A simplified

learning By Naman Sharma

document
 2G, 3G, 4G overview

Location Update and Call flow

Table of IMS Overview

content
IMS registration flow

SIP
2G, 3G, 4G Overview
2G - Second Generation

 Launched in the year 1990.

 Cell phones received their first major upgrade when they went from 1G to 2G.
 The main difference between the two mobile telephone systems (1G and 2G), is
that the radio signals used by 1G network are analog, while 2G networks are
digital.
 Main motive of this generation was to provide secure and reliable communication
channel. It implemented the concept of CDMA and GSM
 Provided small data service like sms and mms.
 The advance in technology from 1G to 2G introduced many of the fundamental
services that we still use today, such as SMS, internal roaming , conference calls,
call hold and billing based on services e.g. charges based on long distance calls
and real time billing.
2G Architecture
 This generation set the standards for
most of the wireless technology we
have come to know and love.

3G - Third Web browsing, email, video

downloading, picture sharing and
Generation other Smartphone technology were
introduced in the third generation.

Goal was to facilitate greater voice

and data capacity, support a wider
range of applicatios, and increase data
transmission at a lower cost .
3G Architecture
MSC-S (Mobile Switching Centre Server):
The MSC is mostly associated with communications switching functions, such as call
set-up, release, and routing. It also provides an interface to the PSTN so that calls
can be routed from the mobile network to a phone connected to a landline.
Interfaces to other MSCs are provided to enable calls to be made to mobiles on
different networks.

HLR (Home Location Register):

HLR is a database that contains various information about all of the mobile
subscribers of a mobile network such as the mobile numbers, services, whether the
numbers have been ported to another network and similar information.

MGW (Media Gateway):

A media gateway is a device used in the core network of a telecom network operator
to provide transformation and interworking between media streams that use
different network standards, communication protocols, codecs and physical
connections, so that phone calls work properly between networks using different
technologies. 
4G - Fourth Generation

 Launched in the year 2009

 Its purpose is to provide high speed , high quality and high capacity to users
while improving security and lower the cost of voice and data services,
multimedia and internet over IP.
 Potential and current applications include amended mobile web access, IP
telephony, gaming services, high-definition mobile TV, video conferencing,
3D television, and cloud computing.
Architecture – 2G, 3G, 4G
Various number definitions in mobile network

1. IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity) (E.212) = MCC + MNC + MSIN

MCC = Mobile Country Code (3 digits)
MNC = Mobile Network Code ( 2 or 3 digits)
MSIN = Mobile Subscriber Identity Number (9 or 10 digits)
ex: 405 + 05 + 9012345678

2. MSISDN ( Mobile Subscriber ISDN) (E.164) = CC + NDC + SN

CC = Country Code (2 digits)
NDC = National Destination Code (4 digits)
SN = Subscriber Number (6 digits)
ex: 91 + 9828 + 55189
3. MGT ( Mobile Global Title) (E.214) = CC + NDC
CC = Country Code
NDC = National Destination Code
ex: 91 + 9828

4. MSRN (Mobile Subscriber Roaming Number) = CC + NDC + SN

5. LAI (Location Area Identity) = MCC + MNC + LAC

MCC = Mobile Country Code
MNC = Mobile Network Code
LAC = Location Area Code (16 bit no.)
Location Update
Why location update?

 To latch mobile in the cellular network

 To have mobility
 To track subscriber
 To allow calls, SMS, and other mobile phone services
 The Core network should be aware about the position of the MS all the time
Location Update Types

Normal Location IMSI Attach and Periodic Location

Update Detach Update
Normal Location Update

LAI(Location Area Identity) = MCC + MNC + LAC

MCC (Mobile Country Code) = 3 digits

MNC (Mobile Network Code) = 2 or 3 digits
LAC (Location Area Code) = 16 bit number

The LAI is broadcast regularly through a broadcast control channel (BCCH). A

mobile station recognizes the LAI and stores it in the Sim Card. If the mobile
station is moving and notices a change of LAI, it will issue a location update
request
 IMSI
Attach/Detach
 This type of update is done when
MS is switched ON or OFF.
 If the MS is switched off(IMSI
Detach) it sends a detach req to
the core network
 When MS is switched on (IMSI
Attach), it reads the current LAI
and if it is the same as before it
update the core network about its
active state.
Periodic Location Update

 Periodic location update is carried out when the network does not receive any
location update request from the mobile in a specified time.
 Such a situation is created when a mobile is switched on but no traffic is carried,
in which case the mobile is only reading and measuring the information sent by
the network.
 A timer controls the periodic updates and the operator of the VLR sets the timer
value. The network broadcasts this timer value so that a mobile station knows
the periodic location update timer values.
 Therefore, when the set time is up, the mobile station initiates a registration
process by sending a location update request signal.
Call Flow
IMS – IP Multimedia
Subsystem
What is a IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS)?

