IP networks.

1^st Deliverable: 2Q2001.

3) In consultation with ITU-T SG 2 assess the impact of VHE services support in the fixed network on signalling.

1^st Deliverable: 2Q2001.

4) Assess the current/planned IN architectures and investigate IN capabilities for the support of VHE and identify any new IN requirements.

1^st Deliverable: 2Q2001.

5) In collaboration with other service requirements questions, assess the current/planned IP architectures for the fixed network and investigate IP capabilities for the support of VHE and identify any new requirements.

1^st Deliverable: 2Q2001.

6) In collaboration with relevant protocol questions assist in the future enhancement of Recommendation Q.65 and/or other recommendations to define an open architecture, which would enable VHE developed service applications to make use of network functionality and service capabilities provided by the networks (fixed circuit switched and IP-based).

1^st Deliverable: 2Q2001.

7) Assist the relevant protocol groups to identify the protocol changes needed to support VHE in the fixed network.

1^st Deliverable: 2Q2001.

Relationships

Input from other questions, which are developing service requirements, which will include Virtual Home Environment, particularly the IMT-2000 Special Study Group and ITU-T SG 2, SG 13, SG 16. Output to protocol groups developing signalling protocols.