One document matched: draft-polk-sipping-mlpp-reqs-00.txt


Internet Engineering Task Force                              James M. Polk
Internet Draft                                               Cisco Systems
Expiration: Aug 24th, 2003                                   
File: draft-polk-sipping-mlpp-reqs-00.txt                  






                  Multilevel Precedence and Preemption 
                   in the Session Initiation Protocol

                            February 24th, 2003 





     
Status of this Memo 
     
This document is an Internet-Draft and is in full conformance with all 
provisions of Section 10 of RFC2026. 
    
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Abstract 

This document proposes considerations and requirements for the extension 
of the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) [1] to support an IP version of 
Multi-Level Precedence and Preemption functionality originally set forth 
in [2&3]. This document will be limited in scope to aspects having to do 
with the SIP Protocol. MLPP within the IETF utilizing other IETF Protocols 
is left to other documents, therefore is considered out of scope here.






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Table of Contents 
     
Abstract   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1
Table of Contents    . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  2
1.0   Introduction   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  2
1.1   Conventions used in this document  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  3
2.0   Terms and Definitions  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4
3.0   MLPP Operational Functionality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  6
3.1   MLPP Precedence  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  6
3.2   Operational Behavior for Preemption  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  7
3.2.1 Modes of Preemption in CSN Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  7
3.3   Access Preemption Event  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  9
3.4   Network Preemption Event . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
4.0   MLPP over IP Basic Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
4.1   Components of the Basic Model  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
5.0   SIP Multilevel Precedence and Preemption Requirements  . . . . . 12
6.0   IANA Considerations  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
7.0   Security Considerations  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
9.0   Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
10.0  References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
11.0  Author Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16


1.0 Introduction

This document proposes considerations and requirements for the extension 
of the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) [1]to support an IP version of 
Multi-Level Precedence and Preemption functionality originally set forth 
in [2&3]. This document will be limited in scope to aspects having to do 
with the SIP Protocol. MLPP within the IETF utilizing other IETF Protocols 
is left to other documents, therefore is considered out of scope here.

MLPP was originally written to create ôa prioritized call handling 
serviceö in combination with ISDN supplementary services. MLPP has two 
very simple concepts for voice and video (Real-Time) communications: 

       A) labeling or marking every call (at inception) with a Precedence 
          level relative to other calls within a single administrative 
          domain, or federation of domains; and 

       B) during times of congestion at any point in the network, the 
          point of congestion at the endpoint or internetworking device, 
          having that device determine if preempting (seizing) the 
          resources of any identifiable lower relative priority call(s) is 
          required to properly set-up a newly signaled higher priority 
          call


This administrative control and network functionality exists today in 
several large deployments. It is based, or founded, in US Government 


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network requirements. [2,3] is an augmentation service to ANSIÆs ISDN 
[8,9,10,11]. Several other non-US networks have been enabled with this 
MLPP functionality in the past decade. Most of these networks are looking 
to incorporate IP signaling and transport of their voice and video 
services and require the MLPP functionality during the transition and 
progression/evolution of their networks in times of government or military 
emergencies when congestion causes critical systems communications to 
falter. 

The applications currently run by these networks are voice and video 
services only. In the future, Instant Messaging and email are targets for 
this capability as well, but will not be further discussed within this 
document.

This document will focus on the considerations and requirements on SIP 
Proxies, Gateways and User Agents, concentrating on what needs to be 
addressed to enable MLPP functionality.

Considerations need to be met and realized in the user experience of the 
existing MLPP service. Because of the existing size of these networks (one 
network has several million end-stations), the migration of their 
communications over to an IP based system cannot occur quickly. With this 
in mind, many considerations should be kept in mind that this is not a 
brand new installation. Further, all new implementations with this 
functionality with IP endpoints will be primary line endpoints, and not in 
secondary configurations.

Most of the requirements here have been taken from [2&3]. Any remaining 
details and concepts attained from documents came from the certification 
materials which all products must be tested against to achieve MLPP 
compliance and interoperability status in [4&5]. There are a few concepts 
mentioned here that were attained from interviewing users and testers of 
MLPP for guidance of how this MLPP-concept might be enhanced with the 
additional capabilities that IP and IP-based services brings to offer.

