13 Umts Core

UMTS Core Network
V. Mancuso, I. Tinnirello
GSM/GPRS Network Architecture

Radio access network
BSS
GSM/GPRS core network
VLR
BTS
MS
GMSC
BSC
HLR
PCU
AuC
SGSN
EIR
BTS
IP Backbone
GGSN
database
Internet
PSTN, ISDN
MSC
3GPP Rel.99 Network Architecture

UTRAN
RNC
Iu CS
GMSC
VLR
BS
UE
MSC
HLR
Iur
Uu
AuC
Iub
RNC
BS
SGSN
EIR
Iu PS
Gn
IP Backbone
GGSN
database
Internet
PSTN
Iub
Core network (GSM/GPRS-based)
3GPP Rel
Rel.99
.99 Network Architecture
UTRAN
Iub
RNC
BS
UE
Iur
Uu
Iub
RNC
BS
2G => 3G
MS => UE
(User Equipment), often also
called (user) terminal
New air (radio) interface
based on WCDMA access
technology
New RAN architecture
(Iur interface is available for
soft handover,
BSC => RNC)

Core network (GSM/GPRS-based)
MSC is upgraded to 3G
MSC
Iu CS
MSC
GMSC
VLR
SGSN is upgraded to 3G
SGSN
GMSC and GGSN remain
the same
AuC is upgraded (more
security features in 3G)
HLR
AuC
SGSN
EIR
Iu PS
Gn
IP Backbone
GGSN
Internet
PSTN
Changes in the core

network:

UTRAN
(UMTS Terrestrial Radio
Access Network)
Circuit Switched (CS) core network

MSC
Server
GMSC
Server
New option in Rel.4:

GERAN
(GSM and EDGE Radio
Access Network)
MGW
SGW
MGW
PS core as in Rel.99
PSTN
SGW

MSC Server takes care
of call control signalling
The user connections
are set up via MGW
(Media GateWay)
RANAP / ISUP
SS7 MTP
IP
Sigtran
MSC
Server
GMSC
Server
SGW
MGW
core
SGW
MGW
PS core as in Rel.99
PSTN
Lower layer protocol

conversion in SGW
(Signalling GateWay)
Circuit Switched (CS)

network

UTRAN
(UMTS Terrestrial Radio
Access Network)
CS core
SGSN
GGSN
PS core
HSS
Internet
GERAN
(GSM and EDGE Radio
Access Network)
IMS (IP
Multimedia
System)
MGW
PSTN
New core
network part:
Interworking with the

PSTN may be required
for some time ...
MGW
IMS (IP
Multimedia
System)
SGSN
HSS
GGSN
PS core
Internet / other IMS
Call/session control
using SIP (Session
Initiating Protocol)
CS core
PSTN
The IMS can establish

multimedia sessions
(using IP transport)
via PS core between
UE and Internet (or
another IMS)
New Service Concept

Content provider
Content provider
Service provider
Service provider
Carrier provider
End user
End user
all want to make

profit
OSA (Open Services Architecture/Access)

OSA is being standardised, so that services provided by
different service/content providers can be created and
seamlessly integrated into the 3G network (this is the
meaning of open architecture)
OSA means in practice:
Service Creation Environment (SCE)
API
API
3G network
API
API = Application
Programming
Interface
(Standardised)
CAMEL (2G & 3G)

CAMEL (Customised Applications for Mobile network Enhanced
Logic) is a set of IN (intelligent network) type functions and
procedures that make operator-specific IN services available to
subscribers who roam outside their home network.
CAMEL = IN technology + global mobility
CAMEL Service Environment (CSE) is a logical entity in the
subscribers home network which processes IN related
procedures
CSE SCP in home network
The IMS
The IP Multimedia Subsystem
Vincenzo Mancuso, PhD
The IMS
The Third generation networks aim to merge
two most valuable resources in communication
technology, along with local PSTN networks
Cellular Networks
The Internet
Use packet switching, IP
The IP Multimedia Subsystem or IMS is the solution to integrate all
the services that the internet provides with the cellular and other
networks
Triple Play: coordination of voice, video and data
IMS ValueValue-added services

