1999, T.

Magedanz - IN Seminar Introduction - 1

Dr. Thomas Magedanz
IKV++ GmbH
Email: [email protected]
Intelligent Network Evolution -
Impact of Internet, CORBA, TINA and
Mobile Agent Technologies
Halfday Tutorial @ TINA 99
Abstract
The main concern of this tutorial is the evolution of the "Intelligent Network (IN)" which is in principle
designed as an evolvable telecommunications middleware solution. After a brief review of the IN principles,
this tutorial looks at the main impacts on IN evolution derived from new bearer network environments /
application domains (e.g., Voice over IP networks) and emerging middleware technologies (i.e., distributed
object technologies and mobile agent technologies).
Note that the contents of this book is subject of copyright!
No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any fom or by any means - graphic, electronic, or
mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or information storage and retrieval system -
without prior written permission of the author.
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar Introduction - 2
Dr. Thomas Magedanz received his M.S. and his Ph.D. in computer sciences from the Technical University
of Berlin, Germany in 1988 and 1993, respectively.
In 1989 he was named as an assistant professor at the Department for Open Communication Systems (OKS)
of the Technical University Berlin with focus on distributed computing and telecommunications. Besides the
presentation of various courses he has been involved in several international research studies and projects
related to Intelligent Networks, Telecommunications Management, Personal/mobile Communications, TINA
and Intelligent/Mobile Agents within Deutsche Telekom AG, EURESCOM and RACE/ACTS.
From 1996-1998 he chaired the "Intelligent Communication Environments" research department at the
GMD Research Center for Open Communication Systems (FOKUS), where he was responsible for several
projects related to IN, TINA, UMTS and Intelligent/Mobile Agents. In addition was one of the founding
director sof the FOKUS Competence Center for Intelligent Mobile Agents (IMA).
In 1998 he joined IKV++ GmbH, a spin off company of GMD FOKUS, as senior consultant, where he is
leading multiple international projects related to fixed and mobile telecommunications middleware.
Dr. Magedanz is a member of the ACM, GI and IEEE and the author of numerous technical papers/articles.
In 1996 he published a book on Intelligent Networks. Since two years he giving professional seminars
related to IN, TINA and Intelligent Mobile Agents.
2
The Presenter
Dr. Thomas Magedanz
received his M.S. and his Ph.D. in computer sciences from the Technical
University of Berlin, Germany in 1988 and 1993, respectively. In 1989 he was
named as an assistant professor at the Department for Open Communication
Systems (OKS) of the Technical University Berlin with focus on distributed
computing and telecommunications. Besides the presentation of various
courses he has been involved in several international research studies and
projects related to Intelligent Networks, Telecommunications Management,
Personal/mobile Communications, TINA and Intelligent/Mobile Agents within
Deutsche Telekom AG, and EURESCOM and RACE / ACTS research
programmes.
From 1996 - 1998 he chaired the "Intelligent Communication Environments"
research department at the GMD Research Center for Open Communication
Systems (FOKUS), where he was responsible for several projects related to
IN, TINA, UMTS and Intelligent/Mobile Agents.
Since 1998 he is working as a senior consultant for the IKV++ GmbH, a spin-
off company of GMD FOKUS, which provides consultancy services and
developes advanced telecommunication middleware and service products.
Dr. Magedanz is a member of the ACM, GI and IEEE and the author of more
than 100 technical papers/articles. In 1996 he published a book on Intelligent
Networks.
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar Introduction - 3
The above book presents the information given in this course in a compact form particularly to newcomers.
However, the course material you have in hand is more recent.
3
The Background Book to this Tutorial
Title:
"Intelligent Networks - Basic
Technology, Standards and
Evolution"
Authors:
T. Magedanz, R. Popescu-Zeletin
Publisher:
International Thomson Computer
Press,
ISBN: 1-85032-293-7,
London, 1996
Price: 69.- DM / 25
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar Introduction - 4
Part I provides a short review of the main IN principles and standards.
Part II looks at the emerging integration of IN and Internet, covering an overview of potential
integration issues, such as Web-based IN Management, Web-initiated Telephony services and Web-
IN, and the usage of IN principles for provision of value added services within Voice over IP
networks. Furthermore this part provides a overview of related standards fora, such as ETSI
TIPHON, IETF PINT, Parlay, JAIN, etc.
