Dar es Salaam institute of Technology

(DIT)
ETU 08102
Digital Networks
Ally, J
jumannea@gmail.com
DIT

IP Multimedia Subsystem
(IMS) Basics

DIT

Voice and Video over IP

DIT

Voice and Video over IP

After some early resistance, telecom

companies have embraced VoIP
The VoIP standards war is over

The winner: Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)

What if?

An architecture was designed to support

services and multiple networks
The media is not just voice, but multi-media
SIP signaling used throughout

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What is IMS?

IMS is an architecture, it is not a protocol.

Open-systems architecture that supports a

range of IP-based services over both Private
and Carrier networks, employing both wireless
and fixed access technologies.

IMS is defined by 3GPP.

IMS Basic Concept

IMS is an architecture that solves the continuing demands and

frustrations of users and enterprises.
The ultimate goal of the architecture is to define a model that
separates the services offered by fixed-line (traditional telecom),
mobile (traditional cellular), and converged service providers (cable
companies and others who provide triple-play voice, video, and
data services) from the access networks used to receive those
services.
For instance, a classic example would be the ability of a mobile
cellular phone to switch to WiFi VoIP (mid-call) when it discovers a
valid network to use.
In this scenario, your mobile phone would dynamically move your
existing call over the cellular network to a valid WiFi network (for
example, your home wireless network) when you came into range,
saving your cellular airtime and providing additional bandwidth for
data communications.
IMS, when fully deployed, will enable you to choose a Service
Provider (SP) not by the quality or ubiquity of their network, but by
the services they offer.
The network, or how you connect to those services, will become
irrelevant.

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IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) - Key

Attributes
Open Industry Standard
Support for a Variety of
Applications:
Application
Layer

Ease integration into OSS/BSS/NMS

Web
Web Portal
Portal

Speed Applications to market

Common Session Control Element

to Provide Service Interworking

Common OAM&P Environment

Application
Application
Servers
Servers

Common
Common
OAM&P,Billing,
OAM&P,Billing,
etc.
etc.

Common Subscriber
Database with Open
Interfaces

Predictable interactions between multiple

services
Session
Control
Layer

Session
Session
Control
Control

Centralized
Centralized
Databases
Databases

Distributed Session Control

IMS flexibility and scalability reduce OPEX

Support mobility/portability
Access
Layer

Service Consistency Across Wireless,

Wireline and VoIP Endpoints:
Retain ownership of the subscriber and their
services

Ability to provide differentiated services

Access
Network

Common support for

CoS, QoS, security,
scalability, reliability, and
performance

Media
Media
Server
Server
Media
Media
Control
Control &
&
Gateways
Gateways
Other
Networks

Capable of
Interworking with the
PSTN (i.e. legacy INbased services)

IMS Access Network

Independence

SIP Application
SIP Application Servers
Servers

DSL/Cable Modem
HSS

DSLAM/CMTS

IMS

CDMA 2000

I-CSCF
MRF

P-CSCF

MGCF
S-CSCF
MGW

WLAN

RNC

MSC(Server)
SGSN

BSC

UMTS/GPRS

GGSN

CN
MGW

Corporate

EBS Web Portal

Other
App Servers
(PTT, IM etc.)

Lucent

Presence
Presence
Presence
Servers
Servers

Server

Active
Phonebook
Server

BroadSoft

AnyPath

Telephony
Telephony
Telephony
Servers
Servers

Server

Messaging Svr

Pres.
Data

MRFC
MRFC

Loc.
Data

Group
Lists

Access

Micro
Micro Billing
Billing
Integrated
Integrated
Pre-paid
Pre-paid &
&
Postpaid
Postpaid

AAA

Media GW
Signaling GW
PSTN

IP LAN

DSL/Cable

WiFi/802.11x

Office/Hotel

Home

Hotspot
Wireless
Router

IP-PBX
Devices

Subs
Data

Managed Core IP Network

Media
Media
Server
Server

GGSN
PDSN

Cellular

MSC

On the Road

SS7

5ESS

Local Loop

Home/Office

Base
Station

Access
Point

Ckt-PBX

IP-phones
(IP-Centrex)

