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5i'
PART I
Recommendations E.100 to E.216
INTERNATIONAL OPERATION
BLANC
MONTAGE: PAGE 2 = PAGE BLANCHE
SECTION 1
DEFINITIONS
Recommendation E.100
DEFINITIONS OF TERMS USED IN INTERNATIONAL TELEPHONE
OPERATION
1 telephone call
F: communication telephonique
S: comunicacion telefonica
The interconnection of two telephone stations.
2 call request
_________________________
The word "international" is applied to any relation
between countries whether those countries are in the
same continent or not.
F: demande de communication
S: peticion de comunicacion
The first application made by the caller for a telephone call
is called the call request.
In automatic service, the operation of the dial (or key-set)
by the caller to obtain a call with his correspondent is comparable
to the call request.
3 telephone message
F: conversation telephonique
S: conferencia telefonica
An effective call over a connection established between the
calling and the called stations.
4 telephone circuit (international or trunk circuits)
F: circuit telephonique (international ou interurbain)
S: circuito telefonico (internacional o interurbano)
4.1 The whole of the facilities whereby a direct connection is
made between two exchanges (manual or automatic) is called a tele-
phone circuit.
4.2 A circuit is called an international circuit when it
directly connects two international exchanges in two different
countries.
4.3 The term trunk circuit | is reserved for the designation
of exclusively national circuits.
Note - The above definitions relate solely to the use of the
terms in operational procedures, no matter how the circuits are
actually made up.
5 international exchange
F: centre international
S: central internacional
The exchange (at the end of an international telephone cir-
cuit) which switches a call destined to or originating from another
country.
Administrations shall designate the exchanges in the territory
they serve which are to be regarded as international exchanges.
6 international transit exchange
F: centre de transit international
S: central de transito internacional
An international exchange chosen to establish telephone calls
between two countries other than its own is called an international
transit exchange.
7 preparation operating
F: exploitation avec preparation
S: explotacion con preparacion
In preparation operating, after the request is recorded by an
operator in the outgoing international exchange another operator in
the exchange sets up the call. After the requests have been put in
order at the exchange, the controlling operator sees to it that the
calling station is connected on the international circuit without
loss of time.
A distinction is made between:
1) advance preparation operating
Advance preparation operating requires preparation at both
the outgoing and incoming international exchanges.
2) outgoing preparation operating
Outgoing preparation operating requires preparation at the
outgoing international exchange only.
8 demand operating
F: exploitation en service rapide
S: explotacion en servicio rapido
In demand operating (manual or semiautomatic), after the
request has been recorded in the outgoing international exchange,
an immediate attempt to set up the call is made by the operator at
this exchange who took the request.
A distinction is made between:
1) manual demand operating
There are two operating methods:
a) indirect manual demand operating
In this method of operating, the operator at the incoming
international exchange always acts as an interpreter between the
operator in the outgoing international exchange and the called
party.
b) direct manual demand operating
In this method of operating, the operator in the outgoing
international exchange speaks with the called party direct.
2) semiautomatic demand operating
In this method of operating, the operator in the outgoing
international exchange controls the automatic switching operations
to obtain either the called station, or an operator in the incoming
or transit international exchange (or an operator in a manual
exchange in the country of destination).
9 automatic service
F: service automatique
S: servicio automatico
In the automatic service, the calling subscriber himself dials
(or operates the key-set) the number necessary for connection with
the called station.
10 routes
F: voies d'acheminement
S: rutas
The routes followed by international telephone traffic are
designated by agreement between Administrations. A distinction is
made between:
- primary routes,
- secondary routes,
primary routes : The circuits normally used in a given rela-
tion.
secondary routes : The circuits to be used when the primary
routes are congested, or when the transmission on the primary
routes is not sufficiently good, or it is outside the normal hours
of service on the primary routes.
The secondary route(s) may pass through the same countries as
the primary routes or through different countries.
11 controlling exchange
F: centre directeur
S: central directora
11.1 The exchange which is responsible for setting up calls
and decides the order in which they are to be connected is called
the controlling exchange.
11.2 The Administrations concerned shall agree among them-
selves to esignate the controlling exchange.
11.3 As a general rule, they shall select for this purpose:
1) when a single international circuit is used, the
international exchange operating that circuit on the calling party
side;
2) when two or more international circuits are
used:
a) either the international exchange which has
access to the first international circuit on the calling party
side, or
b) the international transit exchange designated
by joint agreement of the Administrations concerned.
Note - It may be that the international circuits are not
operated exclusively by operators at the international exchange
where they end; operators at other international or national
exchanges may also have access to them by means of an automatic
transit device. In such circumstances these international or
national exchanges must be treated as though they were a control-
ling exchange, as far as setting up calls is concerned.
12 controlling operator
F: operatrice directrice
S: operadora directora
The controlling operator is the outgoing operator in the
controlling exchange who operates the international circuit. The
controlling position is the position used by the controlling opera-
tor.
Note - However, it may happen that the outgoing international
circuit is also operated by an operator in an international or even
a national exchange. If this is so, the latter operator is con-
sidered as controlling operator.
13 successive phases of a call
F: phases successives d'une communication
S: fases sucesivas de una comunicacion
The characteristic instants in the successive phases of the
setting-up of an international telephone call in the manual or
semiautomatic service are distinguished as follows:
t0 the caller has placed his request;
t1 the controlling operator has received all of the
call details;
t2 the controlling operator has made the first attempt to
set up the call (this instant corresponds practically to the
seizure of the international circuit);
t3 the called number has replied or the caller has
been informed why the call cannot be connected;
t4 the called person (or called extension) has been
obtained or the caller has been informed why the call cannot be
connected (the instant is only significant for personal calls);
t5 the end of the conversation, generally when the caller
replaces the receiver;
t6 disconnection, normally when the international circuit
is released by the operator.
Note - In automatic service it is in general difficult to
define all the characteristic instants specified above, either
because it is impossible to distinguish between them with accuracy
or because of differences between the switching systems used. It
is, however, possible to define the total setting-up time (see
definitions 17).
14 duration of a call (conversation time)
F: duree de la conversation
S: duracion de conferencia
The interval between the instant the call is actually esta-
blished between the calling and the called stations and the instant
the calling station gives the clearing signal (or the instant when,
although the caller has not replaced his receiver, the call is:
- in manual or semiautomatic service, officially
cleared down by an operator,
- in fully automatic service, cleared down after
some slight delay by the action of the called subscriber's
clear-back signal).
The time interval between:
a) t5 - t3is the duration of a station call;
b) t5 - t4is the duration of a personal call.
15 chargeable duration - charged duration
F: duree taxable - duree taxee
S: duracion tasable - duracion tasada
15.1 The time interval on which the charge for a call is based
is called the chargeable duration.
15.2 The chargeable duration is equal to the duration of the
call reduced in manual or semiautomatic service, if necessary, to
make allowance for any interruptions or other difficulties which
might have occurred during the call.
15.3 The duration of a call for which the charge is paid by
the calling subscriber (or the called subscriber in the case of a
collect call) in the case of manual or semiautomatic operation, is
the chargeable duration rounded upwards to the next whole minute.
16 holding time of an international circuit
F: duree d'occupation du circuit international
S: duracion de ocupacion de un circuito internacional
The time interval t6 - t2 | during which the circuit is used
is the holding time of the international circuit.
This interval includes in particular the call duration, the
operating time and the time taken to exchange service information.
Note - The term "operating time" is meant to cover the time
taken both by operators and switching equipment.
