Introduction À La PDH - Alcatel-Lucent

1995 BELL TELEPHONE MANUFACTURING COMPANY N.V.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
HANDOUT
PLESIOCHRONOUS
DIGITAL HIERARCHY
Edition : 01
770 00438 1340VHBE
BELL EDUCATION CENTRE
The Bell Education Centre put in a great effort to give you this document. In case you have
any remarks, do not hesitate to send us your comments.
Our Training Directory describes all training programmes and modules this document (and
others) is used in.
1995 BELL TELEPHONE MANUFACTURING COMPANY N.V. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
This document was especially written for use during class instruction.
The contents of this document are generic. It deals with concepts and principles, rather than
with the latest releases of and modifications to the product delivered to the customers.
International audiences use this document. It is therefore written in a clear, concise and
above all, consistent language.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PREFACE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1. BASIC PRINCIPLES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.1 PULSE CODE MODULATION (PCM) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.1.1 SAMPLING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.1.2 QUANTISING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.1.3 ENCODING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.2 MULTIPLEXING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.2.1 TIME DIVISION MULTIPLEXING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.3 TIMING RELATED CONCEPTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

1.3.1 PLESIOCHRONOUS SIGNALS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
1.3.2 SYNCHRONISATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
1.3.3 JITTER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
1.3.4 WANDER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
1.3.5 JUSTIFICATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
1.4 DIGITAL HIERARCHY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
2. SYNCHRONOUS TIME DIVISION MULTIPLEXING . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

2.1 THE NORTHAMERICAN T1 TDM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
2.1.1 THE FRAME . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
2.1.2 MULTIFRAME STRUCTURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
2.2 THE EUROPEAN E1 TDM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
2.2.1 THE FRAME . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
2.2.2 MULTIFRAME STRUCTURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
2.3 TRANSMISSION MEDIUMS AND CODING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
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3. ASYNCHRONOUS TIME DIVISION MULTIPLEXING

PLESIOCHRONOUS DIGITAL HIERARCHY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
3.1 THE JUSTIFICATION PROCESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
3.1.1 POSITIVENEGATIVE JUSTIFICATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
3.1.2 JUSTIFICATION RATE / RATIO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
3.2 THE EUROPEAN HIERARCHY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
3.2.1 8448 KBIT/S MULTIPLEXED FRAME STRUCTURE . . . . . . . . 24
3.2.2 34 368 KBIT/S MULTIPLEXED FRAME STRUCTURE . . . . . . . 28
3.2.3 139 264 KBIT/S MULTIPLEXED FRAME STRUCTURE . . . . . . 32
3.3 THE NORTHAMERICAN HIERARCHY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
3.3.1 6312 KBIT/S MULTIPLEXED FRAME STRUCTURE . . . . . . . . 37

3.3.2 44 736 KBIT/S MULTIPLEXED FRAME STRUCTURE . . . . . . . 41
3.3.3 139 264 KBIT/S MULTIPLEXED FRAME STRUCTURE . . . . . . 43
4. PDH AND ASYNCHRONOUS TRANSFER MODE . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

4.1 MAPPING OF ATM CELLS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
4.2 MAPPING INTO LOWER ORDER FRAMES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
4.3 MAPPING INTO 34 368 KBIT/S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
4.4 MAPPING INTO 139 264 KBIT/S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
ANNEX A: EXAMPLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
A.1. EVOLUTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
A.2. ADVANTAGES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
A.2.1. FLEXIBILITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
A.2.2. APPLICATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
A.2.3. NETWORK OPTIMISATION (2 MBIT/S LEASED LINES) . . . . . 57
A.3. EXAMPLES OF APPLICATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
A.3.1. ALCATEL 1510 MX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
A.3.2. ALCATEL 1511 MX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
ANNEX B : RECOMMENDATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
ANNEX C: ABBREVIATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
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PREFACE
PREFACE
This handout describes the basic frame structures used in the

Plesiochronous Digital Hierarchy.
It also shows the transport mechanism for ATM cells (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) in this
transmission system.
A short introduction is also given about the basic terms and techniques of digital
transmission.
The annexes at the end of this document contain:
an example of practical realisation of a first order multiplexer;
a list of the most important recommendations for PDH;
a list of abbreviations.
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PREFACE
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BASIC PRINCIPLES
1. BASIC PRINCIPLES
1.1 PULSE CODE MODULATION (PCM)
Originally, the telephone network treated the information in an analogue form. All transmitted
signals were analogous, which means that these signals were a simple electrical
reproduction of speech sound waves.
Analogue transmission is sensitive to electromagnetic disturbances (noise). Because of
this noise, the signal quality decreases. As a result, the quality of long distance
transmissions can become unacceptable.
Because digital transmission ensures better quality, it is interesting to treat the voice
information in a digital form. A digital signal consists of series of pulses that characterise the
original voice signal. To digitise the voice signal a new technique is required.
Digitisation aims to convert the telephone signal from an analogue signal form into a digital
signal form. The conversion technique is referred to as the Pulse Code Modulation (PCM).
Figure 1 shows the principles of PCM modulation and demodulation.
Figure 1 : Simple representation of the modulation/demodulation
ANALOGUE signal
DIGITAL signal
ANALOGUE signal
Voice
Voice
Sampling
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Quantising
Coding
....
Coding
Quantising
Sampling
BASIC PRINCIPLES
1.1.1 SAMPLING
The analogue telephone signal changes continuously. It is however not necessary to
transmit the whole signal. The information can be sampled. If a sufficient number of
samples are present, the original signal can be (approximately) reconstructed. (Figure 2 )
Then, for each sample, an encoded value of the amplitude is sent to the other side.
Figure 2 : Sampling of voice signal
Analogue
signal
Amplitude
Samples of the
amplitude
t
1.1.2 QUANTISING
The amplitude samples do not form a digital signal yet, because each sample can have any
value. So, the next step to create a digital signal is quantising, which is to convert the value
of the amplitude sample to a value that belongs to a limited set of discrete values.
After quantising, the samples value is limited to 256 discrete levels. The amplitude of each
sample is now expressed by an amplitude that can be represented by an eight bit code.
The two most used quantising methods are:
Alaw : used in Europe, Africa, SouthAmerica;
law : used in NorthAmerica, Japan.
Consequently, the stream of bits is only an approximation of the analogue signal:
The samples are used to represent the signal. The rest of the signal is not transmitted.
The amplitude of every sample is represented by a code. This code is only an
approximation of the actual amplitude of the signal.
So, the digital signal is only an approximation of the actual information, but the differences
are however small enough to remain unnoticeable.
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BASIC PRINCIPLES
The maximum frequency of the telephone signal is 3400 Hz. To represent this information in
the form of samples, at least 2 X 3400 samples per second are required. In telephony
applications, we take 8000 samples per second, which means one sample in every
125 sec. Each sample is converted into an 8 bits form. As a result, the
digital telephone signal is represented as 8 bits/ 125 sec, which is equivalent to
64000 bit/sec.
1.1.3 ENCODING
Before the transmission of the digital information, additional encoding is done.

