[August 10, 2004]

Tdsoft�s MBG Supports Multiple Channels

BY JOHANNE TORRES

One of the challenges that Voice over IP (VoIP) (define - news - alert) providers face today is wanting to have access to gateway modules that support multiple concurring channels. Handling the inquiry comes developer and supplier of hardware and software modules for telecommunication vendors, Tdsoft. The company offers Media Gateway Blade (MGB), an integrated and interoperable VoIP gateway module capable of supporting up to 1,000 concurrent channels in a single blade.

Tdsoft (news � alert) kept the vendors building carrier-class products for VoIP and Voice Over ATM (VoATM) (define � news � alert) applications in mind when creating MBG. The module was designed to reduce time to market, development risks and development costs for each and every solution. MBG was created to support multiple channeled applications including trunk, access and media gateways, interactive voice response (IVR) (define - news � alert), and application servers, along with high-quality voice services.

The module optimally handles incoming and outgoing traffic by shaping packets and prioritizing them for better voice quality. MGB, designed as an open-development environment, supports Tdsoft and third-party software stacks that utilize integrated application programming interfaces (APIs). Designed according to the ATCA standard, MGB supports several types of rear-transition modules (RTMs) with 16/32 E1/T1/J1 and 3xDS3 interfaces. The gateway module bundle enables firmware downloads for future voice coders and future upgrades.

In addition to its high capacity (supporting 1,000 concurrent channels), other notable features within this offering include O/S support for Linux, VxWorks, providing an open-standard support with an open-source environment, and it offers a highly-modular application software with a low power consumption (35W in full load). Tdsoft�s MGB is said to be future-proof firmware upgradeable, complete with full redundancy support, security QoS and wire speed IP interception.

 
The company supplies an array of interoperable software stacks. Designed for embedded applications, high-capacity call performance and minimum CPU and memory consumption, each of the three stacks - VoIPCore, V5Core and ELCPCore � which have been integrated with TTG's Media Gateway Blade can be integrated with other platforms via the group's services.

• VoIPCore - a multi-protocol telephony stack that supports MGCP and Megaco/H.248. The multi-interface stack supports multiple media gateways (MG) in the same software instance and media gateway controllers (MGC), enabling easy development of virtual MGs and MGCs in a single CPU environment. The stack's APIs simplify function calls and streamline the development process.

• V5Core - implements V5.1/V5.2 interfaces, the predominant standards for the interface between access equipment and telecommunication voice switches on the access network (AN) and local exchange (LE) sides. The V5Core is designed as a set of components, each of which implements a separate part of the V5 protocol. The V5Core supports the full set of ETSI and ITU standards for V5 protocols, and is used by leading telecom vendors worldwide.

• ELCPCore - implements ELCP, a signaling protocol between a voice-over-DSL (VoDSL) gateway and integrated access devices (IADs), enabling telecom vendors to support POTS and ISDN services in voice-over-ATM (VoATM) applications. ELCPCore is a full implementation of the ATM Forum BLES/CCS/ELCP standard, and allows service providers to choose best-of-breed gateway and IAD equipment for deploying VoDSL services.

With more than 40 licenses granted to telecommunication vendors, and conducted interoperability tests with over 100 types of access equipment and 18 switches, currently, TTG is supplying a provider of global network infrastructure products with a fully integrated gateway solution for the vendor's broadband loop carrier (BLC) offering. The product supports both VoATM and voice over IP (VoIP), and has been successfully tested with Class 5 softswitches.

 

Johanne Torres is the Assistant Editor for TMCnet.com and Internet Telephony magazine. Previously, she was the Assistant Editor for EContent magazine in Connecticut. She can be reached by e-mail at [email protected].