The ITU-T Language Family and other general software issues

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The ITU-T Language Family and other general
software issues

• Amardeo SarmaChairman, ITU-T Study Group 10

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Mandate of Study Group 10

• Responsible for technical languages, the methods
  for their usage and other issues related to the
  software aspects of telecommunication systems.
• Studies on modelling, specification and
  description techniques and on other software
• SG10 is Lead Study Group on Languages and
  Description Techniques within ITU-T

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The ITU-T language family (Current)

• 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
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The ITU-T language family (new)

• DCL - Distribution and Configuration Language
• URN - User Requirements Notation
• Incorporating Time and Performance into the
  languages

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Core properties of ITU-T Languages

• Geared towards real-time, distributed
  communicating systems
• Strong focus on formal basis, allowing early
  verification and validation
• Many languages with a graphical syntax
• Commercial tool support
• Tool availability required for approval
• Tools vendors directly involved in work
• SG 10 Policy Strong coupling with use in
  standards and industrial needs and use

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Other Study Group 10 issues

• Quality
• Quality of Protocol-related Recommendations
• Quality assurance
• Methodology
• Chain for Software development
• Use in standards
• Middleware

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Policy of active co-operation
Methods for Testing and Specification
ISO
ETSI MTS
ACTS
EURESCOM
IETF
Universities
ITU-T SG17
Vendors
TINA-C
SDL Forum
OMG
SDL Forum Society
Users
Consultants
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Results of Use of Languages

• New Z-Series Recommendations
• SDL, MSC, ODL, CHILL
• UML with SDL, SDL with ASN.1
• Standards
• ITU-T, ETSI, 3GPP, ISO/IEC JTC1
• Some use in IEEE, ATM Forum, IETF
• Industry (Software Development)
• Telco Product development
• New Aviation and Automotive

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ITU-T Languages in Standards

• 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
• 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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Key Challenges Ahead

• Integrating ITU-T and non-ITU languages and
  methods, thereby providing various mixes adapted
  to user needs
• Expanding further into the Internet and mobility
  area, e.g. for protocols
• Breaking into new application areas beyond
  telecommunications
• Strengthening Quality and General Software
  issues, such as Methodology

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More Information

• http//www.itu.int
• http//www.sdl-forum.org
• http//www.asn1.org
• http//asn1.elibel.tm.fr
• Text books on SDL, ASN.1 and MSC
• Contact me sarma_at_ccrle.nec.de