The transmission codes have to have the following characteristics:
the average DC component introduced on the line has to be 0 Volts to increase the
possible transmission distance.
have to provide frequent transitions of the digital signal, to recover the bit clock.
The most used codes are ( Figure 3) :
HDB3 : High Density Bipolar excess 3;
AMI : Alternate Mark Inversion;
NRZ : NonReturn to Zero;
RZ : Return to Zero;
CMI : Coded Mark Inversion.
a. AMI coding
In this code a 0 is represented by 0 Volts, and a 1 is represented alternate by a positive
or negative tension.
b. HDB3 coding
This code inserts violation pulses when more than 3 0s arrive consecutively. The
transmitter side inserts these pulses, the receiver detects and deletes them.
String of four 0s are coded:
first 0 : 0 if preceding 1 and violation have different polarity;
1 if preceding 1 and violation have the same polarity. The 1 is coded according
to the AMI rule;
second and third 0 : always 0;
fourth 0 : always 1, in such a way that it violates the AMI rule.
A 1 is always coded as 1, according to the AMI rule.
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BASIC PRINCIPLES
c. NRZ coding
In this code a 0 is represented for example by 0 Volts, and a 1 is represented by a
positive tension.
d. CMI coding
CMI is a two level NRZ code, in which a 0 is represented by both a positive and a negative
tension, each for half a unit time interval. A 1 is represented alternate by a positive or a
negative tension, for a full unit time interval.
Figure 3 : Most used codes
Binary signal
1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
HDB3
AMI
NRZ
RZ
CMI
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BASIC PRINCIPLES
1.2 MULTIPLEXING
Multiplexing offers an economically efficient way to carry communication information from

several sources on the same physical carrier. Without multiplexing, each communication
needs a separate physical carrier.
The physical carrier has at least an n times higher bandwidth, than the n individual
communications, it carries.
Three main multiplexing techniques exist:
Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM) : used in radio and satellite transmission;
Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) : used in the telephone network;
Statistical Division Multiplexing (STDM) : used in packet switching networks.
These multiplexing techniques can also be combined, like it is done for example in some
mobile telecommunication networks.
In this course we discuss transmission systems based exclusively on
Time Division Multiplexing (TDM).
1.2.1 TIME DIVISION MULTIPLEXING

A Time Division Multiplexing system is a transmission system in which a number of
communications are multiplexed onto one carrier. Each of the communications has an
assigned time slot, where the digital value of the signal at that moment is transported.
At the transmitter and at the receiver side of the transmission line, scanning devices process
the information for each time slot.
The term frame refers to the structure imposed with a certain periodicity (for example 125
sec) on the transmission line. The frame is a set of consecutive time slots. The position of
each time slot can be identified by reference to a frame alignment indicator.
Figure 4 shows the principles of TDM.
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BASIC PRINCIPLES
Figure 4 : Principles of TDM
channel 1
channel 1
channel 2
channel n
channel 2
channel n
channel 3
network
Timing signal 1
Timing signal 2
Timing signal 3
Timing signal n
Multiplexed
channel
time slots
time
Two different multiplexing procedures exist, according to the amount of time spent per input
channel. If the time slot accommodates one complete byte of the input signal, the
multiplexed output signal is termed byte interleaved. Alternatively, bit interleaved
multiplexed signals contain just one bit of the input signal per time slot. (Figure 5)
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BASIC PRINCIPLES
Figure 5 : Byte and bit interleaving
channel 1
A1
B1
C1
D1
E1
F1
G1
H1
B2
C2
D2
E2
F2
G2
H2
B3
C3
D3
E3
F3
G3
H3
B4
C4
D4
E4
F4
G4
H4
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
B7
C7
D7
E7
F7
G7
H7
B8
C8
D8
E8
F8
G8
H8
channel 2
A2
channel 3
A3
channel 4
A4
.
.
.
channel 7
A7
.
.
.
channel 8
A8
1 Byte (8 bits)
Byte interleaving
A1 B1 C1 D1 E1 F1 G1 H1 A2 B2 C2 D2 E2 F2 G2 H2
A8 B8 C8 D8 E8 F8 G8 H8
Time slot
Bit interleaving
A1 A2 A3 A4 A5 A6 A7 A8 B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 B8
H1 H2 H3 H4 H5 H6 H7 H8
Time slot
Time
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BASIC PRINCIPLES
1.3 TIMING RELATED CONCEPTS
1.3.1 PLESIOCHRONOUS SIGNALS

Signals whose significant instants occur at nominally the same rate, and any variation in that
rate is restricted between specified limits.
Generally, signals that have the same nominal rate, but not originated from the same clock
are plesiochronous.
1.3.2 SYNCHRONISATION
To be able to interpret the information at the receiver side, synchronisation is needed.
a. Bit synchronisation
It is the mechanism for the bit and/or byte recuperation out of an information stream.
The information must be read in the middle of the bit, otherwise it is likely to be wrongly
interpreted.
Bit synchronisation is achieved by the usage of:
start/stop bits;
synchronisation characters;
introduce enough transitions in the coding (ref. chapter 1.1.3)
etc.
b. Frame synchronisation (alignment)

It is the mechanism to recover the frame structure from the recovered bit and/or byte stream.
The standard transmission framing structures (CCITT recommendations) are used for this
purpose. They recommend to insert a fixed synchronisation pattern (flag) in the begin
positions of the frames.
10
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BASIC PRINCIPLES
1.3.3 JITTER
Shortterm noncumulative variations of the significant instants of a digital signal from their
ideal positions in time.
1.3.4 WANDER
Longterm noncumulative variations of the significant instants of a digital signal from their
ideal positions in time.
1.3.5 JUSTIFICATION
The process to change the rate of a digital signal in a controlled manner to adjust it to a rate
different from its own rate. It happens usually without loss of information.
a. Positive justification
A method of justification, in which the timeslots that carry a digital signal have a rate that is
always higher than the rate of the original signal.
Positive justification is usually achieved by the allocation of timeslots per frame in the
aggregate signal. These timeslots either carry information from the original signal or no
information.
b. Negative justification
A method of justification, in which the timeslots that carry a digital signal have a rate that is
always lower than the rate of the original signal.
c. Positive/zero/negative justification
A method of justification, in which the timeslots that carry a digital signal have a rate that can
be higher than, the same as, or lower than the rate of the original signal.
d. Justification digit (stuffing digit)
A digit inserted in a justifiable timeslot when that time slot is not needed to carry information.
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BASIC PRINCIPLES
1.4 DIGITAL HIERARCHY

Because of historical reasons different digital hierarchies were defined
for the North American and European transmission networks. ( Figure 6 )
Figure 6 : Digital hierarchies (kbit/s)
Hierarchical
level
North American
Tx
bit rate
number of
channels
European
Ex
bit rate
number of
channels
64
64
1
1544
24
2048
32
6312
96
8448
128
44736
672
34368
512
139264
139264
4 x 512
3 x 672
12
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SYNCHRONOUS TIME DIVISION MULTIPLEXING
2. SYNCHRONOUS TIME DIVISION MULTIPLEXING
In the previous chapter it was described, that digital signals can be multiplexed, by
interleaving them in the time domain (TDM).
If these signals are derived from the same master clock, then a fixed phase relationship
exists between them, so they are synchronous signals. The multiplexing of these signals is
relative simple. For example, in the case of byte interleaving, the input signals byte rate
always remains equivalent to the information timeslot rate. Consequently, no justifications
are needed.
In this chapter a description is given of the most used synchronous time division multiplexing
frame structures. These are:
the NorthAmerican T1 system : 24 voice channels (recommendation G.733);
the European E1 system : 30 voice channels (recommendation G.732).
2.1 THE NORTHAMERICAN T1 TDM

