DP Tool Club 15/CD_ASCQ_15_070894.iso/vrac/tc14_249.zip/TC14-249.TXT

Text File | 1994-06-07 | 27KB | 653 lines

TELECOM Digest     Wed, 25 May 94 15:11:00 CDT    Volume 14 : Issue 249

Inside This Issue:                           Editor: Patrick A. Townson

    "Erlang" the Programming Language (Steven King)
    Report on Synchronization Status Messages (Jim Burkitt)
    Book Review: "NetPower" by Persson (Rob Slade)
    Can a Unix Box Work as an Internet Router? (Mike McLeish)
    Internet Access at Home? ([e-mail])
    Internet Access From the Solomon Islands? (Jarlath J. Lyons)
    Vertical Blanking Interval Capacity (Noel Moss)
    Long Range "Cordless" Telephones (Al Cohan)
    Seeking "Informing Ourselves to Death" Article (Jay Bonnet)
    SMDI Question ([e-mail])
    Re: Motorola Cellular Phones (was Re: Lexus Cellular Phones) (David
Taylor)
    Re: Motorola Cellular Phones (was Re: Lexus Cellular Phones) (Steven King)
    Re: Motorola Cellular Phones (was Re: Lexus Cellular Phones) (John Levine)
    Re: Motorola Cellular Phones (was Re: Lexus Cellular Phones) (Dan
Declerck)
    Re: GSM "Short Messages"==Pager? (Richard Urmonas)
    Re: GSM "Short Messages"==Pager? (Rob Lockhart)
    Re: GSM "Short Messages"==Pager? (Dan J. Declerck)
    Re: GSM "Short Messages"==Pager? (Sam Spens Clason)

TELECOM Digest is an electronic journal devoted mostly but not
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----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Steven King)
Subject: "Erlang" the Programming Language
Date: 25 May 1994 19:44:15 GMT
Organization: Motorola Cellular Infrastructure Group
Reply-To: [e-mail]


Does anyone have any information on a programming language called
"Erlang"?  Yes, I know, erlang is a measure of traffic capacity.
Apparently it's also a programming language.

A snippet from the "Overbeek's Outlook" column from the newsletter of
Books & Bytes (a local computer bookstore) mentions it as an
"interesting language that has many intellectual roots in the logic
programming community."  It goes on to say that it was developed at
the Ericsson Computer Science Laboratory in Sweden to offer a model
for programming concurrent real-time systems.  And, since Ericsson is
a large switch manufacturer, prototyping telephony applications was
one of the language's central design objectives.

Since this is a bookstore newsletter, it mentions the book "Concurrent
Programming in Erlang", by Armstrong, Virding, and Williams.  Anyone
have information on either the book or the language?


Steven King <[e-mail]> -- Motorola Cellular Infrastructure Group

------------------------------

Date: 25 May 1994 14:41:14 GMT
From: JIM (CC120E) BURKITT <[e-mail]>
Subject: Report on Synchronization Status Messages


Press Release:

From: Committee T1
Contact:  Jim Burkitt, T1X1 Chairman
          [phone]
          [e-mail] (Internet)

Subject:  Technical Report on Synchronization Status Messages

Committee T1 just published a technical report "Synchronization
Network Management Using Synchronization Status Messages".  This new
technical report (Report #33) provides techniques and procedures for
synchronization message use in SONET and DS1 networks.  While ANSI
T1.105 (SONET) and T1.403 (DS-1) standards provide codes that pass
status information in the synchronization network, this new technical
report explains a number of ways to use these status messages to
maintain a network.

All digital networks require the distribution of what is commonly
known as network clock.  This network clock starts with a primary
reference source at the stratum 1 level.  Three other stratum levels
subtend off these primary clocks.  In addition to the current clock
distribution networks, SONET fiber optic rings need to prevent timing
loops.  In order to help maintain these synchronization distribution
networks, T1X1 developed a technical report on how to use Synchronization
Status Messages.

Committee T1 is sponsored by the Alliance for Telecommunications
Industry Solutions (ATIS) and is accredited by the American National
Standards Institute (ANSI).  Copies can be purchased from ATIS or
obtained by anonymous ftp from test.t1bbs.org with the file name
/pub/techrpts/tr33.wwn (Word for Windows 2.0) or tr33.ps (Postscript).

