The DSL Forum issued two newly approved Technical Report (TR) specifications (TR-092 and TR-094) aimed at enabling multiservice DSL applications such as home security and entertainment.
- TR-094 "Multi-Service Delivery Framework for Home Networks" defines the Forum's "DSLHome" home networking architecture and sets requirements that optimize a home network to take advantage of the full capabilities of manifold broadband access services. The architecture permits multiple users within the home to simultaneously run numerous applications and devices with differing connectivity requirements and QoS. With the focus on home networking and distribution of applications throughout the home, the DSL Forum is engaging with other associations such as the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) and Universal Plug'n'Play Forum (UPnP) to initiate collaborative efforts to deliver the infrastructure for emerging triple and quad play applications for consumers.
- TR-092 "Broadband Remote Access Server (B-RAS) Requirements" provides specific guidance on all the technical aspects of broadband remote access server equipment that is a key element of the globally accepted TR-059 architecture. Of the list of hundreds of requirements, the B-RAS associates specific QoS appropriate for a particular application, so video and voice services, in addition to data, can be delivered in a sharper and clearer manner. The document defines the platform for integration of various access technologies covering functionality, size and scaling for the number of customers and interfaces, features and services to support emerging mass-market and business applications. This new TR has been submitted to the ITU-T Next Generation Network (NGN) focus group as a basis for contribution to its forthcoming recommendations for next generation networks.
The DSL Forum said equipment interoperability would continue to be one of its focus areas. The Forum's current series of 'plugfests' at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) testing laboratories provides the opportunity to verify interoperability between multiple chipsets and systems supporting ADSL2 and ADSL2plus. Overall, 17 CPE and 14 DSLAM vendors have participated, with testing including diagnostics mode, online reconfiguration and power management mode. Three further plugfests will be held in 2004: one in conjunction with ETSI, and two for ADSL2 and ADSL2plus at UNH.
The DSL Forum's 10th anniversary meeting was held last week in Prague. The next quarterly meeting of the DSL Forum will be held in Orlando, Florida from December 6th-9th, 2004. http://www.dslforum.org/http://dslforum.org/aboutdsl/tr_table.html
