ITU-T Q.

931
Information Field Structure - the Information Field is a variable length field that contains the Q.931 protocol data:

Protocol Discriminator (1 octet) - identifies the Layer 3 protocol. If this is a Q.931 header, this value is always 08H. Length(1 octet) - indicates the length of the next field, the CRV. Call Reference Value (CRV) (1 or 2 octets) - used to uniquely identify each call on the user-network interface. This value is assigned at the beginning of a call, and this value becomes available for another call when the call is cleared. Message Type (1 octet) - identifies the message type (i.e., SETUP, CONNECT, etc.). This determines what additional information is required and allowed. Mandatory and Optional Information Elements (variable length) - are options that are set depending on the Message Type.

Message type The purpose of the message type is to identify the function of the message being sent. The message type is the third part of every message. The message type is coded as shown below.
Bits 87654321 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Escape to nationally specific message type (Note) 0 0 0 - - - - - Call establishment message: 0 0 0 0 1 ALERTING 0 0 0 1 0 CALL PROCEEDING 0 0 1 1 1 CONNECT 0 1 1 1 1 CONNECT KNOWLEDGE 0 0 0 1 1 PROGRESS 0 0 1 0 1 SETUP 0 1 1 0 1 SETUP ACKNOWLEDGE 0 0 1 - - - - - Call information phase message: 0 0 1 1 0 RESUME 0 1 1 1 0 RESUME ACKNOWLEDGE 0 0 0 1 0 RESUME REJECT 0 0 1 0 1 SUSPEND 0 1 1 0 1 SUSPEND ACKNOWLEDGE 0 0 0 0 1 SUSPEND REJECT 0 0 0 0 0 USER INFORMATION 1

0 1 0 - - - - - Call clearing messages: 0 0 1 0 1 DISCONNECT 0 1 1 0 1 RELEASE 1 1 0 1 0 RELEASE COMPLETE 0 0 1 1 0 RESTART 0 1 1 1 0 RESTART ACKNOWLEDGE 0 1 1 - - - - - Miscellaneous messages: 0 0 0 0 0 SEGMENT 1 1 0 0 1 CONGESTION CONTROL 1 1 0 1 1 INFORMATION 0 1 1 1 0 NOTIFY 1 1 1 0 1 STATUS 1 0 1 0 1 STATUS ENQUIRY

Each type of message has Mandatory and Optional Information Elements, identified with single byte (octet)
Bearer Capability (identifies transport requirements of the requested B-Channel) Cause (identifies reasons for disconnect or incomplete calls) Channel Identification (indentifies type and number of B-Channel(s) requested) Progress Indicator (Indicates status of outgoing call) Network Specific Facilities Calling Party Number (caller ID) Calling Party Number subaddress Called Party Number (destination number, type of number[unknown], numbering plan) Called Party Number subaddress

Information Element Called Party Number The purpose of the Called party number information element is to identify the called party of a call.

Information Element - Bearer capability The purpose of the Bearer capability information element is to indicate a requested Recommendation I.231 bearer service to be provided by the network.
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Information Element - Progress indicator The purpose of the Progress indicator information element is to describe an event which has occurred during the life of a call. The information element may occur two times in a message. The Progress indicator information element is coded as shown in Figures. The maximum length of this information element is four octets.