IMS also can provide integrated
service to the user
Third party developed services can be provided by
operators, thus developing value-added services
Appropriate charging for multimedia sessions,
according to the content and the service offered
IMS Service Integration

Problem
Statement:
various
networks providing services have a
vertical infrastructure
no horizontal links between networks
The challenge: to integrate these
networks and to create new
applications that would provide
service
to
next
generation
networks
Component #1: the media

transport
After many other services,
introduction of real time
voice/video on Internet
The 1st problem is easy: how
to transmit voice/video?
IP packets
Codec
RTP
UDP
IP
RTP (Real-Time Protocol) is a protocol which

transports an encoded multimedia stream as
pieces, with a timestamp on each piece, and sends
them using UDP/IP
Any encoding is permitted for voice/video with
a Codec: MP3, ACC, MPEG4, AMR
Several streams (voice+video) can be sent in
parallel with the same timestamp
The timestamp is used by the receiver to play
the voice/video in a regular way for quality
RTP is the media transport

Component #2: session initiation
Registration of Bettys phone

and address
The 2nd problem is more

difficult: how to initiate the
call? how to know the IPaddress of the called phone?
It is necessary to have a table which translates a
symbolic name Betty into an IP address
Each time a terminal service is put on, it must
notify its presence to update the table
So, thanks to an access to this table, it is possible
to make the address resolution : name -> IP
address
Registration of Johns phone

and address
The control of the address table

creates a tough competition
Why IMS?
Solutions to make the address resolutions
MSN, Yahoo, AOL have
designed a calling
architecture hypercentralized: 1 table
worldwide, only 1 operator
Skype promotes a hyperdecentralized architecture:
1 table per terminal with
peer-to-peer update
between terminals
The introduction and development of

solution like Skype is highly significant
as it alters the notion of
telecommunications operators by
making the process fully electronic
IDATE - ART, 2004
Operators dislike such approaches, so they push a way

very similar to e-mail: centralization per domain. This
approach is named Internet Protocol Multimedia
Subsystem, IMS.
IMS User Identities

Sip:zehan.zeb@newstore.com
tel:+17324567888
zzeb@tmobile.co
m
IMS Subscriber
Private User Identity
Sip:zehan.zeb@example.com
tel:+88028112347
Public User Identities
User Identity
Private identity
Issued by home provider
Used for AAA
Saved on ISIM (not modifiable)
Public
User Identity 1
Private
User Identity 1
Public identity

IMS
Normal SIP address (URI or TEL)
Subscription
Identifies the user publicly
User has one or more identities
Used for routing
Can be grouped into implicit registration sets
If one of the set is registered then the others are as well
At least one is stored on ISIM
Public
User Identity 2
Public
User Identity 4
Private
User Identity 2
Public
User Identity 5
Public
User Identity 6
Use a temporary identity derived from USIM during initial registration (derived from
IMSI)
PIDs are then provided by the S-CSCF in its reply to the registration
Implicitly
Registered ID
Set 1
Service
Profile 2
Public
User Identity 3
In case no ISIM is provided
Service
Profile 1
Implicitly
Registered ID
Set 2
Implicitly
Registered ID
Set 3
Service
Profile 3
Service
Profile 4
UICC
Universal Integrated Circuit Card
Used to store data, including authentication
information
Contains one or more applications

SMS
Phonebook
SIM
GSM Subscriber Identity Module
USIM
UMTS SIM
ISIM
IMS SIM
Applications are independent

