NGN SERVICES

1.1 Introduction:
NGN is a horizontally layered network as compared to the conventional vertically separated networks for each service. The access, transport, control and service functions are separated into individual network layers. These layers can be managed by different service providers. Thus third party service providers can develop and offer innovative personalised services to the end users. NGN uses Internet Protocol (IP) based transport for all services including voice thereby service providers CAPEX and OPEX are reduced. Figure 1 depicts various services supported by NGN. A brief description of various services provided in NGN is given below:

Voice Telephony Services

Multimedia Services

Data Services

Messaging services

Presence And general notification

Push to talk over NGN

Content delivery services

Broadcasting/ alerting

Global Mobility Services

Public Network Computing

Number Portability

Virtual Private Networks

e-Commerce & m-Commerce

Remote Control Services

Information Services

Call Center Services

Internet Services

Third Party/ OSA-based services

Voice Telephone Services: NGN supports all existing PSTN/ISDN/PLMN voice telephony services like Call Forwarding, Call Waiting, 3-Way Calling, Calling number and name Identification Presentation, Centrex services, various IN services and other value aided services.

Multimedia Services: These services allow customers to converse with each other while displaying visual information. It is possible for multiple parties to interact each other using voice, video, picture and data. Multimedia services include video conferencing, multimedia value added services, collaborative computing, groupware, electronic white boarding etc. An electronic whiteboard is an application where both parties can write and draw on the same picture for discussion during a multimedia call. This is useful for remote teaching, technical discussion etc. Data Services: Data services establish real-time connectivity between endpoints along with various data related value-added features (e.g., bandwidth-on-demand, connection reliability/resilient Switched Virtual Connections (SVCs) and bandwidth management/call admission control). Data services include file transfer, www, applications sharing interactivity etc. Messaging Services: NGN supports both real time and non-real time messaging services for fixed and mobile networks. Some messaging services are designed as real time and others are non -real time (mailbox) service where the messages are stored and delivery at a later time. i) Unified Messaging: Unified Messaging facilitate the delivery of voice mail, email, fax mail etc. through common interfaces. Through these interfaces, users can access, as well as can be notified of, various message types (voice mail, email, fax mail, etc.), independent of the means of access (i.e., wireline or mobile phone, computer, or wireless data device). ii) Instant messaging (IM): Instant messaging (IM) is a form of real-time communication between two or more people based on typed text. Instant messaging is supported across fixed and mobile networks. The key features of instant messaging are low latency, security, mobility, group management and message filtering. iii) Chat: This facilitates real-time communication by means of text between two terminal users who have already logged on. iv) MMS and SMS: This facilitates near real time communication by sending and receiving multimedia messages or text messages. For example video greetings that can be sent using MMS.

Push to talk over NGN (PoN): 'Push' operation refers to service initiated data transmissions to members of a group. Push-to-Talk, also referred to as PoC (Push-to-Talk over Cellular) is built around VoIP (Voice over IP) technology. It is a wireless service that turns mobile phones into long-range walkie-talkies by connecting to other phones without dialling. Instead of dialling, one can simply push a button and talk to members of a group. The speech will be one-way-at-a-time instead of a two-way conversational mode. It can be used for short-duration and high-urgency voice communications and keeps an always -on connection between groups of frequently called mobile subscribers like family, colleagues, business associates etc. All members of the group can hear the speech from others. The listeners do not have to press any button to hear the speech from others and it is always on. Content delivery services: Content based services like music and video on demand, radio streaming, gaming, financial information distribution, professional and medical image distribution, electronic publishing etc. can be provided to customers. Global Mobility Services: In NGN environment phone and other devices user can travel from place to place. Global Mobility Service provides global roaming and other location based services for all types of wireless and wireline subscribers. Mobility can be for terminal, user and services. Terminal mobility is the ability of a terminal to be moved to different access points. Number Portability: Number Portability provides the end users to retain existing directory numbers while moving from one physical location to another or from one service provider to another. Virtual Private Networks (VPNs): Voice VPNs improve the multiple location networking capabilities of businesses by allowing large, geographically dispersed organizations to combine their existing private networks with subsets of PSTN, thus providing subscribers with uniform dialing capabilities. Data VPNs provide added security and networking features that allow customers to use a shared IP network as a VPN. Broadcasting/ Multicast Services: These Services involve transmission of data to many users simultaneously, allowing efficient use of bandwidth, like radio broadcast, TV broadcast. For example IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) is used for delivering digital television services using the Internet Protocol

(IP) using wireline as well as wireless broadband connections. The user terminals might be a PDA, Laptop, mobile handset, TV etc.

