ESW 7 – NENA ICE Testing• NG9-1-1 Interoperability Testing

− Background- Need- Response: NENA-sponsored NG9-1-1 Interop Testing

− NENA Industry Collaboration Events(ICE)- What is ICE?- Program Benefits- Program Highlights- ICE Governance/Organization

− Overview of ICE-1− Overview of ICE-2− Architecture & Interfaces− Future ICE Topics

• For Further Information

NG9-1-1 Interop Testing - Background

• The transition to NG9-1-1 is a complicated thing− Many stakeholders; government, industry, standards

development organizations (SDOs)− Will of necessity be multi-vendor− Legal, funding, standards progress of little import if equipment,

software and systems do not interoperate as planned− Limited testing on case-by-case, customer-by-customer,

vendor-by-vendor has taken place, however…− Common interoperability test program, with level playing field

for all to test, learn, and further develop accordingly, is needed

• NENA recognized need to provide such an environment− Industry Collaboration Events (ICE) grew out of NENA NG Partner

Program− NENA established ICE to:

- …create an environment where all vendors can test with other vendors efficiently, cost effectively, and on a level playing field

What is ICE?

Industry Collaboration Events

• A series of events held under the auspices of NENA, organized by a representatives from all stakeholder groups, that will allow vendors of Next Generation 9-1-1 products to develop and test the interoperability of their systems with those from other vendors.

ICE Program Benefits• For Vendors:

− Provide a convenient, cost-effective, & safe forum for vendors to test and develop with other vendors

• For Customers:− Reduce implementation risks & achieve NG9-1-1 benefits –

Gain Confidence

• For the NG9-1-1 transition:− Promote a consistent, nationwide, open, standards-based

implementation

ICE Program Highlights• Completely voluntary• Guided by a steering committee with representatives

from all stakeholder groups• ICE1 focused on the core of the NG9-1-1 network (i.e. i3)

− Upcoming ICE2 dedicated to testing transition elements

• Based on the standards work being done in NENA, ATIS/ESIF, IETF, TIA and other SDOs

• ICE1 took place the w/o November 2, 2009 at Texas A&M− ICE2 is scheduled for w/o May 24, 2010 @ AT&T, Irving, TX

• ICE is intended to be a multi-step series of events:− Future ICE event themes tentatively set (see NENA website)− Envisioned as ongoing NG9-1-1 interoperability test program− Next ICE (ICE-8) dedicated to recording & logging technologies

ICE Governance & Organization• To guide and oversee the ICE process, NENA established the ICE

Steering Committee (SC)− Steering Committee made up of stakeholders from a broad cross section of the

industry.− Policy setting body for ICE events: content, frequency, goals, participant invitation,

etc.

• To further manage event SC in turn created two operational committees:− The Event Planning Committee

- Charged with managing all aspects of planning and conducting the event.- Composed solely of representatives of companies that have agreed to participate

in the initial event− The Data Gathering and Reporting Committee

- Charged with capturing important outcomes from the event and reporting the data out to government buyers, consultants, standards development

- Committee is open to anyone that wishes to participate

• This organizational setup was reviewed after ICE-1 for effectiveness and retained, for now

Overview of ICE-1• Date/Location:

− November 2- 5, 2009− Texas A&M University ITEC Lab, College Station, TX

• Scope:− Both bilateral and multi-vendor test scenarios were run:

- Each with a defined architecture and list of vendor participants- Testing call flow and interface standards

− Focused on NG9-1-1 components; transition & legacy interfaces postponed to ICE-2

• Data gathered/reporting focused in two areas:− Gathered data regarding the status of underlying standards− Gathered data regarding the interfaces that were tested

• External reporting limited:− Information about the state of standards was made available to all

affected standards development organizations− In addition, a summary of the event was made generally available

ICE-1 – Elements Tested• Intelligent End Point (NG-capable SIP client)• Access Network (Legacy or VoIP) •  NG9-1-1 Network (e.g. ESRP)•  NG9-1-1 Databases

− Location Information Server (LIS) − LoST Server (Emergency Call Routing Function, ECRF)

• NG9-1-1 PSAP • Border Control Function (BCF)• Logging Services – ICE-1 will focus on Voice recording. • Master Clock source- Interface • Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD)• Mapping Services/GIS

Overview of ICE-2• Date/Location:

− May 24 – 27, 2010− AT&T Center for Learning, Irving, TX

• Scope:− Bilateral and multi-vendor test scenarios will be run:

- Each with a defined architecture and list of vendor participants- Testing call flow and interface standards

− Focused on transition & legacy interfaces and equipment- Two separate scenarios, dedicated to different transition

architectures/standards– Scenario 1: NENA i3 transition elements– Scenario 2: ATIS RFAI transition elements

• Data to gathering/reporting approach similar to ICE-1• External reporting will continue to be limited, as in

ICE-1

ICE-2 – Elements Tested• Same elements as in ICE-1, with a few additions,

specific to transition:− Legacy Network Gateways (including subcomponents)

- PIF, LIF, NIF

− Legacy PSAP Gateways− IP Selective Router (Scenario 2)− Legacy Selective Router Gateways (Scenario 2)

ICE-1 – Architecture & Interfaces

ICE-2 – Architecture & InterfacesScenario 1

ICE-2 – Scope of Call Handling Tests

Overview of Future ICE Topics

• ICE 3 - Location Related Issues • ICE 4 - Call Routing Based on LoST Hierarchy • ICE 5 - Emergency Services for the Deaf and

Hard-of-Hearing Community • ICE 6 - Individual NG9-1-1 Element Testing  • ICE 7 - Supplemental Data • ICE 8 - Recording and Logging Devices

These events may overlap or be held in non-numerical sequence

•Questions or Follow-Up:−Contact Ray Paddock

- Secretary to ICE Steering Committee- (303) 495-3519- rpaddock@nena.org

•ICE-1 Public Information Packet can be found here:

−http://www.nena.org/sites/default/files/Initial%20NG9-1-1%20Industry%20Collaboration%20Event%20overview%20document.pdf

•ICE-2 Public Information Packet in preparation

For Further Information