SIM, USIM and ISIM can coexist on the same UICC
but SIM cannot be used for IMS access (for security reasons)
IP Multimedia Subsystem
An enabler
of new
applications
Next-gen
network
architecture
A standard
IMS
SIP
Video Clips
Sports, News
IP Network
SIP
ServiceService-layer
ControlControl-layer
TransportTransport-layer
At Home
SIP
On the Move
Converged Services
Rich Communications
SIP
SIP
SIP
In the Office
IMS is access agnostic, cost reducing, and service

enhancing
IMS gives the customer & carrier choice
Voice
PushPush-2-Talk
Push--2-View
Push
PushPush-2-X
Location-Presence, Location
based Services
Picture
Messaging,
MM Messaging
Streaming
Audio, Video
E-mail
IM
Games,
Music
Downloads
Interactive Services,
Interactive Gaming
IMS
Goals & Tools
IMS goals
Combine latest trends in tech
Run fast, no time for standardization of services
Mobile/Nomadic internet
Create a platform for multimedia
services
and their development
Exploit/allow mobile packetswitching networks
Not a mere circuit-switching replacement
IMS requirements
Support for establishing IP Multimedia
Sessions
Audio, video, messaging
Support for mechanisms to negotiate QoS

distinguish users
operators want to control QoS
Support for interworking

with Internet
with packet-switching networks
Support for roaming

Home and visited network
Inter-operators roaming

IMS requirements (contd)

Support for user activity control
policies imposed by the operator (general policies and per-user policies)
accomplish to service agreements
Support for fast service creation

dont require service standardization
Standardize service capabilities instead
Support for multiple access

Not only GPRS, UMTS
IP is independent on lower protocol layers
Protocols in IMS
3GPP reuses protocol developed by other
standards development organizations
ETSI (European Telecommunications Standard Institute)
IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force)
ITU-T (International Telecommunications Union - Telecommunications)
3GPP interacts with standards

development organizations as for the
development of existing and new
protocols
Protocols
RTP for media transport
Session control protocols
AAA protocols
Other
Session Control Protocol

SIP (Session Initiation Protocol, by
IETF- RFC2821)
Protocol to establish and manage multimedia session
over IP
SIP borrows some design principles from SMTP and
HTTP
Does not differentiate the user-to-network interface from
the network-to-network interface (unlike BICC and
H.323)
It follows the client-server model
Text-based protocol
Easy to debug, extend and reuse for service building
AAA protocol: DIAMETER

one protocol for many interfaces
Authorization
What service can be used?
Diameter
Client Application
Diameter
Server Application
Authentication
Are you really who you say you
are?
Accounting
Session Management
Session Management
Routing Management
Routing Management
Connection
Management
Connection
Management
Base Protocol
Base Protocol
$
DIAMETER
by IETF RFC3588
Evolution of RADIUS
Base protocol
Diameter applications
Diameter applications used to customize/extend the base protocol for different interfaces, environments, and
applications
E.g.: interact with SIP session setup (Authorization and Authentication)
E.g.: interact with the billing subsystem to control accounting
E.g.: interact with routing entities
IMS Architecture
New services for mobile

and fixed networks
Open, standardised, operator friendly, NGN
multimedia architecture for mobile and fixed services
Based on SIP, DIAMETER and COPS controls
Supports legal interception, localisation, PSTN interworking, etc.
Access Independent
Applications
Internet
3G mobile
WLAN
WiMAX
DSL
Fibre
Ethernet
IMS Platform
PSTN
IP transport
MGW
Functions and nodes

IMS standardizes functions
IMS does NOT standardize nodes
The IMS Architecture is a collection of
functions linked by standardized
interfaces
A function can be implemented through one or more nodes
Multiple functions can share a node
Commonly a function per node
A standard architecture for

service delivery
Application
Layer
AS
AS
SIP
DIAMETER
Session
Control
Layer
SIP
SIP
HSS
MR
F
MGCF
MGW
Connectivity
Layer
H.248
SIP
IP Network
GGS
N
PSTN/PLMN
CPE
Access to IMS
The user can connect to an IMS network in
variety of ways, all of which use the
standard Internet Protocol (IP) for packet
switching
e.g., IMS terminals can register directly
on an IMS network
e.g., mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and computers
even when they are roaming in another network or country (the visited
network)
The only requirement is that they can use IPv6 (also IPv4 in early IMS)
and run SIP user agents
Other access examples

Fixed access
- e.g., Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), cable modems, Ethernet
Mobile access
e.g., W-CDMA, CDMA2000, GSM, GPRS
Wireless access
e.g., WLAN, WiMAX
Other phone systems like plain old

telephone service (POTS -- the old
analogue telephones) or PSTN, H.323
and non IMS-compatible VoIP systems,
are supported through gateways
IMS functional elements
Infrastructure of SIP Proxies