IP-phones
Clients

Network Operations, Applications

Mgt, Subscriber registration/
authorization

HSS
HSS

Transport

CSCF
CSCF

Parlay/OSA
Mediation
Gateway (ISG)

Unified
Unified
Unified
Messaging
Messaging

Service
Service Broker
Broker

Session
Control

Applications

IMS Converged Communications Services Vision

Soft-phones

Dual-mode
WiFi phone

VoIP
handset

Ckt
handset

POTS
phone

Multiple user interfaces with common look and feel

SIP Clients

Other Clients

ISDN-phones

Roles of Standards Bodies for IMS

Open Mobile Alliance

Defining IMS services

The Parlay Group

Integral to IMS architecture, define

standard API frameworks

3rd Generation
Partnership Project

Define IMS network elements and

infrastructure

Architecture
for Wireline

ETSI TISPAN - Merger of

TIPHON (VoIP) and SPAN
(Fixed)

Defines SIP, SDP and other protocols

underlying IMS
IMS is driving some of the work in IETF

Cornerstone

Internet Engineering Task

Force

Agreement on reuse of 3GPP IMS in

comprehensive NGN plans

Services

Mobile
Architecture

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IMS Building Blocks

1.

An all-IP Core Network (CN)

2.

An all-IP Radio Access network (RAN)

3.

Multimedia call control based on SIP

4.

Quality of Service (QoS) support for IP

3GPP IMS Network Elements

Home Subscriber Server

Centralized
Centralized DB
DB
Application Servers
HLR
HLR successor
successor
User
Push-to-talk
User profile
profile
Push-to-talk
Filter
Media Resource Function
Filter criteria (sent to S-CSCF) Instant
Instant messaging
messaging
Which
Telephony
Pooling
Which applications
applications
Telephony AS
AS
Pooling of
of Media
Media servers
servers
rd party or Lucent
Which
3
Which conditions
conditions
3rd
party or Lucent

SIP

Access
Access

HSS
HSS

RTP
RTP

Visited
Network

Diameter

SIP

Backbone
Backbone
Packet
Packet
Network
Network

AS
AS
AS
AS
AS
AS

SIP

PPCSCF
CSCF

SIP

SIP

I-CSCF
I-CSCF
SIP

Home
Network

SIP

SSCSCF
CSCF

Media Gateway
Control Function

Interfaces
Interfaces to
to PSTN/PLMN
PSTN/PLMN by
by
Converting SIP <-> ISUP
Interworking RTP to circui
H.248
H.248 control
control of
of MGW

SIP

MRF
MRF

SIP

SIP

BGCF
BGCF

Call Session
Control Function

SIP

MGCF
MGCF

ISUP

H.248

SIP
SIP registration
registration
SIP
SIP session
session setup
setup

RTP

MGW
MGW

SS7
SS7
TDM

PSTN
PSTN

Serving CSCF

Proxy CSCF

st contact point for UE

1
1st
contact point for UE
QoS
QoS
Routes
Routes to I-CSCF

Registrar
Registrar
Session
Session control
Application
Application Interface
Interface

Interrogating CSCF

Entry point for incoming calls

Determines
Determines S-CSCF
S-CSCF for Subscribers
Hides network
network topology
topology

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Breakout Gateway Control Function

Selects
Selects network
network (MGCF
(MGCF or other BGCF)
in
in which
which PSTN/
PSTN/ PLMN
PLMN breakout
breakout is
is to
to occur
occur

Brief Explanation IMS Network Elements

The

Call Session Control Function (CSCF) is a SIP server which

processes the IMS signaling traffic in order to control multimedia
sessions.
There are three types of CSCF:

Proxy CSCF (P-CSCF): The initial point of contact for

signaling traffic in to the IMS.
Serving CSCF (S-CSCF): Provides the service coordination
logic to invoke the application servers needed to deliver the
requested service.
Interrogating CSCF (I-CSCF): A SIP proxy that provides a
gateway to other domains, such as other service provider
networks.