 IP Multimedia Subsystem or IMS is a standards-based architectural framework

for delivering multimedia communications services such as voice, video and
text messaging over IP networks. The IMS specifications were originally
created by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) to standardize the
implementation of next-generation mobile networks.

 The IMS specifications incorporate widely used Internet Engineering Task

Force (IETF) recommendations such as the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) for
session control signaling.
IMS Advantages and Benefits

 Multi Access: Service providers can deliver common applications and services,
with unified authentication, authorization and accounting across diverse
devices and access networks: LTE mobile networks, Wi-Fi networks, fixed
networks, MSO networks.
 Service diversity: The IMS standards enable a variety of IP-based
communications services including voice, video, text chat, multiparty
conferencing, and collaboration applications.
 Quality of Service: IMS supports policy-based QoS mechanisms to ensure
satisfactory user experiences for specific applications or over specific access
networks.
IMS Nodes and its functions

1. User Equipment (UE)

UE is a mobile terminal authorized to be used in an LTE network. UE may

be a smartphone, tablet or other communication devices.

An IMS powered UE has two main components:

 Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC)
 Session Initiation Protocol User Agent (SIP UA)
1.1 Universal Integrated Circuit (UICC)
Each UE must contain one UICC and each UICC may have one or more of the
following modules.

 Subscriber Identity Module (SIM): SIM identity information used by a GSM

network.
 UMTS Subscriber Identity Module (USIM): USIM information used by a UMTS
or LTE network.
 CDMA Subscriber Identity Module (CSIM) or Re-Useable Identification
Module (R-UIM). CDMA network uses this identity information
 IP Multimedia Services Identity Module (ISIM): IMS subsystem uses IMSI
identity information.
1.2 SIP User Agent (SIP UA)
SIP User Agent resides in the UE to send and receive SIP messages. SIP-UA
provides basic telephony functionality.

It can act in two different roles:

 User Agent Client (UAC): As a client to send SIP request
 User Agent Server (UAS): As a server to receive requests and send response
2. Call Session Control Function (CSCF)
CSCF establishes monitors, supports, and releases multimedia sessions. It has three
different functional elements. These may or may not be separate physical entities.

 Proxy CSCF: P-CSCF acts as the initial point of contact from any SIP User
Agent. It handles all requests from the UE and is, from the UE’s point of view,
the “SIP proxy” to the entire subsystem.
 Serving CSCF: S-CSCF has knowledge about the user and what applications
are available to the user. It acts as a decision point. S-CSCF’s main job is to
decide whether the user’s SIP messages will be forwarded to the application
servers.
 Interrogating CSCF: I-CSCF is the entity that initiates the assignment of a
user to an S-CSCF (by querying the HSS) during registration

CSCF is the heart of the IMS Core

2.1 P-CSCF
 Forwards the request and the answers to the UE
 Forwards the Registration requests to I-CSCF
 Forward the SIP messages to S-CSCF if it is already registered
 Compress and decompress SIP messages

2.2 I-CSCF
 I-CSCF quires the HSS about the user location and the required S-CSCF
 Forward the register request to the assigned S-CSCF
 I-CSCF is called stateless node

2.3 S-CSCF
 It register the user with the help of HSS
 It controls signaling and inspect every messages
 It decides to which application server the sip message will be forwarded
3. Home Subscriber Server (HSS)

 HSS is a database that maintains user profiles and location information.

 It handles name and address resolution.
 HSS is also responsible for authentication and authorization.

4. Subscriber Location Function (SLF)

SLF assigns HSS to a user in the home network. To achieve this function SLF
keeps track of all HSS.
5. Breakout Gateway Control Function (BGCF)
BGCF is an IMS element that chooses the network where PSTN breakout happens.