This document will cover new terminology used within MLPP infrastructures. 
Also included will be an overview of the current decision process that 
exists within the MLPP enabled network. This will be followed by the 
SIP(PING) requirements for enabling this functionality in this working 
group.


1.1 Conventions used in this document

   The key words "MUST", "MUST NOT", "REQUIRED", "SHALL", "SHALL NOT", 
   "SHOULD", "SHOULD NOT", "RECOMMENDED",  "MAY", and "OPTIONAL" in this 
   document are to be interpreted as described in [6].






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2.0 Terms and Definitions

The following is a list of definitions and conventions to used throughout 
this document. Note that some of the definitions are either MLPP *or* IP 
centric, and might not make sense to the other. Advice is taking these 
words in the context of the section of this document they are written in.

Alternate Party      Is another endstation which is configured for any 
                     call diversion if the Called device has an inbound 
                     Precedence inbound call while that Called User is 
                     actively on a call/session

CSN                  Circuit Switched Network - public or private TDM 
                     Infrastructure; most often this will refer to the 
                     existing MLPP enabled closed network of within the 
                     same domain, and not the publicly available dial 
                     circuits

Domain               A network under one single administrative control 
                     entity, possibly non-adjacent geographically, meaning 
                     network islands interconnected by an intermediary 
                     (Service) Provider

End Office Node      EN û see EOS

End Office Switch    EOS û An MLPP capable PBX configured to only service 
                     that local community and its needs; it is internal 
                     network controlled; this unit connects all CPE 
                     equipment in that community

Gateway              Converts media provided in one type of network to the 
                     format required in another type of network; the 
                     gateway shall be capable of full duplex audio trans-
                     lations

GSTN                 Global or General Switched Telephone Network û world-
                     wide circuit-switched public telephony network

ISDN                 Integrated Services Digital Network 

Look ahead For Busy  LFB û a feature of MLPP in which a phone can look 
                     ahead in the network to determine if a call it is 
                     about to place has available resources for call 
                     completion

MLPP                 Multi-level Precedence and Preemption [2&3] û ANSI 
                     T1.619 and 619A specifications stipulating mechanisms 
                     for marking each voice communication with a 
                     Precedence level, and defining the requirement for 
                     the Preemption of existing lower Precedence sessions 
                     during congestion in favor of new higher Precedence 


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                     session(s)

MLPPoIP              MLPP (functionality) over (an) IP network(s)

Multifunction Switch MFS - A combination of a End Office Switch (EOS) and 
                     Tandem Switch (TS); having trunking and CPE 
                     connection capabilities within one, more economical 
                     unit

Precedence           The relative priority level assigned to each call by 
                     the caller at inception

Precedence Call      Any call that has a Precedence level higher than 
                     Routine

Preempt Notification The audible notification sent to all endstations who 
                     have been preempted for any reason

Preempted            Any caller who has had their existing call cleared
                     Or disconnected

Preempting Call      A call with a Precedence level higher than others 
                     on a specified interface at a time of congestion, 
                     including an end-station that is on a call

Proxy Server         SIP Server [1] that acts on behalf of other devices

Registrar Server     SIP Server [1] that serves as a Registration point 
                     principally for mobility

Response Timer T-sub-K  Is started when the network notifies the Called 
                     device of a inbound precedence call; acceptance must 
                     occur by the Called device; the timer is specified in 
                     [2] at from 4 û 30 seconds

Response Timer T-sub-L  Is started when an LFB information unit is sent 
                     into the network to establish an open path between 
                     the Calling endstation and the intended called end-
                     station; the timer is expected in [2] as from 5 û 20 
                     seconds

SLA                  Service Level Agreement û Agreement between two 
                     adjacent networks on many aspects of how oneÆs 
                     traffic gets treated within the otherÆs network

Tandem Switch        TS - Only connects to EOSÆs; is the primary backbone 
                     of a circuit-switched MLPP Network

User Agent           UA defined in [1] as an application which can act 
                     both as a user agent client and user agent server



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User Agent Client    UAC defined in [1] as a client application that 
                     initiates a SIP request

User Agent Server    UAS defined in [1] as a server application that 
                     replies to SIP requests. The response accepts, 
                     rejects or redirects the request.


