IMS – IP Multimedia Subsystem

Global Standard, Key Enable for Next

Generation Network

Bui Son Tung – IP-Phone Team.

sontungdt7@lg-nortel.com

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Internet Telephony

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Protocols needed

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Protocol

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 What is SIP?

“
Session Initiation Protocol ­ An application layer 
signaling protocol that defines initiation, 
modification and termination of interactive, 
multimedia communication sessions between 
users.

IETF RFC 2543 Session Initiation Protocol  
”
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SIP end device

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Simplified SIP Call Setup and Teardown

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 What will we cover ?
• Description of What is IMS
• Why IMS
• Services in IMS Network.
• IMS Architecture
• Key Protocols used in IMS Network.
• IMS Operation
• Conclusion

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 What is IMS
• IP Multimedia Subsystem is defined by 3GPP
– IMS is a global, access-independent and standard-based IP connectivity
and service control architecture that enables various types of multimedia
services to end-users using common Internet-based protocols (Nokia’s Engineer)
– IMS is defined by wireless standards body 3GPP from Release 5
onwards
• IMS builds on IETF protocols
– Based upon SIP, SDP and Diameter protocols
– 3GPP have enhanced these IETF protocols for mobility
• IMS - Ericsson
– Standardized way to deliver IP-based services that are enabled by one
common core and control for all types of networks
– Provides Users with attractive, communication services, over
multi-devices across multi-access technologies.

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IMS in converged networks

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IMS in NGN configurations

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 Why do we need IMS
IMS delivers innovative multimedia services over
fixed and mobile networks using open standards.
• An enable for convergence
• Fast and efficient service creation and delivery

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 Why do we need IMS

• QoS (Quality of Service)

• Charging
• Service interconnection and
open standards

IMS uses cellular technologies to provide ubiquitous access and

Internet technologies to provide appealing services.

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 Service in IMS network.
• Presence
• Push to talk over cellular
• Voice over IP (VoIP)
• Messaging
• Conferencing
etc

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IMS Overview (Source from Wiki)

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IMS Architecture overview

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Call Session Control Function (CSCF)

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 Serving CSCF (S-CSCF)
S-CSCF performs the following functions:
• Acts like a Registrar defined in [IETF RFC 3261].
– In other words, it accepts SIP REGISTER requests and creates a
binding of the public user ID and terminal location.
• The Serving CSCF retrieves the subscriber profile from the HSS
including AS filter criteria.
• Provides session control for the registered endpoint's sessions (service
logic is performed by an Application Server, not the S-CSCF).
• Ensures that media indicated by SDP for a session are within
boundaries of subscriber's profile.
• Interacts with Application Services platforms for the support of
services. Serving CSCF (S-CSCF)

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 Interrogating-CSCF
• Serves as the initial point of contact from other IMS networks.
• Performs a stateless SIP proxy function.
• Selects a S-CSCF for a user performing SIP registration.
• Routes SIP requests received from another network to the S-CSCF.
– Query HSS for the address of the S-CSCF.
– If no S-CSCF is currently assigned (e.g., unregistered subscriber), then assign
SCSCF to handle the SIP request.
• Send a SIP request or response to:
– S-CSCF in another operator’s network.
– MGCF for mobile termination call after processing INVITE.
– I-CSCF in another operator’s network (network hiding case).
• Provide Topology Hiding Inter-network Gateway (THIG) function.

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 Proxy-CSCF (P-CSCF)
• Serves as the initial point of contact for user terminal to network.
• Performs a stateful SIP proxy function.
• Send the SIP REGISTER request received from the UE to an
I-CSCF determined using the home domain name, as provided by the
UE.
• Send all subsequent SIP messages received from the UE to the
S-CSCF, whose name the P-CSCF has received as a result of the
registration procedure.
• Insert public user identity for UE initiated requests.
• Perform SIP message compression to reduce the amount of data sent
over the radio interface.
• Enforce the bearer resources as negotiated in the SDP when Service.
Based Policy is used.

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S-CSCF Routing and Basic IMS Session

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S-CSCF Routing and Basic IMS Session

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 Home Subscriber Server (AAA+DB)
• The HSS supports IMS
level Authentication, and
Authorization.
• Holds location, security,
user profile.
• Keeps track of currently
assigned S-CSCF.
• Supports CSCF and AS
access.

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 Application Server (AS)
• The Application Server provides service control for
IMS.
• May be directly connected to S-CSCF or via OSA
• Gateway for 3rd party security.
• Interacts with the HSS to obtain subscriber profile
information.
• May support applications such as presence,
conference control, online charging, etc.

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MGCF and MGW

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IMS Architecture Review

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 Key Protocols used in IMS
• Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)
– SIP is the main signalling protocol used in IMS networks.
– The function of SIP is to establish, modify and terminate multimedia sessions – with
medias such as voice, video and chat – over IP networks, where the media delivery part is handled
separately.
• Diameter – the Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting protocol
– A development of the current RADIUS protocol,
– Diameter is used by the S-CSCF, I-CSCF and the SIP application servers in the Service
Layer, and in their exchanges with the HSS containing the user and subscriber
information.
– Compared with RADIUS, Diameter has improved transport – it uses Transmission
Control Protocol (TCP) or Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP), and not UDP, as
transport – improved proxy, enhanced session control and higher security.
• H.248 media control protocols
– H.248 is a control protocol used between media control functions and media resources.
• IPv6
– Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) is a network-layer IP standard used by devices to
exchange data across a packet-switched network.
– IPv4 : 32bits => 4,2 billion address
– IPv6: 128bits => 5 * 10^28 address

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 IMS Operation Overview
• SIP Registration
• IMS Origination to IMS Subscriber
• IMS Origination to PSTN/PLMN
• PSTN UE to IMS UE

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SIP Registration/ Re-registration

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IMS Origination to IMS Subscriber

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Example SIP Call

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IMS Origination to PSTN/PLMN (option 1)

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IMS Origination to PSTN/PLMN (option 2)

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PSTN to IMS UE (initial contact is MGCF)

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 Key points to take home
IMS is stable and clearly specified by 3GPP in Rel-6
IMS is the platform of choice for Mobile to Fixed convergence
Standardisation involves close coordination between different
bodies such as IETF, 3GPP, TISPAN, OMA, ITU-T, etc.
Robust and open global standards are essential to the long term
success of IMS and NGN
Doing Nothing is NOT a sensible option
Better to have planned convergence than unplanned collision
If you want to influence the standardization process, the time is
to do it is …
NOW
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 and finally….

Thank you for your attention

Now Time for your Questions

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