Showing papers on "IP Multimedia Subsystem published in 2005"

NGN architecture: generic principles, functional architecture, and implementation

Abstract: This article summarizes the architectural aspects of a next-generation network in terms of general principles, functional representation, and typical implementation. According to the general reference model, which assumes decoupling of services and transport, NGN can be represented by multiple functional groups. One of the key implementations for session-based services, utilizing an IP multimedia subsystem, is introduced with enhanced features to meet both fixed and mobile network requirements.

Internet protocol (ip) phone with search and advertising capability

Abstract: A software platform in an Internet Protocol (IP) phone having the ability to be used with different communication infrastructures such as broadband, wireless communication and Plain Old Telephone System (POTS) service. Further, the software platform in the IP phone has the ability to be used with different applications operating on the IP phone. Further, the IP phone (101) has the ability to perform additional functionality than traditional Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) phones (102, 103, 114, 105), such as searches advertising, given its ability to converge voice and data within a single terminal.

The IMS playground @ FOKUS-an open testbed for generation network multimedia services

Abstract: The IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) defined by the 3/sup rd/ Generation Partnership Projects (3GPP and 3GPP2) represents today the global Service Delivery Platform (SDP) standard for providing multimedia applications in Next Generation Networks (NGN). It defines an overlay service architecture that merges the paradigms and technologies of the Internet with the cellular and fixed telecommunication worlds. The architecture enables the efficient provision of an open set of potentially highly integrated multimedia services, combining Web browsing, email, instant messaging, presence, VoIP, video conferencing, application sharing, telephony, unified messaging, multimedia content delivery, etc., on top of possibly different network technologies. Also interworking with the Internet and legacy networks is supported. As such the IMS enables various business models for providing seamless business and consumer multimedia applications. Knowing that the full potential of the IMS can only be revealed by the early nondiscriminant provision of IMS know how and related technologies to the different market players the Fraunhofer Institute FOKUS has launched the "Open IMS Playground" in July 2004 as part of the German 3G beyond national testbed. This paper introduces the IMS standard and provides an overview of the "Open IMS playground @ FOKUS".

IP resilience within an autonomous system: current approaches, challenges, and future directions

Abstract: Network survivability is gaining increasing attention from the Internet research community. The ubiquity of IP services has fueled increasing interest in ensuring their dependability, by making IP networks more disruption-tolerant. After providing a brief overview of how routing is accomplished in the Internet, this article reviews how the protocols react to failures or changes in network state within an autonomous system. The problems associated with current restoration schemes, with respect to newer and more stringent requirements posed by emerging services such as voice over IP, are identified. We present an overview of the schemes proposed to ameliorate fault recovery and critique their contributions. We also outline future research directions for improving IP resilience.

IP multimedia subsystem access method and apparatus

Abstract: A method of facilitating access to IP Multimedia Subsystem, IMS, services by non-IMS enabled terminals. The method comprises registering a non-IMS enabled terminal with a Home IMS gateway, and, in response to said registration, performing an IMS registration on behalf of said terminal between the Home IMS gateway and the IMS using information obtained from a Universal SIM application of a UMTS Integrated Circuit Card present at the Home IMS gateway.

One-pass GPRS and IMS authentication procedure for UMTS

Abstract: Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) supports Internet protocol (IP) multimedia services through IP multimedia core network subsystem (IMS). Since the IMS information is delivered through the general packet radio service (GPRS) transport network, a UMTS mobile station (MS) must activate GPRS packet data protocol (PDP) context before it can register to the IMS network. In the Third-Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) specifications, authentication is performed at both the GPRS and the IMS networks before an MS can access the IMS services. We observe that many steps in this 3GPP "two-pass" authentication procedure are identical. Based on our observation, this paper proposes an one-pass authentication procedure that only needs to perform GPRS authentication. At the IMS level, authentication is implicitly performed in IMS registration. Our approach may save up to 50% of the IMS registration/authentication traffic, as compared with the 3GPP two-pass procedure. We formally prove that the one-pass procedure correctly authenticate the IMS users.