Emergency Telecommunication Services: Emergency services are provided between citizen to authority, authority to authority and authority to citizen . Typical emergency services are Police/medical assistance , Disaster relief operations , Lawful intercept services etc. e-Commerce & m- Commerce: These services allow consumers to purchase goods and services electronically over the network. This includes processing the transactions, verifying payment information, providing security and possibly trading (i.e. matching buyers and sellers who negotiate trades f or goods or services). Home banking, home shopping, Business-to-business applications (e.g. supply-chain management and knowledge management applications) are also part of these services. Remote control/tele-action services: These services are used for home applications control, telemetry, electronic voting, alarms etc. With the advent of in-home networking and intelligent appliances, these services could monitor and control home security systems, energy systems, home entertainment systems, and other home appliances. For example if some one is watching television and the doorbell rings, he can use the TVs remote to get a view of the entrance to see whos there. Another example is monitoring the house while away on a trip. Information Services/ Information Brokering: This service is also called voice portal service. These services include news, sport scores, weather, stock quotes, advertisement, directory enquiry service, cinema ticket, motorway traffic status and information to consumers based on pre-specified criteria or on personal preferences. Call Center Services: A subscriber can make a call to a call center agent by clicking on a Web page or CPE. The call is routed to an appropriate agent, who could be located anywhere, even at home (i.e., virtual call centers). Voice calls and e-mail messages can be queued uniformly for the agents. Agents would have electronic access to customer, catalog, stock, and ordering information, which could be transmitted back and forth between the customer and the agent. Session Controller-based Internet services: It provides access to public Internet through existing mechanisms. Internet services are provided by the access network of NGN. Third party/OSA-based services: NGN provides open API interface for third party or person to develop personalised services: Third party/OSA-based services are applications developed and provided by vendors outside the service providers domain using IT technology and tools. Parlay is an open standard API designed to facilitate easier access to core network capabilities from outside of the network. Such API allows the existence of new business models.

1.2

SERVICES PROVIDED BY SOFTSWITCH

Abbreviation Dialling: Abbreviated dialing is the use of a short telephone numbers to reach public services. Typically these are two or three digits. Absent Subscriber Service: This feature makes possible for a subscriber who cannot answer the calls, because he/she is absent, to divert these calls to an announcement Advice of Charge: This service provides the end user with information about the costs of a call and the accumulated charges on the end users call meter counters. Anonymous Call Rejection: The Anonymous Call Rejection service enables a user to reject calls from anonymous parties who have explicitly restricted their Caller ID. By activating the service, callers without available caller identification are informed that the user is not accepting calls at that time. The user's phone does not ring and the user sees or hears no indication of the attempted call. Auto Call back: When the calling person is engaged, calling part can register for Auto Call back by inserting a specified button or key on the calling instrument. It is not possible to place an automatic call back if the called number is diverts to voicemail. As soon as the called party hangs up, a call will set up automatically from caller to the called party - both r phones will ring. This feature saves time and network resources to keep trying the same number over and over.

Automatic Alarm Ring Service: This feature allows a subscriber to set an alarm call or reminder call on his phone. At the specified time a call is made to the subscriber and an announcement is fed on receiving the call. If the subscriber does not answer the phone within one minute (or ringing time out which ever is later) or if the subscriber is busy, the alarm call will be repeated 5 minutes later. If the repeat attempt is also unsuccessful, a report is produced on the suitable media and request cancelled. Automatic Hold/Retrieve: The Automatic Hold/Retrieve service provides an alternate method to hold and retrieve calls for System users. Specifically, service can be setup where calls are held without having to use feature access codes. The service is especially useful to attendants handling large volume of incoming calls by allowing them to hold calls by simply transferring them to dedicated parking stations. Call Forwarding Busy: Call Forwarding Busy enables a user to redirect calls to another destination when an incoming call encounters a busy condition. The user can activate and deactivate the service. If activated, a user must specify the forwarding number. Call Forwarding Immediate: Call Forwarding Always enables a user to redirect all calls to another destination. The user can activate and deactivate the service. If activated, a user must specify the forwarding number. Call Forwarding No Answer: Call Forwarding No Answer enables a user to redirect calls to another destination when an incoming call is not answered within a specified number of rings. The user can activate and deactivate the service. If activated, a user must specify the forwarding number and the number of rings before forwarding. Call Forward on Not Reachable (CFNR): Call forwarding on not reachable enables the user to redirect calls to another destination (Phone number, voice mail) when an incoming call encounters a not reachable condition. The user can activate and deactivate this service through an activation/deactivation procedure. The caller status can become unreachable in case of power failure or LAN cable disconnection. Call Forwarding Remote Access: Call Forwarding Remote Access enables users to activate, deactivate, and program their Call Forwarding service from any phone. Call Forwarding Selective: Call Forwarding Selective enables a user to define criteria that causes certain incoming calls to be redirected to another destination. If an incoming call meets user specified criteria, the call is redirected to the user specified destination. The user controls the service via an interface, which provides the ability to set the forwarding destination address and the criteria sets for determining which calls require forwarding. A criteria set is based on incoming calling line identity, time of day, and day of week. Multiple criteria sets can be defined and a different forward-to number can be set for each. Call Hold: This allows the user to place a caller on hold and make another call to some other number. Call Intercept: Call Intercept records the call contents and identity and gives several options for handling the call. Call Return: Call Return enables a user to call the last party that called, whether or not the call was answered. To call back the last party that called, the user dials the call recall star code. The system stores the number of the last party to call, and connects the user to that party. Call Waiting: Call Waiting enables a user to answer a call while already engaged in another call. When a second call is received while a user is engaged in a call, the user is informed via a call waiting tone. To answer the waiting call, the user depresses the flash hook. The user connects with the waiting party and holds the original party. By depressing the flash hook, the user reconnects to the original party and holds the waiting party. The feature completes when any party hangs up. Users can activate/deactivate the Call Waiting service for all incoming calls via their web interface. Users also have the option of canceling their Call Waiting on a per-call basis by dialing a star code before making the call, or after a switch-hook flash during the call. Once the call is over, Calling Waiting is restored. Calling Line ID Delivery: Calling Line ID Delivery enables the delivery of a caller's identity. Delivered information includes the caller's phone number and name. The information is delivered to the web interface and the phone (if capable) only if the information is available and has not been blocked by the caller.

