Inter-IMS Interworking http://localhost:7890/printtopics.html?time=Wed%20Jan%2025%202...

Inter-IMS Interworking
Contents
3.2.2.2.3.1 Inter-IMS Interworking

3.2.2.2.3.1 Inter-IMS Interworking

Inter-IMS interworking is the interworking between two IP multimedia subsystem (IMS)
networks.
As shown in Figure 1, I-BCF_A is located in the border of IMS_A, and I-BCF_B is located in the
border of IMS_B. The interconnection border gateway function (I-BGF) is omitted in Figure 1
because it is mainly involved in the implementation of specific services.

When a subscriber in IMS_A calls a subscriber in IMS_B, I-BCF_A and I-BCF_B process the call
as follows:

• As a breakout point from IMS_A, I-BCF_A performs outgoing trunk management.

• As an entry point to IMS_B, I-BCF_B performs incoming trunk management.

When a subscriber in IMS_B calls a subscriber in IMS_A, I-BCF_A and I-BCF_B process the call
as follows:

• As an entry point to IMS_A, I-BCF_A performs incoming trunk management.

• As a breakout point from IMS_B, I-BCF_B performs outgoing trunk management.

Figure 1 shows the interworking flow when a subscriber in IMS_A calls a subscriber in IMS_B to
illustrate how the interconnection border control function (I-BCF) performs incoming and
outgoing trunk management.
Figure 1 Interworking flow when a subscriber in IMS_A calls a subscriber in IMS_B

1 sur 4 25/01/2023, 13:01

Inter-IMS Interworking http://localhost:7890/printtopics.html?time=Wed%20Jan%2025%202...

The interworking flow is as follows:

• R1: Upon receiving an INVITE message, the originating serving-call session control
function (S-CSCF) determines that the next hop is I-BCF_A and routes the INVITE
message to I-BCF_A.

• R2: I-BCF_A determines that the INVITE message is sent from the local network
because only its address is contained in the Route header field. I-BCF_A also determines
that the called party belongs to an external network. As a breakout point from IMS_A,
I-BCF_A performs outgoing trunk management as follows:

1. Queries outgoing Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) trunk attributes.

I-BCF_A performs number analysis and selects an outgoing trunk based on the
Request-URI in the INVITE message to obtain the address of the entry point to
IMS_B, that is, I-BCF_B address.
2. Obtains the interworking policy.

I-BCF_A selects an outgoing trunk to the peer network and queries the
outgoing SIP trunk attributes to obtain the interworking policy.

The following attributes can be configured for a SIP trunk:

▪ Local IP address, peer IP address, local port number, and peer port number
▪ Whether to implement topology hiding
▪ Whether to bar calls when the number of concurrent calls on the SIP trunk reaches
the maximum value

2 sur 4 25/01/2023, 13:01

Inter-IMS Interworking http://localhost:7890/printtopics.html?time=Wed%20Jan%2025%202...

▪ Whether to perform OPTIONS detection for the peer device

▪ Whether to instruct the I-BGF to perform quality of service (QoS) control, media
network address translation (NAT), and codec conversion
▪ Whether to normalize the calling number and convert the called number
▪ Whether to perform signaling filtering
▪ Method for processing the carrier identification code (CIC) in a message

3. Performs outgoing trunk management based on the SIP trunk attributes. For
example:
▪ If topology hiding is required for the outgoing trunk, I-BCF_A
deletes header fields relevant to the topology information. For details,
see Topology Hiding.
▪ If media NAT, QoS control, or codec conversion is required for the
outgoing trunk, I-BCF_A instructs the I-BGF to implement these
functions. For details, see QoS, Media NAT, and Codec Conversion.
▪ If number conversion is required for the outgoing trunk, I-BCF_A
converts the calling and called numbers. For details on number
conversion, see Trunk-based Number Conversion Supported by the
IBCF.
▪ If signaling filtering is required for the outgoing trunk, I-BCF_A
implements signaling filtering. For details, see Signaling Filtering.

4. Performs other operations based on the interworking requirements. For

example, I-BCF_A converts between an IPv4 address and an IPv6 address and
deletes charging-related header fields.
5. Routes the INVITE message to I-BCF_B.

• R3: Upon receiving the INVITE message from I-BCF_A, I-BCF_B determines that the
request is not sent from the local domain. As an entry point to IMS_B, I-BCF_B
performs incoming trunk management as follows:

1. Obtains the incoming trunk ID after incoming trunk analysis.

2. Queries the incoming trunk attributes. For the attributes supported by an
incoming trunk, see Querying Outgoing SIP Trunk Attributes in R2.
3. Performs incoming trunk management as follows:
▪ If topology hiding is required for the incoming trunk, I-BCF_B
deletes relevant header fields.
▪ If media NAT, QoS control, or codec conversion is required for the
incoming trunk, I-BCF_B instructs the I-BGF to implement these
functions.
▪ If number normalization and number conversion are required for the
incoming trunk, I-BCF_B normalizes the calling number and converts
the called number.
▪ If signaling filtering is required for the incoming trunk, I-BCF_B
implements signaling filtering.

3 sur 4 25/01/2023, 13:01

Inter-IMS Interworking http://localhost:7890/printtopics.html?time=Wed%20Jan%2025%202...

4. Performs other operations based on the interworking requirements. For

example, I-BCF_B converts between an IPv4 address and an IPv6 address and
deletes charging-related header fields.
5. Routes the INVITE message to the interrogating-CSCF (I-CSCF) in IMS_B.
The I-CSCF queries the home subscriber server (HSS) for the S-CSCF address.

L1 (abnormal scenario): If the incoming trunk is configured to query the HSS, I-BCF_B
directly sends an LIA message to the HSS to query the S-CSCF address.

• When the I-BCF is implemented by the CSC3300, see Trunk-based Routing Supported by the IBCF for the
route selection flow, and see Trunk Blocking Supported by the IBCF, Trunk-based Number Conversion
Supported by the IBCF, Trunk-based Call Restriction, and ENUM Query Supported by the IBCF for the
other functions.
• When the I-BCF is implemented by the MSOFTX3000, see the MSOFTX3000 product manual.

Parent Topic: Service Flows

Copyright © Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
Copyright © Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
Next topic >

4 sur 4 25/01/2023, 13:01