(media do not traverse the IMS..)
IMS Functional Elements

Session Management (SIP)
Routing
Databases
Network Interoperability Elements
Services and Support Components
Charging Components
Nodes/Functions in the IMS

User databases
HSS (Home Subscriber Server)
SLF (Subscriber Location Function)
SIP servers
CSCF (Call/Session Control Function)
AS (Application Server)

MRF (Media Resource Function)
MRFC (MRF Controller)
MRFP (MRF Processor)
BGCF (Breakout Gateway Control Function)

PSTN/CS gateways, decomposed into:
SGW (Signaling Gateway)
MGCF (Media Gateway Controller Function)
MGW (Media Gateway)
Charging collection functions

Databases (HSS,SLF)
HSS is an evolution of the HLR (Home
Location Register) of GSM
Contains the user-related subscription data (e.g., location,
authorization and authentication information)
More than one HSS is possible
If #HSS > 1 SLF required
SLF maps users address to HSSs
HSS and SLF use DIAMETER with an IMSspecific diameter application
Home Subscriber Server (HSS)

HSS
Diameter
Presence, Location and Profile

End-User Identity
Private and Public End-User Information
Registration Information
Service Initiation Information
Subscriber Service Profile (SSP)
Downloaded to CSCF at Registration
More on HSS
HSS is a master user database that
supports all the IMS network functions
that actually handle communications
contains the subscription-related information (user profiles)
performs authentication and authorization of the user
can provide information about the user's physical location
is similar to the GSM Home Location Register (HLR) and
Authentication Centre (AUC) together
CSCF
SIP servers or proxies, collectively called Call
Session Control Function (CSCF), are used to
process SIP signaling packets/messages in
the IMS
P-CSCF (Proxy)
I-CSCF (Interrogating)
S-CSCF (Server)
Call/Session Control Func.

Func. ((CSCF)
CSCF)
Diameter
SIP
PCSCF
ICSCF
SIP
SIP
SCSCF
SIP
SIP
CSCF Processes SIP Signaling

P-CSCF
First Point of User Contact (located in the visited domain)
Authenticates user
May Include Policy Functions
S-CSCF

Central Node of Control Plane

Acts as Registrar for User (located in the home domain)
Invokes Application Servers
Performs Primary Routing Function
I-CSCF
Located at Edge of Administrative Domain (contact point for inter-domain messages)
Is the Ingress Network Point Defined in DNS
Shields Network Topology from External Networks
IMS Signaling Path

(1 domain, no roaming)
IMS Signaling Path

(4 domain roaming, media goes directly)
Sweden
User
Irish
User
Sweden User
In roaming
Irish User
In roaming
CSCF
P-CSCF (Proxy)
Outbound/Inbound proxy server
First server contacted by the user
Fixed while registered
Security functions (integrity protection, IPSec,)
Authenticates the user and extend the authentication to
other nodes within IMS
Compress/decompress SIP messages
Generates charging info
P-CSFC details
SIP proxy that is the first point of contact for the IMS
terminal
It can be located either in the visited network (in full IMS
networks) or in the home network (when the visited
network isn't IMS compliant yet)
The terminal discovers its P-CSCF with either DHCP
or it is assigned in the PDP Context (GPRS)

It is assigned to an IMS terminal during registration, and
does not change for the duration of the registration
It sits on the path of all signaling messages, and can
inspect every message
It authenticates the user and establishes an IPsec security
association with the IMS terminal
Other nodes trust the P-CSCF, and do not have to authenticate the user again
It can also compress and decompress SIP messages
it may include a Policy Decision Function (PDF), which
authorizes media plane resources
it also generates charging records
PDF for QoS in IMS

