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I.2.5 Relationship between Bearer capability and Low layer capability information elements

There shall be no contradiction of information between the Low layer compatibility and the Bearer capability at the originating side. However, as some Bearer capability code points may be modified during the transport of the call, this principle implies that there should be minimal duplication of information between Bearer capability information element and Low layer compatibility information element.

Note - If as a result of duplication, a contradiction occurs between the Bearer capability information element and the Low layer compatibility information element at the terminating side, the receiving entity shall ignore the conflicting information in the Low layer compatibility information element.

The following example, dealing with the specification of the encoding scheme used by the terminal for the speech or 3.1 kHz audio bearer services, shows the consequences of duplication.

It is expected that some ISDNs will support only A-law and some only m-law, with conversion provided by the m-law network. (See Recommendation G.711.) If the encoding scheme is specified in both the Bearer capability information element and the Low layer compatibility information element, interworking between two ISDNs might require a change of the user information layer 1 protocol in the Bearer capability information element (e.g.from A-law to m-law), while the encoding scheme specified in the Low layer compatibility information element would presumably be forwarded to the destination unchanged. Since, to determine compatibility, the destination terminal examines both the Bearer capability information element and the Low layer compatibility information element, it would receive conflicting information regarding the encoding scheme used.