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 25 May 1994 09:56:34 MDT
From: Rob Slade <[e-mail]>
Subject: Book Review: "NetPower" by Persson


BKNETPWR.RVW  940207

Fox Chapel Publishing
Box 7948L   Lancaster, PA  17604-7948
Phone#: [phone]
Fax#: [phone]
"NetPower", Persson, 1993, 1-56523-031-0, U$39.95
[e-mail] [e-mail]

Apparently the subtitle used to be, "Educators Resource Guide to
Online Computer Services."  It certainly deals with online services.
*All* of them.  The Internet, private bulletin boards, commercial
online services, commercial database services, Fidonet, educational
networks and a number of others.

The educational title is being de-emphasized but this is still, quite
obviously, a book for teachers.  Two chapters are devoted to classroom
projects, two more to a "Kid's Participation Network," and "Kid
People."  Much of the material will be of interest to others, but the
style and the eclectic nature are definitely for educators.

Not all resources are listed here, of course.  There is, however, an
extraordinary wealth of material.  Some of it is available online,
such as the Inter-network Mail Guide, but this is handy if you are
only starting online access.

Guidance could use some work.  There does not seem to be a lot of
order to the chapters.  Also, material is sometimes duplicated from
chapter to chapter.  (K12net gets two fairly extensive citations and a
chapter by itself, to boot.)

If you are a teacher or an educational researcher, this book is very
definitely for you.  If you have extensive dealings with online
resources, you may also find a lot of useful material here.

copyright Robert M. Slade, 1994   BKNETPWR.RVW  940207. Distribution
permitted in TELECOM Digest and associated newsgroups/mailing lists.


Vancouver      [e-mail]
Institute for  [e-mail]
Research into  [e-mail]
User           [e-mail]
Security       Canada V7K 2G6

------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Subject: Can a Unix Box Work as an Internet Router?
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: Indiana State University
Date: Wed, 25 May 1994 16:15:40 GMT


I'm trying to justify our school system getting access to the
internet, and have been challenged to get these answers *from* the
internet. Of course, we have very little money, but do have a few
computers. So the question is, can a computer (ie Unix) function as an
Internet router, or must we buy one of these routers like CISCO or
WellFleet?

If so, what's the *cheapest* router available?

Can a Unix box connect to a digital comm line (56k)?

Please help, your prompt answer will contribute (however so slightly)
to the quality of the American education system :)


Mike McLeish   Vigo County School Corp.
Terre Haute, IN   [e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 25 May 1994 12:06:58 MST
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Internet Access at Home?
Organization: Arizona State University


Greetings,

    I am interested in getting a internet link to my home. I'm not
talking about a call up service, but am referring to an actual link to
my house. I am thinking of setting up a server. I need to know where
to start. How does one go about getting a line set up and what
hardware is required? Any response will be appreciated.

Thank you all.

Virtually Yours,

Mike


[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Questions like the above two from Arizona
and the Vigo Schools are all too commonplace in my mailbox these days.
Everyone wants on the internet! Some I answer, some I forward elsewhere
but these two I decided to put out to the readers here. They're very
typical of what I get in the mail, and hopefully answers from readers
will be seen by many others who are asking the same thing.   PAT]

------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Jarlath J. Lyons)
Subject: Internet Access from the Solomon Islands?
Date: Tue, 24 May 1994 20:36:36 GMT


I have a friend who will be in the Solomon Islands for at least the
next year, and he would dearly love to be able to email his discourse
drafts around the ether while there.  Any suggestions would be most
appreciated.

FYI, local legends report cannibalism is still practiced on some of
the remote islands there.  I wasn't adventuresome enough to pursue
verification on my trip there in '89.


Jarlath Lyons               Voice [phone] W  [phone] Home/fax
Boeing Commercial Airplane  PO Box 3707  M/S 19-MJ
Seattle  WA  98124-2207     E-Mail: [e-mail]

    Lyons' First  Law : Never rule out basic greed or stupidity
    Lyons' Second Law : My Laws (and opinions) are my own ...


[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Well ... the Solomon Islands are a long
way from home. Maybe readers have an answer to your question also, along
with that from wolverine and the fellow at the Vigo Schools.