(intermediary between the applicationapplication-level QOS and
the 3G networknetwork-level QoS)
QoS)
CSCF
I-CSCF (Interrogating)
SIP proxy at the edge of a domain
Advertised by DNS
Interface to HSS and SLF for routing purposes
Optional: encryption of sensitive information about
the domain (THIG: topology hiding inter-network
gateway)
I-CSCF details
It is another SIP function located at the edge of an
administrative domain
Its IP address is published in the DNS of the domain
remote servers can find it, and use it as a forwarding point (e.g. registering) for
SIP packets to this domain
The I-CSCF queries the HSS using DIAMETER to
retrieve the user location
then it routes the SIP request to its assigned S-CSCF
Up to Release 6 it can also be used to hide the
internal network from the outside world (encrypting
part of the SIP message)
in which case it's called a THIG (Topology Hiding Inter-network Gateway)
From Release 7 onwards this "entry point" function is removed from the ICSCF and is now part of the IBCF (Interconnection Border Control Function)
which is also a firewall and a nat.
CSCF
S-CSCF (Server)
SIP server with session control functions
SIP registrar (maintains a mapping between user
location and public user identity)
SIP routing
PEP
Always located in the home network
Interfaced with the HSS (e.g., to download the
users profile)
S-CSCF details
It is the central node of the signaling plane
SIP server + session control
It is always located in the home network

It uses DIAMETER to the HSS to download and
upload user profiles
All necessary information is loaded from the HSS.
It handles SIP registrations

bind the user location and the SIP address
It sits on the path of all signaling messages, and can

inspect every message
It decides to which application server(s) the SIP
message will be forwarded, in order to provide their
services
It provides routing services, typically using
Electronic Numbering (ENUM) lookups
There can be multiple S-CSCFs in the network for
load distribution and high availability reasons
It's the HSS that assigns the S-CSCF to a user, when
it's queried by the I-CSCF.
Application Server (AS)

AS
AS
AS
Diameter
SIP
Contains Call Related Application Logic

Facilitates a Service Creation Environment
Queried by S-CSCF in Real Time to Execute Logic
Filters can be applied at S-CSCF in order to inspect the SIP messages and
decide whether involve or not the AS
Generally Specialized for Each Service
May Provide Gateway to Legacy Applications (e.g.
AIN)
Can Behave as a SIP Proxy or Terminal (and in this
case receive the media!)
AS
Three different AS types
SIP AS
native IMS application server
OSA-SCS (Open Service Access Service Capability Server)

Interface to Open Service Application (AS) framework application
server (developed by 3GPP for UMTS)
IM-SSF (IP Multimedia Service Switching Function)

Reuse/interface with CAMEL (GSM)
Gateway for GSM Service Control Function
An AS can be located in the home

network or in an external third-party
network
If located in the home network, it can query the HSS with the DIAMETER
Sh interface (for a SIP-AS) or the Mobile Application Part (MAP) interface
(for IM-SSF).
AS as a SIP Proxy
(e.g. find a taxi)
AS as a SIP Terminal
(e.g. web server: receive media data!)
Example of Filter Rule

(at SS-CSCF)
User A wants to divert all calls from boss

to an answering machine (i.e. the AS)
(method=INVITE) AND
(P-Asserted-Identity = boss@vodafone.com) AND
(Session Case = Terminating) ->message is addressed to
AS
Multimedia Resource Function (MRF)
SIP
MRFC
MS
MS
Offers Services Such as Conferencing

MRFC SIP User Interface toward S-CSCF
MRFP Controls the Media Server (MS)
MRF
The MRF (Media Resource Function) provides a
source of media in the home network
It provides media related functions such as media
manipulation (e.g. voice stream mixing, media
trans-coding) and playing of tones and
announcements.
Each MRF is further divided into
Media Resource Function Controller (MRFC) signaling plane
Media Resource Function Processor (MRFP) media plane
The MRFC acts as a SIP User Agent to the S-CSCF,
and controls the MRFP with a H.248 interface
The MRFP is a media plane node that implements
all media-related functions
Multiparty Calls
(MRF as a special AS)
REFER:
Ask other
to join
Multiparty Call
Multiparty Call
BGCF
The Breakout Gateway Control Function is a
SIP server that includes routing
functionality based on telephone numbers
used when calling from the IMS to a phone in a circuit switched
network
e.g., IMS to Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) or to
Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN)
BGCF routes to the appropriate (remote)
circuit switching domain
BGCF selects the (local) PSTN/CS gateway
PSTN Gateway
SGW
ISUP
SIP
BGCF
SIP
SIP
MGCF
H.248
MGW
TDM
BGCF Routes to Gateway Based Upon Telephone