The T1 first order multiplex system was the first TDM based system. It was used in the USA
as of the early 1960s on short haul trunks between urban analogue exchanges.
2.1.1 THE FRAME

Figure 7 shows the frame, which consists of 24 voice channels, each sampled at 8 kHz,
compressed according to the law, and coded as an 8 bit word. The 24 communications
are word (byte) interleaved. These 24 channels contain 192 bits.
Additionally, the frame contains 1 more bit (F bit), which is used alternately for the frame
alignment (synchronisation), to carry data, and for performance monitoring. It is inserted at
the start of the frame.
Consequently, the total capacity of the frame is 193 bits. Its duration is 125 sec. As a
result, the total bit rate is 1,544 Mbit/s.
The permitted bit rate on an interface is 1,544 Mbit/s 50 parts per million (ppm).
Figure 7 : The 24 channel T1 frame structure

Channel 1
8 bits
F bit
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Channel 24
8 bits
Channel 2
8 bits
Frame ( 193 bits, 125 sec)
13
2.1.2 MULTIFRAME STRUCTURES

The T1 system uses multiframe structures. A multiframe can consist of 12 or 24 frames.
Mainly, the 24 frame multiframe format is used.
Figure 8 shows the structure of the 12 frame multiframe structure.
Figure 9 shows the structure of the 24 frame multiframe structure.
a. The F bit as multiframe alignment signal

The multiframe alignment signal is used to identify the location of each particular frame
within the multiframe. This permits to extract the CRC, data link information, and to identify
the frames that contain signalling, if channel associated signalling is used.
b. The F bit as 4 kbit/s data link
The data link provides a communication path between the first order hierarchical level
terminals. It contains data or loss of frame alignment alarms. This information is marked
m (message) in the multiframe structure.
c. The F bit as performance monitoring (CRC)
The performance monitoring permits to detect transmission errors occurred inside of he
multiframe. Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) 6 is used for 24 frame multiframes.
d. Signalling
Two alternative signalling types are possible:
Common channel signalling: one 64 kbit/s channel time slot is used for this signalling.
In case of the 12 frame multiframe method, the pattern of the
S bit can be arranged to carry common channel signalling at
a rate of 4 kbit/s.
Channel associated signalling:
12 frame multiframe: frames 6 and 12 are designated as signalling frames. The
eighth bit in each channel time slot in the signalling frame
carries the signalling that is associated with that channel.
24 frame multiframe: four signalling bits (A, B, C, D) are present in the
multiframe. The channel associated signalling can provide
four independent 333 bit/s signalling channels, or two
independent 667 bit/s signalling channels, or one 1333 bit/s
signalling channel.
14
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e. Datacommunication
When the transmission system carries data information, it is not desirable to lose the 8th bit
of a data byte. The reason of the unavailability of this bit is signalling, as described on the
previous page. Two possibilities exist to solve this problem:
Nonclear channel system: in this case only 7 bits out of 8 are available per channel for
the user information. This means, that the bit rate of the users is restricted to 56 kbit/s.
Clear channel system: all the 8 bits of a channel are available for the user information.
Consequently, in this system no signalling can be done and as a result it is typical for
leased line configurations.
Figure 8 : Multiframe structure for the 12 frame multiframe

F bit
Frame number
Frame alignment
signal
Multiframe
alignment signal
(S bit)
Bit number(s) in each

channel time slot
for signal
for signalling
18
18
18
18
18
17
18
18
18
10
18
11
18
12
0 (x)
17
Signalling
channel
designation (xx)
(x) : When the S bit is modified to signal the alarm indications to the remote end,
the S bit in frame 12 is changed from state 0 to state 1.
(XX) : Channel associated signalling provides two independent 667 bit/s signalling channels, designated A and B or
one 1333 bit/s signalling channel.
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15
Figure 9 : Multiframe structure for the 24 frame multiframe
F bit
Frame number
Bit number
within multiframe
FAS
Bit number(s) in each

channel time slot
DL
CRC
for signal (x) for signalling (x)
18
194
e1
18
387
18
580
18
773
18
966
e2
17
1159
18
1352
18
1545
18
10
1738
e3
18
11
1931
18
12
2124
17
13
2317
18
14
2510
e4
18
15
2703
18
16
2896
18
17
3089
18
18
3282
e5
17
19
3475
18
20
3668
18
21
3861
18
22
4054
e6
18
23
4247
18
24
4440
17
Signalling
channel
designation (x)
FAS: Frame alignment signal

DL: Data link
CRC: e1...e6 check bits
(X): only applicable in case of channel associated signalling
16
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2.2 THE EUROPEAN E1 TDM

2.2.1 THE FRAME
Figure 10 shows the frame, which consists of 30 voice channels, each sampled at 8 kHz,
compressed according to the Alaw, and coded as an 8 bit word. The 30 communications
are word (byte) interleaved. These 30 channels contain 240 bits.
The frame also contains 2 more channels; they are used for synchronisation and signalling.
Consequently, the total capacity of the frame is 256 bits. Its duration is 125 sec. As a
result, the total bit rate is 2,048 Mbit/s.
The permitted bit rate on an interface is 2,048 Mbit/s 50 ppm.
Figure 10 : The 30 channel (32 time slot) E1 frame structure
Timeslot 0
Timeslot 1
Channel 1
8 bits
8 bits
Timeslot 15 Timeslot 16 Timeslot 17

Channel 16
Channel 15
8 bits
8 bits
8 bits
frame
alignment
Timeslot 31
Channel 30
signalling
Frame ( 256 bits, 125 sec)
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2.2.2 MULTIFRAME STRUCTURE

