The primary purpose of this working group will be to address the transport of packet-based PSTN signaling over IP Networks, taking into account functional and performance requirements of the PSTN signaling. For interworking with PSTN, IP networks will need to transport signaling such as Q.931 or SS7 ISUP messages between IP nodes such as a Signaling Gateway and Media Gateway Controller or Media Gateway. Examples of such transport include: - transport of signaling between a Signaling Gateway and Media Gateway or Media Gateway Controller - transport of signaling ("backhaul") from a Media Gateway to a Media Gateway Controller - transport of TCAP between a Signaling Gateway and other IP nodes Applications include: - Internet dial-up remote access - IP telephony interworking with PSTN - Other services as identified Specific goals are: 1. Architecture and Performance Requirements: The working group will produce an informational RFC identifying functionality and performance requirements to support signaling over IP. Signaling messages have very stringent loss and delay requirements in the existing telephone networks that need to be supported. 2- Transport: The working group will produce a standards track proposal or proposals defining transport of signaling protocols using SCTP, based on the requirements identified above. These proposals will identify the method of encapsulation of different signaling protocols. This will include differentiating between different protocols being carried, and what components are transported, translated or terminated at the SG. Security and resilience must be addressed. Note: TCAP is a transaction protocol with different functions and requirements than call control signaling. This will need to be taken into account in its mapping to IP networks. This work will be done in conjunction with other IETF working groups looking at similar issues. The working group will also ensure that good information conduits exist with groups in other standards groups with expertise in the relevant signaling protocols or in the network requirements for the transport of the relevant signaling protocols. The group will make use of existing IETF QoS and security technology and will not address creation of new QoS or security functions for IP networks. Nor will the working group work on defining new call control or device control protocols.