3.0 MLPP Operational Functionality

This section will provide the operational functionality of an MLPP 
infrastructure. The requirements section later in this document will be 
based on this section (and subsections) for its operational requirements 
in SIP(PING). 

The following from the core MLPP documents [2,3] must be referenced in 
detail, as well as the documents involving the actual testing of any 
component for certification of MLPP compliance [4,5,7]. 

The root specification [2] states that there are two conceptual parts to 
MLPP: Precedence and Preemption.


3.1 MLPP Precedence

Precedence means Priority. It is the relative priority of a call to all 
other calls within that domain (or federation of domains if applicable) 
when traversing any interface, including an endstation. It is set or 
assigned by the calling party at the beginning of a call, on a per call 
basis.  Once the precedence level is chosen by a caller, it cannot be 
changed for the duration of that call. The next call being independent of 
the first call, can be made at another authorized level, also chosen by 
the calling party. 

The table below from [2] specifies the precedence values as:

 Priority   ISDN           Text
  Level   Sequence       Sequence
   ---      ----         --------
    1      "0000"   =   "Flash Override" (highest level)
    2      "0001"   =   "Flash"
    3      "0010"   =   "Immediate"
    4      "0011"   =   "Priority"
    5      "0100"   =   "Routine"        (lowest level)
            "0101 û 1111" are unspecified

The possible levels the call can be assigned, in CSN MLPP infrastructures, 
is bound to the allowable levels set on the switch (or EOS) for that 
circuit. Each line in this infrastructure is configured to only allow 
certain levels to be chosen by anyone accessing that phone. Someone with 
personal access to higher levels than that of the phone they're in front 


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of, needs to go to a phone with access to those higher precedence levels 
in order to make a higher precedence call.

Because the precedence level chosen for a (or any) call is used solely in 
the determination of which call or calls are preempted (should congestion 
occur at any point or interface this call traverses) as explained in the 
next section, the user of that phone cannot use a level above what they 
are authorized to gain access to.

Since UAs aren't bound by any physical connection to a switch, this 
restraint no longer will exist. Thus, another means will be required by 
SIP to restrict the unauthorized use of higher precedence calls by those 
that are not allowed to signal these precedence values in their INVITE 
messages.

An important background note, the determination of who is granted 
permission to make precedence calls (meaning any call with a precedence 
level higher than routine - the lowest level) is by job function in most 
MLPP networks, and not by who they are, or how long they've been with that 
organization. This is the case within the US "DSN" network. This means 
that if there is a job related rank to each person's employment, higher 
ranking employees don't necessarily dictate access to higher precedence 
call privileges, but in practice, this is generally close to alignment.


3.2 Operational Behavior for Preemption

Preemption (in a CSN case) is the seizing of otherwise used resources of 
one or more calls in order to complete another call in a congestion 
situation. The nodes that determine preemption are EOSs or TNs in the CSN 
infrastructure. The decision is based on the precedence values assigned to 
each circuit with the trunk groups on those nodes. When a call is placed, 
the transiting node maintains state as to the precedence value of that 
call assigned to a inbound and outbound port on that node. 

When a new call is signaled (via SS7) into that CSN node, the node looks 
for available resources to route that call through. If the node determines 
that it has no more outbound (egress) resources available (for example on 
a T1 interface) for this new call, a comparison is performed of this new 
call's precedence value to that of all the other calls existing on that 
outbound interface. If this new call has a higher precedence value than 
any one of the other calls, one or more calls (in fact all that are 
necessary) are cleared to complete this new call.


3.2.1 Modes of Preemption in CSN Systems

There are two modes of Preemption: preemption of the called device with 
another inbound higher precedence call (Access Preemption Event), and 
preemption within the network not involving either party of the preempted 
call at all, but at a point of congestion (Network Preemption Event) 


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between CSN nodes. 

MLPP is mandated in [2] as having call handling influence with a single 
domain based implementation only. The precedence value set in one MLPP 
Domain SHOULD NOT cross domain boundaries into another domain and have any 
preferential treatment applied to that call. The MLPP Domain-Identifier 
[2] was included in the ISDN and SS7 for this reason. MLPP compliant 
Tandems (TNÆs) are to look at the Precedence level set within the call 
set-up signaling as well as the domain identifier within that same call 
set-up to ensure validity within that network. This prevented leaking of 
one domainÆs call behavior into anotherÆs. In other words, no preemption 
of any resources shall occur within a domain as a result of a call into 
that domain from outside the domain, even if both domains are MLPP 
compliant networks.

