The present information age is enabled by telecommunications and information technology and the continued convergence of their services, technologies and business models. Within telecommunications, the historic separations between fixed networks, mobile telephone networks and data communications are diminishing. Similarly, information technology and enterprise communications show convergence with telecommunications. These synergies are captured in the concept of Next Generation Networks that result from evolution to new technologies, enabling new services and applications. Network Convergence creates a framework to aid the understanding of Next Generation Networks, their potential for supporting new and enhanced applications and their relationships with legacy networks. The book identifies and explains the concepts and principles underlying standards for networks, services and applications. Network Convergence: Gives comprehensive coverage of packet multimedia, enterprise networks, third generation mobile communications, OSA/Parlay and developments in fixed networks. Gives an integrated view of diverse information and communications systems and technology through a common NGN Framework. Delves into protocols, APIs and software processes for supporting services and applications in advanced networks. Discusses a variety of applications of telecommunications supporting IT and IT enhanced by communications. Follows developments in operations support systems standards and links these to next generation networks. Includes a wealth of examples, use cases, tables and illustrations that help reinforce the material for students and practitioners. Features an accompanying website with PowerPoint presentations, glossary, web references, tutorial problems, and 'learn more' pages. This essential reference guide will prove invaluable to advanced undergraduate and graduate students, academics and researchers. It will also be of interest to professionals working for telecommunications network operators, equipment vendors, telecoms regulators, and engineers who wish to further their knowledge of next generation networks.

Acquiring Task-Based Knowledge and Specifications to Seek Time Evaluation

This book constitutes the thoroughly refereed postproceedings of the 4th International Workshop on SDL and MSC, SAM 2004, held in Ottawa, Canada in June 2004. The 19 revised full papers presented were carefully selected during two rounds of reviewing and revision from initially 46 submissions. The papers are organized in topical sections on SDL and eODL, evolution of languages, requirements and MSC, security, SDL and modeling, and experience.

Introduces the principles of signalling systems and examines their architectures. Modern signalling systems are described in detail, including Signalling System Number Seven and the Digital Subscriber Systems, while older systems are outlined in the appendices. Chapters cover mobile, intelligent, and private networks, as well as signalling interworking, the role in network management, and meeting broadband requirements. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Teleservice is a common concept for distributed application services related to the use of telecommunication equipment, PCs, workstations and mainframes. Teleservices represent a diversity of applications related to various user and vendor cultures such as traditional telecommunications services, E-mail services, cooperative work, applications, multimedia applications, mobile services and intelligent network services. The complexity and diversity of teleservices are increasing, but of greater importance is the change in the way in which teleservices are designed, delivered and maintained. Information Network and Data Communications captures the cultural as well as the technical variety of teleservice.

The IFIP International Working Conference on Intelligent Networks '95 was held at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) in Copenhagen. The conference was organised jointly by the Center for Tete-Information at DTU and Tele Danmark Research! during August 30-31 1995 and was hosted by the Center for Tete-Information. The conference was sponsored by IFIP TC6. The papers contained in this book are edited versions of the papers from the conference and some of the tutorial presentations that were arranged prior to the conference. The mixture of tutorial papers and conference papers gives a broad and yet thorough coverage of activities and central areas of development in the IN world at this point in time. Future developments, especially in the area of extended mobility support and multimedia capabilities, are also pre sented. BACKGROUND The theme of the conference was the two major trends in Intelligent Networks (IN) develop ment: • ITU and ETSI based IN standards, such as CS-1 and the upcoming CS-2 and • long term development as undertaken by, for example, the TINA consortium and the Euro pean RACE and ACTS programmes. The present IN technology based on capability sets is on its way into the networks, and opera tors are pushing for open platforms to be deployed in the networks in the near future in order to obtain greater freedom in selecting platforms for service provisioning.

This book constitutes the thoroughly refereed post-proceedings of the Second International Haifa Verification Conference, HVC 2006, held in Haifa, Israel, in October 2006. The 15 revised full papers presented together with 2 invited lectures are organized in three topical tracks on hardware verification technologies and methodologies, software testing, and tools for hardware verification and software testing.