Exchanging multimedia data via a communications device

Abstract: Exchanging multimedia data (336, 426) between a multimedia device (115) and a network (116) involves digitally coupling a communications device (108) to the multimedia device (115) A profile (330, 422) of the communications device (108) is stored on a data store (112) accessible via the network (116) The profile (330, 422) describes multimedia capabilities of the communications device (108), the profile (330, 422) adapted to include a description of multimedia capabilities of the multimedia device (115) The profile (330, 422) is accessed for purposes of formatting the multimedia data (336, 426) via a network entity (110) The multimedia data (336, 426) is formatted via the network entity (110) based on the profile (330, 422) to be compatible with the multimedia device (115) The multimedia data (336, 426) is exchanged between the multimedia device (115) and the network (116) via the communications device (108)

End-to-end based QoS provisioning in all-IP network

Abstract: Telecommunications giants around the world are converging into embracing an all-IP network infrastructure. Evolving their legacy networks to an all-IP infrastructure means ensuring the new IP-based counterparts could provide similar or better level of service quality. Due to the rapid evolution and extensive user demands of multimedia communication services, quality of service (QoS) provisioning in all-IP network has become more and more important. In this paper, an adaptive codec switching techniques in providing improved conversational quality in an audio call is explored. This study takes an end-to-end approach in providing QoS complementing other network-layer QoS implementations.

UPnP AV architectural multimedia system with a home gateway powered by the OSGi platform

Abstract: The key issue of multimedia systems in a home network environment is interoperability among different kinds of multimedia devices And, as for multimedia content providers outside a home, another issue of multimedia systems in the home network environment is how to provide a multimedia service from the outside of a home We developed a UPnP AV architectural multimedia system with a home gateway powered by the OSGi platform, which gives interoperability among multimedia home devices in a home network environment, and a powerful tool for multimedia content providers to provide smarter multimedia services for users in a home

Registering an IP phone with an IP phone switch

Abstract: A method and apparatus for registering IP phones with an IP phone switch using access codes or personal identification numbers for authentication and for associating directory numbers to MAC addresses of IP phones.

Method and apparatus for identifying an ims service

Abstract: A method of indicating the IP Multimedia Subsystem communication service(s) to which a Session Initiation Protocol message relates, the method comprising including one or more communication service identifier(s) in the Session Initiation Protocol message as a Feature Tag of the message.

Methods, systems, and computer program products for emergency 911 (E911) registration assistance for subscribers using portable internet protocol (IP) communications devices

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for E911 registration assistance for subscribers using portable Internet Protocol (IP) communications devices are disclosed. According to one method, an IP address of a portable IP communications device is stored. A message is received that indicates an IP address of the portable IP communications device. Next, it is determined whether a difference between the stored IP address and the received IP address indicated by the registration message indicates a change in geographic location of the portable IP communications device. In response to determining that the difference between the stored IP address and the IP address indicated by the received message indicates a change in geographic location of the portable IP communications device, a subscriber is prompted to update stored geographic location information for providing E911 service to the subscriber.

Interworking of IP multimedia core networks between 3GPP and WLAN

Abstract: The 3GPP has specified the IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) for the provisioning of multimedia services in UMTS Release 5 and later. Interconnection at the service layer between 3GPP and LAN networks requires interworking between IMS and WLAN functionalities. Studying several interconnection scenarios and the main functionalities of IMS, this article analyzes how the interconnection of 3GPP and WLAN networks may be performed in order to support different levels of service interconnection. Special attention is paid to interconnection at the session negotiation level, using SIP (the base protocol of the IMS) to provide session negotiation with QoS and AAAC support.