Here are the three preemption conditions:

    o A distinctive preemption notification (tone) shall be introduced 
      into any connection(s) that is to be cleared due to either a Access 
      or network Preemption event; (this is not a SIP protocol issue, but 
      an implementation one, yet worth noting here)

    o The party on the inbound end of a preempting call MUST acknowledge 
      that inbound call before connection to that call; 

    o Upon determination of no available resources and calls existing on 
      an interface of lower precedence, the lowest level call(s) MUST be 
      cleared in order to complete the higher precedence call;

A call can be preempted at any time after the precedence level has been 
determined to be lower than the existing call and before call clearing has 
begun. However, no preemption of any resources shall occur within a domain 
as a result of a call into that domain from another domain, even if both 
domains are MLPP compliant networks. 

A clarification must be stated: higher precedence provides preferential 
call handling throughout an MLPP domain, regardless of how much higher a 
call is relative to others. For example, a "Routine" call is equally lower 
in precedence level than "Priority", "Immediate", "Flash" and "Flash 
Override" as far as preferential treatment in the network is concern.

Having stated that, currently there is no recognized/Standardized method 
or mechanism in the case of which one of several lower precedence calls 
gets disconnected, where such a condition exists. Only such that the 
lowest level call are the first to get disconnected. But if there are more 
than one such lower level call existing at a congested interface and a 
higher precedence call comes through, determining which lowest level call 
gets preempted first is left to the implementer.

An example, if there is a saturated interface with 6 equal bandwidth 
connections existing, 1 "Flash" call, 1 "Immediate" and 4 "Routine" calls, 


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when another "Flash" level attempts to gain resources out that interface; 
if that new "Flash" call is the same bandwidth as the others (all are 
equal in this situation), then a "Routine" is preempted, being the lowest 
level on that interface. Which one is up to that vendor's product 
algorithm. At some point, the IETF might suggest a common mechanism for 
this choice for consistency.

MLPP [2] also established the Alternative Party, and the Non-Preemptable 
Resources options. The Alternative Party option is pre-configured to a 
secondary phone to ring in the times where the original phone is being 
used. This can prevent a preemption event, even when that new inbound MLPP 
call is of higher precedence. The Alternative Party must answer before the 
Timer T sub K expires. Additionally, a party of a phone can preset their 
phone with the option of æNon-Preemptable ResourcesÆ. This prevents Access 
Preemption events, but does not prevent Network Preemption events.

The Alternative Party redirect MUST be to a valid domain address and is 
RECOMMENDED to a location which always answers the phone, such as a 
operator or ACD pool of personnel. A limit in [12] set the maximum number 
of call diversions to 5. An additional benefit to the Timer T sub K is 
that it limits the time of these diversions when it expires for a call. 
The example below give this mechanism more clarity.


3.3 Access Preemption Event

The following is a CSN example from [2] of the MLPP mandated process for 
how Access-based Preemption events MUST occur, similar to a flow chart:

  Scenario #1: Caller A and D are on an MLPP call when Caller C calls D

                                                             
                 IP Phone A                                  
                        \                                    
                         \                                   
                         EOS =====>  IP Phone D              
                         /                                   
                        /                                    
                 IP Phone C                                  
                                                             
           Figure 1. Call A-D exists when C calls D          

  If there is an existing call between two parties (A & D), and a third 
  party (C) calls into D (provided there is no congestion between C & D), 
  D (at the EOS) first checks the Precedence of this new inbound call. If 
  the Precedence value is equal to or less than that of the existing call 
  between D & A, then C either is returned a Disconnect (user busy), or is 
  diverted to an alternate party (another phone) if there is one 
  specified; C is Disconnect (Precedence Call Blocked indication) if one 
  isn't specified.



