For the purposes of this course, signaling refers to any method or protocol used for creating, modifying, and terminating communication sessions between one or more participants. Sessions are to include traditional wireline as well as internet voice calls, multimedia distribution and multimedia conferencing. Students will gain an understanding of modern signaling systems, especially SIP and VoIP. Students will gain an appreciation of actually implementing signaling systems in the Internet Protocol environment using an open source soft switch to be configured as a PBX. Open source clients will be used to produce a fully functioning communications network from which specific signaling protocols can be explored.

Topics: Telecommunication Networks, Numbering Plans, Circuit Switched Routing, Packet Switched Routing, Analog Transmission, Digital Transmission, Standards for Signaling Systems, Subscriber Signaling, Components of Signaling, Tones, Announcements and Ringing, DTMF Signaling, In-band Signaling, Signaling Networks, Call Flows, Message Flows, SIP Signaling, Signaling for VoIP, Provisioning of Users, Network Protocol Analysis, Avaya SIP phone, Open Source SIP phone implementations, SIP overview, SIP security, SIP technological overview.

To gain a practical understanding of signaling protocols for telecommunications networks, both circuit switched and packet switched. Starting with a broader view of signaling, the course then focuses on emerging IP signaling systems using SIP, and it's application to VoIP and multimedia delivery, to illustrate concepts in signaling.

TLEN 5330 Data Communications 1 and proficiency in UNIX and C++.

Access outside of class to computer(s), as in university computer labs, with 'ssh' software to connect to the Multimedia lab computers, see http://amath.colorado.edu/computing/ssh/. If you have a home computer or laptop, install 'ssh' on this machine.