Introduction to (Local Exchange) Softswitch

Bob Ehlers Director, Business Development

April 26, 2004

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Definition Overview Class 5 vs Local Exchange Why Softswitch Elements of Softswitch

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Media Server Feature Server Media Gateway Controller

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Summary

What is a Softswitch?

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First - Softswitch is an ambiguous term

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Softswitch can refer to only the media gateway controller. This is the device that handles all of the call control. This definition does not include the media services, application services or media gateway functions. Softswitch can also refer to the entire set of functions included in the media gateway controller, media server, application server and even media gateway.

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Well use the entire set of functions

Basic Softswitch Elements

Traditional Proprietary Single Platform Next-Generation Modular, Open Platform

Services Services Call Control Media Gateway

Services

Softswitch

Media RAS IAD Gateway Next Generation

Softswitch Architecture

Media Server

Feature/ Application Server

Media Gateway Controller (Softswitch)

Media Gateway

Signaling Gateway

Border Agent/ Session Controller

IP Network with IP based control PSTN

SS7 Network

Broadband IAD

IP PBX IP Wireless Device

Softswitch Architecture

Media Server

Feature/ Application Server

Media SOFTSWITCH Gateway

Media Gateway Controller (Softswitch)

Signaling Gateway

Border Agent/ Session Controller

IP Network with IP based control PSTN

SS7 Network

Broadband IAD

IP PBX IP Wireless Device

Basic Definitions
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Media Gateway - the switch portion of the Class 5 switch. Switching technology has advanced tremendously over the past few years, and vendors can easily produce inexpensive media gateways that can handle many more calls in a smaller size than Class 5 switches. Media Gateway Controller - runs the call control and application-level calling features in a server that supports easy software upgrades and expansion of features. The media gateway translates between circuit-switched voice traffic and packet-based traffic. It is also called the "call agent," and it controls the media gateway.

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Basic Definitions
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Signaling Gateways - convert and/or relay network SS7 call signaling between the circuit network and the packet backbone. Media Server - a device for storing and serving streams of data to a feature server, media gateway or media gateway controller.

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Basic Definitions
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Feature Servers - provide less frequently used but more processor-intensive services such as voicemail, call center routing, advanced billing and the like, freeing the media gateway controller to focus on call control functions. Session Border Controllers - provide support for telecom network transitions. Most notably is support for NAT traversal and state management through firewalls for SIP sessions, and may support billing, QoS and other management functions.

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Class 5 (Core) versus Local Exchange

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Class 5 Softswitches
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Have existed for several years Switch long haul, intra and inter-lata traffic (tandem) Can be feature-ignorant for the most part Relatively simple to program and maintain Relatively new Provide local switch AND calling features Extremely complex to program and maintain (today)

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Local Exchange Softswitch

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What Must a Local Exchange Softswitch Do?

What Must a Local Exchange Softswitch Do?

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But, there is much much more to a softswitch

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Move a voice session from a hard-wired, circuit-switched connection to a software-serviced session and you can add value
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Adjust the quality of the callecho cancellation, jitter buffering, QoS, latency adjustment Process the call contentrecord it, translate it, transcribe it, store it for replay Distribute the call contentmulticast, call routing Add multimedia servicesvideo, text messaging, subtext Bill for differentiationquality of call, content of call, priority of the call

Service Differentiation and Lower Costs

New Services Enabled by Local Exchange Softswitch

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Distributed multi user gaming Virtual reality Web pages and applets Links in e-mails Web IVRs Click-to-dial Directory services Video conferencing Instant messaging
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Voicemail notifications > Stock notifications > Callback notification

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Calendars
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Pre-arranged conference calls Voicemail to e-mail

Unified messaging

What is SIP and Why is it Hot?

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Session Initiation Protocol enables a low cost, well understood, cohesive, OPEN session establishment and control method over IP for streams of media, including voice and video Leverages widely deployed underlying technologies such as DNS Broadly available, open source SIP protocol stack makes VoIP using SIP commonplace Lots of open source applications that use SIP Competition to embellish and support open stacks Consumers embrace open source concept When you hear SIP think open source

What Does Open Source VoIP Need to Take off?