Part III investigates the impact of new object-oriented middleware technologies and new open service
architectures on IN. In this context the Open Management Groups (OMGs) Common Object
Request Broker Architecture (CORBA) is becoming the de facto standard for distributed object
computing middleware and is gaining importance in telecommunications. We provide an overview of
CORBA and outline the current IN/CORBA integration activities being undertaken by the OMG.
Furthermore, we provide an overview of the Telecommunications Information Networking
Architecture (TINA), gaining importance as a universal open service platform for the near future,
and address potential migration steps from IN-based toward TINA-based platforms looking
particularly at the work performed within the TINA-IN Working Group.
Part IV introduces the emerging paradigm of Mobile Agents (MAs) and introduces related
technologies and standards. An outline of emerging MA-based IN environmentscompletes the course.
4
Tutorial Overview
Part 1: Part 1: Introduction Introduction
Overview
Short IN Review
IN Services
IN Architecture
IN Modelling
Part 2: Part 2: IN and Internet IN and Internet
IN / Internet Integration Issues
Ongoing Work Activities
Part 3: Part 3: IN and Distr. Object Techn. IN and Distr. Object Techn.
CORBA Basics
IN/CORBA Integration Issues
TINA Basics
IN / TINA Integration Issues
Part 4: Part 4: IN and Mobile Agents IN and Mobile Agents
Mobile Agent Basics
MA-based IN Environments
ACTS CLIMATE
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar Introduction - 5
Generally, it has to be stressed that it is not within the scope of IN to define any specific IN services, since
the IN aims to provide a service-independent network platform.
However, one may identify specific functional commonalities, i.e. common service elements, within IN
services, providing:
flexible routing
flexible charging
advanced user interaction, and
enhanced customer control (customer profile management) capabilities.
Although todays most promoted IN services are related to advanced telephony, i.e. voice applications,
future IN services are considered to include also mobility, broadband and multimedia applications.
In order to support the provision of an open set of services, the IN defines an extensible set of generic and
reusable service components, known as "Service Independent Building Blocks (SIBs)". These can be
combined to higher level service elements, known as "Service Features", in order to construct rapidly new
services within the scope of the service components' capabilities. This allows service providers to respond
quickly to specific market demands.
Notice that a service user of an IN service does not see or care how the service is realized in the platform,
but just how it is provided to him. That means that any of these envisaged IN services can also be
implemented in a conventional network, but the IN-based service implementation represents the most
economic.
5
IN Services
IN services provide capabilities beyond basic telephony services
(Plain Old Telephony Service - POTS), e.g.:
flexible routing,
flexible charging,
advanced user interaction,
enhanced customer control over specific service elements.
For rapid service provision IN defines an extensible set of generic and
reusable service components
Service Independent Building Blocks (SIBs) which can be combined to
higher level service elements, i.e. Service Features
Service Features (SFs) which can be combined to build IN services
Note that all IN services could also be implemented in traditional
networks
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar Introduction - 6
Examples for IN services defined and implemented by means of reusable service components are
Freephone, Televoting, Premium Rate, Card Calling, Virtual Private Networks, Universal Personal
Telecommunications and many more. A detailed description of these is given later.
However, it has to be noted, that these are the Classic standard IN services, representing the 1st generation
of IN services, which offer limited opportunities for differentiation between operators. Therefore the next
generation of fully differentiated IN services allowed for higher sorphistication of the services by a rising
share of pre- and after sales services and changing marketing approaches of operators.
In addition, some new IN service emerged on the basis of the IN architecture, such as Number Portability
and financial calling, which provide limited opportunities for value generation but which where dectated by
regulators or have a potential of 100% penetration.
Finally, combined and integrated IN services represent the most recent and most promising category of IN
services, which provide significant opportunities for operators, service providers and subscribers. Examples
are Personal Communication Services, Unified Messaging and convergent services.
6
IN Services (cont.)
IN Service Examples
The classic centralised IN Services (without and with
differentiation):
Freephone, Premium Rate
Universal Access Number / One Number, Televoting
Calling Card Services, Virtual Private Networks
IN infrastructure based services:
Number Portability, Mobility Services
Combined and integrated IN services
Number Portability + Personal Communication Services, Unified
Messaging, Convergent Services, etc.
