Alcatel-Lucent SSP-6 Speech and Signal Processor Board – Complete Technical Guide
The Alcatel-Lucent SSP-6, also known as the Speech and Signal Processor board with part number ED-5P920-30, is a high-density digital signal processing (DSP) resource module designed for use in large-scale telephony platforms, including OmniPCX enterprise PBXs and voice gateways. This board provides essential voice processing functions such as speech compression, echo cancellation, tone generation/detection, conferencing, and facsimile relay, all critical for delivering high-quality voice services over IP and TDM networks.
At the heart of the SSP-6 are multiple high-performance DSPs (typically six, as the "6" denotes) from Texas Instruments or equivalent, each capable of handling up to 64 channels of voice processing simultaneously. The board supports a wide range of codecs, including G.711, G.729A, G.723.1, G.726, and AMR, with dynamic selection based on network conditions and call requirements. The DSPs also implement ITU-T G.168-compliant echo cancellation with up to 128 ms tail length, ensuring clear voice quality even over long-delay satellite or VoIP links.
Conference bridging is a key capability. The SSP-6 can host multiple conference bridges, with each bridge supporting up to 32 participants, and the board total capacity of up to 192 concurrent conference ports. The board supports both centralized and distributed conferencing models, with advanced features like floor control and gain adjustment per participant.
Signal processing includes DTMF detection and generation, MF and busy tone detection, call progress analysis, and reliable FAX relay (T.38). The board also performs VAD (Voice Activity Detection) and CNG (Comfort Noise Generation) to conserve bandwidth in packet networks. All processing is done in hardware, offloading the host CPU and ensuring deterministic performance under heavy load.
Interfacing with the host system is accomplished via a PCIe or proprietary local bus, depending on the platform. The board includes a dedicated DMA engine for fast data transfer, and firmware is loaded automatically upon boot. An on-board microcontroller handles self-test, configuration, and fault reporting to the system management.
The physical design is a standard-sized PCIe card (or custom form factor) with a height of 4U, including a heat sink and cooling fan. It consumes approximately 25 W from the +5V and +3.3V rails, with proper thermal derating. The operating temperature range is 0°C to 55°C.
Management is performed through the system's management interface, providing counters for each DSP's utilization, packet loss, and jitter statistics. The board also supports loopback and diagnostic tests to verify functionality at boot and during maintenance cycles.
Compliance includes FCC Part 15, CE, and RoHS. The board is designed for high reliability with an MTBF of 400,000 hours, leveraging industrial-grade components and automated testing.
Typical applications include IP-PBX systems, session border controllers (SBCs), voice mail servers, and IVR platforms. Its high density and comprehensive feature set make it ideal for large enterprises and service providers requiring massive voice processing capacity.
In summary, the Alcatel-Lucent SSP-6 (ED-5P920-30) is a powerful, reliable voice processing resource that delivers exceptional performance and scalability, enabling smooth deployment of advanced telephony features in demanding environments.