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Support!!!
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There are many open source projects for everything from IP PBX to SIP Proxy/redirectors to QoS managers to media servers The applications are well written and very complete, but They are very complex. Complex protocols, complex configurations, complex interfaces Need for new channels of support are clear

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Opportunities Abound

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Voice over Broadband

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Cable operators DSL operators Fixed wireless Power line operators

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Hosted IP PBX Enterprise PBX

The Elements of Local Exchange Softswitch

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Softswitch Hardware Building Blocks

Platform Elements
Packet-based chassis platforms Layer2/Layer3+ Ethernet switching/routing System management Power and cooling

Software & Middleware

Linux-based software suite System management Media & voice processing WAN protocols SS7/IP signaling High availability

Media & Voice Processing

DSP resource HW platforms Development tools Universal port functionality PTMC, PCI and CompactPCI

Computing Elements
Intel-based SBCs Rear panel transition boards Network and packet processors

I/O & Communications SS7 Elements

Signaling gateway blades
Rack components SS7 MTP-2 cards T1/E1/J1 T3 Sync/serial access WAN/LAN communications servers

Media Server

Announcements Speech Recognition

DTMF

Audio Bridging

Recording

Text to Speech

Fax

Video

Functions of a Media Server

Media Server
Speech Server Feature Server Storage Management

Media Server Services

DTMF detection and announcement playing Speech recognition and speech synthesis Conditioning of audio signals, echo and noise suppression Bridging for audio and video Transcoding for compressed services Recording and playback Streaming of audio and video

Decoding De-packet

Packetize Encoding

RTP Media Stream

RTP Media Stream

Media Server
Ethernet Switch Streaming Server DTMF Detection/Control Vocoding/Encoding Storage Controller TDM Call Bridging

Ethernet Switch ISM ISM

Feature/Application Server

QoS Management Web Client Interface

Billing

Fault Detection/ Response

Advanced Call Routing Call Center

Advanced Unified Messaging Conference Features Voicemail

Functions of a Feature/Application Server

Feature Server
Ethernet Switch Converged Messaging IVR DTMF Detection/Control Vocoding/Encoding Voice Rec Storage Controller Video Conference Service

Ethernet Switch ISM ISM

Media Gateway Controller

Call Set Up

Call Tear Down

In Call Features

Call Agent - SIP

Call Agent H.323

Audit Sessions

Restart

Multipoint

Functions of a Media Gateway Controller

Components
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Media gateway controller

Provides call signaling, control and processing intelligence to the gateway Sends and receives commands to/from the gateway Provides translations between circuit-switched networks and packet-switched networks Sends notification to the call agent about endpoint events Executes commands from the call agents
Media Gateway (MG) Media Gateway (MG) Media Gateway Controller (MGC)

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SIP H.323

Media Gateway Controller (MGC)

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Gateway

MGCP or Megaco

MGCP or Megaco

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Media Gateway Controller

Ethernet Switch Call Control - IPPBX MGCP Translator TDM Link to MG Storage Controller Signaling Gateway

Ethernet Switch ISM ISM

Media Gateway

Protocol Translation Physical Interface

Voice Encode Decode

Functions of a Media Gateway

Media Gateway
Ethernet Switch Voice Encoding (PSTN In) Voice Decoding (IP Net In) TDM Link to PSTN TDM Link to MGC

Ethernet Switch ISM ISM

Session Border Controller

Protocol Translation Billing/ Traffic Reporting

QoS Policy Lawful Interception

NAT Traversal IP Phone Management

Security

Failover Reroute

Functions of a Border Agent/Session Controller

Session Border Controller

Ethernet Switch SBC STUN Turn CALEA/Lawful Intercept

Ethernet Switch ISM ISM

Because it is all software, functions can be combined into one hardware platform

Ethernet Switch Media Server Feature Server Media Gateway Controller Media Gateway Signaling Gateway SBC/STUN/TURN CALEA/Lawful Intercept Ethernet Switch ISM ISM

Conclusion

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A softswitch is a platform for routing and delivering multi-media services on a packet switched network (IP) A softswitch replaces traditional circuit switching A softswitch serves as the basis for a whole new range of product offerings Softswitches have existed for over a decade, but are only now finding popular adoption thanks in large part to SIP Softswitches are enabling competitive carriers to enter the marketVoDSL, VoCable, VoWiFi

Thank you!
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