In response to your side note, I certainly hope your comments were not
driven by any cannibalphobic attitudes on your part. If the Solomon Islands
do join the Internet and get a news feed, will someone issue a Call For
Votes on a newsgroup devoted to cannibalism? I wonder where such a news-
group would go in the Usenet hierarchy?  Probably under rec.food.cannibalism.
Perhaps there would also be a 'soc' group for it also where the politics
involved could be debated forever. Then as the newsgroup became very pop-
ular and overrun with off-topic postings (sort of like the Editor Notes
here in TELECOM Digest) with the on-line Avon Lady doing her thing and the
Make Money Fast letter appearing every day or two, someone would issue a
call to make it a moderated group. Jeffrey Dahmer (our resident cannibal
here in the USA, of late being persecuted by the government and held
prisoner in a maximum security mental health facility in Wisconsin) would
volunteer to be the Moderator. Exciting times ahead for the net!   PAT]

------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Subject: Vertical Blanking Interval Capacity
Organization: SLACC STACK BBS - St. Louis, Missouri
Date: Wed, 25 May 94 06:26:21 CST


Paul Robinson recently wrote to TELECOM Digest inquiring about the
capacity of the vertical blanking interval (VBI) in television frames
and was also looking for sources of equipment to utilize the VBI.

A recent issue of Circuit Cellar Ink (published by Steve Ciarcia,
Vernon, CT) contained an article called "Investigating the Vertical
Blanking Interval" or something similar. This article contained
schematics for building a device to extract teletext, time codes and
other information from the VBI.


Best regards,

Noel Moss

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 25 May 94 12:35 EST
From: Al Cohan <[e-mail]>
Subject: Long Range "Cordless" telephones


Pat, someone recently asked about long range (ten to twenty mile)
"cordless" telephones -- not cellular. Yes, there are several illegal
high power full duplex cordless phones, but there are also rural
systems that are perfectly legal.

Ritron, located in Carmel, Indiana manufactures a full duplex UHF
system they call TeleNexus. It connectes to a regular telco at the
"end of the line" from there it generates ringing forward to the rural
location and in turn decodes and regenerates DTMF. At the far end, a
similar unit has an standard RJ-11 Jack. You plug a regular phone into
it and it rings as if the phone was directly connected to the telco.
The bandwidth is actually greater than a standard telco line. It costs
about $7,500 retail.

One drawback: You gotta have power at both ends!

Maybe Scott Fybush will jump on this thread and tell us how it worked
when he attended Deep Springs College here in CA. I actually saw and
heard their unit in a radio shop in Bishop, CA where the telco line
was connected.  Didn't sound bad, but has now been replaced with
cellular.


AL

------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Jay Bonnet)
Subject: Seeking "Informing ourselves to death" Article
Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Date: Wed, 25 May 1994 15:26:46 GMT


I am trying to find a paper that I think was mentioned here (back
around Jan or Feb maybe?) that was presented at a conference in Europe
and I believe the title was something like "Are We Informing Ourselves
to Death?"  It was a very interesting presentation about the value of
continued and increased use of computers in society.  I believe there
were some follow-on discussions in TELECOM Digest pro and con but my
interest is in finding the original paper again.  Any help appreciated.


Thanks,

Jay


[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Check the Telecom Archives, in the sub-
directory devoted to special reports, essays, etc.  Access the archives
using anonymous ftp lcs.mit.edu, then 'cd telecom-archives'.    PAT]

------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Date: Wed, 25 May 94 02:27:55 EDT
Subject: SMDI Question


With the explosion of better computer to PBX intergration schemes for
voice processing apps, I have seen more switches and voice mail
machines using SMDI (Simplified Message Desk Interface) signaling as a
means of signaling between the two systems.  Since this is a Bellcore
standard, used for Centrex voice mail integrations, does anyone have
the data for the signal packets coding scheme?  All I know so far is
that it is a 1200 baud serial data link and it provides calling and
called party ID from the switch to the voice mail.


Please reply to [e-mail].

------------------------------

From: lhdsy1!chevron.com![e-mail] (David S. Taylor)
Subject: Re: Motorola Cellular Phones (was: Re: Lexus Cellular Phones)
Date: 25 May 94 15:39:32 GMT
Organization: Chevron Information Technology Company


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
(Harry P. Haas) writes:

> I have a Motorola flip-phone with the hands free kit/3watt amp. It
> makes for the same setup as the lexus, without muting the stereo.
> BUT, my stereo has a mute input wire, and the CELLULAR 3-WATT
> VEHICULAR ADAPTER has a wire yellow-black wire labeled "Auxilary
> Alert".  Hmmm.