17 answering time of operators; request transmission time;
delay time; setting-up times of an international call
F: delai de reponse des operatrices; delai de transmission
de la demande; delai d'attente; delai d'etablissement d'une commun-
ication internationale
S: demora en contestar de las operadoras; tiempo de
transmision de la peticion; demora; tiempo de establecimiento de
una comunicacion internacional
17.1 At the outgoing international exchange, the answering
time of operators is the interval between the end of the transmis-
sion of the calling signal and its answer by an operator at the
distant international exchange.
At the incoming international exchange, the answering time of
operators is the interval between the appearance of a calling sig-
nal on a position or group of positions at that exchange and its
answer by an operator.
17.2 The request transmission time is the time interval (t1 -
t0) taken in passing the call request to the controlling operator.
17.3 The time interval (t2 - t1) is the delay to which the
call is subject at the controlling exchange.
The caller is generally informed of this delay.
17.4 The setting-up time of a station call is the time inter-
val (t3 - t1). The total setting-up time of a personal call is the
time interval (t4 - t1). These times include any delay at the out-
going international exchange.
BLANC
MONTAGE: PAGE 8 = PAGE BLANCHE
SECTION 2
GENERAL PROVISIONS CONCERNING ADMINISTRATIONS
Recommendation E.110
ORGANIZATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL TELEPHONE NETWORK
1 Administrations shall agree among themselves upon the
operating methods best suited to the needs of the international
relations which concern them, taking into account the conditions
and the possibilities of operation.
2 When there is preparation operating, international traffic
should be decentralized, whenever circumstances justify it, by the
creation of international exchanges in adequate numbers in the cen-
tre of the areas to be covered by the service to reduce waiting
times and any lengthening of routes.
3 In the direct or indirect manual demand operating , it
would be well to concentrate international traffic in a few inter-
national exchanges where major groups of international circuits
end, so that international circuits may be more efficiently used,
and in view, too, of the linguistic knowledge demanded of interna-
tional operators
4 With semiautomatic and automatic service , it would also be
well to concentrate international traffic in a few international
exchanges because of:
- the high cost of the technical equipment
required in incoming and outgoing international exchanges for this
service;
- the linguistic knowledge required of operators ,
in the case of semiautomatic international service; and
- the need to provide automatic transit in certain
exchanges (international routing plan).
However, it would be advisable, when the traffic justifies it,
to provide certain international exchanges or national manual
exchanges in a country with direct-access circuits to an interna-
tional automatic exchange so that the operators in these exchanges
can set up international semiautomatic calls in automatic relations
without the intervention of an operator from the international
exchange.
Recommendation E.111
EXTENSION OF INTERNATIONAL TELEPHONE SERVICES
Application of that provision of the Telephone Regulations [1]
which states that Administrations shall endeavour to extend inter-
national telephone services to the whole of their territories might
sometimes entail the establishment of calls leaving something to be
desired from the point of view of transmission quality. It is
therefore desirable:
1) to take no decision to create or extend a new
relation unless such means are available as would provide satisfac-
tory service;
2) to make the opening or extension of the rela-
tion dependent on the passing of satisfactory test calls.
Reference
[1] Final Acts of The World Administrative Telegraph and
Telephone Conference (Geneva, 1973) - Telegraph Regulations - Tele-
phone Regulations , ITU, Geneva, 1973.
Recommendation E.112
ARRANGEMENTS TO BE MADE FOR CONTROLLING THE TELEPHONE
SERVICES BETWEEN TWO COUNTRIES
Administrations shall agree among themselves upon the operat-
ing methods best suited to the needs of the international relations
which concern them, taking into account the conditions and the pos-
sibilities of operation.
In controlling the organization of the telephone service in a
given relation, Administrations might forego the conclusion of for-
mal agreements signed by the heads of Administrations, as there is
no need for such agreements in relations where the provisions of
the Telephone Regulations [1] are mutually and fully accepted. On
the following major points agreement can be reached by correspon-
dence:
- Date on which the relation is to be opened.
- Means used to provide the connection:
- direct (transit) circuit;
- passage through a transit exchange;
- transit country or countries concerned.
- Classes of call admitted (List the classes of
call and other media of communication, i.e., phototelegraph calls,
programme transmissions and television transmissions).
- Information: Specify the provisions adopted to
permit the exchange of lists of the principal local networks with
all the information necessary for routing and accounting of calls.
- Charging and accounting.
Reference
[1] Final Acts of The World Administrative Telegraph and
Telephone Conference (Geneva, 1973) - Telegraph Regulations - Tele-
phone Regulations , ITU, Geneva, 1973.
Recommendation E.113
VALIDATION PROCEDURES FOR AN
AUTOMATED INTERNATIONAL TELEPHONE CREDIT CARD SYSTEM
Preamble
Work is progressing to develop an automated international
telephone credit card system as defined in Recommendation E.118.
The expanded use and the increased number of credit cards
require card-issuing Administrations (or authorized agents) to
implement adequate security against fraudulent use.
Therefore, a critical facet in the provision of such a system
is the ability to ensure the validity of the card and its author-
ized use in a uniform manner. The purpose of this Recommendation is
to define the procedures for the validation process between
Administrations. This validation process makes no attempt to
specify any equipment, facilities and data transmission techniques.
It should be recognized that the procedures for validation of
telephone credit cards between Administrations will vary, based on
such factors as the capabilities of the credit card systems and the
manner in which the card is presented. Flexibility in this process
must be maintained in order to maximize participation of Adminis-
trations where automated interfaces may not exist or may not be
uniformly available. Where such automated interfaces exist, a
defined uniform implementation is desirable.
1 Methods of validation
There are several methods to test the validity of credit
cards. These may be divided into two general categories - full
validation and limited validation.
Full validation requires checking the card number against the
card issuer's data base, as well as real-time communication between
the call originating and card-issuing Administrations. Full valida-
tion is more thorough than other methods and is practical for
automated or semi-automated credit card systems.
Limited validation may involve one or more techniques, such as
a special character, a code, or a check against a partial data
base, as determined by the card-issuing Administration and outlined
in a service agreement. Limited validation methods minimize the
need for communication between Administrations.
This Recommendation, however, deals only with full validation.
2 Automated validation procedures
2.1 Validation information flow
The information from the card and/or the user is presented to
a terminal having access to an Administration's telephone credit
card system. That system should then communicate with the card
user to validate the card and authorize its use.
The validation information flow comprises three messages:
- authorization request,
- request response,
- call disposition.
The authorization request | is a message from the
call-originating Administration to the card-issuing Administration
which provides details of an attempt to use a telephone credit card
allows the card issuer to query its own internal systems to respond
to the call-originating Administration. The card-issuing Adminis-
tration should then communicate with the call-originating Adminis-
tration to provide either a positive or negative response (with a
specific indication as to why the authorization should not be
granted) to the authorization request . This message is defined
herein as the request response . Feedback should then be given to
the user of the card as to the status of the call attempt to the
extent possible within the capabilities of the particular
Administration's telephone system. A third message denoted as the
call disposition would be sent, subject to agreements between
Administrations and card issuers, by the call-originating Adminis-
tration to the card-issuing Administration in a timely manner after
completion of a call or call attempt. It would contain information
to allow a more complete estimate of call activity.
Sections 2.2, 2.3 and 2.4 describe the functional components
of the authorization request , the request response , and the call
disposition messages respectively.
Table 1/E.113 provides a summary of the functional components
and indicates the components which are required and those which are
optional.
2.2 Authorization request
The following describes the basic component of a request from
the call-originating Administration to the card-issuing Administra-
tion to validate a credit card and authorize its use.
2.2.1 Message type identifier (required)
A message type identifier should be included in this message.
It is provided by the call-originating Administration to identify
this message to the card-issuing Administration as the authoriza-
tion request .