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar Introduction - 7
In general, the IN can be considered as an additional (network) layer on top of any bearer network, such as
Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), Broadband-
ISDN (B-ISDN), Public Land Mobile Networks (PLMNs) and recently the Internet. In this respect the IN
provides a service-oriented network architecture, which separates in principle service control functions from
service switching functions, with typically both types of functions being implemented in different physical
equipment. This is supported by a clear definition of the relationships between these functions, thus
providing for network and vendor independence. Due to this separation of functions it is possible to
introduce new services rapidly without having to change the functionality of the switches. This means the IN
architecture allows operators to deploy and provide new services more quickly than in traditional switch-
based service implementations, which is essential in a liberalizing telecommunications market of ever
increasing competition.
However, another major target of IN is service independence. During the development of many advanced
telecommunication services it became clear, that all of these services contain similar functionality, i.e. are
based on a set of "service components". Hence the idea was to identify a generic sets of reusable service
components, which could be (re)used for the construction of a new service. Examples for such service
components are authentication, screen, user interaction, number translation, charge, etc. In this context there
is often the notion of an IN programming interface which can be used for easy service creation. What is
meant is that a service designer can make use of these service components, by combining them in order to
"implement" a new service. These service components are referred to as "Service Independent Building
Blocks (SIBs)". The resulting "service (logic) program" could be loaded into the network, i.e. into one or
more Service Control Point (SCPs), and the new service is instantly available.
Putting these aspects together it can be recognized, that the IN is more than just a new network architecture,
since the IN aims to support both service and network independence.
7
IN as a Universal Service Platform
The Intelligent Network is a universal service platform providing
service independence
network independence
IN can be considered as a middleware between services and bearer
networks, e.g. PSTN, ISDN, B-ISDN, PLNM, Internet, ...
Network
Independence
Service
Independence
IN Platform
Networks
(Resources)
ServicesServicesServices Services
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar Introduction - 8
Service Switching Points (SSPs) are stored-program control switches, either local exchanges or access
tandem exchanges, that are able to interface with the SS7 signaling network. These switches also contain a
limited "service (access) logic" required to suspend calls that require special handling. The Service
Switching Point recognizes IN service calls and routes the corresponding queries to the Service Control
Point via the SS7 network, which consists of Signaling Transfer Points (STPs). Service Control Point
commands will be used by the Service Switching Point to further process the call.
The Service Control Point (SCP) is typically an on-line, fault-tolerant, transaction-processing data base
which provides call handling information as response to Service Switching Point queries. Service Control
Points are high-capacity systems handling several hundred transactions per second or more than 100.000
calls an hour. It is a high capacity system with a response time requirement of less than half a second, and an
availability of less than three-minutes-per-year downtime for a mated Service Control Point pair. Service
Control Points are designed to support multi-service operation.
In order to manage IN platforms a Service Management System (SMS) containing the reference service
databases is required. Supervision, remote operations and maintenance of Service Control Points, and
(coordinated) software downloading are part of the Service Management System features. The Service
Management System is integrated in an Operations Support System which supports network operation,
administration and maintenance functions, and normally resides in a commercial host computer.
An additional Intelligent Peripheral (IP) may be connected to an Service Switching Point, providing
enhanced services/functions, such as announcements, speech synthesizing, speech recognition, etc. under the
control of a Service Switching Point or Service Control Point. The motivation for the introduction of this
network element is an economical aspect, because it might be better for several users to share an Intelligent
Peripheral, when the capabilities of the Intelligent Peripheral are too expensive to be implemented at all
Service Switching Points.
8
Basic IN Architecture
Service Management System /
Operations System (SMS)
Service Switching Points (SSPs)
Service Control Point (SCP)
Intelligent Peripheral (IP)
Signaling System No. 7 network (SS7)
Signaling Transfer Points (STPs)
Note: IN represents a logical separate
network on top of "bearer networks"!
SMS
IP
SCP
STP
SS7
STP
SSP SSP
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar Introduction - 9
Freephone Example : SSF - SCF Interworking
The usage of the Freephone service commences with the originating party going off-hook and dialling a
freephone number. On reaching Detection Point 2 (DP 2) "Collected Information" in the originating BCSM,
which has been armed in order to indicate that a freephone number is dialled by the originating party, a
Trigger Detection Point-Request (TDP-R) is detected. This TDP-R results in sending an Initial DP IF to the
SCF and suspending call processing.
On receiving the Initial DP-IF the SCF uses the IE Service Key to determine the appropriate steps. In the
case of the Freephone-service this would be to translate the information contained in the IE Dialled Digits
into the according directory number and to adjust the charging, i.e. to charge the called party for this call by
consulting the SDF (not indicated). The determined directory number is send with an Connect-IF to the SSF.