Method and apparatus for improved IP networks and high-quality services

Abstract: The present invention provides improved methods and systems to build an integrated IP network in which high-quality services such as voice and best-effort data services can be provided with higher reliability and lower cost. A new type of router, called a PACS router, is disclosed in which the user terminals, computer servers, access routers and other service terminals are connected to the integrated router. A PACS router includes a packet-switching fabric and a circuit-switching fabric interconnected by channelized high-speed links. The PACS router creates and uses two types of channels within channelized high-speed links, which in turn are transported from one router to another via SONET network links. The channels are labeled as either packet-channel or circuit-channel according to the usage of these channels. High-quality services are mapped into a circuit-channel at the service originating router and routed through the circuit-switching fabrics in the routers. The best-effort services, on the other hand, are mapped into a packet-channel, which is terminated in each PACS router where packets from packet-channels are extracted and routed hop-by-hop according to the packet destination header address. A network built with PACS routers uses signaling and routing protocols to segregate traffic into different classes and route them using circuit-channels and packet-channels depending on quality of service requirements. Routing high-quality service over circuit-channels eliminates routing delay typically incurred in packet-switching fabrics, enhances reliability from software malfunction in the router since existing connection at circuit-switching fabric does not depend on software control and enhances network scalability by not having to terminate all traffic into packet-switching fabrics in every PACS router. The circuit-switching fabrics in the PACS routers also provide further immunity by fast rerouting of failed circuits via alternate routes when a network fault is detected.

Interoperable adaptive multimedia communication

Abstract: The desire to gain access to rich, multimedia-based information anywhere, anytime grows enormously. To achieve such access, the research and standardization communities have launched an initiative called universal multimedia access (UMA). However, UMA tools and specifications that have so far emerged concentrate mostly on constraints imposed by terminals and networks along the multimedia delivery chain; users who consume the content are rarely considered. Researchers have developed a plethora of technologies and standards to address some of the issues. However, the big picture of how these different technologies and standards fit together is missing. Thus, the moving picture experts group (MPEG) decided to standardize the MPEG-21 multimedia framework with the ultimate goal to support users during the exchange, access, consumption, trade, or other manipulation of so-called digital items in an efficient, transparent, and interoperable way. Device and coding-format-independent multimedia content adaptation standardization committees such as MPEG, the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), and the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) are exploring device and coding format independence issues. Here, however, we focus on how we can use the tools specified within MPEG-21 for interoperable multimedia communication.

Message handling in an IP multimedia subsystem

Abstract: A method of handling the delivery of push messages from a notification server of a Session Initiation Protocol based network to a network user. The method comprises signalling to said notification server the start of a Session Initiation Protocol session and the end of a Session Initiation Protocol session, and deferring the delivery of some or all push messages, scheduled for delivery to said user during the ongoing session, until the session has finished.

IMS-based push-to-talk over GPRS/UMTS

Abstract: This paper reports the design of a push-to-talk service operated over a GPRS/UMTS network (push-to-talk over cellular - PoC) The new service was built based on the 3GPP IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) We discuss the key design decisions made for our solution and describe how the IMS supports the new service The contributions of this paper are: [1] the verification of the overall PoC approach through an implementation; [2] a discussion of design details that were not defined in the original PoC specifications; and [3] the measurement results achieved in a live network based on existing GPRS access technology

Building converged networks with IMS technology

Abstract: For several years, telecommunications providers have touted the potential of converged networks that offer a wide range of voice, data, and multimedia services, all over a single IP infrastructure. These networks - which differ from today's disparate voice, data, signaling, and control networks - would be based on open standards rather than proprietary approaches and let users work with applications or one another across wireless or wireline platforms. However, these networks have been just a vision until recently. Now, though, a growing number of telecommunications carriers and equipment vendors-including Alcatel, British Telecommunication, Ericsson, Lucent Technologies, Motorola, and Nokia - are beginning to release devices and services based on a convergence approach called IP Multimedia Subsystem.

Mobility support for IP-Based networks

Abstract: IP-based wireless networks will become the core of next-generation mobile networks. Mobility support plays an important role in all IP-based wireless networks for providing multimedia applications. In this article we address various major issues in mobility support for IP-based networks. Existing technology, including Mobile IP, Mobile IPv6, and other related techniques, are discussed. The issues of mobility support for wireless LANs, wireless WANs, 2-3G cellular networks, and next-generation heterogeneous mobile networks are also addressed in this article.