H.T. [T1.113]
TABLE 1/E.113
Validation information component summary
(Note 1)
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Messages
Component Authorization request Request response Call disposition (Note 4)
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Message type identifier R R R
Message reference identifier R R R
Primary account number R R R
{
Originating Administration identifier
} R - -
Expiry date R (Note 2) - -
PIN R (Note 3) - -
Calling telephone number O - -
Called telephone number O - -
Time and date stamp O - -
Response code - R -
{
Customer sub-account number
} - O -
Restriction indicator - O -
Specified number(s) - O -
Call disposition code - - R
Call start time - - R
Call end time - - R
Estimated call charge - - O
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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R Required
O Optional
Note 1 - Optional items are subject to agreements between Adminis-
trations.
Note 2 - Required if encoded on the card.
Note 3 - Required if implemented by the card issuer.
Note 4 - This entire message is optional and is subject to agree-
ments between Administrations (see S 2.4).
Tableau 1/E.113 [T1.113], p.1
2.2.2 Message reference identifier (required)
A message reference identifier should be included in this mes-
sage. Its purpose is to uniquely relate this message to a specific
validation transaction.
2.2.3 Primary account number (required)
The primary account number (19 visible characters - maximum)
of the card as defined in Recommendation E.118 should be included
in this message as it was obtained from the card or the user. Part
of the primary account number, the issuer identification number,
can be used by the call-originating Administration to identify the
card-issuing Administration.
2.2.4 Originating Administration identifier (required)
The call-originating Administration identifier should be
included in this message and can be used by the card-issuing
Administration to identify the Administration accepting the tele-
phone credit card. The call-originating Administration identifier
should contain the issuer identification number of the originating
Administration.
2.2.5 Expiry date (required)
The expiry date of the card, if one is specified, should be
included in this message. The inclusion of this information should
not relieve the originating Administration, within the capabilities
of its local credit card system, from ensuring that the card has
not expired.
2.2.6 Personal identification number (PIN) (required)
The use of a PIN is left to the discretion of the card issuer.
This information can be used by the card issuer to identify the
user and, as applicable, authorize the use of the card. If present,
the personal identification number, whether presented by the user
or encoded on the card, should be included in this message and
preferably be encrypted. The length of the PIN is left to the dis-
cretion of the card-issuing Administration.
2.2.7 Calling telephone number (optional)
The full international calling telephone number, when avail-
able, should be included in this message. The use of this informa-
tion is subject to agreements between Administrations. This infor-
mation is necessary for some Administrations to manage the res-
tricted use of some cards as well as for card-issuing Administra-
tions to ensure that the proper agreements exist to bill, collect,
and settle for, the call.
2.2.8 Called telephone number (optional)
The full international called telephone number should be
included in this message. The use of this information is subject to
agreements between Administrations. This information is necessary
for some Administrations to manage the restricted use of some cards
as well as for card-issuing Administrations to ensure that the
proper agreements exist to bill, collect, and settle the call.
2.2.9 Time and date stamp (optional)
A time and date stamp should be included in this message. This
information should contain the month, day, hour, minute and second
in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), that the authorization request
is entered into the system.
2.3 Request response
The following describes the basic components of the response
from the card-issuing Administration to an authorization request .
2.3.1 Message type identifier (required)
A message type identifier should be included in this message.
It is provided by the card-issuing Administration to identify this
message to the call-originating Administration as the request
response .
2.3.2 Message reference identifier (required)
A message reference identifier should be included in this mes-
sage. Its purpose is uniquely to relate this message to a specific
validation transaction.
2.3.3 Primary account number (required)
The primary account number as described in S 2.2.3 should be
included in this message. It is provided here for closure between
the authorization request and the request response .
2.3.4 Response code (required)
The response code should be included in this message to indi-
cate the result of the authorization request . Specific definitions
and their corresponding codes are left for further study. Possible
conditions for responses may include:
- Service approved
- Service approved on a limited basis: see SS 2.3.6
and 2.3.7
- Service denied: credit threshold exceeded or due
to non-payment
- Service denied: invalid account number or invalid
account number/PIN combination
- Service denied: incorrect PIN (subsequent
attempts to re-enter may be allowable)
- Service denied: allowable PIN tries exceeded
(each card-issuing Administration may set limit; e.g., 3 tries)
- Service denied: expired card
- Service denied: restricted account number or
account number/PIN combination
- Service denied: call not permitted from station
(i.e., no agreement between card-issuing Administration and
call-originating Administration)
- Service denied: card-issuing Administration vali-
dation database is unavailable
- Service denied: validation attempt on wrong card
issuer
- Error in message format (i.e., message garbled)
- Message type not processable due to missing or
incomplete information.
Use of, and action on, particular response codes are subject
to agreements between concerned Administrations. For some of the
above response conditions, separate retry thresholds should be
defined.
Any feedback provided to the card user should not assist a
fraudulent user in subsequent attempts at unauthorized use of the
credit card.
2.3.5 Customer sub-account number (optional)
The customer sub-account number is used to provide the card
holder with telecommunications expense control where multiple PIN
numbers are associated with a single primary account number. This
information is intended to be stored for subsequent inclusion in
the billing record so that the billed customer may properly allo-
cate expenses.
2.3.6 Restriction indicator (optional)
The restriction indicator tells the call-originating Adminis-
tration that the card being used is restricted and provides the
nature of the restriction. The use of this item is subject to
agreement between Administrations and is provided as a supplement
to the response code described above to manage restricted cards.
2.3.7 Specified number(s) (optional)
A card holder may be restricted to using the card to call only
one or more specified numbers. If the called number is not related
to the card's account number, this component would pass that res-
tricted number(s) to the call-originating Administration. The use
of this component is subject to agreement between Administrations
and is provided as a supplement to the response code described
above to manage restricted cards.
2.4 Call disposition (optional)
The following describes the basic components of a response
from the call-originating Administration to the card-issuing
Administration to track usage of the card against the customer's
credit limit and gather other statistics, to meet operational
needs.
The main purpose of this additional message is to provide, on
a timely basis, better control over potential fraudulent use of the
credit card. It is not meant as a substitute for billing and set-
tlement mechanisms which may be defined by other Recommendations.
2.4.1 Message type identifier (required)
A message type identifier should be included in this message.
It is provided by the call-originating Administration to identify
this message to the card-issuing Administration as the call dispo-
sition .
2.4.2 Message reference identifier (required)
A message reference identifier should be included in this mes-
sage. Its purpose is uniquely to relate this message to a specific
validation transaction.
2.4.3 Primary account number (required)
The primary account number as described in S 2.2.3 above
should be included in this message. It is provided here for closure
between the authorization request and the call disposition .
2.4.4 Call disposition code (required)
The call disposition code should be included in this message.
Specific codes need to be defined to indicate whether the call is
completed or not completed. Further study is required.
2.4.5 Call start time (required)
The date and time at which the call started should be included
in this message. If the call disposition code indicates that this
call failed, this item of information should indicate the date and
time of such failure. The information should contain the month,
day, hour and minute in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
2.4.6 Call end time (required)
The date and time at which the call ended should be included
in this message. This information should contain the month, day,
hour and minute in UTC.
2.4.7 Estimated call charge (optional)
The estimated call charge should be included in this message.
Recommendation E.114
SUPPLY OF LISTS OF SUBSCRIBERS
(DIRECTORIES AND OTHER MEANS)
1 Each Administration shall supply by mutual agreement and
free of charge to the Administrations with which a telephone ser-
vice exists a sufficient number of copies of its lists of sub-
scribers for official use.
2 A subscriber wishing to obtain a telephone directory of
another country must apply to his own Administration. If an appli-
cation for one of its telephone directories is received directly by
an Administration from a subscriber in a foreign country, the
receiving Administration shall inform the subscriber that such
requests should be addressed to his own Administration.
