PACS network signaling using AIN/ISDN

This article describes network signaling for PACS (Personal Access Communications System). One of the distinguishing features of PACS is that the advanced intelligent network (AIN) protocol is used, and the general AIN switch and service control point (SCP) provide the flexibility to implement PCS network/service applications. The basic method for providing PCS support transparently to the AIN switch, at least from a call processing point of view, is that PCS-related messages are sent directly from the radio system to the AIN SCP by a sort of "tunnel" through the AIN switch. The PACS design has illustrated a new approach, interconnecting the radio system with the PSTN via general AIN switches. However, extra network traffic will be created by the non-call associated (NCA) signaling. The performance of PACS network signaling is an open issue for future investigation.