Call forwarding in an IP multimedia subsystem (IMS)

Abstract: A method of handling a Session Initiation Protocol communication within an IP Multimedia Subsystem, where the communication is subject to a call forwarding operation handled by a Session Initiation Protocol Application Server. The method comprises receiving an INVITE at a Serving Call/State Control Function serving a user equipment identified by a R-URI of the INVITE, and at the Serving Call/State Control Function, adding a URI of the Serving Call/State Control Function to the INVITE route header together with an Original Dialog Identifier, and maintaining at the Serving Call/State Control Function a mapping between the Original Dialog Identifier and said R-URI. The INVITE is forwarded to said Application Server, and the R-URI changed to a URI of a user equipment to which the call is to be forwarded. A forwarding indicator is added to the INVITE header, and the INVITE returned to the Serving Call/State Control Function. At the Serving Call/State Control Function, the presence of said forwarding indicator is identified, and in response the original R-URI identified on the basis of the Original Dialog Identifier contained in the returned INVITE. Call restrictions and IFCs are identified on the basis of original R-URI.

Method and system for providing SIP based instance messaging service to mobile terminal without SIP function through IP multimedia subsystem network, and instance messaging proxy server therefor

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for providing a SIP based Instance Messaging (IM), and an IM proxy server therefor. An IM proxy server for performing a proxy function in a mobile communication network is configured to provide an IM service between a mobile terminal lacking an SIP function and an IM server. Further, the IM proxy server converts an IM message received from the mobile terminal into a corresponding SIP message mapped thereto, transmits the SIP message to the IM server through a call session control server, converts an SIP message received from the IM server through the call session control server into an IM message recognizable by the mobile terminal, and transmits the IM message to the mobile terminal, thus providing the SIP based IM service to the mobile terminal lacking an SIP function.

Method for calling multimedia IP units about an impending emergency situation

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for calling multimedia IP units about an impending emergency situation. A multimedia IP communication network or government authority forecasts the path of an impending emergency situation to create an impending impact area. The VoIP communication network determines the multimedia IP units that are located within the impending impact area. The multimedia IP communication network calls the multimedia IP units that are located within the impending impact area about the impending emergency situation, providing multi-media instructions to the users of the multimedia IP units.

Method and system to enable mobile roaming over ip networks and local number portability

Abstract: A method and system for creating a virtual roaming solution for a MSISDN using a softphone over an IP network. The system involves (i) implementation of a novel virtual mobile network (VMN) comprising virtual visitor location register (vVLR), virtual home location register (vHLR) and virtual multiple switching centre (vMSC) on an IP server responsible for managing IP call traffic administration, and (ii) implementation of a novel mobile to internet gateway (MIG) comprising an VoIP gateway for diverting call traffic from the mobile network to the IP network, and an IP server with vMSC functionality to translate routing information from the VMN to GSM network so as to appear to the GSM network as a traditional mobile operator. The system dynamically registers the subscriber to the IP network, and provides valid routing information to the MSC (Mobile Switching Centre) or public telephone switch to route the call over to the NGN (next generation network) operator in the IP space.

Towards building large scale multimedia systems and applications: challenges and status

Abstract: This paper is a position statement of the co-chairs for the First Workshop on Multimedia Service Composition on specific challenges in the area of multimedia service composition. The goal is to present and discuss problems that occur when considering building large scale multimedia systems via service composition. Today the realization of multimedia systems still heavily relies on building monolithic systems. Hence, building complex large scale multimedia systems is always a difficult, costly, time-consuming and challenging problem. Service-based architectures and the possibility to flexibly compose basic services to implement more complex workflows (or rather execution flows), as proposed in the Web and Grid communities, can provide a possible solution to this problem. However, due to the special characteristics of multimedia applications and the rich semantic structure of multimedia data and workflows, Web or Grid-based research results still cannot be readily applied. In this introduction-paper, we summarize challenges that need to be addressed and present a snapshot of the current state of the art towards building large scale multimedia systems.

