This Recommendation provides a functional description of the Bearer Independent Call Control
(BICC) protocol. The BICC protocol provides the signalling functions required to support
narrowband ISDN services independent of the bearer technology and signalling transport technology
used.
The BICC protocol uses the Signalling Transport Converter (STC) layer for signalling message
transport. The Generic Signalling Transport Service is described in ITU-T Q.2150.0 [31]. The STCs
are defined in other Recommendations in the Q.2150.x family of Recommendations.
Several arrangements are possible for nodes that support BICC signalling. These nodes may have an
associated Bearer Control Function (BCF) in which case they are referred to as Serving Nodes (SN).
A node without an associated BCF is referred to as Call Mediation Node (CMN). Between Serving
Nodes the control of bearers is provided by other protocols - not specified by this Recommendation.
In a Serving Node (SN), the Call Service Function and the Bearer Control Function (BCF) entities
may be physically separated. The Call Bearer Control (CBC) signalling is used between these two
entities in case of physical separation. The CBC protocol is specified in ITU-T Q.1950 [61].
Bearer control signalling can be deployed over a separate signalling transport or the Bearer Control
Protocol (BCP) can be tunnelled over the "horizontal" BICC protocol between peer CSFs and the
"vertical" CBC interface between a CSF and a BCF. The Bearer Control Tunnelling Protocol is
specified in ITU-T Q. 1990 [62].
Both SNs and CMNs are modelled using the "Half Call" modelling technique. Every call processing
scenario is thus divided between an incoming and an outgoing signalling procedure. In the scope of
this Recommendation at least one of these procedures is the BICC procedure (see Figures 1 and 2).
ITU-T Q.1902.1-2001 Referenced Document
ITU-T E.164-1997 Designations for International Networks - Series M: TMN and International Public Telecommunication Numbering Plan - Series E: Overall Network Operation@ Telephone Service@ Service Operation and Human Factors Operation@ Numbering@ Routing and Mobile Servic
ITU-T I.112-1993 Vocabulary of Terms for ISDNs (Study Group XVIII) 19 pp
ITU-T I.210-1993 Principles of Telecommunication Services Supported by an ISDN and the Means to Describe Them (Study Group XVIII) 31 pp
ITU-T Q.1901-2000 Bearer Independent Call Control Protocol Series Q: Switching and Signalling Study Group 11
ITU-T Q.1902.2-2001 Bearer Independent Call Control Protocol (Capability Set 2)and Signalling System No. 7 ISDN User Part: General Functions of Messages and Paramenters Series Q: Switching and Signalling Specifications of Signalling Related to Bearer Independent Call Control
ITU-T Q.730-1999 ISDN User part Supplementary Services - Series Q: Switching and Signalling - Specifications of Signalling System No. 7 - ISDN Supplementary Services Study Group 11; 47 pp
ITU-T Q.761-1999 Signalling System No. 7 - ISDN User Part Functional Description - Series Q: Switching and Signalling - Specifications of Signalling System NO. 7 - ISDN User Part Study Group 11; 22 pp
ITU-T Q.762-1999 Signalling System No. 7 ISDN User Part general functions of messages and signals Study Group 11
ITU-T Q.763-1999 Signalling System No. 7 - ISDN User Part Formats and Codes - Series Q: Switching and Signalling - Specifications of Signalling System No. 7 - ISDN User Part (Study Group 11)
ITU-T Q.764-1999 Signalling System No. 7 - ISDN User Part Signalling Procedures - Series Q: Switching and Signalling Specifications of Signalling System No. 7 - ISDN User Part Study Group 11
ITU-T Q.765-2000 Signalling System No. 7 - Application Transport Mechanism - Series Q: Switching and Signalling Specifications of Signalling System No. 7 - ISDN User Part Study Group 11
ITU-T Q.766-1993 Performance Objectives in the Integrated Services Digital Network Application - Specifications of Signalling System No. 7 ISDN User Part (Study Group XI) 7 pp
ITU-T Q.769.1-1999 Signalling system No. 7 ISDN user part enhancements for the support of number portability Study Group 11
ITU-T Q.850-1998 Usage of Cause and Location in the Digital Subscriber Signalling System No. 1 and the Signalling System No. 7 ISDN User Part Study Group 11; 32 pp
ITU-T Q.1902.1-2001 history
2001ITU-T Q.1902.1-2001 Bearer Independent Call Control Protocol (Capability Set 2): Functional Description Study Group 11