The E1 system uses multiframe structures. A multiframe consists of 16 frames. (Figure 11)
8 frames make a submultiframe, consequently a multiframe contains two submultiframes.
a. Frame alignment signal
Seven bits of the first timeslot of each even numbered frame contain the frame alignment
signal. Its pattern is 0011011.
b. CRC4 multiframe
In the frames that contain the frame alignment signal, the first bit of the first timeslot is used
to transmit the CRC4 bits, which are: C1, C2, C3, and C4.
In the frames that do not contain the frame alignment signal, the first bit of the first timeslot is
used to transmit the CRC4 multiframe alignment signal and two CRC4 error indication
bits. These bits are respectively: 001011 and E.
The E bits indicate that erroneous submultiframes were received.
c. Signalling
Signalling information can be carried in timeslot 16 of each frame. Two alternative signalling
types are possible:
Common channel signalling: A typical example is the CCITT Common Channel Signalling
System Number 7, which uses timeslot 16 to carry signalling
information for all channels.
Channel associated signalling: it uses the multiframe structure.
Four bits of timeslot16 of the first frame carry the signalling
multiframe alignment signal.
For the channel associated signalling four bits are assigned
(a, b, c, d). Each frame in the multiframe structure can carry
signalling information for two channels in timeslot 16. This bit
allocation offers four 500 bit/s signalling channels for each
channels.
If timeslot 16 is not used for signalling, it can be used to carry user information. This is the
case of leased lines.
Remark : In fact, two multiframe structures exist : the CRC multiframe, and the signalling
(CAS) multiframe. They operate independent from each other. So, be careful at
the interpretation of Figure 11!
18
770 00438 1340VHBE
Figure 11 : Multiframe structure overview for a 16 frame multiframe
Sub
multiframe
Frame
number
Timeslot 16 (x)
Timeslot 0
1
C1
Sa4
C2
Sa4
C3
Sa4
C4
Sa4
Sa5
Sa6
C1
Sa4
10
C2
11
12
C3
13
0000
Sa8
abcd
channel 1
abcd
channel 16
channel 2
channel 17
Sa8
channel 3
channel 18
channel 4
channel 19
Sa8
channel 5
channel 20
channel 6
channel 21
Sa7
Sa8
channel 7
channel 22
channel 8
channel 23
Sa5
Sa6
Sa7
Sa8
channel 9
channel 24
channel 10
channel 25
Sa4
Sa5
Sa6
Sa7
Sa8
channel 11
channel 26
channel 12
channel 27
Sa4
Sa5
Sa6
Sa7
Sa8
channel 13
channel 28
14
C4
channel 14
channel 29
15
Sa4
Sa5
Sa6
Sa7
Sa8
channel 15
channel 30
1
Sa5
Sa6
0
Sa6
8
1
Sa5
Sa7
1
Sa7
xyxx
II
1
Sa5
1
0
Sa6
0
1
Sa7
1
C1, C2,C3,C4: CRC4 bits E : CRC4 error indication bit

If no CRC4 is used, bit contains Si :reserved for internat. use
A: Remote Alarm Indication
Sa4, Sa5, Sa6, Sa7, Sa8 : additional spare bits
Sa5..Sa7: for national use
Sa4: data link for management
(X): only applicable in case of channel associated signalling

0000: multiframe alignment for timeslot 16
770 00438 1340VHBE
19
x: spare bit
y: alarm indication
2.3 TRANSMISSION MEDIUMS AND CODING

The most used transmission mediums for these first order signals are:
twisted pairs;
balanced twisted pair.
The recommended codings are:

for the T1 system : AMI or HDB3;
for the E1 system : HDB3.
20
770 00438 1340VHBE
ASYNCHRONOUS TIME DIVISION MULTIPLEXING

PLESIOCHRONOUS DIGITAL HIERARCHY
3. ASYNCHRONOUS TIME DIVISION MULTIPLEXING

To further increase transmission efficiency even more digital signals can be multiplexed.
However, these tributary signals are originated from different clock sources. Such signals
have to be adjusted (synchronised) to a common reference clock to be able to multiplex
them into a higher order transmission frame.
In this chapter first we discuss the problem of justification, then the frame structures of the
higher order signals.
3.1 THE JUSTIFICATION PROCESS

The justification process allows to multiplex asynchronous lower order tributary signals into
one aggregate signal.
The basic problem is: how can a fixed frame structure be defined on such a way that is able
to carry a long term average number of tributary digits, and still contains,in each frame, an
integral number of such digits.
Figure 12 shows the example of the European second order multiplexer that combines four
signals of each 2,048 Mbit/s ( 50 ppm) into an aggregate signal of 8,448 Mbit/s ( 30 ppm).
The aggregate signal bit rate is in fact equal to 4 x 2,112 Mbit/s. The aim is to define a
frame format that can, within the 2,112 Mbit/s stream, contain the 2,048 Mbit/s information
digits and the necessary control digits.
Figure 12 : Example: second order multiplexer

Channel 1
Channel 2
Channel 3
Multiplexed output
Multiplexer
8,448 Mbit/s
30 ppm
Channel 4
2,048 Mbit/s
50 ppm
770 00438 1340VHBE
( 4 x 2,112 Mbit/s)
21

The justification mechanism is used to solve the problem.

One bit location is assigned for each tributary in each frame in such a way that, depending
on the instantaneous needs, it does or does not carry information from the tributary signal.
This is also referred to as the stuffing bit.
The next problem is to signalise the content of the stuffing bit (stuffing or information) to the
receiver.
This is done by an additional control element: the housekeeping digit.
To ensure, that this control digit is well received, it is repeated several times within the
frame.
Usually, it is sent an odd number of times and the receiver then takes a majority decision.
( Majority decision or majority voting means, that that information is accepted, which occurs
in the majority of the bits)
3.1.1 POSITIVENEGATIVE JUSTIFICATION

Justification occurs in function of the differences between the write and the read clocks.
For example: The incoming information is written into a buffer with a rate of 2,048 Mbit/s.
This buffer is read at a rate of 2,112 Mbit/s.
If the write clock operates too fast in comparison to the read clock the only way to solve this
is to increase the speed of the reading process. The write process can not be changed,
because no control is possible on the incoming signal.
In this case we use the stuffing bit position(s) to write information in it. This is negative
justification.
If the write clock operates too slow in comparison to the read clock the only way to solve this
is to decrease the speed of the reading process. The write process can not be changed,
because no control is possible on the incoming signal.
In this case we use the stuffing bit position(s), for stuffing. This is positive justification.
Figure 13 gives an overview about the possible justification cases.
Figure 13 : Justification possibilities
Write clock rate
compared to
read clock rate
Justification
control bit
(housekeeping bit)
Information in
stuffing bit
(info or stuffing)
Type of
justification
Too FAST
yes
info
negative
Too SLOW
yes
stuffing
positive
22
770 00438 1340VHBE

Different frame types are defined for multiplexers that use positive justification, than those
that use positive/zero/negative justification. Consequently, equipments used in the PDH are
either based on positive or positive/zero/negative justification.
Figure 14 shows the general structure of a multiplexed signal.
A multiplexed signal forms a frame, which is divided into a number of units,
referred to as sets.
Each frame carries a frame alignment signal in the first bit positions of set 1.
In the consecutive sets, one justification control bit (housekeeping) is reserved for each
tributary signal. These are marked JC bit.
In the last set one justification bit is reserved for each tributary signal. These are
marked JB bit.
Remark: if positive/zero/negative justification is used, one bit is reserved for positive
justification and one bit is reserved for negative justification.
Figure 14 : General structure of multiplexed PDH frames
Frame
alignment
JC1... JCn
set 1
set 2
JC1... JCn
JC1... JCn JB1... JBn
set 3
set m
Frame
JCn : Justification Control bit of the nth tributary

JBn : Justification Bit of the nth tributary
3.1.2 JUSTIFICATION RATE / RATIO

Nominal justification rate : the justification rate that occurs when the rates of both the
original signal and the justified signal at their nominal values.
Maximum justification rate: the maximum possible justification rate that can be
accommodated by a justification process.
Nominal justification ratio : the ratio of the nominal justification rate to the maximum
justification rate.
770 00438 1340VHBE
23

3.2 THE EUROPEAN HIERARCHY

Figure 15 shows the defined bit rates for each level of the hierarchy, and it also shows, that
the multiplexing at each level is based on bit interleaving.
Figure 15 : The European hierarchy (2nd order and up)

Bit rate (kbit/s)
Interleaving
8 448
34 368
bit
bit
139 264
bit
3.2.1 8448 KBIT/S MULTIPLEXED FRAME STRUCTURE

