IMS SIP: Next Generation Network

May 8th, 2014 by Rossy Guide

What is this?

IMS stands for IP Multimedia Subsystem. IMS is the 3rd Generation Partnership Projects (3GPP) vision for converged telecommunications architecture and it has received a lot of attention in the industry recently. IMS refers to network architecture and it supports Internet Protocol (IP) sessions between devices over any type of connection protocol, whether wire line and wireless or cable subscribers. Also IMS employs Voice- and Video-over-IP technology based on a 3GPP profile of Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), and runs over the standard packet-based IP network. IMS manages internetwork handoffs, bandwidth negotiation and quality of service (QoS), while it keeps peers engaged in the session advised via the SIP as to the level of multimedia presence. The following figure presents a simplified view of the IMS architecture.

Simplified view of the IMS architecture

Also, IMS applications are hosted in the service layer and the layer consists of SIP Application Servers (AS) (such as the WebLogic SIP Server) which execute IMS applications and services by manipulating SIP signaling and interfacing with other systems.

 

Features:

The conception of IMS services are fundamentally tailored to user preferences on multiple access networks and bundle multiple service features (e.g. voice/video connectivity, community tools, presence, conferencing, gaming and TV broadcasting). Also maintenance of NGN standards is now the responsibility of EP E2NA.

 

General description:

The next-generation network (NGN) is a packet based network and it is the body of key architectural changes in telecommunication core and access networks. The NGN is a network that transports all information and services and it is packet based and uses IP to transport the various types of traffic (voice, video, data and signaling). The term ‘ALL IP’ NGN network is the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) which provides an ‘access independent’ platform for a variety of access technologies. Also, the NGN supports generalized mobility which will allow consistent and ubiquitous provision of services to users.

Uses of SIP network elements in NGN

o Peer-to-Peer Communication (P2P) of SIP User Agents
o SIP Communication via SIP Proxy Server
o SIP and RTP Communication via Session Border Controller (SBC)
o Interconnect Communication with circuit-switched network via Media Gateway (MGW) und Signaling Gateway (SGW)
o RTP IP Communication via Media Gateway (MGW)

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