Number
MGCF Controlling Function for SGW and MGW
SGW Provides Signaling Conversion Between SIP
and ISUP
MGW Provides Conversion between RTP and TDM
Home Network - Functional Elements

Home Subscriber Server
Domain Name Server
Centralized DB
HLR successor
User profile
Filter criteria (sent to S-CSCF)
Which applications
Which conditions
Application Servers
Push-to-talk
Instant messaging
Telephony AS
3rd party or IMS Vendor
Media Resource Function Controller

Pooling of Media servers (e.g. conference)
Home Network
DNS
ENUM
AS
AS
AS
HSS
P-CSCF
Media Gateway
Control Function
Diameter
SIP
P-CSCF
UA/UE
I-CSCF
SIP
S-CSCF
SIP
SIP
MRFC
MS
SIP
SIP
UA/UE
SIP
MS
Interfaces to PSTN/PLMN by
Converting SIP <-> ISUP
Interworking RTP to circuit
H.248 control of MGW
SIP
BGCF
SIP
MGCF
ISUP
SIP
Call Session
Control Function
H.248
SIP registration
SIP session setup
RTP
MGW
SS7
TDM
Serving CSCF
Proxy CSCF
1st contact point for UA
QoS
Routes to S-CSCF
Visited
Network
Registrar
Session control
Application Interface
Interrogating CSCF
Entry point for incoming calls
Determines S-CSCF for Subscribers
Hides network topology
Breakout Gateway Control Function

Selects network (MGCF or other BGCF)
in which PSTN/ PLMN breakout is to occur
PSTN
Network--toNetwork
to-Network Connectivity
SIP
UA/UE
Access
DNS
ENUM
RTP
RTP
Visited
Network
HSS
Diameter
SIP
Backbone
Packet
Network
AS
AS
AS
SIP
P/SP/S-CSCF
SIP
I-CSCF
SIP
S-CSCF
P-CSCF
SIP
SIP
SIP
MRFC
MS
SIP
SIP
MS
SIP
BGCF
SIP
MGCF
ISUP
RTP
Home
Network
Proxy/Serving CSCF
Manages call origination
Selects destination network
Routes to I-CSCF
Interrogating CSCF
Entry point for incoming calls
Determines S-CSCF for Subscribers
Hides network topology
H.248
MGW
SS7
TDM
PSTN
Home and Visited Networks

Inherited from 2G, 3G
Most of IMS nodes and functions are located
in the Home network
P-SCFC can be either in the home or visited
network
If GPRS access P-CSCF in the same network of the GGSN
simplifies the operators management
allows roaming to non-IMS GPRS CANs (Connectivity Access networks)
Drawback: trombone effect when GGSN is in the home network (GGSN is
in the media plane)
In a long term perspective the P-CSCF will be located in the visited
network
Media servers can be out of both

IMS architecture
Examples
John is calling Betty

Introducing the HSS and the S
S--CSCF
HSS
When the phones
get connected they
register their
name/IP to the HSS
The HSS is the table user/address

The S-CSCF is a SIP proxy which works
on messages to provide users
(consumers, enterprises) with calling
services including registration being a
mediation SIP2DIAMETER
SIP
S-CSCF
SIP
Changes the SIP message replacing Betty by its IP

address found in the HSS
John is calling a taxi to meet Betty

Introducing the Application Server (AS)
In addition to the basic name/address translation,
the S-CSCF routes SIP messages to:
The network of Betty, if different
The applications such as: Push-To-Talk, Instant Messaging, Advance Call Control,
Voice/video mailbox, nearest Taxi running on AS, a SIP proxy application server
nearest Taxi application (location, fleet)
AS
S-CSCF
Changes the SIP message replacing taxi by
the IP address of the nearest available taxi
Johns and Bettys phones do not support a common

voice encoding
Introducing the MRFC and MRFP
Intercepting the SIP invite message, the S-CSCF/AS

detects a non compatibility between the codecs of the
phones : it forwards it to the MRFC (a SIP proxy).
The MRFC adjusts the SIP messages in order to orient the
RTP flow to the MRFP (a RTP proxy), for trans-coding
S-CSCF
SIP
MRFC
MGCP, H248 Megaco
RTP (codec: G729)