3 An Administration which has supplied telephone directories
of its own country to another Administration for distribution to
subscribers shall indicate the sale price of the directories plus
any postal charges (in principle expressed in gold francs) for the
use of the receiving Administration.
4 Accounting concerning the supply of such directories for
subscribers' use shall be conducted according to the usual pro-
cedure followed between Administrations (see
Recommendation D.170 [1]), unless Administrations, by mutual agree-
ment, elect to forego such accounting.
Reference
[1] CCITT Recommendation Monthly telephone accounts ,
Rec. D.170.
Recommendation E.115
COMPUTERIZED INFORMATION SERVICE FOR TELEPHONE SUBSCRIBER NUMBERS
IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES
(DIRECTORY ASSISTANCE), RESERVED FOR OPERATORS
1 Preamble
The method to be followed in providing the customers and
operators in one country with information on the national signifi-
cant telephone numbers (as specified in Recommendation E.160) of
subscribers in another country depends on the way the information
service is organized in the country of destination, distance
between the countries, operating procedures, etc.
2 Methods of obtaining information
The operator in the country of origin dealing with interna-
tional inquiries should be able to obtain information, depending on
the organization of the inquiry service in each country, by one of
the following methods:
a) from telephone directories;
b) from other information systems sent by the coun-
try of destination and kept up-to-date (e.g., microfiches);
c) by calling the information service operator in
the country of destination:
- outgoing operators in the originating country
should, where language and other conditions permit, have direct
access to the appropriate foreign information centre(s) which hold,
or are able to obtain from other centres up-to-date information;
- where language and other conditions do not per-
mit the outgoing operator to have direct access to the appropriate
foreign information centre, the outgoing operator should call the
operator in the international exchange of the country of destina-
tion;
- where access to a number of information centres
is possible, provision should be made for access to a centralized
international information centre or assistance operator in case the
originating operator encounters language or other difficulties;
d) by having access to foreign information service
computers:
- either via a national computer using appropriate
procedures;
- or, in special circumstances, via direct access
using dedicated or switched connections.
3 General principles applicable to the various methods of
obtaining information
In any relation, Administrations should abide by the following
general principles:
a) Inquiries from customers concerning foreign sub-
scribers' numbers should normally be addressed to operators in the
country of origin who will obtain the required information; it may
be useful to keep the customer on line while this information is
being sought.
b) In order to give operators in the country of
origin ready access to the international telephone inquiry service
in other countries, it is desirable that Administrations, in con-
formity with Recommendation E.149, provide common routing codes or
abbreviated access numbers to the foreign computerized or manual
telephone inquiry services.
c) Technical arrangements should, as far as practi-
cable, prevent access by a subscriber of one country to an operator
of the telephone information service of another country. Adminis-
trations should not communicate access numbers of telephone infor-
mation services in foreign countries to their subscribers (except
in cases covered in Recommendation E.128).
d) Exceptionally, however, subscribers in one coun-
try may be permitted to have access to the information service in
another country subject to bilateral agreement between the Adminis-
trations concerned.
e) An international system should be able to pro-
vide:
- for the desired correspondent: his international
number;
- for the locality in which this correspondent
resides: the country code and the trunk code.
f ) No secret numbers should be issued.
4 Principles for the organization of an interconnected compu-
terized international information service
For the organization of an interconnected computerized inter-
national information service, Administrations should abide by the
following principles:
a) The international system should be so designed
that national systems can be used; each Administration should adapt
its system to the international system by means of the appropriate
interface procedures.
b) The operator should be able to supply the ful-
lest search data possible, in order to avoid a situation in which
the number of subscribers matching the search criteria exceeds the
maximum capacity of a single response message.
c) To overcome language difficulties, the questions
put to a remote system containing the file to be consulted should
be formulated in the language used in the country concerned. This
means that the language problems raised by certain inquiry and
response features should be resolved by the country making the
inquiry.
d) Where, in a given country, the files have been
allocated to different computers integrated in a single system,
access to the system from a foreign country should be possible via
a designated computer.
e) Formats for inquiry and response procedures
should be standardized.
f ) A question should give rise to only one
response message with no dialogue between computers. The response
message may cover several subscribers where such subscribers match
the search characteristics introduced in the system. The maximum
number of subscribers mentioned in a response message depends both
on the maximum capacity prescribed for the type of message in ques-
tion and on the limitations imposed by national systems. Any dialo-
gue concerning all the information provided should be prepared at
the national level.
g) With regard to the management of messages, there
is no relationship between the inquiry and the response; where for
any reason the response to a particular question has not been
obtained, the inquiry must be reiterated by the requesting country
and on its initiative.
h) To realise the interconnection of computers of
different countries, the network procedures described in Annex A
should be used. For the highest levels (above level 3), the pro-
cedures will be the subject of further study.
i) The structure and coding of the Entry and Reply
formats will use the notation defined in Recommendations X.208 and
209, and are described in Annex B.
5 Description of the standards used for inquiry and response
When operator access is given via a national computer to
foreign information service computers, unless modified by bilateral
agreement, the following minimum standards should apply to the
inquiry and response process, to permit maximum flexibility in the
national information service and compatibility with the interna-
tional information service.
5.1 Input information
5.1.1 The operator should request information using the
details supplied by the caller, according to the following format:
- country, locality (geographical area), surname,
first name(s) or initial(s), trade or residential address (street
name and number), supplementary data (according to bilateral agree-
ment).
5.1.2 Country code, locality (or geographical area) and sur-
name are minimum requirements.
5.1.3 The foreign system should reply to every question asked.
If the foreign computer indicates that the information supplied is
insufficient, the question should be repeated with more selective
information.
5.1.4 Certain specified conditions, i.e. the number is not
available (secret number, no listing, etc.) or further information
has to be obtained, may be indicated by a standardized coded
response.
5.2 Output information
The output from the foreign computer system should give the
following information as available in the data base, in order to
identify the accuracy of the telephone number:
- surname, first name(s) or initial(s), address,
locality, country code, national significant number.
5.3 Alphabet to be used
The use of punctuation marks will be studied at a later stage.
5.3.1 The Latin alphabet should be employed for inquiries and
responses in communication between computers. The systems must in
general be able to use the following characters :
- 26 capital letters A | (hy |
- 10 figures 0 | (hy |
- space, full stop
according to International Telegraph Alphabet No. 2
(Recommendation S.1 [1]).
5.3.2 Special signs associated with letters are not transmit-
ted.
5.4 Description of standardized inquiry and response mes-
sages
The standard formats for inquiry and response shown in
Figure 1/E.115 should be used
5.4.1 Inquiry format
The question contains the following information:
a) Message heading
1) obligatory
- message code identifying a request to the inter-
national inquiry service;
- codes identifying the countries of origin and
destination; these codes normally consist of the country code (see
Recommendation E.163);
- code of the originating terminal. This code
should not be used by the receiving country but should be repeated
in identical fashion in the response format.
2) optional
- areas reproduced identically in the response:
i) date and time of the origin of the inquiry:
Format: YYMMDDHHMMSS
ii) message number given by the local country.
b) Data
1) basic data
- locality
The name of the locality should be introduced according to
its exact spelling. Special signs should be replaced by spaces and
each space must be introduced as a space.
Abbreviations are not permitted, except for the words
"Sint", "Saint", "Sankt", "San", . | | , which are abbreviated by
the letter "S" followed by a space.
The mandatory minimum number of characters to be input
should be fixed by each country and be mentioned in an operator's
manual. The system of the outgoing country should check whether
this minimum is respected. When the name is completely input, it
should be followed by a full stop.