The second order signal has a bit rate of 8448 kbit/s 30 ppm.
It has four tributaries whose nominal bit rate is 2048 kbit/s.
a. Positive justification used

This type of structure (equipment) is the most used.
The frame duration is 100,4 sec. The frame length is 848 bits. Each tributary signal can
take 206 bits within a frame.
The frame contains 4 sets of 212 bits.
The maximum justification rate per tributary is approximately 10 kbit/s. The nominal
justification ratio is 0.424.
Figure 16 and Figure 17 show the frame structure.
24
770 00438 1340VHBE

Figure 16 : 8448 kbit/s multiplexing frame structure

Bit number
Frame structure
SET 1
Frame alignment signal (1111010000)
Alarm indication to remote multiplexer
11
Bit reserved for national use
12
Bits from tributaries
1 to 10
13 to 212
SET 2
1 to 4
5 to 212
Justification control bits Cj1

SET 3
1 to 4
5 to 212

SET 4
Bits from tributaries available for justification
1 to 4
5 to 8
9 to 212
Cji : the ith justification control bit of the jth tributary
770 00438 1340VHBE
25


Bits 1 to 20 of the sets
SET
1 2
1 1 1
4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
0 1
0 0
0 Ai
R T1 T2 T3 T4 T1 T2 T3 T4
JC1 JC2 JC3 JC4
T1 T2 T3 T4 T1 T2 T3 T4 T1 T2 T3 T4 T1 T2 T3 T4
JC1 JC2 JC3 JC4
JC1 JC2 JC3 JC4 JB1 JB2 JB3 JB4
T1 T2 T3 T4 T1 T2 T3 T4 T1 T2 T3 T4
Ai : alarm indicator
R : reserved
T j: bits from tributary j
JC j : justificatation control bits for tributary j
JB j : justificatation bit for tributary j
26
770 00438 1340VHBE

b. Positive/zero/negative justification used
The frame duration is 125 sec. The frame length is 1056 bits. Each tributary signal can take
256 bits within a frame.
The maximum justification rate per tributary is approximately 8 kbit/s.
Figure 18 shows the frame structure.

using positive/zero/negative justification
Frame structure
Bit number
SET 1
Frame alignment signal (11100110
1 to 8
9 to 264
SET 2
1 to 4

Bits for service functions
5 to 8
9 to 264
SET 3
1 to 4
5 to 8
9 to 264

Spare bits

Bits from tributaries available for + justification
SET 4
1 to 4
5 to 8
9 to 12
13 to 264
770 00438 1340VHBE
27

c. Transmission mediums and coding

The most used transmission medium for the second order signals is the coaxial pair.
The recommended coding is HDB3.
3.2.2 34 368 KBIT/S MULTIPLEXED FRAME STRUCTURE
The third order signal has a bit rate of 34 368 kbit/s 20 ppm.
It has four tributaries whose nominal bit rate is 8448 kbit/s.

The maximum justification rate per tributary is approximately 22,3 kbit/s. The nominal
28
770 00438 1340VHBE


Bit number
Frame structure
SET 1
11
12
1 to 10
13 to 384
SET 2
1 to 4
5 to 384

SET 3
1 to 4
5 to 384

SET 4
1 to 4
5 to 8
9 to 384
770 00438 1340VHBE
29

Figure 20 : 34 368 kbit/s multiplexing frame structure

SET
1 2
1 1 1
4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
0 1
0 0
0 Ai R T1 T2 T3 T4 T1 T2 T3 T4
JC1 JC2 JC3 JC4
JC1 JC2 JC3 JC4
T1 T2 T3 T4 T1 T2 T3 T4 T1 T2 T3 T4
R : reserved
Tj: bits from tributary j
30
770 00438 1340VHBE

The frame duration is 62.5 sec. The frame length is 2148 bits. Each tributary signal can
take 528 bits within a frame.

Frame structure
Bit number
SET 1
1 to 12
13 to 716
SET 2
1 to 4

5 to 8
9 to 12
13 to 716
SET 3

Bits reserved for national use
1 to 4
5 to 8
9 to 12
13 to 16
17 to 716
770 00438 1340VHBE
31


The most used transmission mediums for the third order signals :
coaxial pair . The recommended coding is HDB3;
optical fibre. The recommended coding is NRZ.

The fourth order signal has a bit rate of 139 264 kbit/s 15 ppm.
Two methods are defined to achieve this bit rate:
multiplexing four signals of 34 368 kbit/s;
multiplexing sixteen signals of 8 448 kbit/s.
In both cases the resulting fourth order signals must be identical.
Consequently, two types of multiplexing equipment exist:
separate equipments: one multiplexer that operates at 34 368 kbit/s and multiplexes four
signals at 8448 kbit/s, and an other that operates at 139 264 kbit/s
and multiplexes four signals at 34 368 kbit/s;
single equipment: operates at 139 264 kbit/s and multiplexes sixteen signals at 8448 kbit/s

The frame duration is 21 sec. The frame length is 2928 bits.
Each tributary signal ( 34 368 kbit/s) can take 723 bits within a frame.
32
770 00438 1340VHBE


Bit number
Frame structure
SET 1
1 to 12
13
14 to 16
17 to 488
SET 2 to 5
Justification control bits Cji
1 to 4
5 to 488
(i= 1 to 4)
SET 6
1 to 4
5 to 8
9 to 488
770 00438 1340VHBE
33


SET
1 2
4 5 6
1 1
7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
1 0 1
0 0
0 0 0 Ai
R R R T1 T2 T3 T4
JC1 JC2 JC3 JC4
T1 T2 T3 T4T1 T2 T3 T4 T1 T2 T3 T4 T1 T2 T3 T4
JC1 JC2 JC3 JC4
JC1 JC2 JC3 JC4
JC1 JC2 JC3 JC4
T1 T2 T3 T4 T1 T2 T3 T4 T1 T2 T3 T4
R : reserved
Tj: bits from tributary j
34
770 00438 1340VHBE

The frame duration is 15,6 sec. The frame length is 2176 bits.
Each tributary signal ( 34 368 kbit/s) can take 537 bits within a frame.

Frame structure
Bit number
SET 1
Frame alignment signal

1 to 10
11 to 12
13 to 544
SET 2
1 to 4
5 to 544
SET 3
1 to 4
5 to 544
SET 4
1 to 4
5 to 8
9 to 12
13 to 544
770 00438 1340VHBE
35

The most used transmission mediums for the fourth order signals :
coaxial pair. The recommended coding is CMI;
36
770 00438 1340VHBE

3.3 THE NORTHAMERICAN HIERARCHY

Figure 25 shows the defined bit rates for each level of the hierarchy, and it also shows, that
the multiplexing at each level is based on bit interleaving.
Figure 25 : The NorthAmerican hierarchy (2nd order and up)

bit rate (kbit/s)
Interleaving
6 312
44 736
bit
bit
139 264
bit
3.3.1 6312 KBIT/S MULTIPLEXED FRAME STRUCTURE

The second order signal has a bit rate of 6312 kbit/s 30 ppm.