Together with the Connect-IF a Request Report BCSM Event-IF is sent to the SSF. In this scenario the IF
Request Report BCSM Event is used to arm DP 7 "O_Answer" and DP 9 "O_Disconnect" dynamically.
In the SSF the desired DPs are both armed as Event Detection Points-Notification (EDP-N), i.e. their
Monitor Modes take on the value Notify & Continue.
On receiving this IF from the SCF, the SSF resumes call processing in PIC 4 "Routing & Alerting". The
provided directory number is used to route the call to the terminating side. In case DP 7 "O_Answer" and
DP 9 "O_Disconnect" are reached throughout call processing the SSF sends a Event Report BCSM-IF to the
SCF. In both cases call processing is not suspended, since the mentioned DPs have been armed as EDP-Ns.
The SCF will use the directory number of the called user and the information contained in the Event Report
BCSM-IF to determine the charge for this call after its completion.
Finally, a TC_END-message is sent from the SCF to the SSF. This message indicates that the relationship
between the SCF and the SSF is terminated.
9
Freephone Service Processing Example
Information Flows between SSP and SCP
Initial DP(Call ID, fph, Req., 0-800-xxxx),
TC_Begin
SSP SCP
Connect(Call ID, yyyyy-zzzzzz),
Requ. Rep. BCSM Event(Call ID,
O_Answer, Not., O_Disconn., Not.),
TC_Continue
Event Report BCSM(Call ID, O_Answer, time1),
TC_Continue
Event Report BCSM(Call ID, O_Disconn., time2),
TC_Continue
TC_End
3
Analyze Info.
Rout. & Alert.
O_Active
4
7
9
TDP-R
EDP-N
EDP-N
O_BCSM
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar Introduction - 10
By evolutionary extension of the service component's functionalities (and corresponding enhancement of the
IN architecture) more advanced telecommunication services can be realized, while still supporting existing
services. Although today most promoted IN services are related to advanced telephony, i.e. voice
applications, future IN services are considered to include also mobility, broadband and multimedia
applications. That is, the IN concept is considered to provide the necessary openness in order to enable the
realization of future services.
10
IN Evolution
The SIB approach allows rapid construction of new services within the
scope of the service components' capabilities!
==> Capability Sets (CSs)
By evolutionary extension of the service components' functionalities
more advanced telecommunication services can be realized.
Today most promoted IN services are related to advanced telephony
Future IN services will include also mobility, broadband / mulimedia
and internet applications
CS-1
CS-3
CS-2
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar Introduction - 11
In general, the IN can be considered as an additional (network) layer on top of any bearer network, such as
Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), or Broadband-
ISDN (B-ISDN). In this respect the IN provides a service-oriented network architecture, which separates in
principle service control functions from service switching functions, with typically both types of functions
being implemented in different physical equipment. This is supported by a clear definition of the
relationships between these functions, thus providing for network and vendor independence. Due to this
separation of functions it is possible to introduce new services rapidly without having to change the
functionality of the switches. This means the IN architecture allows operators to deploy and provide new
services more quickly, which is essential in a liberalizing market of ever increasing competition.
However, another major target of IN is service independence. During the development of many advanced
telecommunication services it became clear, that all of these services contain similar functionality, i.e. are
based on a set of "service components". Hence the idea was to identify a generic sets of reusable service
components, which could be (re)used for the construction of a new service. Examples for such service
components are authentication, screen, user interaction, number translation, charge, etc. In this context there
is often the notion of an IN programming interface which can be used for easy service creation. What is
meant is that a service designer can make use of these service components, by combining them in order to
"implement" a new service. These service components are referred to as "Service Independent Building
Blocks (SIBs)". The resulting "service (logic) program" could be loaded into the network, i.e. into one or
more Service Control Point (SCPs), and the new service is instantly available.
Putting these aspects together it can be recognized, that the IN is more than just a new network architecture,
since the IN aims to support both service and network independence.
11
IN as a Universal Service Platform
IN platform provides service and network independence
Service decomposition
Separation of switching and service control network elements
IN can be considered as an additional (network) layer on top of any
bearer network, e.g. PSTN, ISDN, B-ISDN
SIB
IN Platform
Network
Independence
Service
Independence
IN Architecture
(SSP, SCP)
Network Resources
(PSTN, ISDN, PLMN, B-ISDN)
Service B
Service A
SIB SIB
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar Introduction - 12
IN CS-1 defined within the ITU Recommendations Q.1210-Q.1219 represents the first stage of a
standardized IN, supporting a first range of IN services on top of different bearer networks.
