ITU-T Z.331 PDF

Scope of the Section

The man-machine interface comprises the set of inputs, outputs and special actions, together with the manmachine interaction mechanisms, including dialogue procedures. Those elements are combined to manipulate the varied telecommunications functions which cover the management of SPC telecommunications systems. Consideration of these functions has been an essential prerequisite for the development of the CCITT MML Recommendations.

As stated in Recommendation Z.301, the CCITT MML can be used to facilitate operation, maintenance, installation, and acceptance testing of SPC systems. With the tendency of Administrations to centralize operations and maintenance jobs, many of the SPC systems functions may be controlled at terminals associated with operation and maintenance systems as well as at terminals associated with SPC systems. These terminals can be either local or remote relative to the system.

In order to help Administrations aiming to achieve uniformity among various systems, the MML Recommendations include not only the syntax of the language and dialogue procedures, but also the semantics relevant to the man-machine interface. Section 4 provides the means for deriving such semantics.