Implementation of a full-featured IP telephony system

Abstract

Traditionally, voice traffic has been carried on circuit-switched networks. However, in recent years great interest has been generated in carrying voice over a variety of non traditional packet-switched networks. These techniques are known generally as Voice over Packet (VoP).The most popular implementation of VoP has been VoIP on the P- based Internet. Other VoP technologies comprise those such as voice over Frame Relay (VoFR),Voice Over ATM (VoATM)and voice over Digital Subscriber Loop (VoDSL).IP is the dominating technology in end user level deployments, carrying millions of minutes of voice traffic today. This thesis describes the implementation of an Internet Telephony (Voice over IP, VoIP) system within the University's voice and data networks. The deployment of VoIP can reduce costs by combining all types of traffic onto a single network infrastructure, eliminating the need to maintain and pay for several different services. The University has its internal telephone network implemented via several PABXs, and its computer network consisting of several departmental networks. Implementation of the VoIP system enables the integration of the two, and through that, the extension of telephone facilities to a larger group of people, as well as the development of value-added services. ITU-T Recommendation H323 is the most widely used standard facilitating VoIP. Further this details the hardware and the software aspects of the designed H.323- based VoIP system, and their integration for implementation in the university-wide network.