The Home Subscriber Server (HSS) is a centralized

database storing the subscriber profile information.

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Brief Explanation IMS Network Elements

An Application Server (AS) hosts and executes services and can run
(2)
in a number of classical SIP operational modes.

The Media Resource Function (MRF) comprises two nodes: the

Controller and Processor.

The application servers mentioned above are attached to the S-CSCFs to

host and serve IMS services.

The MRFC (controller) is situated in the signaling plane as a SIP User

Agent; and the MRFP (processor) is situated in the media plane and
provides media related functions, such as serving voice announcements,
voice mixing (for conferencing) and video conferencing.

A Border Gateway Control Function (BGCF) identifies if a session

terminates on the PSTN and determines which MGCF should handle
it.
The Media Gateway (MGW)/Media Gateway Control Function
(MGCF) collectively represent equipment that provides interworking
with the legacy PSTN.

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IMS Protocol

Session Initiation Protocol (SIP): An application layer protocol

for establishing, terminating and modifying multimedia sessions
within an IP network.
SIP has been embraced as the specified protocol in support
of session control protocol for IMS which follows a client
server model.
Session Description Protocol (SDP): is a text based protocol
which describes the multimedia session.
For example, when initiating a session the caller and callee
indicate and exchange their media capabilities as well as
receive address and port number.
Real-Time Protocol (RTP): provides a mechanism to transport
real-time multimedia traffic including video and audio over
unreliable transport mediums such as User Datagram Protocol
(UDP).
Diameter: The Diameter protocol was chosen for use with IMS
as the AAA (Authentication, Authorization and Accounting)
protocol.

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SIP Protocol

IMS builds on the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), which

has emerged as the crucial technology for controlling
communications in IP -Based Next-Generation Networks
(NGNs).

The advantages for adopting the SIP as control layer

protocol:

Advantages in convergence and interworking of voice

and data services

Supports the development of IN network towards the

application and terminal sides

Supports mobility function at the application layer

Simple protocol with recognized potential for extension.

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A Typical Example of an
IMS Call
Network Y

Network X

AS

AS
S-CSCF
S-CSCF

HSS
HSS

I-CSCF
I-CSCF
P-CSCF

P-CSCF
SGSN

DSL/Cable Modem

DSLAM/CMTS

GRX

Network Z (UMTS/GPRS)
GGSN
RNC

User B
User A

Why all of the excitement?

Imagine starting a voice call on you home phone and transferring it

seamlessly to your mobile as you drive to work.
Imagine sending a multimedia message from your car that later
appears on your TV screen.
Imagine watching a movie on that same TV, pausing it in mid-show
and then watching it on a wireless PDA as you relax in the garden.
Imagine having a cell phone conversation with two or three friends
and simultaneously sharing a video of the football match you are
attending.
Imagine that all of the above can be done with a single account, on
a single log-in with multiple devices over any number of access
networks
These are only a few examples of seamless multimedia services
that IMS will allow users to access anywhere at anytime

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Who needs IMS?

Fixed Network Users want
Multimedia conferencing: With PC or SIP phone user can participate in a
video conference with mobile or WLAN users.
Voice over IP: Cable providers will become phone providers.
Streaming Services: Video on demand, wake-up call with music video or
latest news.
Mobile Network Users want
Push-to-X: PTtalk, PTVideo.
Location Based Services: Which of my friends is nearby?
Mobile Gaming: Gaming on your mobile, while you chat with a friend you
play against.
Network Providers want
Fixed Mobile Convergence.
A service needs to be implemented only once for all kind of access networks.
New business models by offering my services to users from other access
networks.

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Why do we need IMS?