Figure 1/E.115 [T1.115] a l'italienne, p.2
- surname or trade name of subscriber
The subscriber's surname should be input according to its
exact spelling.
Special signs, including the full stop, should be replaced
by spaces and each space must be introduced as a space. Abbrevia-
tions should not be allowed. The mandatory minimum number of char-
acters to be input should be fixed by each country and be mentioned
in the operator's manual.
The system of the outgoing country should check whether
this minimum is respected. When the surname is completely input, it
should be followed by a full stop. When the subscriber's surname or
trade name is replaced by initials, the characters composing the
acronym should be introduced successively without being separated
by special signs or spaces.
Numbers forming part of names or acronyms should be intro-
duced as numbers.
2) additional data | for making the search easier)
- name of street or address
The name of the street should be input according to its
exact spelling, the complete name of the street being retained.
Special signs, including the full stop, should be replaced by
spaces and each space must be input as a space.
The words "Sint", "Saint", "Sankt", "San", . | | should
be abbreviated by the letter "S" followed by a space. The mandatory
minimum number of characters to be input should be fixed by each
_________________________
The problem of exact native spelling is subject to
further study.
country and be mentioned in the operator's manual. The system of
the outgoing country should check whether this minimum is
respected. If the name is completely input, it should be followed
by a full stop. Numbers forming part of the name of the street
should be introduced as numbers.
- number of premises
The numerical part of the house number should precede the
alphabetical part without separation. Non-significant zeros should
be omitted.
- subscriber's first name
Entire first names, initials or a combination of first
names and initials should always be separated by spaces.
- supplementary data
This data will not be introduced without there first being
a bilateral agreement; it must be preceded by a 2-character code.
The following codes have been defined:
00 = the heading in the guide (e.g., schools)
01 = profession code
02 = instruction for a selective search
03 = the country or province
04 = the category to which the required subscriber number
belongs: business, residential or public service.
On the basis of the above data, the computer of destination
searches in its files.
5.4.2 Structure of the inquiry
ENTRY message
1010 0000 Directory message (telephone)
LENGTH
1010 0000 Telephone (entry)
LENGTH
0011 0000 Entry
LENGTH
0110 0000 Part 1
LENGTH
1000 0000 Message indicators
LENGTH
Message indicators
1000 0001 International indicators
LENGTH
International indicators
1000 0010 Originating Terminal code
LENGTH
Originating terminal code
1000 0011 Date and Time (optional)
LENGTH
Date and time
1000 0100 Message number (optional)
LENGTH
Message number
0110 0001 Part 2
LENGTH
1000 0000 Locality
LENGTH
Locality
1000 0001 Subscriber name
LENGTH
Subscriber Name
1000 0010 Street name (optional)
LENGTH
Street Name
1000 0011 House number (optional)
LENGTH
House Number
1000 0100 First name (optional)
LENGTH
First Name
1000 0101 Heading (optional)
LENGTH
Heading
1000 0110 Profession (optional)
LENGTH
Profession
1000 0111 Supplementary information for search
(optional)
LENGTH
Supplementary information for search
1000 1000 Country/Province (optional)
LENGTH
Country or province
1000 1001 Category (optional)
LENGTH
Category
5.4.3 Response format
The response contains the following information:
a) Message heading
1) obligatory
- message code identifying an answer to the inter-
national inquiry service;
- codes identifying both the answering country and
the requesting country; these codes normally consist of the country
code (see Recommendation E.163);
- code of the originating terminal.
2) optional
- areas generated by the country of the input mes-
sage:
i) date and time
ii) message number.
b) Message code and international prefix
- message code
Always included and common in all answer messages. The
coded message must be converted to text by the calling country.
The following codes have been defined:
00 = one or some subscribers have been found
01 = locality insufficiently defined; no subscriber
number is forthcoming
02 = street name insufficiently defined; no sub-
scriber number is forthcoming
03 = no subscriber has been found
04 = fault or congestion; no subscriber number is
forthcoming
05 = the number of subscribers who correspond to
the selection criteria exceeds the maximum capacity for the mes-
sage. Re-enter the question with more precise information. No sub-
scriber number is forthcoming.
06 = partial fault or congestion. The list of sub-
scriber numbers who correspond to the selection criteria is not
complete.
07 = the number of subscribers who correspond to
the selection criteria exceeds the maximum capacity of the message.
The list of subscriber numbers answering to the selection criteria
is not complete. Re-enter eventually the question using more pre-
cise indicators.
08 = insufficient search elements have been
entered. Re-enter the question with more information. No subscriber
number is forthcoming.
- international prefix (in accordance with the
CCITT Recommendations) - 3 characters:
i) aligned from the left (if necessary, supplemented by
spaces).
c) Data I
- trunk code (in accordance with the CCITT Recom-
mendations) - 5 characters
- zone number: aligned from the left (if necessary,
supplemented by spaces);
- zeros if no subscriber has been found or if a
subscriber's number is not to be disclosed;
- subscriber's number (in accordance with the CCITT
Recommendation) - 8 characters:
i) aligned from the left (if necessary, supple-
mented by spaces),
ii) zeros if no subscriber has been found or if a
subscriber's number is not to be disclosed;
- locality, subscriber's surname or trade name,
first name, address, number of premises, supplementary data:
- data concerning the subscriber found. If no sub-
scriber has been found, the zone of the corresponding data in the
question format;
- subscriber message:
The coded message which must be converted into text by the
calling country.
The following codes have been defined:
00 = no comment
01 = subscriber changed address
02 = refer to distant operator.
d) "Data 2-n"
- contains the continuation of the selection if
other subscribers have been selected. Each supplementary selection
uses the same form as in the layout "data I ".
5.4.4 Structure of the response
REPLY message
1010 0000 Directory message (telephone)
LENGTH
1010 0001 Telephone (reply)
LENGTH
0011 0000 Reply
LENGTH
0110 0011 Part 1
LENGTH
1000 0000 Message indicators
LENGTH
Message indicators
1000 0001 International indicators
LENGTH
International indicators
1000 0010 Originating terminal code
LENGTH
Originating terminal code
1000 0011 Date and time (optional)
LENGTH
Date and Time
1000 0100 Message number (optional)
LENGTH
Message number
0110 0100 Part 2
LENGTH
1000 0000 Message code
LENGTH
Message code
1000 0001 International prefix
LENGTH
International prefix
0110 0101 Part 3 (optional)
LENGTH
0011 0001 Selection
LENGTH
1000 0000 Trunk code
LENGTH
Trunk code
1000 0001 Telephone number
LENGTH
Telephone number
1000 0010 Locality
LENGTH
Locality
1000 0011 Subscriber name
LENGTH
Subscriber name
1000 0100 First name (optional)
LENGTH
First Name
1000 0101 Street name
LENGTH
Street name
1000 0110 House number
LENGTH
House number
1000 0111 Supplementary data (optional)
LENGTH
Supplementary data
1000 1000 Subscriber message (optional)
LENGTH
Subscriber message
0011 0001 Selection
LENGTH
1000 0000 Trunk code
LENGTH
Trunk code
5.4.5 The different parts of the inquiry formulated by the
operator of the country of origin should be converted by the
national computer into the international standard format. The dif-
ferent parts of the response transmitted in the international stan-
dard format should be converted by the computer of the country
which made the request into its national format.
6 Charges
Note - As specified in Article 106 of the Instructions for
the International Telephone Service [2], no charge is made for
obtaining information in accordance with Article 51 of the Instruc-
tions , even when this requires the use of an international cir-
cuit.
However, some Administrations may reserve the possibility of
applying certain charges in the future. The amounts charged would
remain a national arrangement.
