VoIP Working Group
9th Annual Technologies for Critical Incident Preparedness
Conference and Exposition
Luke Klein-Berndt
Command, Control and Interoperability
Science and Technology Directorate
November 8, 2007
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VoIP Working Group Background
• A developing technology, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) transmits
voice conversations using Internet networks and protocols commonly used
by businesses and consumers.
• Today, multiple products and applications support VoIP for
communications among emergency response radios, dispatch centers, and
infrastructure.
• To date, most VoIP use in land mobile radios has been with proprietary
protocols.
• Unfortunately, because manufacturers use different technical approaches,
these products are often incompatible.
• The VoIP Working Group—with practitioner and manufacturer
collaboration—reached consensus on requirements, and agreed to create
standards-based approaches to connect VoIP devices with each other,
regardless of manufacturer.
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VoIP Interfaces
Console
Console
Remote
Site
Computer
IP
PSTN
VoIP
Radio
Broadband
System
VoIP
Radio
Data
Radio
System
Bridge
Bridge
Donor
Radio
Donor
Radio
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Task #1: VoIP Bridging Devices
• Release simple version of the first interface: bridging devices.
• Bridging devices will allow interoperability between the following:
– traditional radio systems
– telephones
– personal computers
– Hand-held data devices
• Work is nearing completion on Phase I of the task.
4
Bridging Systems Interface
A defined IP interface for voice communication between two bridging
devices that connect dissimilar radio systems
Console
Console
Remote
Site
Computer
IP
PSTN
VoIP
Radio
Broadband
System
VoIP
Radio
Data
Radio
System
Bridge
Donor
Radio
Bridge
Donor
Radio
5
VoIP Working Group Next Steps
• The VoIP Working Group is continuing work on a more
sophisticated version of the bridging interface.
• The VoIP Working Group then will pursue work on other
interfaces, e.g., system to subscriber unit, subscriber unit to
subscriber unit.
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