CS-1 is based on the IN Conceptual Model (INCM), that means that a set of IN CS-1 benchmark services
and service features has been defined, which has guided the definition of the lower INCM planes for CS-1.
In the Global Functional Plane a set of 15 appropriate SIBs required for the CS-1 benchmark services has
been defined, including a Basic Call Process (BCP) SIB, which models the processing of a basic call within
a switch. The BCP SIB interacts at dedicated points in call processing with the SIB-based IN (global)
service logic.
The Distributed Functional Architecture defines a corresponding functional architecture supporting the
distributed realization of SIBs by appropriate information flows between the defined functional entities and
functional entity actions. A Basic Call State Model, which is a projection of the BCP SIB onto the DFP,
identifies the detection points for IN service logic invocation.
The Physical Plane defines the possible grouping of functional entities within physical elements and in
particular the physical IN application protocol used for the communication between the IN network
elements.
CS-1 excludes many aspects of INs, particularly service creation and management, as well as IN
interworking (for global IN services).
12
Service Feature 1
Service Feature n
IN Capability Set 1
CCF
Global Service
Logic
SIB 1
SIB 2
SIB 3
BCP
SCF
SSF
SDF
SSP
SCP
Physical Entities
Functional Entities
Information
Flow
Distributed Service Logic
Service Feature 1
Service Feature n
INAP
IP
SRF
SS7 Network
Bearer Network (PSTN, ISDN,PLMN)
SN
Service
Plane
Global
Functional
Plane
Distributed
Functional
Plane
Physical
Plane
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar Introduction - 13
IN CS-2 defined within the ITU Recommendations Q.1220-Q.1229 represents an extension of IN CS-1
removing the basic limitations. Also CS-2 is based on the INCM.
That is the development of the CS-2 IN architecture started with the identification of envisaged service
capabilities in the Service Plane. The basic service enhancements comprise IN internetwork services (e.g.
pan-European IN services requiring IN interconnection), mobility service and corresponding call unrelated
services (e.g. user registration), multiparty services requiring multi party handling and enhanced user
interaction capabilities.
This enhanced service scope had impacts on all lower planes of the INCM. In the Global Functional Plane
new SIBs have been identified in order to support the implementation of the new features and the Basic Call
Process SIB has been enhanced. Particularly a new Basic Call unrelated Process (BCUP) SIB has been
introduced. Furthermore SIB programming has been enhanced by new concepts, such as the introduction of
service processes, high level SIBs, SIB operations, etc.
In the Distributed Functional Plane the basic call state models have been appropriately enhanced in order to
enable the interaction with external IN service logic. Also a Basic Call Unrelated State Model has been
defined for non-call related services. Additionally, the identified functional entities have been enhanced
(e.g. for the purpose of IN internetworking) as well as new entities have been defined for call unrelated
interactions. Also the SRF has been enhanced in order to enable enhanced user interaction capabilities.
Consequently new information flows have been defined.
In the Physical Plane the IN application protocol has been enhanced in order to accommodate the new
information flows. Additionally, new physical entities have been identified.
13
IN Capability Set 2
Service
Plane
Global
Functional
Plane
X.op1
HLSIB
BCP
Internetworking
Call Party
Handling
Mobility
User
Interaction
CS-1 Services
SIB1
BCUP
Y.op1
CCF
Distributed
Functional
Plane
Physical
Plane
SCF
SSF
SDF
SN
SSP
SCP
INAP
IP
SRF
SS7
Bearer Network (PSTN, ISDN, PLMN)
SCF
SDF
CUSF IAF
SCUAF
SCP
CCAF
Z.op1
PBX
SSP
IN-B
IN-A
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar Introduction - 14
14
Service / Network Impacts on IN Evolution
IN platform defines reusable sevice components
IN unifies service provision across different network environments
IN evolution = new Service / network --> new sevice components
Intelligent Network
CLASS
Call
Connection
separation
Suppl.
Services
Mobility
VoIP
WWW
Multimedia
Internet
PSTN
Narrowband
ISDN
Broadband
ISDN
Mobile
Networks
Today different network environments, such as Public Switched Telephone Networks (PSTNs), Narrowband
and Broadband Integrated Digital Services Networks (ISDNs), Public Land Mobile Networks (PLMNs), and
even the Internet, define their own range of services. These services, covering sometimes similar capabilities
but sometimes also quite diverging capabilities, are realized in specific ways.