ANNEX A
(to Recommendation E.115)
Directory services interconnect bearer services
A.1 Introduction
The interconnection of International Directory Databases
should be network independent.
The general structure for the arrangement of the physical link
(OSI layer 1), link access (OSI layer 2) and network layer (OSI
layer 3) are as outlined in Figure A-1/E.115. Where Administrations
have provided similar equipment, interconnection may be arranged by
bilateral agreement to suit local requirements. This method of
interconnection is solely the matter of the Administrations
concerned.
Figure A-1/E.115, p.3
A.2 Identification
The types of bearer services considered applicable for direc-
tory inquiry interconnect are:
i) packet switched public data network (PSPDN);
ii) circuit switched public data network (CSPDN);
iii) public switched telephone network (PSTN);
iv) Administration leased line (point-to-point).
With possible evolution to ISDN, Signalling System No. 7
includes message transfer part and message handling systems.
A.3 Network interconnection
The choice of network to be used for the interconnection of
computer-based directory systems should be agreed bilaterally. How-
ever, to achieve commonality across all types of networks, the
link, data transfer and call procedures, as specified in the
appropriate Recommendations, should be used.
ANNEX B
(to Recommendation E.115)
Formal definitions of directory messages
Directory Message :: = CHOICE { elephone [1], Other [0 }
Telephone :: = CHOICE { ntry [0], Reply [1 }
Entry :: = SEQUENCE { art 1, Part }
Part 1 :: = [APPLICATION 0] IMPLICIT SE {
MessageIndicators [0] IMPLICIT IA5String,
InternationalIndicators [1] IMPLICIT IA5String,
OriginatingTerminalCode [2] IMPLICIT IA5String,
DateAndTime [3] IMPLICIT IA5String OPTIONAL,
MessageNumber [4] IMPLICIT IA5String OPTIONA }
Part 2 :: = [APPLICATION 1] IMPLICIT SE {
Locality [0] IMPLICIT IA5String,
SubscriberName [1] IMPLICIT IA5String,
StreetName [2] IMPLICIT IA5String OPTIONAL,
HouseNumber [3] IMPLICIT IA5String OPTIONAL,
FirstName [4] IMPLICIT IA5String OPTIONAL,
Heading [5] IMPLICIT IA5String OPTIONAL,
Profession [6] IMPLICIT IA5String OPTIONAL,
SupplementaryInfoForSearch [7] IMPLICIT IA5String OPTIONAL,
CountryOrProvince [8] IMPLICIT IA5String OPTIONAL,
Category [9] IMPLICIT IA5String OPTIONA }
Reply :: = SEQUENCE { art 1, Part 2, Part 3 OPTIONA }
Part 1 :: = [APPLICATION 3] IMPLICIT SE {
MessageIndicators [0] IMPLICIT IA5String,
InternationalIndicators [1] IMPLICIT IA5String,
OriginatingTerminalCode [2] IMPLICIT IA5String,
DateAndTime [3] IMPLICIT IA5String OPTIONAL,
MessageNumber [4] IMPLICIT IA5String OPTIONA }
Part 2 :: = [APPLICATION 4] IMPLICIT SE {
MessageCode [0] IMPLICIT IA5String,
InternationalPrefix [1] IMPLICIT IA5String
Part 3 :: = [APPLICATION 5] IMPLICIT SET of Selection
Selection :: = IMPLICIT SE {
TrunkCode [0] IMPLICIT IA5String,
TelephoneNumber [1] IMPLICIT IA5String,
Locality [2] IMPLICIT IA5String,
SubscriberName [3] IMPLICIT IA5String,
FirstName [4] IMPLICIT IA5String OPTIONAL,
StreetName [5] IMPLICIT IA5String,
HouseNumber [6] IMPLICIT IA5String,
SupplementaryData [7] IMPLICIT IA5String OPTIONAL,
SubscriberMessage [8] IMPLICIT IA5String OPTIONA }
References
[1] CCITT Recommendation International telegraph alphabet
No. 2 (ITA2) Rec. S.1.
[2] CCITT Instructions for the International Telephone Ser-
vice (1st October 1985), ITU, Geneva, 1985.
Recommendation E.116
INTERNATIONAL TELEPHONE CREDIT CARDS FOR USE IN
A NON-AUTOMATED ENVIRONMENT
Preamble
This Recommendation concerns only credit card usage in a
non-automated environment with the assistance of an operator. The
automated international telephone credit card system is described
in Recommendation E.118.
1 Credit cards may be issued by Administrations to allow a
credit card customer to make telephone calls in the international
service at the appropriate charges for each call and have the
charges billed to his account in the country which issued the
credit card.
The international credit card system should normally be used
for calls to the country of the card issuer unless it has been
decided otherwise by bilateral agreement between Administrations.
2 The use of credit cards may be allowed for station and per-
sonal calls (including data and conference calls).
Station calls paid with credit cards may be subject to a spe-
cial flat-rate charge to be fixed by the billing Administration.
Personal calls paid with credit cards are subject to a special
flat-rate charge to be fixed by the billing Administration.
3 If the holder of a credit card is to derive the maximum
benefit from it, he should not be required to show the card at a
telephone office; he should be able to make his calls over the
telephone, simply quoting the card number to the operator. The
number on the card should provide sufficient guarantee of the
card's validity.
4 There would be certain advantages in standardizing the gen-
eral format and numbering scheme together with usage procedures for
credit cards used in the international service. This would facili-
tate the recognition of such cards in hotels, etc., and the han-
dling of calls. It is a matter for national decision whether
separate cards are issued for the national and the international
telephone services, or whether one card will serve both purposes.
5 Credit cards issued for use in the international service
(whether or not they are used for the national service as well)
should, as far as practicable, conform with the following specifi-
cations:
5.1 Size
The credit card should be designed to be carried conveniently
on one's person. Current ISO standards define the dimensions of
financial transaction cards to be 85.60 mm x 53.98 mm
(3.370 x 2.125 inches) and the CCITT considers that telephone
credit cards issued by Administrations should have similar dimen-
sions.
5.2 Information content
The information on an international telephone credit card
should clearly include:
1) the name of the issuing Administration and,
where appropriate, the country of issue;
2) the card number (on a combined
national/international card, the national number, if different,
should be appropriately designated),
and optionally includes:
3) the card holder's name and signature;
4) the date of expiry;
5) instructions on how the card should be used.
(Some Administrations may prefer to issue instructions separately.)
5.3 Numbering system
The numbering of the card to be issued by Administrations
shall be as described in Recommendation E.118, S 3.2.
5.4 Issuer identifier number assignment and registration
procedure
a) The procedure for the assignment of specific
issuer identifier numbers is described in Recommendation E.118,
S 3.3.
b) An illustrative registration form can be found
in Figure 2/E.118.
5.5 Transition process
Guidelines for Administrations to make the transition from the
old to the new numbering scheme are contained in Annex A.
ANNEX A
(to Recommendation E.116)
Transition process to the new account number structure
A.1 Background
Generally, in today's environment, telephone credit card sys-
tems are implemented in a non-automated fashion with the customer
typically presenting an international account number verbally to an
operator.
Recommendation E.118, pertaining to an automated international
telephone credit card system, requires a change in the structure of
the account number.
It is not expected that all Administrations, or even a major-
ity of them, will implement automated telephone credit card systems
in the near future. Those Administrations planning to implement
automated systems will need to continue to accept non-automated
cards. Conversely, Administrations continuing to provide
non-automated card service will need to accept the new automated
card numbering structure.
Therefore, to facilitate both needs, a change in the account
number structure for non-automated cards is necessary; the account
number structure contained in Recommendation E.118 is usable in
both automated and non-automated environments.