The functions performed by the BGCF are:

 Receives request from S-CSCF to select appropriate PSTN break out point for
the session
 Select the network in which the interworking with the PSTN is to occur.  If the
interworking is in another network, then the BGCF will forward the SIP
signaling to the BGCF of that network.
 Select the MGCF in the network in which the interworking with PSTN is to
occur and forward the SIP signaling to that MGCF. This may not apply if the
interworking is a different network.
6. Media Gateway Control Function (MGCF)
MGCF controls media gateways and converts codecs where necessary. Also, it may
serve as a breakout to a circuit-switched network.

When MGCF works as a breakout to CS network, it is also responsible for:

 managing the conversion of signaling messages,
 converting SIP messaging to the Bearer Independent Call Control (BICC) and,
 ISDN User Part (ISUP) protocols used in legacy systems.

7. Interconnect Border Control Function (IBCF)

IBCF offers boundary control between IMS Network of different operators,
providing IMS network security in terms of signaling information.

 Signaling-based topology hiding,

 Session screening
8. Multimedia Telephony Application Server (MTAS)
A mobile telephony application server (mobile TAS), sometimes known as an
MMTel-AS, is a component used in the core network of a mobile network operator
to provide telephony applications and additional multimedia functions to mobile
devices.
A MTAS can serve multiple functions, including:
 Call and video conference,
 Call Forwarding,
 Call hold,
 Call waiting,
 Call transfer,
 Blocking services,
 Malicious caller identification,
 Lawful interception
9. Media Resource Function Processor (MRFP)

 The Media Resource Function Processor is a component in the IP Multimedia

Subsystem (IMS).
 The Media Resource Function (MRF) is made up of two components, which are
the Media Resource Function Processor and the Media Resource Function
Controller.
 The mixing of the various conference participant's media streams is performed
by the MRF which comprises the Media Resource Function Controller.
 MRFP is a media plane node used to mix, source or process media streams. It is
where the actual media processing resources reside.
IMS Registration Flow
Session
Initiation
Protocol
(SIP)
What is SIP?
SIP is a signaling protocol used to create, modify, and terminate a multimedia
session over the Internet Protocol.

A session is nothing but a simple call between two endpoints.

An endpoint can be a smartphone, a laptop, or any device that can receive and send
multimedia content over the Internet.

SIP takes the help of SDP (Session Description Protocol) which describes a session and
RTP (Real Time Transport Protocol) used for delivering voice and video over IP
network.

Other SIP applications include file transfer, instant messaging, video conferencing,
online games, and steaming multimedia distribution.
Client-Server Model
Transaction and Dialog

During the establishment, maintenance and termination of a SIP session,

signaling messages are exchanged between the two SIP endpoints. There are two
different kinds of signaling “conversations” that those messages take part in:
transactions and dialogs.

A transaction is a SIP message exchange between two user-agents that starts

with a request and ends with its final response

A dialog is a complete exchange of SIP messages between two user-agents. That

means that transactions are actually parts of a dialog.
SIP URI

The SIP Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) is the SIP address in the similar format
as an email address

2 Types of SIP URI:

 Address-of-record (AOR): It identifies a user, for instance –
sip:1-999-123-4567@voip-provider.example.net
 Fully Qualified domain name (FQDN): It identifies a device for instance –
sip:admin@172.19.1.193
SIP Request Messages
Basic Request
 INVITE: to initiate a session
 ACK: the response of invite
 CANCEL: to cancel a session
 BYE: to terminate a session
 REGISTER: to register in a server
 OPTIONS: for querying servers
about their capabilities
Extended Request
 MESSAGE: transport instant messages
 PRACK: Provisional Acknowledgement
 SUBSCRIBE: Subscribes for Notification
 NOTIFY: To send a new event
notification
 PUBLISH: Publishes an event to the
Server.
 UPDATE = Modifies the state of a
session.
SIP Response Messages

 1xx = Informational responses, such as 180 (ringing).

 2xx = Success responses.
 3xx = Redirection responses, further actions needs to
taken in order to complete the request,
 4XX = Request failures, there is some client based error
 5xx = Server errors.
 6xx = Global failures.
SIP Message Format

A SIP message consist of 3 parts:

Thank You