The signal has four tributaries whose nominal bit rate is 1544 kbit/s.
The frame duration is 46,5 sec. The frame length is 294 bits. It contains 6 sets of 49 bits.
The bits from the second and fourth tributaries are inverted logically before multiplexing with
the bits from the first and third tributaries.
Four frames make a multiframe structure. The length of the multiframe is 1176 bits.
Each tributary signal can take 288 bits within a multiframe.
770 00438 1340VHBE
37


Bit number
Frame structure
SET 1
1
2 to 49
Bit for multiframe alignment Mj

SET 2
1
2 to 49
1st justification control bit Cj1

SET 3
1st bit for frame alignment F0
1
2 to 49
2nd justification control bit Cj2

SET 4
1
2 to 49
3rd justification control bit Cj3

SET 5
1
2 to 49
SET 6
1
2
3 to 49
2nd bit for frame alignment F1

Bit available for justification (Bj)
Mj: jth frame in multiframe

The multiframe alignment signal is 011x (x can be used as alarm indicatior)
F0 = 0 and F1 =1 frame alignment
Bj : justification bit of the jth tributary
38
770 00438 1340VHBE

b. 6312 kbit/s multiplex equipment multiplexing tributaries of 2048 kbit/s
This type of equipment is intended to be used between networks that use different digital
hierarchies. An example for this is the interworking between NorthAmerican and European
hierarchy based systems.
The signal has three tributaries whose nominal bit rate is 2048 kbit/s.
The maximum justification rate per tributary is approximately 7,5 kbit/s.
The nominal justification ratio is 0.453.
770 00438 1340VHBE
39


three tributaries of 2048 kbit/s
Frame structure
Bit number
SET 1
1 to 9
10 to 168

Parity bit
Reserved bit
SET 2
1
2
3
4 to 168
SET 3
1 to 3
4 to 168

SET 4
1 to 3
4 to 168

SET 5
1 to 3
4 to 6
7 to 168

The most used transmission mediums for the second order signals:
symmetrical pair with B6ZS ( bipolar with 6 zero substitution) coding;
coaxial pair with B8ZS ( bipolar with 8 zero substitution) coding.
Definition of B6ZS and B8ZS:
Each block of 6 (or 8) consecutive zeros is replaced by 0VB0VB (or 000VB0VB).
B represents an inserted pulse that is conform to the AMI rule.
V represents an inserted pulse that violates the AMI rule.
40
770 00438 1340VHBE


The third order signal has a bit rate of 44 736 kbit/s 20 ppm.
It has seven tributaries whose nominal bit rate is 6312 kbit/s.

The frame duration is 15,2 sec. The frame length is 680 bits. It contains 8 sets of 85 bits.
Seven frames make a multiframe structure. The length of the multiframe is 4760 bits.
Each tributary signal can take 672 bits within a multiframe.
The maximum justification rate per tributary is approximately 9,4 kbit/s.
The nominal justification ratio is 0.39.
770 00438 1340VHBE
41

Frame structure
Bit number
SET 1
Bit for multiframe alignment Mj

1
2 to 85
1st bit for frame alignment F11
SET 2
1
2 to 85
1st justification control bit Cj1

SET 3
1
2 to 85
2nd bit for frame alignment F0

SET 4
1
2 to 85
2nd justification control bit Cj2

SET 5
1
2 to 85
3rd bit for frame alignment F0

SET 6
1
2 to 85
3rd justification control bit Cj3

SET 7
1
2 to 85
4th bit for frame alignment F12

Bit available for justification (Bj)
SET 8
1
2
3 to 85
Mj: jth frame in multiframe

The multiframe alignment signal is xxpp010 (x is for service fumction, p is parity bit)
F0 = 0 and F11 = F12 = 1 frame alignment
Bj : justification bit of the jth tributary
42
770 00438 1340VHBE

b. Transmission mediums and coding

The most used transmission mediums for the third order signals :
coaxial pair. The recommended coding is B3ZS, also referred to as HDB2;
The fourth order signal has a bit rate of 139 264 kbit/s 15 ppm.
It has three tributaries whose nominal bit rate is 44 736 kbit/s.

The frame duration is 6,8 sec. The frame length is 954 bits.
Each tributary signal can take 307 bits within a frame.
The maximum justification rate per tributary is approximately 146 kbit/s. The nominal
770 00438 1340VHBE
43


Bit number
Frame structure
SET 1

1 to 12
13 to 159

SET 2
1 to 3
4 to 159

SET 3
1 to 3
4 to 159

Parity bit
Bit reserved
SET 4
1 to 3
4
5
6 to 9
10 to 159
SET 5
1 to 3
4 to 159


SET 6
1 to 3
4 to 6
7 to 159
b. Transmission mediums and coding

The most used transmission mediums for the fourth order signals :
coaxial pair. The recommended coding is CMI;
44
770 00438 1340VHBE
PDH AND ASYNCHRONOUS TRANSFER MODE
4. PDH AND ASYNCHRONOUS TRANSFER MODE

4.1 MAPPING OF ATM CELLS
ATM, the Asynchronous Transfer Mode, was chosen by CCITT in 1990 for the transfer mode
of the Broadband ISDN network.
ATM defines, that all type of information (voice, data, video) has to be carried in the network
in form of cells. An ATM cell is 53 bytes long, it consists of a 5 bytes header and of a 48
bytes payload part. ( Figure 30)
Figure 30 : ATM cell
Header
Payload
56
53 bytes
Recommendation G.804. describes the mapping of ATM cells into the PDH transmission
system. The mapping is defined for all types of frames in the hierarchy.
The mapping is done in such a way, that the ATM cells byte boundaries are aligned with the
frames byte boundaries
Idle cells are inserted if the offered rate of the source is not sufficient to fully load the frame
capacity.
To prevent the ATM cell payload to accidentally contain the frame alignment or ATM cell
delineation information stream, the payload part of the ATM cell is scrambled. This also
protects the network and the users against malicious users. The standards recommend a
selfsynchronising scrambler of generating polynomial x43+1.
To find the ATM cell boundary (cell delineation) the Header Error Control (HEC) parameter is
used, which is part of the contents of the ATM cell header.
770 00438 1340VHBE
45
4.2 MAPPING INTO LOWER ORDER FRAMES

The basic frame format is the same as it was described earlier for signals that do not carry
ATM cells.
Figure 31 shows, as an example, the ATM cells in 2 048 kbit/s frames.
A cell can be mapped into bits 9 to 128 and bits 137 to 256, which correspond to
timeslots 1 to 15 and timeslots 17 to 31 of the frame.
Figure 31 : 2 048 kbit/s frame structures transporting ATM cells

timeslot
0
timeslot
16
Header
Header
Header
Header
256 bits
ATM cell mapping field
ATM cell mapping field
ATM cell :
Header
46
770 00438 1340VHBE
4.3 MAPPING INTO 34 368 KBIT/S

The basic frame format ( Figure 32 ) is different than it was described earlier in chapter 3 for
signals that do not carry ATM cells. It contains 7 bytes of overhead and 530 bytes of payload
per 125 s.
Figure 32 : Frame structure at 34 368 kbit/s

FA1
FA2
EM
TR
MA
9 bytes
NR
GC
59 bytes
F1 / F2 : Frame Alignment Signal ( 11110110 / 00101000 ).