Challenges in services

Challenges from Internet

Internet has been competitor of legacy operator

Legacy operator must learn from Internet

Challenges in OPEX/CAPEX

Difficulty and slowly delivery of new services

Single services experience

More network technologies and more network

deployment
Duplicated development and deployment leads to higher
CAPEX and OPEX

Challenges in Average Revenue Per User (ARPU)

Voice ARPU is decreasing

Difficulty for legacy networks to introduce abundant
services and charge for content and service
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Characteristic of IMS - More Convergence

Traditional
Network
Multi-Service

Converged Network
Convergence

Internet

Fixed Network

Mobile Data

Mobile Network

Services & Content

Session Control
IP Connectivity
GSM/UMTS
WLAN

Broadband

Terminal

Network resource sharing greatly reduces CAPEX\OPEX

Reduce customer churn and improve loyalty

Unified services deliver any application to any terminal

Multimedia experience

Single user profile, single sign on

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User-Centric Network

Service-centric network:

Services provided by different

network.
Sign-On for each service;
User identity, profile, address book and
bill are different by each service;
Services cant be customized, or
difficult to be customized.

IMS

User-centric network:

One network for all services

Single Sign-On

One

user identity, one profile, one

address book and one bill for all
services
Customized services

Address book

Address book

Bill

Services

Bill

Profile

Profile
My rings

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Benefits of IMS

User experience in mobility and multimedia

Richer services

Sustained service revenue

Abundant and attractive services will boost ARPU

Telecom Operators will generate much more revenue by
operators always be on top of IP service value chain

Common shared subscriber data

Better investment protection

Common IMS Core infrastructure and service Enablers will

remain unchanged when new services and access types are
introduced.
Initial network investment on IMS Core will be protected
during later stages of network deployment

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Benefit of IMS-User Experience: Wider Mobility

Fixed Networks

Subscribers want access to

communications services from many
places

Mobile
Networks

Convergence Networks

from several devices

Office

Moving

Telephones, PCs, mobile phones,

PDAs

without needing separate accounts

Home

Home, office, or on-the-go: mobility

isnt just wireless voice anymore!

Travel

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Single sign-on, common contacts, and

access-aware information delivery

Benefit of IMS-User Experience: Multimedia

Yesterday
voice leading

Today
Limited video introduced

Still can not flexibly

add/drop multiple
media types, or switch
between them within
single session

Tomorrow
User-centric
multimedia experience

1.Hi, I am Robert
Let us have a talk
about our next film

2.Hi, I am Richard

Rich voice, VoD,

internet applications, etc

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Benefit of IMS - Richer Services

Push To Talk
CALL

Rich Call
WHITEBOARD

Presence

Game

IMS Core
IP
Backbone

Chat

Multimedia RBT

Media Push

Video

Music

Play Your True Color

Enterprise AD

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Cartoon
6
Voice

Greeting

Benefits of IMS - Sustained Service Revenue

IMS
PS only
Applications
HSS

Applications
Internet

CSCF

GGSN

GGSN

GGSN

SGSN
SGSN

SGSN

RAN
RAN

Domain

Controlled by Operator
Operator risks itself to be a bit pipe

Domain

RAN

Controlled by Operator

End-to-End

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service control

Benefits of IMS - Common Shared

Subscriber Data
Application
1

Application
2

Application
1

HSS

Application
2

Replicate
d Data

Application
X

SESSION CONTROL

Application
X

IMS

Now

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Benefits of IMS - Better Investment Protection

Application1

Application2

Messaging

Conference

Presence

Auth
Routing

Broadband

Application3

New Enabler

Group Mngt

SigComp

Charging

More Apps

QOS Control

GSM/UMTS

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NAT control

Service
Enablers

Common
Functions

Service Trigger

WLAN

CDMA2000

V2CC - Seamless Multimedia communication

VCC Application Server
Application & Service
IMS core network
Cellular
Network

Public/Private
WiFi/WiMAX newtwork
IMS VCC

Voice Call Continuity

Indoors

Outdoors

Single Number for both GSM/UMTS and WLAN/WiMAX

Bi-directional smooth handover: less than 200ms, no interruption
Excellent voice quality: better than GSM
Multi-media service enabled

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IMS Terminals

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