This results in different service environments, which makes service development quite complex. However,
the IN is aiming to integrate these different ways of service provision by definning a uniform service
middleware, applicable to any underlying network technology.
However, the IN is aiming to integrate these different ways of service provision by definning a uniform
service middleware, applicable to any underlying network technology. The basic idea is to use the same
service modelling principles and to define new service features/building blocks (ideally by reusing some
already existing ones) as required by a particular network environment.
As depicted above, in addition to the provision of advanced telephony service capabilities for PSTN and
ISDN, specific mobility support capabilities have to be defined in order to make use of IN capabilities within
PLMNs. B-ISDN requires additional capabilities required for the provision of multimedia, multiparty
services. Furthermore the usage of IN for Internet requires interworking capabilities to support advanced
email services and web applications.
We will address these aspects within this tutorial.
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar Introduction - 15
15
Technology Impacts on IN Evolution
IN is a Middleware, introducing advanced Information Technology (i.e.
distributed computing) into telecom environments
IN evolution is also driven by new Computing / Software Technologies
In contrast to centralisation today the keyword is distribution
Intelligent Network
Public Switched
Telephone Network
Mobile
Agent
Technology
Narrowband
ISDN
Distributed
Object
Technology
Broadband
ISDN
Public Land
Mobile Networks
Internet
We have jut seen that IN evolution is driven by the requirement to provide new service capabilities for
specific network environments.
However, another fundamental principle of IN is to take advantage of new computing technologies. This has
led to the introduction of computing nodes providing the service logic into the telecommunications network
interacting via Remote Procedure Calls with the switches.
Today two basic new computing paradigms are gaining momentum:
distributed object technology and
intelligent mobile agent technology.
These technologies promise to provide more flexibility in software development and distribution and thereby
may be more adequate for developing solutions for the emerging open telecommunications service market.
Within this tutorial we look also at these evolution trends.
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Internet - 1
This part addresses the emerging issue of IN/Internet integration, looking at the aspects how the Internet, i.e.
the technology, could be used to enhance current IN environments (e.g. web-based IN management), and
how on the other hand, considering the internet as just another transport network, how internet telephony
environments can be enhanced by IN concepts, i.e. IN-based service for advanced internet telephony.
Besides examples for the different IN/INternet integration issues we look briefly at the related standards fora
and related Prototypes in this rapidly emerging field of research.
1
IN and Internet
IN and Internet
IN and Internet Integration Issues
Related Standards Fora
Related Prototypes
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Internet - 2
The internet is gaining momentum in the context of telecommunications. The reasons are the increasing
deployment of Personal Computers and the fast pace of technological progress in internet service
developments, which makes internetwing interesting for an increasing number of people. Today many
people in the telecmmunications reserach labs are convinced, that the internet represents the biggest thread
for the evolution of the existing telecommunications systems.
In the following we present the current existing views of IN / Internet integration taking into account the
evolution of IN in terms of new technology impacts and new bearer network support. Particularly the
internet stands for both domains as it represents an environment where advanced multimedia services are
provided in a distributed nature (i.e. based on distributed intelligence in the network edges - Browsers and
Web servers) to advanced end systems (multimedia PCs) as well as a connectionless (!!!) transport network
for telephony (Voice over IP - VoIP).
The last issue is probably the most important driver for considering the IN as a means to provided advanced
services (e.g. the same services available in PSTN/ISDN) in VoIP networks. This means that in the end, IN
services can be provided uniformly across Switched Cirucuit Networks (SCNs) and VoIP networks.
IN the following we look at these issues in an integrated manner, taking into account the different levels of
an IN infrastructure, i.e service management, service control and transport.
2
IN / Internet Integration Issues
Internet is gaining momentum in the telecommunications world
A working environment for provision of advanced multimedia services
IN concept may be affected by this new technology
IN is going to be applied to every transport network (PSTN, ISDN, B-
ISDN, PLMN)
Application of IN to Internet as bearer network - Voice over IP (VoIP)
Thus IN / Internet integration is mostly related to interworking at
different IN levels
Web-based IN Management
Web-based IN service control / Web-initiated PSTN services
Internet as bearer network (IN for advanced Internet Telephony), PSTN-
VoIP Interworking, Unified Messaging (e.g. Voice2Email)
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Internet - 3
4
3
H.323
Terminal
Browser
Internet
PSTN
SCP
Web
server
Browser
S
e
r
v
i
c
e
M
a
n
a
g
e
m
e
n
t
T
r
a
n
s
p
o
r
t
SSP
SMS
S
e
r
v
i
c
e
C
o
n
t
r
o
l
SRF
Gatekeeper
H.323 Gateway
Internet
Web-based
Customer Service Control
SLP
server
Browser
Internet
Web-initiated PSTN Services
Web-IN, CTI
Internet Telephony
IN for Internet
CTI
IN-Internet Integration Levels
Unified
Messaging
Based on the previous considerations, three major levels of IN/Internet integration can be identified:
Integration at service management level,
Integration at service control level, and
Integration at transport level, which means bearer service interworking/integration.