EM : Error Monitoring. BIP8 is calculated over all bits of the previous frame.
TR : Trail trace. It identifies the trail (between transmitter and receiver).
MA : Maintenance and Adaptation byte.
bit 1: FERF
bit 2: FEBE
bit 3 to 5 : payload type
000 : unequipped 001 : equipped, non specific
010 : ATM
011 : SDH TU12s
bit 6 to 7 : payload dependent (for example: TU multiframe indicator)
bit 8: timing marker,
refers to the timing source primary reference clock relationship
NR : Network operator byte.
GC : General purpose Communications channel for data/voice.
770 00438 1340VHBE
47
Figure 33 shows the ATM cells in a 34 368 kbit/s frame.

The ATM cells are mapped into the 530 payload bytes of the frame.
Figure 33 : Frame structure at 34 368 kbit/s, transporting ATM cells
9 bytes
59 bytes
ATM cell
48
overhead byte
770 00438 1340VHBE
4.4 MAPPING INTO 139 264 KBIT/S

The basic frame format ( Figure 34) is different than it was described earlier in chapter 3 for
signals that do not carry ATM cells. It contains 16 bytes of overhead and 2160 bytes of
payload per 125 s.
Figure 34 : Frame structure at 139 264 kbit/s
FA1
FA2
EM
P1
TR
P2
MA
9 bytes
NR
not defined yet
GC
240 bytes
F1 / F2 : Frame Alignment Signal ( 11110110 / 00101000 ).

EM : Error Monitoring. BIP8 is calculated over all bits of the previous frame.
TR : Trail trace. It identifies the trail (between transmitter and receiver).
MA : Maintenance and Adaptation byte.
bit 1: FERF
bit 2: FEBE
bit 3 to 5 : payload type
000 : unequipped
001 : equipped, non specific
010 : ATM
011 : SDH mapping: 20 x TUG2
100: SDH mapping: 2 x TUG3 and 5 x TUG2
bit 6 to 7 : payload dependent (for example: TU multiframe indicator)
bit 8: timing marker,
refers to the timing source primary reference clock relationship
NR : Network operator byte.
GC : General purpose Communications channel for data/voice.
P1 / P2 : Automatic Protection Switching
770 00438 1340VHBE
49
Figure 35 shows the ATM cells in a 139 264 kbit/s frame.

The ATM cells are mapped into the 2 160 payload bytes of the frame.
Figure 35 : Frame structure at 139 264 kbit/s, transporting ATM cells
...
ATM cell
overhead byte
9 bytes
...
240 bytes
50
770 00438 1340VHBE
ANNEX
ANNEX A: EXAMPLE
NEW GENERATION PCM (1st order multiplexer)
A.1.EVOLUTION
The conventional PCM 30 channel system consists of an A/D convertor and a multiplexer.
(Figure 36)
Each speech channel is sampled and transformed into a digital signal of 8 bits per 125 sec.
This results in a 64 kbit/s signal.
30 of these digital signals are multiplexed into a 2,048 Mbit/s signal.
Figure 36 : Conventional 2Mbit/s PCM (1)
30
voice
channels
.
.
A/D
MUX
one user channel

64 kbit/s
770 00438 1340VHBE
51
aggregate signal
2,048 Mbit/s
ANNEX
The traditional telephone signalisation consists mainly of the detection of changes in the DC
condition of the subscriber line. These signals have to be transmitted for each speech
channel.
Consequently, it is necessary to have a special function that maps these signals into
signalisation messages in timeslot 16 of the frame. (Figure 37)
voice
A/D
.
.
MUX
signalling
.
.
.
.
30
.
.
.
.
voice
.
.
.
.
A/D
signalling
Data users can also be connected. To realise the data connections synchronous and
asynchronous interfaces are developed. Additionally, each incoming data signal of a user
has to be converted into a 64 kbit/s signal (D/D conversion). (Figure 38)
voice
channels
data
channels
.
.
A/D
MUX
D/D
one user channel

64 kbit/s
52
aggregate signal
2,048 Mbit/s
770 00438 1340VHBE
ANNEX
The traditional PCM system is not flexible when it comes to extensions and modifications.
Each additional user means a printed circuit board in the subrack, with specific positions for
speech and for data. To fulfil the continuously changing user demands, boards have to be
continuously added and/or taken away.
The new generation PCM (NGPCM) is based on a modular architecture. (Figure 39 )

The two basic modules are :
user interfaces boards;
common functions board.
The two types of modules are connected by an internal bus.
Figure 39 : New generation PCM (1)
user
connections
A/D or D/D
2 Mbit/s
MUX
signalling
Channel Signalling Unit

or
Data Interface
PCM controller
internal bus
The Channel Signalling Unit (CSU) board is the user interface. It can serve a number of
telephone users.
The Data Interface is an interface to data users. In this configuration no signalling interface
function is foreseen.
The PCM controller board executes the common functions of multiplexing and encoding.
It also has some configuration control functions.
The internal bus carries :
the digitised user information;
configuration information from the controller to the user interface board(s).
770 00438 1340VHBE
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ANNEX
A.2.ADVANTAGES
A.2.1. FLEXIBILITY
Because of its modular structure, internal communication bus and the specific user interface
boards, this product offers great flexibility. The configuration control facility allows to define
the parameters for each new user interface. Consequently, the product can easily be
adjusted to new users or to a new network environment.
Figure 40 shows an example where two CSUs are used. Each of them can connect 5
analogue users. A Data Interface board is also installed to provide an n x 64 kbit/s
interface.
Figure 40 : New generation PCM (2)
1
5 analogue circuits
MUX
5
1
5 analogue circuits
PCM controller
5
n x 64 kbit/s
Data Interface
internal bus
54
770 00438 1340VHBE
ANNEX
A.2.2. APPLICATIONS
The applications of the conventional PCM are limited to pointtopoint network connections,
for example to connections between analogue exchanges or in leased line networks.
On Figure 41, the user access lines are still analogue.
Figure 41 : Leased lines
P
C
M
modem
user A
P
C
M
2 Mbit/s
P
C
M
modem
user B
2 Mbit/s
P
C
M
Main
Distribution
Frame
Transmission
network
modem
user C
On the above figure, user C can communicate through the network directly with either user A
or with user B.
However, user A and user B can not communicate with each other directly, if conventional
PCM equipment is installed.
If new generation PCM is installed, communication between A and B is not a problem,
because the NGPCM can handle transit traffic.
An NGPCM can be equipped with more than one PCM controller. This means that the
equipment can have more than one network connection.
The PCM controller can be programmed to handle transit traffic. In this case, a number of
channels, for example, coming from user A are directly forwarded to user B. The other
channels terminate at user C. (Figure 42 and Figure 43)
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55
ANNEX
Figure 42 : Leased lines with NGPCM
modem
user A
network
node A
(NG)
P
C
M
(NG)
P
C
M
2 Mbit/s
N
G
P
C
M
modem
network
node B
user B
2 Mbit/s
controller
Transmission
network
controller
..
network
node C
modem
user C
Figure 43 : Distribution of incoming information in network node C
link
from/to
node A
Transit traffic channels
controller
link
from/to
node B
controller
..
originating / terminating traffic channels
connection to user C
56
770 00438 1340VHBE
ANNEX
A.2.3. NETWORK OPTIMISATION (2 MBIT/S LEASED LINES)

