The functional architecture, connection model, and services of the generic signaling protocol (GSP) are described. GSP is a simple, yet powerful, connection management protocol for ISDN. The semantics and structure of GSP support call suspension and resumption, symmetric and asymmetric bridging, third-party 'proxy' call setup, and multiple-connection multimedia calling. GSP can function as a network access, interswitch, computer-to-switch, or network configuration protocol, and it has applications in circuit-switching and packet-switching networks. An example message flow demonstrating how GSP can be used to perform third-party call setup is provided.>

The authors show how to design communication networks that are based upon the generic signaling protocol (GSP see ibid., vol.40, no.5, p.957-66, 1992), a simple but powerful connection management protocol. They define the output of a switching system that has multiple GSP interfaces, both its switching output and its event notification output. The behavior of an entity that provides transparent GSP networking is specified and the messages exchanged during an example interswitch call are listed. Also discussed is a scheme that allows a network to evolve its interswitch signaling gradually toward GSP, and to continue to support older network access protocols (e.g. DTMF and Q.931). The advantageous capabilities of GSP are enumerated by comparing GSP to the initial set of ISDN call setup protocols and X.25.>