MRFP
RTP (codec: AMR)
During its travel John is calling Betty

The operator has made a segmentation of its services offer
Introducing the P-CSCF, II-CSCF
The P-CSCF is the 1st SIP proxy seen by the terminal
It controls the bearer plan via COPS protocol
It adjusts the SIP message (e.g., compression) and forwards it to the I-CSCF of the home
network
The operator may have several S-CSCFs (e.g., offer
segmentation)
So it introduces, the I-CSCF SIP proxy as the entry point of its
network
also used as the entry point for calls from other operators
Visited Network
HSS
P-CSCF
S-CSCF (consumers)
I-CSCF
S-CSCF (enterprises)
Home Network
John is calling Betty who has

a legacy phone
Introducing the MGCF and the MGW
At the border of the IMS network with the phone network,
an adaptation is necessary.
The MGCF handles the control for the 2 worlds and drives
the MGW (Media gateway)
controls circuits and MGW much like a VoIP softswitch
MGCF
Legacy Call control (SS7)
SIP
H248 MGCP,
Megaco
RTP
Phone transmission
Internet
MGW
PSTN/PLMN network
IMS Communication Focus

Roaming IMS Mobile Users
Serving Network A
Serving Network B
Access Network A
Service Platform B
(ASB)
Service Platform A
(ASA )
P-CSCFC
PDF
Gm
SIP/SDP
inviting
uey@homeb.com
SIP / SDP
SIP / SDP
S-CSCFA
SIP / SDP
S-CSCFB
Access Network B
P-CSCFD
PDF
Gm
Go
Go
SGSN GGSN
Data- Path
SIP/SDP
GGSN SGSN
IP Backbone Network
UEA
UEB
PDP Context
PDP Context
Sessionlevel(SIP/SDP signalling)
Bearer level(PDPcontext activation / modification / Release)
Interaction betweensession andbearer level(COPS)
I-CSCF (between P-CSCF and S-CSCF) not shown for simplicity
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
GRX
Network Z (UMTS/GPRS)
GGSN
DSLAM/CMTS
RNC
User A
User B
The Signaling Plane
SIP functionality
SIPs main goal is to deliver a session descriptor to a
user at his/her/its location
A session descriptor contains the information needed
for a remote user to join the session
IP address and port
Codecs
SDP (Session Description Protocol)

A (possible) text-based way to describe the media session
SDP
version
user
subject
user IP
Session-level
Start time
G711-law
Stream
directio
n
H.261 codec
Media-level
SIP entities
Registrar
User Agent
SIP endpoints handled by users (also automatically, based on userdefined rules)
Proxy server
SIP routers
Usually is co-located with the registrar, and always uses the information
on the registrar (through a location server) to route the calls
Forking proxy
Parallel or serial forking in the message routing
Redirect server
For routing, but no message delivery
SIP transactions
Transaction structure
A request from the client
Zero or more provisional responses from the server
A final response from the server
Each message begins with a start line
Request line (in a request)
Method
Request URI
Protocol version
e.g.: INVITE sip:alice@domain.com SIP/2.0
Status line (in an answer)

e.g.: SIP/2.0 180 Ringing
Protocol version
Status Human
code code
Start line
One or more headers (name:value)
---------EMPTY LINE --------Message body (OPTIONAL)
SIP message format
SIP methods
ACK
BYE
CANCEL
INFO
INVITE
NOTIFY
OPTIONS
PRACK
PUBLISH
REGISTER
ack the final response for INVITE

terminate a session
cancel a pending request
transport PSTN telephony signaling
establish a session
notify a UA about a particular event
queries a server about capabilities
ack for provisional response
upload UAs info to a server
map the current URI and location with
the public URI
SUBSCRIBE request to be notified about an event
UPDATE
update session characteristics
MESSAGE
instant message in the message body
REFER
instruct a server to send a request
SIP in the IMS