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  If the MLPP call from C has a greater Precedence value than the A to D 
  call, then a determination is made at D (at the EOS) whether D is 
  Preemptable. If D is not Preemptable, then an alternate party is looked 
  for. If there is identified, the call is diverted. If it is not, C is 
  returned a Disconnect (Not Equipped for Preemption). If D is 
  Preemptable, the user and device of D is notified. So is the Device A. 
  The device at D is offered with Call Setup information, while also 
  starting the T sub K timer (defined as being between 4-30 seconds). A 
  Disconnect is sent to A now, placing it in the Idle state for at least 
  the moment. The device at D is waiting for the user at D to determine 1 
  of 3 possible paths to take:

  Path #1 is when nothing occurs until the T sub K timer expires. This 
  results in a determination if an alternate party was specified by D. If 
  there is, C is then connected to this alternate party. [12] stipulates 
  a maximum number of 5 call diversions can occur. If not, C's call is 
  normally set-up into D.

  Path #2 is if there is a request from C to Clear the call. This results 
  in A, C, and D being idle now.

  Path #3 is when D acknowledges the inbound Preemption by C, thereby 
  accepting the call from C. This stops the T sub K timer. The Call is 
  set-up between C to D.


3.4 Network Preemption Event

The following is a CSN example from [2] of the MLPP mandated process for 
how Network-based Preemption events MUST occur, similar to a flow chart:

  Scenario #2: Caller A and B are on an MLPP call when Caller C initiates 
  a higher precedence call to Caller D (than the existing one between A 
  and B)

                                                                 
              IP Phone A                    IP Phone B           
                     \                       /                   
                     EOS 1                 EOS 2                 
                       \                   /                     
                        TS 1 <=========> TS 2                    
                       /                   \                     
                     EOS 3                 EOS 4                 
                     /                       \                   
                IP Phone C               IP Phone D              
                                                                 
              Figure 2. Call A-B exists when C calls D           

  If there is an existing MLPP call between two parties (A & B), and a new 
  MLPP call (C-D) has a higher Precedence level than the A-B call (shown 
  between TSÆs 1 and 2 in Figure 2 above), the network first checks to see 


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  if there are available resources for that new call between the two new 
  parties (C & D); if there is, everything works as if both calls were on 
  the same Precedence level with no congestion. But if there is congestion 
  at any common interface between the calls A-B this new call C-D, there 
  is now a search at that interface for Preemptable resources (any call 
  with a lower Precedence level than this new C-D call attempt). If there 
  is not, a determination is made whether the Call from C is a Precedence 
  call. If the call from C is not, C is returned from the network a 
  "Disconnect: Network Resources Unavailable" indication. If the call from 
  C is a Precedence Call, C is returned a "Disconnect: Precedence Call 
  Blocked" indication. The call remains between A and B through both 
  cases.

  If, there are preemptable resources available at the shared 
  interface for calls A-B and C-D (with C-D having a higher Precedence 
  level than A-B), A is notified of Preemption (without knowing where 
  from). At the same time B is notified of Preemption (also without 
  knowing where from). The network now releases (disconnects, clears) the 
  amount of resources in order to have the C-D call be set-up normally.

Under this Network Preemption scenario within MLPP, the amount of 
resources necessary for this call C-D, even if it requires more than one 
other call to be preempted, MUST be made to satisfy the higher precedence 
call completion. All necessary lower Precedence level resources MUST be 
cleared for any higher Precedence Call.


4.0 MLPP over IP Basic Model

Figure 3 (below) is a basic model of an MLPP over IP (MLPPoIP) domain 
connected to both an MLPP CSN domain where the above requirements MUST be 
extended throughout, and to the public GSTN where the above requirements 
cease at the edge of the MLPPoIP network at GW#1. Additionally, Phone A 
will start an MLPPoIP aware call at GW#1, likely with a minimum precedence 
value, just as is deployed today within existing MLPP networks where the 
entrance to an MLPP network is precedence marked "routine", with no 
possibility of upgrading or requesting higher precedence values for that 
call.