Because of the cost of issuing international telephone credit
cards, Administrations will continue to use the current validity
code until transitioning to the account number structure as defined
in Recommendation E.118.
For background information, the old numbering system, as
extracted from Recommendation E.116 from the VIIIth Plenary Assem-
bly Red Book , is shown below:
" Numbering system
For international purposes the credit card will be composed of
two parts:
- the first part will consist of a code to indi-
cate the country of issue followed by a letter denoting the 5-year
period of validity;
- the second part will consist of the credit card
number assigned by the issuing Administration.
Administrations may incorporate a simple validation check
within the credit card number which could be changed when new cards
are issued."
A.2 The plan
The following transition plan will accommodate a range of
implementation schedules by Administrations: The use of the current
validity code will be extended until December 31, 1993 to allow all
Administrations to make the transition to the new account number
structure without requiring an interim reissue of credit cards.
Pending appropriate service agreements, Administrations should
be prepared to accept the new account number format as early as
January 1, 1989.
The transition to the new account number structure shall be
completed by 31 December 1993. During the transition period,
Administrations should expect to accept credit cards containing
account numbers conforming to both numbering schemes. At this time
all Administrations will be expected to have reissued cards using
the new account number structure. See Figure A-1/E.116.
Figure A-1/E.116, p.
Recommendation E.117
PROVISIONS CONCERNING THE DEVICE SUBSTITUTING
A SUBSCRIBER IN HIS ABSENCE
1 Precautions will have to be taken by the Administrations to
warn callers of the presence on the called subscriber's line of a
device substituting him in his absence:
a) Devices of this type should be indicated in the
telephone directories by means of a special sign .
b) Administrations should invite the owners or
renters of such equipment to mention the fact on their letterheads
by means of a printed indication.
2 To facilitate the disposal of international traffic on a
device of this type, the Administrations should, when consenting to
this equipment, insist that it complies with the essential condi-
tions set out in the following Annex.
ANNEX A
(to Recommendation E.117)
Basic specifications for
recording apparatus
substituting the called subscriber
A.1 Operating conditions
A.1.1 Delay in answering
The ringing current from the telephone exchange should be per-
mitted to operate the telephone bell for at least 3 seconds but for
not more than 10 seconds before the call is answered by the
apparatus. This will enable the call to be answered in the normal
way in those countries which wish to provide for such a facility.
The timing of this interval (3 to 10 seconds) should be independent
of the periodicity or the duration of the ringing current.
A.1.2 Normal conditions for metering and supervision
In answering a call the apparatus should loop the subscriber's
line and should also give the normal conditions for control of
metering and for supervision as with a normal subscriber's instal-
lation. The disconnection of the apparatus shall break the loop on
the subscriber's line.
A.1.3 Announcement of the presence of the apparatus
A.1.3.1 The presence of the apparatus should be indicated to
the calling party by means of a verbal announcement following, in
principle, immediately on the closing of the loop on the
subscriber's line.
A.1.3.2 This verbal announcement should include, in particu-
lar, the following:
- first, that it is a recording apparatus;
- the subscriber's name or business style;
- the subscriber's number and particulars of the
locality (e.g., Geneve, St. Moritz, etc.);
- clear instructions as to the functioning of the
apparatus (whether a message may be recorded, and if so, the moment
when the message may be recorded and the maximum duration of a
recording).
A.2 Signalling conditions
A.2.1 Avoidance of interference from signalling frequencies
The correct functioning of the apparatus should not depend
upon (nor be affected to any extent by) the sending or receiving of
signalling frequencies used in the telephone system or specially
generated in the apparatus.
A.2.2 Avoidance of interference with national signalling
systems by the tones transmitted by the apparatus
To avoid interference with the national signalling system of a
country by the tones transmitted by the apparatus over the network
of that country, it is recommended that:
- the transmission of tones should be in short
pulses and not a continuous transmission;
- the tones should not be composed of a single fre-
quency, but should be a mixture of at least two frequencies, so
that the guard circuit of the signal receiver of the corresponding
country, where there would be a risk of interference, may operate.
For this purpose, the choice of the following
frequency-combinations should be avoided:
2040 and 2400 Hz 1200 and 1600 Hz
500 and 20 Hz
600 and 750 Hz 1000 and 20 Hz
A.3 Transmission conditions
Any recording apparatus which takes the place of the called
subscriber should give a level and quality of speech comparable to
that given when the station is used by a person.
Recommendation E.118
AUTOMATED INTERNATIONAL TELEPHONE CREDIT CARD SYSTEM
Preamble
The Automated International Telephone Credit Card System and
its use throughout the world will provide advantages, conveniences
and economic benefits to both users and Administrations.
This is based on a recognition of:
1) the need by Administrations for a reduction in
the requirement for operator assistance, adequate security against
fraudulent use and facilitated billing procedures, when telephone
calls are made at public facilities;
2) the current and anticipated capabilities of
credit cards which could provide increased security and new or
enhanced services to users;
3) the growing use of more sophisticated credit
cards for a variety of services and transactions.
As a result, Administrations are encouraged to prepare for,
and introduce, automated international telephone credit card system
using the guidance provided in this Recommendation.
The use of the pre-paid or debit card in the national network
is a national matter and is not covered by this Recommendation.
Sections 1 through 6 of this Recommendation deal with major
attributes of the automated credit card system which may be used by
an Administration to establish its own system. Section 7 deals par-
ticularly with conditions necessary for international compatibil-
ity.
1 Types of credit cards which may be used
1.1 The types of cards which may be used are differentiated in
two ways: the organization which issues them and the technology
used.
1.2 The automated telephone credit card issued by Administra-
tions and credit cards issued by banks, commercial credit card com-
panies and other organizations can be used so far as the Adminis-
tration concerned permits such use.
1.3 The IC type card (a card containing a microprocessor and
memory in an IC chip) and cards using the magnetic stripe technol-
ogy may be used if they are equipped with the necessary charac-
teristics for the system.
2 Service agreements to be concluded between the Administrations
and credit card issuers (other Administrations, credit card com-
panies, banks, etc.)
The Administration concludes the necessary agreements with
credit card issuers (other Administrations, credit card companies,
banks, etc.) in order that cards issued by those bodies can be used
in the Administration's Automated Telephone Credit Card System. The
following are the principal items to be covered in the agreement:
a) payment of the telephone charge to the Adminis-
tration by credit card issuers;
b) service charges (commission) due to credit card
issuers;
c) responsibility on fraudulent use of cards and
uncollectibles;
d) exchange of information among Administrations
and credit card issuers;
e) validation procedures.
3 Specifications of cards
3.1 International standards
For maximum flexibility, convenience of use and economic bene-
fits, the IC and magnetic stripe cards to be issued by Administra-
tions should conform to the relevant ISO standards concerning
materials, recording techniques, physical dimensions and the type
and format of embossed information.
These are:
ISO/7810 Identification cards - Physical charac-
teristics
ISO/7811/1 Identification cards - Recording tech-
nique - Part 1: Embossing
ISO/7811/2 Identification cards - Recording tech-
nique - Part 2: Magnetic stripe
ISO/7811/3 Identification cards - Recording tech-
nique - Part 3: Location of embossed characters on ID-1 cards
ISO/7811/4 Identification cards - Recording tech-
nique - Part 4: Location of read-only magnetic tracks - Tracks 1
and 2
ISO/7811/5 Identification cards - Recording tech-
nique - Part 5: Location of read-write magnetic track - Track 3
ISO/7813 Identification cards - Financial transac-
tion cards
Note - The standard for the IC card is to be established by
ISO TC 97/SC 17/WG 4.