Figure 44 shows a leased line network before and after optimisation. Because of the usage
of an NGPCM in network node C, we can eliminate one trunk connection. The two trunk
connections that remain are also used more efficiently.
Figure 44 : Optimisation of a 2 Mbit/s leased line network
Conventional PCM in network node C

network
node
A
users
2 Mbit/s
network
node
B
10 channels used (10/30)
2 Mbit/s
users
2 Mbit/s
network
node
C
users
New Generation PCM in network node C

network
node
A
users
2 Mbit/s
network
node
B
10 channels
users
2 Mbit/s
network
node
C
10 channels
15 channels
users
770 00438 1340VHBE
57
ANNEX
A.3.EXAMPLES OF APPLICATIONS
A.3.1. ALCATEL 1510 MX
The product number Alcatel 1510 MX identifies the NGPCM for the function of
2 Mbit/s Interexchange Trunk Multiplexer.
4.4.1 Trunk connections between analogue exchanges

This is the oldest and most known application of a PCM. (Figure 45)
The aim is to reduce the number of physical trunk connections between exchanges and to
increase the transmission quality.
Consequently, at the sender side, the NGPCM converts the information from analogue to
digital form, maps the signalling information into the transmission frame, and executes the
multiplexing. At the receiver side the inverse actions are executed.
All installations work on a pointtopoint base.
Figure 45 : Connection between analogue exchanges
1
2 Mbit/s transmission link

PCM
exchange
PCM
30
30
exchange
a. Trunk connections between analogue and digital exchanges

The connections between the exchanges here are also pointtopoint connections.
However, if the digital exchange acts as a transit exchange, the incoming multiplexed signal
does not have to be demultiplexed.
Figure 46 : Connection between analogue and not local, digital exchanges
1
2 Mbit/s transmission link

PCM
trunk
termination
30
analogue
exchange
digital
exchange
b. Feeder multiplexer for digital crossconnect systems

The flexibility and versatility of the equipment enables it to handle transit traffic, as described
in chapter A.2 .
58
770 00438 1340VHBE
ANNEX
A.3.2. ALCATEL 1511 MX

The product number Alcatel 1511 MX identifies the NGPCM for the function of
2 Mbit/s Subscriber Multiplexer.
The aim of this equipment is to optimise the telephone access network, thus to reduce the
number of physical subscriber connections to the network. (Figure 47)
Figure 47 : Subscriber multiplexer
1
local
2 Mbit/s link
NGPCM
exchange
remote
NGPCM
30
multipair cable
Additionally to the already described functions of the NGPCM, the equipment also has to
provide to each subscriber line:
power supply (48 V DC)
The remote NGPCM provides this.
ringing current (90 V, 25 Hz)
Ringing current is generated by the exchange. The local NGPCM signalises this
to the remote NGPCM, by the information in timeslot 16. The remote NGPCM
then generates the ringing current.
taxation pulses (12 kHz / 20 kHz)
Same procedure applies here as for the generation of ringing current.
770 00438 1340VHBE
59
ANNEX
60
770 00438 1340VHBE
ANNEX
ANNEX B : RECOMMENDATIONS
Some important recommendations:
G.701
G.702
G.703
G.704
Vocabulary of digital transmission and multiplexing, and pulse code modulation

(PCM) terms
Digital hierarchy bit rates
Physical/electrical characteristics of hierarchical digital interfaces
Synchronous frame structures used at primary and secondary hierarchical levels
G.732
G.733
G.736.
Characteristics of primary PCM multiplex equipment operating at 2 048 kbit/s

Characteristics of primary PCM multiplex equipment operating at 1 544 kbit/s
Characteristics of a synchronous digital multiplex equipment operating
at 2 048 kbit/s
G.742
Second order digital multiplex equipment operating at 8 448 kbit/s and using
positive justification
positive/zero/negative justification
positive justification
G.745
G.743
G.751
G.753
G.754
G.804
G.832.
Digital multiplex equipments operating at the third order bitrate of 34 368 kbit/s
and the fourth order bitrate of 139 264 kbit/ and using positive justification
Third order digital multiplex equipment operating at 34 368 kbit/s and using
Fourth order digital multiplex equipment operating at 139 264 kbit/s and using
ATM cell mapping into plesiochronous digital hierarchy (PDH)

Transport of SDH elements on PDH networks: frame and multiplexing structures
770 00438 1340VHBE
61
ANNEX
ANNEX C: ABBREVIATIONS
AIS (A bit)
Alarm Indication Signal
AMI
Alternate Mark Inversion
CAS
Channel Associated Signalling
CCS
Common Channel Signalling
CMI
Coded Mark Inversion
CRC
Cyclic Redundancy Check
CSU
Cjn bit
nth justification Control bit of the jth tributary
E1, E2, E3, E4
Digital signals in the European transmission system
FAS
Frame Alignment Signal
FDM
Frequency Division Multiplexing
HDB3
High Density Bipolar excess 3
NGPCM
New Generation PCM
NRZ
NonReturn to Zero
PCM
Pulse Code Modulation
PDH
Plesiochronous Digital Hierarchy
PPM
Parts Per Million
RZ
Return to Zero
STDM
Statistical Division Multiplexing
S bit
Spare bit
TDM
Time Division Multiplexing
T1, T2, T3, T4
Digital signals in the NorthAmerican transmission system
62
770 00438 1340VHBE

Introduction À La PDH - Alcatel-Lucent

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Introduction À La PDH - Alcatel-Lucent

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1995 BELL TELEPHONE MANUFACTURING COMPANY N.V.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

770 00438 1340VHBE

BELL EDUCATION CENTRE

1995 BELL TELEPHONE MANUFACTURING COMPANY N.V. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

BELL EDUCATION CENTRE

770 00438 1340VHBE

1995 BELL TELEPHONE MANUFACTURING COMPANY N.V. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

1.1 PULSE CODE MODULATION (PCM) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1.2.1 TIME DIVISION MULTIPLEXING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1.3 TIMING RELATED CONCEPTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

2. SYNCHRONOUS TIME DIVISION MULTIPLEXING . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

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3. ASYNCHRONOUS TIME DIVISION MULTIPLEXING

3.3.1 6312 KBIT/S MULTIPLEXED FRAME STRUCTURE . . . . . . . . 37

4. PDH AND ASYNCHRONOUS TRANSFER MODE . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

BELL EDUCATION CENTRE

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This handout describes the basic frame structures used in the

770 00438 1340VHBE

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1995 BELL TELEPHONE MANUFACTURING COMPANY N.V. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

BELL EDUCATION CENTRE

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1995 BELL TELEPHONE MANUFACTURING COMPANY N.V. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Figure 1 : Simple representation of the modulation/demodulation

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BELL EDUCATION CENTRE

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Before the transmission of the digital information, additional encoding is done.

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Figure 3 : Most used codes

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Multiplexing offers an economically efficient way to carry communication information from

1.2.1 TIME DIVISION MULTIPLEXING

Figure 4 shows the principles of TDM.

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Figure 4 : Principles of TDM

1995 BELL TELEPHONE MANUFACTURING COMPANY N.V. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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Figure 5 : Byte and bit interleaving

1995 BELL TELEPHONE MANUFACTURING COMPANY N.V. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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1.3 TIMING RELATED CONCEPTS

1.3.1 PLESIOCHRONOUS SIGNALS

1995 BELL TELEPHONE MANUFACTURING COMPANY N.V. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

b. Frame synchronisation (alignment)

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