                             GW#1--GSTN Circuit network -- Phone   
                            /                                A     
      UA#1 ----- MLPPoIP Domain (or federation of domains)         
                 /      |   \                                      
             Proxy     UA#2  GW#2-- MLPP CSN --- Phone             
             Server                                B               
                                                                   
    Figure 3. Generic MLPP-MLPPoIP-GSTN Interworking model         






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4.1 Components of the Basic Model

Figure 1 shows several components in the diagram. The generic scope of 
each is as follows:

     UA's 1 & 2       SIP user agents;

     Phone A          MLPP-based phone that exists within and adheres to 
                      the MLPP specifications as written in [2&3] and 
                      those connected directly to EOSÆs;

     Phone B          TDM-based phone which could be one from a corporate 
                      network, private network or residential

     Gateway#1        Seamless translator between the GSTN communications 
                      methods and the MLPPoIP domain

     Gateway#2        Seamless translator between the MLPP communications 
                      methods specified in [2&3] and the MLPPoIP 
                      domain

     Proxy Server     SIP-based Server serving the functions defined in
                      [1]

There is not mention of the details within each network-type (MLPPoIP or 
GSTN) for the purposes of keeping this explanation a simple a possible; 
the burden should mostly fall on the Gateways to seamlessly translate the 
communications from one type of network to the adjacent type.


5.0 SIP Multilevel Precedence and Preemption Requirements

The previous section explained the operational conditions needed in an 
MLPP circuit-switched infrastructure. The following are the requirements 
SIP for the interoperating with existing MLPP CSN infrastructures, as well 
as on SIP for operating within a IP based domain or federation of domains 
with MLPP functionality: 

  REQ# - There MUST be a means by which the user of a UAC can select a 
         precedence level for a session. This is not to be a user 
         priority, but a priority that will influence behaviors of User 
         Agent and gateway resources

[2] specifies the precedence values as:

 Priority   ISDN          Text
  Level   Sequence       Sequence
   ---      ----         --------
    1      "0000"   =   "Flash Override" (highest level)
    2      "0001"   =   "Flash"
    3      "0010"   =   "Immediate"


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    4      "0011"   =   "Priority"
    5      "0100"   =   "Routine"        (lowest level)
            "0101 û 1111" are unspecified

However SIP or SIPPING chooses to actually solve this binding between MLPP 
in ISDN and SIP message (Headers or something else), at least 5 distinct 
and relative precedence levels MUST be maintained to ensure 
interoperability.

Further, if more relative levels are chosen within SIP, a binding of these 
5 ISDN levels to the higher precedence or priority levels MUST be 
maintained throughout a domain (or federation of domains) to ensure 
interoperability.

  REQ#1 - This precedence choice by the UAC SHOULD be able to influence 
          Proxy Server behavior. The choice of whether this function is 
          utilized should be a matter of local policy.

  REQ#2 - The precedence levels available to the user of a SIP entity 
          should be limited to only those levels granted that user within 
          that domain (or federation of domains). Each MLPP over IP 
          infrastructure SHOULD have an mechanism to authenticate and then 
          authorize the use of precedence levels other than the "routine" 
          (or default "normal" level for everyday voice communications). 
          This might be mandatory in some domains, but that assignment is 
          policy, and should be left for local administration (and not 
          part of this document).

  REQ#3 - Once a precedence level has been chosen and the SIP Request 
          transmitted, the precedence level (however signified within the 
          message) MUST be maintain for the duration of that session. The 
          UAS cannot reset this precedence level within the SIP response.

  REQ#4 - User migration from a CSN infrastructure to an IP infrastructure 
          should not impact user behavior with reduced capabilities. SIP 
          GWs MUST maintain the precedence level chosen that originate 
          within a MLPP enabled MLPP CSN network. This configuration will 
          be from a CSN to IP transition, and the users shouldn't expect a 
          loss in preferential treatment.

  REQ#5 - SIP GWs SHOULD set all there GSTN side received calls to the 
          minimum precedence setting, for that is no way of 
          authenticating a GSTN call is from a user authorized for 
          higher precedence levels

  REQ#6 - Any session SHOULD be considered independent to the session 
          initiated before it and the one after it from a precedence 
          setting point of view.

  REQ#7 - There MUST be some means of identifying each domain within the 
          SIP message. 


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This is to ensure those SIP entities that are enabled for preferential 
treatment based on the precedence level present within the SIP message 
have a means of easily differentiating those requests that are from their 
domain and those that are not.

  REQ#8 - There SHOULD be a means in which a UAS can authenticate the 
          included precedence level within a SIP Request. This should not 
          burden the UAS to authenticate each and every UAC possible of 
          sending SIP Requests.