Carrier pre-selection: Carrier Pre-Selection (CPS) is a mechanism that allows end-users to select, in advance, alternative Service Providers to carry their calls without having to dial a prefix or install any special equipment at their premises. Centrex Facility: Centrex facility provides a virtual PABX facility for group of subscribers. Closed User Group: A Closed User Group is a logical group within the operators network . Users belonging to a Closed User Group are permitted to communicate with each other but not with users outside the group. A user data terminal equipment (DTE) may belong to more than one closed user group. Dial-up Call: It is for connecting a network connection, e.g. Internet, which requires a telephone number to be dialled. Direct Inward/Outward Dialling: This feature is applicable for Centrex or PABX users. Users can be assigned a directory number that can be used to place/receive calls directly from/to their phone, without forcing access via a central number. Incoming and outgoing calls can be placed/received via the phone or the Call Manager (except an initial incoming call, for which the phone must be taken off hook). FAX Call: Point-to-point FAX and Multi-point FAX services are supported. Immediate and Timed hot line: When a subscriber goes off hook or sends calling condition to the switch, the switch sets up immediately or after a specified delay period (within the delay period the subscriber will be able to initiate a normal call), a connection to a predetermined telephone number. The number registration can be done either by the subscriber, or, on request, by the administration. Incoming Call only: This facility restricts the user to receive incoming call only. Malicious call trace: Malicious Call Trace enables a user to request, the calls which have been received to be automatically traced by dialling a feature access code after the call. Missed Call Notification (MCN): This service provides the subscriber details of missed call or message received by him. Based on calling line identification presentation (CLIP) and short message service (SMS), missed call notification is sent to the subscriber. Non Metered Call: This facility enables certain numbers as toll free number. Calls made to these numbers are not charged. Outgoing Call only: This facility restricts the user to make outgoing call only. O/G Call Restriction Service or Subscriber controlled dynamic STD/ISD: This feature enables a subscriber to bar certain O/G directions from his telephone line. The types of barred directions are prescribed by the administration, and the subscriber can activate and deactivate them. The subscriber can also activate and deactivate the service by registering secret password which can be changed by the subscriber. Pay Phone/Coin collecting Box Service: This feature allows calls from special telephone instrument (called CCB PCO) permitting O/G calls after insertion of adequate coin(s), token or coded cards, and I/C calls without payment. O/G calls to certain services (e.g. emergency service) may be admitted without payment. Priority Lines: This feature allows some lines in the exchange to be marked as priority lines. These lines get preference while originating calls, in case of abnormal conditions like switch overload or network congestion. This feature can be useful for individuals or services more responsible for the maintenance of law and order and security of the citizens, under emergency conditions. Selective Call Services: This service allows the end-user to give special treatment to calls originating from a pre-defined list of subscriber numbers. The result of this treatment can be either differentiated ringing (for different members of a family) or rejection of non-expected calls. Voice Mailbox Service: This service implements all functionality needed to the end user to complete call answer service. o Not answered incoming calls are redirected to a voice mailbox, where the caller may leave a message.

o o

The end-users are then informed that a message is waiting in the Mailbox and can retrieve it. Messaging services give end user the advantages of the telephone answering machine without owning one.