> So does anyone know what the "Auxiliary Alert" wire is used for?  If
> it is not an "activity" signal, does anyone know how to get an "activity"
> signal from the Motorola system so that I can mute my stereo?

The auxiliary alert is usually used to activate a horn or light relay
so you can tell when your phone if ringing if you are outside your
car.  I believe that is only activated when the phone is ringing.


David S. Taylor   Texas A&M '87         Engineer, RF Systems
Chevron Information Technology Co.      Base Technology Dept.
1300 South Beach Blvd. Rm 2187          [e-mail]
La Habra, CA 90631                      310-694-7280

------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Steven King, Software Archaeologist)
Subject: Re: Motorola Cellular Phones (was: Re: Lexus Cellular Phones)
Date: 25 May 1994 16:33:09 GMT
Organization: Motorola Cellular Infrastructure Group
Reply-To: [e-mail]


[e-mail] (Harry P. Haas) publicly declared:

> I have a Motorola flip-phone with the hands free kit/3watt amp. It
> makes for the same setup as the lexus, without muting the stereo.
> BUT, my stereo has a mute input wire, and the CELLULAR 3-WATT
> VEHICULAR ADAPTER has a wire yellow-black wire labeled "Auxilary
> Alert".  Hmmm.

> So does anyone know what the "Auxiliary Alert" wire is used for?  If
> it is not an "activity" signal, does anyone know how to get an "activity"
> signal from the Motorola system so that I can mute my stereo?

I'm guessing here (Ignore my Organization: line!  I know nothing about
the subscriber units!) but it sounds like the "Auxilary Alert" line is
probably to sound an external ringer, like your car horn.  I doubt
that it's an activity sensor suitable for muting your stereo.

But hey, I could be wrong.


Steven King <[e-mail]> -- Motorola Cellular Infrastructure Group

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 25 May 94 11:38 EDT
From: [e-mail] (John R Levine)
Subject: Re: Motorola Cellular Phones (was: Re: Lexus Cellular Phones)
Organization: I.E.C.C., Cambridge, Mass.


> So does anyone know what the "Auxiliary Alert" wire is used for?

It's usually used to make the horn blow when the phone rings.  That
comes in handy for people at construction sites and other places where
they're near but not in their car or truck.


Regards,

John Levine, [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail]

------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Dan J. Declerck)
Subject: Re: Motorola Cellular Phones (was: Re: Lexus Cellular Phones)
Date: 25 May 1994 17:47:27 GMT
Organization: Motorola Inc., Cellular Infrastructure Group


Aux Alert is characteristically used for a "horn and lights" option.
If you are not in the vehicle when a call is received, Aux_alert will
be grounded in a pattern which will mimmick ringing.  Using a two-pole
relay, you can control the Lights and horn simultaneously.  This will
give an external alert.


Dan DeClerck    EMAIL: [e-mail]   Motorola Cellular APD

------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Richard Urmonas)
Subject: Re: GSM "Short Messages"==Pager?
Organization: I.C.P. Design & Development, NEC Australia
Date: Wed, 25 May 1994 07:14:09 GMT


[e-mail] (Greg Alexander) writes:

> I am interested in buying a GSM phone, and was hoping to learn a
> little more about the short message service offered in some.

(stuff deleted)

> Is it a pager -- or a digital message that appears when your phone is
> in range? My interest is because I will often be in No service areas
> (eg Asia Pacific -- Thailand, and non city areas of Australia). If its
> a pager -- cool, I will still be contactable. If it relies on being in
> the area -- good too (I will NEVER miss the message).

> So both have strengths, but I'd like to know what I'm getting. (Both
> would be great -- but very unlikely ;)

My undestanding of how the SMS works is that if you are out of range
or the phone is off etc. the message is held until the phone is
detected to be "back on the system".  Hence the message "will be
delivered".

What will be the big variable is how the system will be implemented
within various countries, and if it will be supplied to international
roamers (i.e. if you are in Thailand and someone within Thailand
phones you will they be able to leave you a message ?).  I guess this
will be one of those big "suplier decides" issues.