This is specifically to address Access Preemption Events in which local 
policy could mandate the preemption of an existing session in lieu of a 
higher precedence level in this new SIP Request 

  REQ#9 - The User of a UAC SHOULD be able to remain anonymous, therefore 
          there MUST be a means by which an anonymous SIP Request can be 
          authenticated by the UAS receiving the request. This requirement 
          should also apply to Proxies.

  REQ#10 - There SHOULD be a means by which a UAC can use there precedence 
           level to signal QOS, or that the UAC can react to an error 
           which was sent by a UAS requiring QOS for that session, with 
           the indication within that error of which QOS (perhaps a level 
           within itself) to use.

  REQ#11 - The SIP and SIPPING WGs should investigate how SIP can help in 
           providing Network Preemption Events, but this is not a direct 
           requirement here.

  REQ#12 - All SIP entities that do not recognize the means in which a SIP 
           message indicates precedence, or which domain the precedence 
           level is from, MUST ignore the means but not fail the SIP 
           Request based solely on that criteria. This applies to SIP UAs, 
           SIP GWs and SIP servers.

  REQ#13 - There SHOULD be a mechanism in which any MLPP over IP domain 
           can determine the functional and configuration capabilities for 
           Registering UAs to ensure each can behave as the domain MIGHT 
           mandate.

  REQ#14 - An SLA SHOULD solve all interoperability decisions regarding a 
           federation of domains internetworking.


6.0 IANA Considerations

There are no IANA considerations requested with this document





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7.0 Security Considerations

This topic is chalk full of security concerns. However, this document is 
not requesting capabilities that are to be implemented on the open 
Internet. The intention for SIP to extend itself to meet these 
requirements is for interoperation and transition with existing closed 
networks that are MLPP enabled; which are few, yet very large (in the 
millions of endpoints). The current safeguard for MLPP signaling leaking 
into other networks is the domain identifier. 

Further, some requirements stated here call for the authentication 
abilities of the receiving UAS (or Proxy) of a SIP message with a 
precedence level indication to the UAC. If this authentication, or more 
accurately authenticated authorization doesnÆt pass, the precedence level 
request should be ignored. Existing MLPP enabled domains will likely fail 
the session for many reasons, this one being only one of them. User 
authentication to their networks will be mandated, and policed heavily.

Properly build infrastructures with these capabilities should not 
influence the Internet or stray SIP Proxies that process non-MLPP over IP 
transactions.

Certain domains will likely mandate that all UAs conform to this 
functionality in order to communicate, with appropriate challenges 
configured at each SIP entity to prevent unwanted or disallowed SIP 
communications.


8.0 Acknowledgements

Your name here


9.0 References

 [1]  Rosenberg, J., Schulzrinne, H., Camarillo, G., Johnston, A., 
      Peterson, J., Sparks, R., Handley, M. and E. Schooler, "Session 
      Initiation Protocol", RFC 3261, June 2002

 [2]  ANSI specification ANSI T1.619-1992.

 [3]  ANSI specification ANSI T1.619A-1994.

 [4]  "Generic Switching Center Requirements" (GSCR), JIEO Technical 
      Report 8249, March 1997

 [5]  Defense Switched Network "Generic Switching Test Plan" (GSTP), 
      June 1999

 [6]  Bradner, S., "Key words for use in RFCs to Indicate Requirement 
      Levels", BCP 14, RFC 2119, March 1997.


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 [7]  ITU-T Recommendation Q.735.3 (1993), "Description for Community 
      of Interest Supplementary Services using SS7 - Multilevel precedence 
      and preemption"

 [8]  ANSI T1.604-1990 "Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN)",

 [9]  T1.113-1988 "Signaling System Number 7 (SS7) û ISDN User Part"

 [10] ANSI T1.604-1990 "ISDN û Layer 3 Signaling Specification for 
      Circuit-Switched Bearer service for Digital Subscriber System 
      Number 1 (DSS1)"

 [11] ANSI T1.610-1990 "DSS1 û Generic Procedures for the Control of 
      ISDN Supplementary Services"

 [12] ITU-T Recommendation I.255.3 (1990), "Multilevel precedence 
      and preemption service (MLPP)".


10.0 Author Information

James M. Polk
Cisco Systems
2200 East President George Bush Turnpike
Richardson, Texas 75082 USA
jmpolk@cisco.com




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