In principle, no difference with the public
Internet
In practice, IMS imposes some
constraints
Wireless access
Security
QoS
Roaming
3GPP/IETF defines a profile of utilization
of SIP in the IMS environment
E.g., RFC 3261 (redefinition of SIP)
RFC 3665 and 3666 (Best Current Practice)
Prerequisites
Two--phase registration
Two
Offline subscription
Login to the
IP access net
Inbound/Outbound
Fixed Proxy
DHCP or
Lower level
mechanism
Online registration
Entering the IP Connectivity Access

Network
The access to GPRS includes the
assignment of servers and IP address
PDF Context Activation/DeActivation/De-Activation

A PDP context is pre-setup for the SIP
signaling
Different PDP contexts are then activated for
the media flows (e.g. according to the agreed
codec)
When the session ends, all PDP contexts are
deactivated
P-CSCF discovery
The IMS terminal has to discover the IP address of the
P-CSCF
The procedure can be
stand alone (DHCP+DNS)
integrated with the access to the IP (e.g., with the PDP context)
IMS--level registration
IMS
The user requests authorization to use
the IMS
The IMS authenticate and eventually
authorize the user
SIP REGISTER is mandatory
DIAMETER is used by the CSCF to contact the HSS
For security reasons, the user is challenged to show its
identity this require two SIP REGISTER messages
Without
authentication
DL User Auth
vector
UAA: User Auth. Ans.

MAA: Multiledia Auth.Ans
SAA:Server Assignment Ans.
IMS--level registration
IMS
The HSS tells the I-CSCF whether a S-CSCF

was already allocated to the user.
If not, I-CSCF will choose based on
capabilities notified by HSS in the UAA
authentication
vector included
DL User
Profile
UAR: User Auth. Req

MAR:Multimedia Auth.Req
SAR:Server Assignment Req.
Challenge the User
Basic Session Setup
Session
setup
Many nodes and

many messages
involved in the setup
Different
planes/layers
media
signaling
CAN
core
Session setup (conted

(conted))

13 Umts Core

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13 Umts Core

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UMTS Core Network

GSM/GPRS Network Architecture

GSM/GPRS core network

3GPP Rel.99 Network Architecture

Core network (GSM/GPRS-based)

3GPP Rel.99 Network Architecture

Changes in the core

3GPP Rel.4 Network Architecture

Circuit Switched (CS) core network

New option in Rel.4:

3GPP Rel.4 Network Architecture

Lower layer protocol

Circuit Switched (CS)

3GPP Rel.5 Network Architecture

3GPP Rel.5 Network Architecture

Interworking with the

Internet / other IMS

The IMS can establish

New Service Concept

all want to make

OSA (Open Services Architecture/Access)

CAMEL (2G & 3G)

IMS ValueValue-added services

IMS Service Integration

Component #1: the media

RTP (Real-Time Protocol) is a protocol which

RTP is the media transport

Component #2: session initiation

Registration of Bettys phone

The 2nd problem is more

Registration of Johns phone

The control of the address table

The introduction and development of

Operators dislike such approaches, so they push a way

IMS User Identities

Private User Identity

If one of the set is registered then the others are as well

At least one is stored on ISIM

In case no ISIM is provided

Applications are independent

IMS is access agnostic, cost reducing, and service

Goals & Tools

Support for mechanisms to negotiate QoS

Support for interworking

Support for roaming

IMS requirements (contd)

Support for fast service creation

Support for multiple access

3GPP interacts with standards

Session Control Protocol

AAA protocol: DIAMETER

New services for mobile

Functions and nodes

A standard architecture for

Other access examples

Other phone systems like plain old

IMS functional elements

Infrastructure of SIP Proxies

IMS Functional Elements

Nodes/Functions in the IMS

AS (Application Server)

BGCF (Breakout Gateway Control Function)

Charging collection functions

Home Subscriber Server (HSS)