Richard Urmonas, ICP Group, NEC Australia,
649 Springvale Rd, Mulgrave 3170, Australia
EMAIL: [e-mail]
PHONE: [phone]   FAX: [phone]

------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (RLockhart)
Subject: Re: GSM "Short Messages"==Pager?
Date: 25 May 1994 06:35:02 -0400
Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364)


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail]
(Mike Lyman) writes:

> For a "normal" paging service, pages are sent to the subscriber's
> pager without any indications in return as to successful delivery
> (spray> and pray service) although there is a movement afoot to provide
> "ack-back" paging services. I dont think there are any spec's or
> functional systems (are there ?).

We've talked somewhat openly 'bout our two-way *real* paging technology
as has Mtel on their NWN system, probably the first such system to hit
commercial service (currently slated for mid next year). If you'd like
to follow up, give me a shout.


Rob Lockhart, Resource Manager, Interactive Data Systems
Paging Products Group, Motorola, Inc.
Desktop:  [e-mail]
Wireless (<32K characters):  [e-mail]
Wireless (< 1K characters):  [e-mail]

------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Dan J. Declerck)
Subject: Re: GSM "Short Messages"==Pager?
Date: 25 May 1994 17:40:06 GMT
Organization: Motorola Inc., Cellular Infrastructure Group


In article <[e-mail]>,  <[e-mail]> wrote:

> GSM, which is similar to the MIRS/ESRM technology in North America, is
> an integrated system.  That is, one single system provides a variety
> of\ wireless connections.  These include two-way voice, one-way
> acknowledgement alphanumeric messaging, two-way data and in some cases
> push-to-talk dispatch broadcast.  The key here is that all these
> features are coming through the same system, using the same transmitters,
> switches and mobile receivers.  Therefore the range/coverage on all the
> services will be exactly the same.  If you're in range to get an alpha
> message, you will also be in range for a voice connection, and vice
> versa. (Actually, in practice there might some minor discrepancies in
> fringe areas, but the usual case will be true the vast majority of the
> time.)

The GSM spec does not have a minimum limit on call setup time.  (at
least one that is less than 250 ms) ergo, GSM cannot be used for PTT
(Push-To-Talk) dispatch services.


Dan DeClerck             EMAIL: [e-mail]
Motorola Cellular APD    Phone: [phone]

------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Sam Spens Clason)
Subject: Re: GSM "Short Messages"==Pager?
Date: 25 May 1994 09:58:00 GMT
Organization: Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] writes:

> [e-mail] (Greg Alexander) asked:

>>  I am interested in buying a GSM phone, and was hoping to learn
>>  a little more about the short message service offered in some.

>>  Is it a pager -- or a digital message that appears when your phone
>>  is in range?

> We've just got the first "workable" SMS system in the UK, on the new
> DCS1800 (PCN) system known as "ORANGE".  Essentially it is a message
> transfer system that uses a form of handshaking between the mobile
> switch and the handset: so error-free receipt of the message can be
> guaranteed.

> We do not *just* have a message bureau, however: we also have the
> ability to send messages *directly from handset to handset* and these
> messages cost less to send than it would cost to make a phone call to
> say the same thing!

Yes, but wouldn't [e-mail] be nicer?!  Is there any such
service out there?

> In the future there are plans to provide notebook computer access to
> the handset (using PCMCIA cards) and this will substantially increase
> the functionality of the message service.  It will become possible to
> send text messages from the handset (or computer) to any other GSM/PCN
> system, to any of the old analogue paging networks, or as an X400
> message or a facsimile document.

Wait a minute, isn't SMS defined a max of 160 characters?  I am pretty
sure that what you are talkin about is ordinary datatransfer that
occupies a 9600 bit voice channel.  Actually the rate of transfer is
sligtly higher but I've never heard of a 11.4kbit modem :-)

> If a SMS message contains a phone number with a request to be called
> back, the handset will (on a key-push) grab that number and store it
> in the phone's memory, ready to be called back by the user.  Oh, and
> we also have full Caller-ID and last call return.

Like if your voice-mailbox or fax-mailbox sent you an SMS every time
it receives a message.  We have that in Sweden to, at least Comviq
does.

We have Caller-ID to, but only within Comviq since lame-ass Telia (to
be privatised "after" 1996) won't supply the necessary information
when routing calls to Comviq.


Sam Spens Clason, <A HREF="http://www.nada.kth.se/~d92-sam/">Web</A>

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V14 #249
******************************