International Telecommunication Union
The ITU-T Language
Family and other
general software issues
Amardeo Sarma
Chairman, ITU-T Study Group 10
ITU-T and ITU-D Workshop
Bangalore (India), 30-31 August 2001
Mandate of Study Group 10
o Responsible for technical languages, the
methods for their usage and other issues
related to the software aspects of
telecommunication systems.
o Studies on modelling, specification and
description techniques and on other
software
o SG10 is Lead Study Group on Languages
and Description Techniques within ITU-T
31.05.2016
ITU-T and ITU-D Workshop - Bangalore (India), 30-31 August 2001
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The ITU-T language family
(Current)
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SDL - Specification & Description Language
ASN.1 - Abstract Syntax Notation One
MSC - Message Sequence Chart
TTCN Tree and Tabular Combined Notation
ODL - Object Definition Language
IDL – Interface Definition Language
CHILL - CCITT HIgh-Level Language
GDMO – Guidelines for the definition of
managed objects
Besides SG10, SG7, SG4 and ISO involved
31.05.2016
ITU-T and ITU-D Workshop - Bangalore (India), 30-31 August 2001
3
The ITU-T language family
(new)
o DCL - Distribution and Configuration
Language
o URN - User Requirements Notation
o Incorporating Time and Performance
into the languages
31.05.2016
ITU-T and ITU-D Workshop - Bangalore (India), 30-31 August 2001
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Core properties of ITU-T
Languages
o Geared towards real-time, distributed
communicating systems
o Strong focus on formal basis, allowing
early verification and validation
o Many languages with a graphical syntax
o Commercial tool support
• Tool availability required for approval
• Tools vendors directly involved in work
o SG 10 Policy: Strong coupling with use in
standards and industrial needs and use
31.05.2016
ITU-T and ITU-D Workshop - Bangalore (India), 30-31 August 2001
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Other Study Group 10 issues
o Quality
• Quality of Protocol-related
Recommendations
• Quality assurance
o Methodology
• Chain for Software development
• Use in standards
o Middleware
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ITU-T and ITU-D Workshop - Bangalore (India), 30-31 August 2001
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Policy of active co-operation
Methods for
Testing and
Specification
ISO
ETSI
ACTS
MTS
SG7
EURESCOM
IETF
Co-operation
via joint experts
ITU-T
SG17
SG10
Vendors
Universities
TINA-C
SDL
Forum
OMG
Users
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Consultants
SDL Forum
Society
ITU-T and ITU-D Workshop - Bangalore (India), 30-31 August 2001
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Results of Use of Languages
o New Z-Series Recommendations:
• SDL, MSC, ODL, CHILL
• UML with SDL, SDL with ASN.1
o Standards
• ITU-T, ETSI, 3GPP, ISO/IEC JTC1
• Some use in IEEE, ATM Forum, IETF
o Industry (Software Development)
• Telco Product development
• New: Aviation and Automotive
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ITU-T and ITU-D Workshop - Bangalore (India), 30-31 August 2001
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ITU-T Languages in
Standards
o Previous:
• OSEK, Automotive "vehicle area network":(SDL, MSC)
• ARINC 422 etc. - Avionics : (SDL, MSC)
• GSM, DECT, ISO/IEC JTC1
• ITU-T: X, Q, I, H and T series
o Ongoing:
• 3GPP - RAN + CN: (ASN.1, SDL, MSC, TTCN)
• BRAN Data Link Control: (All)
• ATM Forum: (TTCN)
• Bluetooth: (primarily TTCN)
• IEEE-1394: (MSC, TTCN and SDL under consideration)
• IETF: OSPF (SDL), several RFCs (ASN.1)
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ITU-T and ITU-D Workshop - Bangalore (India), 30-31 August 2001
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Key Challenges Ahead
o Integrating ITU-T and non-ITU languages
and methods, thereby providing various
mixes adapted to user needs
o Expanding further into the Internet and
mobility area, e.g. for protocols
o Breaking into new application areas
beyond telecommunications
o Strengthening Quality and General
Software issues, such as Methodology
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ITU-T and ITU-D Workshop - Bangalore (India), 30-31 August 2001
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More Information
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http://www.itu.int
http://www.sdl-forum.org
http://www.asn1.org
http://asn1.elibel.tm.fr
o Text books on SDL, ASN.1 and MSC
o Contact me: sarma@ccrle.nec.de
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ITU-T and ITU-D Workshop - Bangalore (India), 30-31 August 2001
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