3.2 Numbering system
The numbering of the card to be issued by Administrations
shall be as follows based on ISOB/F7812 (Identification card-
numbering system and registration procedure for issuer identif-
iers).
The maximum length of the visible card number (primary account
number) should be 19 characters and is composed of the following
sub-parts (see Figure 1/E.118):
- major industry identifier (MII),
- country code,
- issuer identifier number,
- individual account identification number,
- check digit. In addition to the check digit,
Administrations may incorporate another validation check device in
some location on the card which could be changed when new cards are
issued.
Note - Major industry and issuer identifier numbers of the
form 66xxxx have already been assigned to some Administrations as a
transitional measure. Credit cards of this type are also fully com-
patible with ISO standards.
Figure 1/E.118, p.
3.3 Issuer identifier number assignment and registration
procedure
a) The assignment of specific issuer identifier
numbers should be the responsibility of a country or group of coun-
tries as appropriate.
b) These issuer identifier numbers are normally
used to distinguish among multiple issuers within a country. How-
ever, these numbers may also be used to distinguish individual
countries sharing the same country code (as defined in Recommenda-
tion E.163) or, if appropriate, to distinguish both countries and
issuers.
c) A central registration authority should be esta-
blished within ITU for the registration and/or cancellation of
issuer identifier numbers for telecommunication Administrations. An
illustrative registration form is contained in Figure 2/E.118.
d) The ITU should inform its members and coordinate
registration information with the ISO as appropriate.
4 Functions of the system
In addition to the card, equipment to be used in the automated
credit card system will include a terminal and may also involve
supplementary processors, switching and other network components.
Equipment used in this system involves both memory and pro-
cessing, either completely at the terminal itself, partly at the
terminal and partly at another location, or completely at another
location.
The major functions of the system are as follows:
4.1 Card acceptance and reading
The system should be able to accept, read and, if required,
write information on one or more types of cards (IC, magnetic
stripe, etc.) intended for use in the system.
4.2 Card and user validation
The system should be able to determine whether a card or bil-
ling number is valid and ideally whether the user is the actual
owner of the card or billing number.
4.3 Acceptance of other information
The system should be able to accept other discretionary infor-
mation supplied by the user or the card including for example call
destination, other options and personal identification, etc. over
and above the ISO Standard visible 19 characters.
4.4 Information transfer
The system should accept user information for immediate or
later transfer to other system equipment, perhaps in a different
order from which the information was input.
4.5 Call records
The system should record accurate and complete call data
(including validation indication) required for billing and adminis-
trative purposes. A means for protecting and transferring these
records to other administrative areas for further processing is
also required.
4.6 User feedback
The system should, to the extent feasible, provide enough gui-
dance and error feedback to the user via the terminal, thereby mak-
ing the system easier and more convenient to use.
4.7 Information security
The system should, to the extent feasible, protect user infor-
mation from disclosure to unauthorized parties.
4.8 Maintenance
The system should be practical to maintain and repair. This
might involve self-diagnostics, automatic trouble reporting and
remote software modifications.
4.9 Card release
The card should be released upon call completion or at some
earlier point in the process.
5 Basic procedures for use of the card
5.1 Validation of the card and identification of the card
holder
A user presents the card to the terminal for automatic valida-
tion of the card. The user may also present personal identification
information, for example, PIN (Personal Identification Number), so
that the system or the card can verify it and confirm the author-
ized use of the card.
5.2 Call request
After validation of the card and identification of the card
holder, the user enters the desired number and other information if
required.
5.3 Call requests at terminals other than the fully
automated telephone
To increase the usefulness of the credit card, it is desirable
to be able to use the card at telephones not associated with the
automated system. This requires the user to enter billing and iden-
tification information (which may or may not necessarily include
personal identification information) by other means such as by
voice to an operator, manually entering the digits, or using a
portable signalling unit. This information is then validated before
the call is allowed to proceed. Some Administrations already have
such capabilities. When automated international credit cards are
used in a non-automated environment with the assistance of an
operator, Recommendation E.116 will apply.
6 Operational procedures for charging, billing and collection of
the charge
_________________________
Tariff and accounting principles are contained in the
appropriate "D" series Recommendations.
6.1 Timing of calls and handling of call records
The chargeable duration or the chargeable number of units of
calls may be measured by timing devices either at the terminal or
at another location.
The chargeable duration or the chargeable number of units of a
call together with other records of the call described in S 6.2
should be transferred to the management system such as the Billing
and Collection Centre for further processing of such data.
6.2 Billing information
Information required for billing might include the following:
The PIN (or secret code) should not be provided, nor should it
appear in the billing information.
a) the card number
b) chargeable duration or chargeable number of
units,
c) calling and called numbers, including country
codes when appropriate,
d) time of day (hour and minutes), date (day,
month, year),
e) validation indicator,
f) other information.
6.3 Billing and collection of the telephone charge
To collect the charges of calls made by credit card holders,
the bills and/or billing information are sent to the credit card
issuers (including foreign Administrations) according to the ser-
vice agreement described in S 2. However, the provision of billing
information to the card issuers is subject to national regulations.
If the calls are made with a credit card issued by the
Administrations operating the system, the bill will go directly
into the Administration's customer billing system.
7 Use of the card in countries other than the country of ori-
gin
_________________________
Tariff and accounting principles are contained in the
7.1 Reasons for such use
For maximum convenience, advantage, security and economic
benefits in terms of customer satisfaction, operating expense
reduction and utilization of the international network, Administra-
tions should admit and encourage the use of foreign cards to the
greatest extent feasible.
7.2 Bilateral service agreements
Administrations, in order to admit the use of foreign cards
with their system, should negotiate bilateral agreements with
foreign Administrations (or card issuing bodies) as outlined in
S 2.
Administrations wishing to conclude service agreements with
foreign card issuers, should carefully select the foreign cards to
be used in their system to ensure, among other things, that:
a) there is technical compatibility,
b) card validation and user verification will not
be a problem,
c) there will be no problem in the collection of
the telephone charge,
d) appropriate procedures are available for lost or
stolen cards,
e) cards causing problems will not be honoured.
7.3 Information to foreign card issuers and customer
instruction
Administrations should keep foreign Administrations or credit
card company correspondents fully informed of operating conditions,
requirements, restrictions, problems etc. in order that the foreign
card issuing body can provide cardholders with customer instruc-
tional information to minimize confusion, encourage usage and
assist users of cards in other countries.
7.4 Allowable calls
For reasons outlined in S 7.1, no limitation should be set on
the destination of calls to be made using foreign cards. For
_________________________
appropriate "D" series Recommendations.
example, calls to third countries, calls within a country or calls
back to the card issuing country should be permitted.
7.5 Billing and collection of charges from foreign card
issuers
The Series D Recommendations will cover billing and collection
of charges, and until new Recommendations are developed or existing
Recommendations are modified, bilateral service agreements between
Administrations should apply.
Figure 2/E.118 [T1.118], p.6
Figure 2/E.118 [2T1.118], p.7
Recommendation E.119
INSTRUCTION OF STAFF OPERATING INTERNATIONAL POSITIONS
The professional instruction of operating and supervising
staff is of the greatest importance in ensuring the efficient use
of circuits in the international telephone service; to this end, it
is extremely desirable to improve supervisors' and operators'
knowledge of the language of other countries and to enable them to
become informed about the customs of the subscribers, the organiza-
tion of the service and the manipulation of equipment at the other
end of the circuit.
It is therefore recommended:
1) that, during the training of these operators,
they should be provided with some information about methods and
operating procedures used in the countries with which they might be
connected;
2) that there should be frequent exchanges of
supervisors and operators between the telephone exchanges of dif-
ferent countries.
BLANC
