Once upon a release IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) architecture story (4,5,6)

The IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) is beeing defined by the wireless standards body 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). Although it was originally designed as an evolution of the GSM mobile networks, currently, IMS plays a role of the common, core network achitecture standard for both mobile, fixed and cable networks, so called Common IMS. The IMS architecture is based on the NGN layered model and is specified as a collection of functional entites, allowing to deliver mutlimedia services. According to the NGN model, functional elements are grouped into logical planes (i.e. session control plane or service control plane), linked by standardized interfaces, so called reference points, and protocols. 3GPP standarization process uses a system of parallel Releases which assure the delivery of a stable set of compatible specifications.

Release 4 First step towards IMS appeared in Release 4 with the introduction of bearer independent Channel Switched (CS) architecture. Basing on the maturing NGN concept, 3GPP divided the network architecture into signalling and media layers. The Mobile Switching Center (MSC) architecture was split between MSC Server, responsible for mobility and call control, and Media Gateway (CS-MGW), responsible for media channels control. The only network elements handling both layers simultaneously were mobile terminals. Other important factor leading to the introduction of IMS was the selection of IP protocol as a core network (CN) transport protocol. Release 5 IMS first appeared in Release 5, it introduced a new set of CN functional elements for provision of IP multimedia services comprising audio, video, text, chat, etc. and a combination of them delivered over the PS domain. SIPwas chosen as the session control protocol and Diameter was selected as an Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) framework. The initially formed architecture defined majority of functional elements utilized in further IMS releases.

Home Subscriber Server (HSS) is an evolution of the Home Location Register (HLR) and Authentication Centre(AUC), which are elements specified by the GSM architecture. HSS is the central user database that supports the IMS network entities that actually handle SIP signalling. It communicates with other IMS network elements over Diamater based interfaces. HSS contains the subscription-related information (Users Service Profiles), performs authentication and authorization of users and provides various information about the subscribers. The Subscription Locator Function (SLF) is required in a multiple HSSes environment, where it provides an information about the HSS that is associated with a particular User Profile. Call Session Control Functions (CSCFs) are main functional components of the IMS architecture, responsible for SIP signalling processing. The CSCFs are SIP Proxy servers which perform a number of standard SIP functions such as multimedia session control and address translation function. In addition, they provide extended functions in the area of QoS, security and charging. There are three roles that CSCF can play.

Proxy-CSCF (P-CSCF) the first contact point for the UE within the IMS, Interrogating-CSCF (I-CSCF) the contact point within an operators network for all IMS connections destined to a subscriber of that network operator or a roaming subscriber currently located within that network operators service area,

Serving-CSCF (S-CSCF) the main CSCF that actually handles session management and service provisioning.As a part of the IMS registration process a user is assigned a S-CSCF, residing in the subscribers home network, which is further responsible for all aspects of session control.

Policy Decision Function (PDF) is a logical entity of the P-CSCF. It allows to apply a policy to the bearer usage in the GPRS network. It controls the GGSN node relying on the inspection of the provisioned SIP signalling andsessions descritpions. Breakout Gateway Control Function (BGCF) is a SIP Proxy server which selects the network in which PSTN breakout is to occur and, within the network where the breakout is to occur, selects the MGCF. If the S-CSCF determines that the initial SIP request cannot be routed downstream using standard SIP DNS or ENUM/DNS procedures, it forwards such request to BGCF for CS network breakout. Media Gateway Control Function (MGCF) performs conversion between SIP and ISDN User Part (ISUP), protocol used in the CS networks. It also selects the CSCF depending on the routing number for

incoming calls from legacy networks. MGCF controls the resources in IMS Media Gateway Function (IMS-MGW) through the Megaco/H.248 protocol. IMS-MGW operates on the media plane and performs conversion between bearer channels from a switched circuit network and media streams from a packet network (RTP streams in an IP network). Multimedia Resource Function Controller (MRFC) is used in conjunction with Multimedia Resource Function Processor (MRFP) in order to perform media related functions such as announcements playing, media transcoding and conferencing. MRFC is a SIP end point which interprets information coming from an AS and S-CSCF and controls MRFP media plane resources through Megaco/H.248 protocol. Application Servers (AS) are SIP end points that host and execute services. They interact with the SCSCF usingIMS Service Control (ISC) interface in order to influence and impact ongoing SIP sessions. Depending on the service logic and context, AS can behave as a SIP Proxy, user agent (UA) or back-toback user agent (B2BUA). There are three types of application servers reflecting different technology context behind them. AS can be located both in the home and external networks, if located in the home network, it can query the HSS to accuire subscriber related information. Release 6 3GPP has added a new set on PS network entities which enable the interwoking with Wireless Local Area Networks) WLAN. The result and influence on IMS is, that establishing of the IP connectivity access network bearer towards IMS services can done through both GPRS and WLAN infrastructures. WLAN effectively has become a complementary radio access technology to the 3GPP network. Whithin IMS core network, release 6 has introduced an inter-operability between IMS, which use different IP-connectivity networks. Additionaly it defined a number of reference points between new and already existing entities. Beside new functional IMS network entities, this release introduced a very significant change, which considers multiple registration and forking, at the S-CSCF. In release 5 non of CSCFs and ASes could fork SIP request. Since release 6, IMS has the capability to fork requests to multiple destinations according to the SIP Proxy forking rules defined in RFC 3261. The S-CSCF supports the ability for a Public User Identity (IMPU) to be registered from multiple contact addresses, so that an incoming SIP request addressed to that IMPU is proxied to multiple registered contact addresses. Beside that release 6 introduces presence, speech recognition and Push to Talk over cellular (PoC) network services and Generic User Profile (GUP) as a mean to enable harmonised usage of the user-related information distributed and originating from different entities.

In release 5, the PDF was a logical entity of the P-CSCF. In release 6, the PDF still act as a policy decision point for policy control of IP bearer resources but became a separate element. The P-CSCF logicaly became the Application Function (AF) capable of communicating with the PDF. The role of the

P-CSCF/AF is to transfer dynamic QoS or charging-related related information over Diamater protocol. Based on that the PDF makes decisions about IP berarer resource allocation requests. An IMS Application Level Gateway (IMS ALG) and Transition Gateway (TrGW) are new IMS CN entities. An IMS ALG provides application specific functions at the SIP/SDP protocol layer in order to perform interconnection between two operator domains. It enables communication between IPv6 and IPv4 SIP applications. A TrGW is located within the media path and controlled by an IMS ALG. It provides functions like network address/port translation and IPv4/IPv6 protocol translation. If any, S-CSCF, ICSCF or BGCF needs to provide interworking then IMS ALG has to be involved. The Dh is a new, Diameter based, reference point between SLF and application server (AS). Periously the SLF, was accessed only by CSCFs. The use of SLF is not required when AS is configured/managed to use pre-defined HSS. The Ut is another new reference point, residing between UE and AS. It is a HTTP based interface which enables the user to manage information related to his services. Last but not least is the SIP based reference point between I-CSCF and AS. If the request does not contain a Route header and the domain name of the Request-URI matches with one of the Public Service Indentifier (PSI) subdomains, then I-CSCF forwards the request directly to the AS hosting that PSI. Release 7 Stay tuned !! 3GPP standarization process uses a system of parallel Releases which assure the delivery of a stable set of compatible specifications. 2010, Tomasz Zieleniewski. All rights reserved.