In the following slides we provide more details!
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Internet - 4
4
4
PSTN
SCP
SMF
SMAF
S
e
r
v
i
c
e
M
a
n
a
g
e
m
e
n
t
T
r
a
n
s
p
o
r
t
SSP
SMS
S
e
r
v
i
c
e
C
o
n
t
r
o
l
SRF
Internet
Web-based
Customer Service Control
Internet-based IN Service Management
This slide depicts the mainstream trend towards using web browsers for accessing and manipulating SMS
information. Particularly for Customer Service Control (Customer Profile Management) applications this is
the ideal solution allowing service customers uniform and mobile access to their service data.
Java applets may be used to download the service management client software (GUI) to any web server.
The service processing is as follows:
1. The IN service customer modifies his Customer Profile via a web browser.
2. The modifications are processed in the webserver.
3. The webserver transmits the modifications to the IN SMS containing the master profile. Optionally the
modifications may be directly transmitted to the SCP in case the webserver belongs to the service provider.
4. The SMS propagates the modifications to the SCP.
5. Subsequently users may call the called party.
6. The SCP handles the service requests in accord to the modified Customer Profile.
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Internet - 5
4
5
PSTN
SCP
S
e
r
v
i
c
e
M
a
n
a
g
e
m
e
n
t
T
r
a
n
s
p
o
r
t
SSP
SMS
S
e
r
v
i
c
e
C
o
n
t
r
o
l
SRF
CTI/SLP
server
Browser
Internet
Web-initiated
PSTN Services
Web-IN
CTI
Service Control IN-Internet Interworking
1. Services initiated in PSTN/IN controlled by Internet -
Web IN, CTI
2. Services initiated from Internet - Click to Dial
At the control level two options exist:
1. Placing the service control logic/data into the Internet domain, which means that during service control an
SCP or even SSP may consult a web server hosting the service logic (known as WebIN concept).
2. Using IN service control capabilities (i.e. the Initiate Call INAP operation) to establish bearer connections,
iniated from the internet (known as Web-initiated services as defined by the IETF PINT working group).
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Internet - 6
15
6
Example WebIN
Connection set-up req.
IN request
- translation: num->URL
- URL request
- exception handling
Internet/Intranet
PSTN
SCP
Web
server
Web
browser
Calling Party
Called Party
single number
call
URL request
Call completion
Translated
number
CGI execution
(personal
logic and
data)
SSP
1
2
3
4
5
6
customer service
management:
user profile
modification
IN trigger
This slide depicts the signalling required for implementing a Single Number service provided by a
webserver (as CGI script or defined by a dedicated Call Processing Syntax as currently under development
in the IETF IPTEL working group).
This means that potential customers/users can easily define their own services and modify these in an
Internet style.
The service program hosted on a web server will be consulted by an SCP (3) for corresponding calls
originating in the PSTN recognised by an IN SSP (1 + 2). Baseed on the result of the query (4) the SCP can
use the obtain physical number to advice the SSP to set up the right connection (5 + 6).
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Internet - 7
16
7
Example Web-initiated Services
3rd Party
Call Set-up
Phone call req.
Internet/Intranet
Service Node
(Web extended)
Web
server
Calling party
Service
provider
SSP
3
1
2
browsing
Web
browser
connect A
4
connect B
A
B
Service
subscriber
This slide illustrates a typical web-iniated service (click-to-dial), as defined by the IETF PINT WG, enable
the initiation of telephone calls via a web browser. However, the call will only be established inside the
PSTN (i.e. no internet telephony is envisaged so far).
Service processing is as follows:
1. The user A clicks a specific button on a web page to be called at his telephone (the number has to be
provided somehow, e.g. by entering it into a web form.
2. The webserver contacts an SCP via a specific interface in order to initiate the establishment of an end-to-
end connection between the users phone and the call party related to the web page, e.g. a call center
indicated as service subscriber B.
