From: booloo@framsparc.ocf.llnl.gov (Mark Boolootian)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.cell-relay
Subject: Online Access to Adaptation Layer documentation
Date: 17 Nov 92 17:10:44 GMT
Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory



I recently asked about the electronic availability of the documents describing
the various AALs.  I have not had as much time to pursue the few leads I
received, but I wanted to post the information I had for the benefit of
others.  Thanks to all who responded.

Although not online, Gary Kessler provided a couple of pointers to where you 
can get info on the specs (although you'll have to pay for it).  He wrote:

	A real good overview of the ATM specs. is in Bellcore Tech. Adv. 
	TA-1113.  You can obtain it from Bellcore (fax @ 201-829-5982).

	All of the AALs have been published in various CCITT documents; 
	hardcopy is available from IGI (1-800-323-1088) or Phillips Pub. 
	(1-800-OMNICOM).  The CCITT also has an on-line document service, 
	but it mostly contains the lists of recommendations and/or summaries 
	of the specs, not the whole spec.


A draft of the AAL5 spec is available electronically.  To date, this is the
only AAL spec I have been able to find online.  You can anonymous ftp it from 
thumper.bellcore.com:/pub/smq/CCITT_AAL_5_Draft.ps.  I think there is also 
a .txt version.  I haven't looked at this spec.

The paper describing the Simple and Efficient Adaption Layer (SEAL) is 
available from iraun1.ira.uka.de:/network/standards/iplpdn/seal.ps.  I thought
this was a candidate for AAL5 at one time.  I don't know its status now.

I made a comment regarding AALs 2 and 3 being merged.  It was pointed out to
me that it was AALs 3 and 4 which have been merged.

Finally, I am reposting the following notice which discusses the electronic
availability of CCITT docs.  As Mr. Kessler points out, you can only obtain
summaries of specs, not entire specs.  I would say the ITU still hasn't got 
the message Carl Malamud (among others) has been trying to send for many months
now.  Hopefully the ITU will be more forthcoming with complete specs in the 
near future.  Perhaps interested parties can drop Mr. Shaw at the ITU a line
and let him know how useful full specs would be.


Enclosed message follows:

    Date: Sun, 18 Oct 1992 09:52:43 +0100
    From: ROBERT.SHAW@IS.SG.itu.arcom.ch
    Subject: Electronic Access to ITU (e.g. CCITT) Documents


    The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a United Nations
    Agency based in Geneva, Switzerland, has announced a new electronic
    document distribution service called Teledoc.  The ITU consists of
    five permanent organs including the General Secretariat, the
    International Frequency Registration Board (IFRB), the International
    Radio Consultative Committee (CCIR), the International Telegraph and
    Telephone Consultative Committee (CCITT) and the Telecommunications
    Development Bureau (BDT).

    The Teledoc service makes available public ITU documents in a database
    called the ITU Document Store.  The ITU Document Store organizes ITU
    documents into hierarchical groups: each group can contain additional
    groups and/or documents.  Remote access to the ITU Document Store is
    planned via:

    - electronic mail (auto-answering mailbox)
    - interactive VT interface (planned for early 93)
    - Internet FTP (planned for early 93)

    The first available interface is the Teledoc Auto-Answering Mailbox
    (TAM), an X.400-based document server.  Mail messages can be sent to:

    (X.400) S=teledoc; P=itu; A=arcom; C=ch

    or

    (Internet) teledoc@itu.arcom.ch

    Commands to the TAM must be placed in the mail message body (not in
    the subject field).  The commands are simple.  For example:

    HELP
    LIST CCITT
    LIST CCITT/REC

    will send the TAM help file and a list of the contents of the CCITT
    and CCITT Recommendations group (only lists of CCITT Recommendations
    and some summaries are available as of Oct 92).  The HELP file
    describes how to retrieve individual documents.  For additional
    information about Teledoc, please contact:


    Robert Shaw  Teledoc Project Coordinator   Information Services Department
    International Telecommunication Union  Place des Nations
    1211 Geneva, Switzerland   Voice: +41 22 730 5338/5554
    FAX: +41 22 730 5337  Internet: shaw@itu.arcom.ch
    X.400:G=robert;S=shaw;P=itu;A=arcom;C=ch   MCI: rshaw
-- 
Mark Boolootian		booloo@llnl.gov		+1 510 423 1948
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.cell-relay