Universal personal telecommunications: concepts and requirements

A description is given of universal personal telecommunications (UPT), a network concept which will enable users to establish and receive calls on the basis of a single personal number (or identification) across multiple networks, from any arbitrary network entry point, with service access limited only by access or destination network and terminal capabilities. Although the concept of UPT is simple, there are many complex network mechanisms that need to be worked out to enable UPT to operate within and across networks and for multiple teleservices in an ISDN (integrated services digital network) environment. The authors discuss a range of network implications in relation to ISDN, mobile networks and intelligent networks. Data distribution options are presented, and aspects of No.7 signaling are discussed