1.3

SERVICES PROVIDED BY EXTERNAL APPLICATION SERVER

Application sharing: Application Sharing is an element of remote access, that enables two or more users to access a shared application or document from their respective computers simultaneously in real time. Generally, the shared application or document runs on a host computer and remote access to the shared content is provided to other users by the host user. Call Notification: Call Notification enables a user to define criteria that causes certain incoming calls to trigger an e-mail notification. If an incoming call meets user specified criteria, an e-mail (or short message to a cell phone) is sent to the notify address informing the user of the details of the incoming call attempt. The user controls the service via a web interface, which provides the ability to set the notify e-mail address and the criteria sets for determining which calls trigger a notification. A criteria set is based on incoming calling line identity, time of day and day of week. Multiple criteria sets can be defined. e-commerce/m-commerce: e-commerce (electronic commerce) and m-commerce (mobile commerce) are the services on the Internet (especially the World Wide Web) and on mobile phone for buying and selling of goods and services. e-learning: e-learning or Electronic learning refers to computer-enhanced learning. It consists of links to selected and reviewed articles, white papers, research reports, journal articles, conferences, workshops, seminars etc. Electronic publishing/Information Services: This service provides news, financial matters, travel information, movie trailers, sales, promotion etc. on user terminal. Electronic white boarding: An Electronic white board is a computer-based, distributed, shared graphical and text working space. One useful application of Electronic white board is for distance learning. Gaming Content delivery service: This service delivers online multiplayer gaming on PC, Mobile phone etc. Instant Messaging: Instant messaging (IM) is a form of real-time communication between two or more people based on typed text. The text is conveyed via computers connected over the network. Location-based services: Location-based services allow global roaming and other location related applications. For example while negotiating a deal on the phone, the other party asks to fax some information. A location-based service then direct to the nearest public fax machine available. One can request for weather forecast and receive the forecast for the place where he is. Laptops or Pocket PCs installed into ambulances, fire brigade, radio taxies, cable TV repair mobile centre etc. could be more efficiently routed to their next destination. Multimedia conference: It is the multi-party interaction with each other using voice, picture, video and data file. Push to Talk over NGN: Push to talk over NGN is an IP based half-duplex voice service for easy-to-use walkie-talkie style communication for the customers. Radio Streaming/ Music on Demand (MoD): Radio streaming is audio transmission over a data network to deliver audio on demand or an audio broadcast. Unlike sound files (WAV, MP3, etc.) that are played after they are downloaded, streaming audio is played within a few seconds of requesting it, and the data is not stored permanently in the audio play device. Music-on-Demand enables individuals to select audios from a central server for listening music on computer or any other audio device. SMS/MMS Service: Multimedia Messaging System is a communications technology developed by 3GPP that allows users to exchange multimedia communications between capable mobile phones and other devices. An extension to the Short Message Service (SMS) protocol, MMS defines a way to send and receive, almost instantaneously, wireless messages that include images, audio, and video clips in addition

to text. A common current application of MMS messaging is picture messaging (the use of camera phones to take photos for immediate delivery to a mobile recipient). TV Broadcast: In traditional television delivery, all programmes are broadcasted simultaneously. The available program signals flow downstream and the viewer selects the program to watch by changing the channel. IPTV, by contrast, sends only one program at a time. Content remains on the service provider's network and only the program the customer selects is sent to the home. When a viewer changes the channel, a new stream is transmitted from the service provider's server directly to the viewer. Unified Messaging: Unified messaging (sometimes referred to as the unified messaging system or UMS) is the handling of voice, fax, and regular text messages as objects in a single mailbox that a user can access either with a regular e-mail client or by telephone. The PC user can open and play back voice messages, assuming their PC has multimedia capabilities. Video Streaming/ Video on demand (VoD): Video streaming is a video transmission over data network to deliver video-on-demand or a video broadcast service. Unlike movie files (MPG, AVI, etc.) that are played after they are downloaded, streaming video is played within a few seconds of requesting it, and the data is not stored permanently in the video play device. Video-on-Demand enables individuals to select videos from a central server for viewing on a television or computer screen. Web browsing: Web browser is a software application used to locate and display Web pages. The two most popular browsers are Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer. Both of these are graphical browsers, which mean that they can display graphics as well as text. In addition, most modern browsers can present multimedia information, including sound and video, though they require plug-ins for some formats. Subscribers can control their subscribed services through Web Portal. Following services can be invoked via the web portal: (a) Click-to-dial (b) Call Answer (c) Call Hold/Retrieve (d) Call Release (e) Call Transfer (f) Three-way Conference