Design and implementation of an open IMS core

Abstract: Mobile network operators in Europe mostly have rolled out 3G networks and are now looking into the deployment of the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) which provides an overlay architecture for IP based core networks. The IMS offers a standardized way to develop new and appealing applications and may serve as a blueprint for convergent Next Generation Networks. As with the introduction of any new technology, there comes the need to measure its performance and capabilities. The Open IMS Core project introduced in this paper offers the core network functionality of an IMS for testing the performance of the central IMS network entities, the IMS Call Session Control Functions. The project's target was to build an implementation based upon open source tools that is fully conformant to existing IMS standards which may be re-used in other IMS related projects. In its setup the Open IMS Core resembles future IMS networks at the needed detail level and allowed to produce first IMS performance results.

Handling quality of service in a communication system

Abstract: A method of ensuring an end-to-end Quality of Service for calls traversing an IP Multimedia Subsystem. The method comprises interposing a Home IP Multimedia Subsystem Gateway at the control plane between the IP Multimedia Subsystem and at least one non-SIP client. At the Home IP Multimedia Subsystem Gateway, SIP signalling is exchanged with a remote client on behalf of said non-SIP client, the Gateway performing a mapping between a media type identified within the SDP part of one or more SIP messages and a Quality of Service type specified for a protocol used to control the Quality of Service in the call leg between the non-SIP client and a Residential Gateway. The call leg is configured in accordance with the mapped Quality of Service type.

Method for recognizing location move of VoIP phones

Abstract: A method is provided for tracking the physical location of IP phones and IP devices in a network. According to the invention, the IP phone or IP device detects its own current location and then informs the PBX controller or the location database to which it is connected. The capability is integrated in every IP phone and IP device. The PBX or location database then takes appropriate action, such as updating the ALI mapping for the phone or location information for the IP device.

System for simultaneous registration of VoIP network for dual mode mobile telephone stations

Abstract: The dual registration system tracks two serving Mobile Switching Centers for each subscriber. The registrations are differentiated as IP Multimedia Subsystem for voice call delivery purposes and CDMA Mobile Switching Center for IP access and other non-voice services. The registration message from the IP Multimedia Subsystem is enhanced via protocol extensions to include an indication that this registration is from the IP Multimedia Subsystem and is to indicate the target Mobile Switching Center for IP Multimedia Subsystem services, such as VoIP. The Home Location Register is enhanced to store two Mobile Switching Centers as the serving Mobile Switching Centers for the dual mode subscriber. The Home Location Register logic is extended to route service to the appropriate Mobile Switching Center depending on service offered, subscriber preferences, and the registration status.

System for connecting information processing devices associated with IP telephones

Abstract: An information processing apparatus for call control and management stores a first telephone identification and a first IP address of a first IP telephone, a first device identification and a second IP address of a first information processing device associated with the first IP telephone by a first association identification, a second telephone identification and a third IP address of the second IP telephone, and a second device identification and a fourth IP address of a second information processing device associated with the second IP telephone. In response to a message requesting for establishing a session received from the first IP telephone or the first information processing device, the information processing apparatus sends a message requesting for establishing a session between the first IP telephone and the second IP telephone, by using the first IP address of the first IP telephone and the third IP address of the second IP telephone in accordance with the registration information, to thereby establish a session between the first IP telephone and the second IP telephone, and also notifies the IP address of one of the first and second information processing devices to the other information processing device, in accordance with the registration information, to thereby establish a session between the first information processing device and the second information processing device.

Method for switching ip packets between client networks and ip provider networks by means of an access network

Abstract: The aim of the invention is to enable simultaneous IP sessions by an end client using an access network to a plurality of different IP networks of independent IP service providers, without requiring PPPoE. To this end, the data packets are switched on the basis of data associated with an IP session.