ANSI T1.503-1996

Network Performance Parameters for Dedicated Digital Services - Definitions and Measurements

This standard applies to dedicated digital services, which are characterized by established transmission paths (i.e., no access or disengagement functions). Therefore , this standard defines performance parameters relevant to the information transfer phase only and does not address the access and disengagement phases because they are not appropriate. Also, parameters such as absolute delay, although recognized as important to user applications, are not specified as they are considered to be a characteristic of a dedicated service (i.e., they would not vary significantly over time). This standard provides a list of the performance parameters and measurement methods needed by users, vendors, and providers of dedicated digital communications services, to characterize the user-observable performance of these services (i.e., it does not address the causes of errors). It also provides a formula for arriving at the thresholds of performance that will indicate the transitions between the available and unavailable states. A given service will only reference a subset of those parameters or thresholds that are applicable to that service. The network-specific parameters are for performance allocation and network control. Standard performance parameter definitions and standard measurement methods are provided to ensure an understanding of: measured performance values; performance allocation among network elements; and compatibility of performance measurements among network users, providers, and equipment vendors.