3. The SCP instructs an SSP to realise the connection via the iniate call operation.

1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Internet - 8
Two sets of standards are emerging for Internet telephony: the first from ITU-T and the second from IETF.
The ITU-T set offers a rather archaic advanced service architecture which follows a service by service
approach reminiscent of classical telephony early days. The IETF architecture is more generic and relies to a
large extent on the end to end paradigm. It however has few pitfalls. We are indeed still far from the
comprehensive architectures needed for creating and managing advanced services in Internet telephony.
H.323 recommendation is the principal ITU-T standard for Internet telephony. It is an umbrella standard
which refers to many other standards. It was first released in 1996, then subsequently in 1998. A third
release is planned for 1999. As customarily done in the industry, we use the term H.323 to refer to the set
of ITU-T standards for Internet tele-phony, including the H.323 recommendation itself. It is important to
state that H.323 has been designed for multimedia communications (including voice) over a specific sub-set
of PSNs, local area networks (LANS).
The Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) [3] is the principal IETF draft for Internet telephony. It has also been
designed for multimedia communications, but over PSNs in general. It allows the establishment,
modification and termination of multimedia calls. SIP relies on a host of Internet protocols including the real
time protocol (RTP) for data transport. The same actually applies to H.323 as shown above which depicts a
simplified Internet telephony protocol stack. In this course, as customarily done in the industry, we also use
the term SIP to designate the set of IETF specifications for Internet telephony, including the SIP draft
itself..
References
ITU-T Rec. H.323, Visual Telephony Systems and Terminal Equipment for Local Area Networks which
provide a Non-Guaranteed Quality of Service, 1998
G.A. Thom, H.323: The Multimedia Communications Standard for local Area Net-works, IEEE
Communications Mag. Vol.34, No5, December 1996, pp.52-56
D. Handley et al., SIP: Session Initiation Protocol, Internet Draft, Internet Engineering Task Force, Nov.
1998, Work in Progress
H.Schulzrinne et al., RTP: a transport protocol for real time application, RFC 1889, Internet Engineering
Task Force, Jan. 1996
8
A short Internet Telephony Tutorial
Two sets of standards are emerging for Internet telephony
ITU-T H.323
offering a rather archaic advanced service architecture
follows a service by service approach similar to POTS
has been designed for multimedia communications (including voice)
over a specific sub-set of PSNs, local area networks (LANs)
IETF Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)
is more generic and relies to a large extent on the end to end paradigm
has also been designed for multimedia communications, but over
PSNs in general
Both rely on an Internet protocol stack
IP
TCP
SIP H.323
UDP
RTP
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Internet - 9
11
9
Infrastructure Comparison
IP Network
Multiparty
Conferencing
Unit
H.323
Terminals
Gatekeeper 1
H.323 Gateway
H.323 Architecture
Gatekeeper 2
Terminal 1 Terminal 2 Terminal 3
Internet Telephony a la H.323
This slides shows a simplified H.323 network comprising three terminals, two gatekeepers, a gateway and a
multipoint conference unit (MCU). It is used in the rest of the paper to illus-trate various H.323 features.
The H.323 entities are defined below.
Terminal: Provides real time bidirectional multimedia communication including audio. H.323 specifies
neither multimedia equipment nor multimedia application. It however specifies a variety of media coding
options and mandates a set of capabilities in order to ensure a minimal level of interoperability.
Gateway: Its key objective is to provide interoperability between H.323 terminals and ITU-T terminals on
the circuit switched networks (CSNs) including both narrowband and broadband ISDNs. On the H.323
network side, a gateway is seen as an H.323 ter-minal. It can call and be called. H.323 entities which can call
and be called are termi-nals and gateways. They are known as endpoints.
Gatekeeper: Provides functions including address translation and admission control. Thanks to the address
translation, external numbers such as telephone numbers and aliases can be used to address H.323 endpoints.
The admission control function helps in administrating the network by controlling the amount of traffic.
Endpoints interested in using these functions must explicit register to a gatekeeper. However gatekeepers are
not mandatory. Furthermore, even if present, endpoints might select not to use their ser-vices.
Multipoint Conferencing Unit (MCU): Is used for multipoint conference purpose
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Internet - 10
H.323 signalling mechanisms
H.323 signalling messages are specified in H.225.0 while the procedures are specified in H.323
recommendation itself. The mechanisms draw very heavily on ISDN signalling as specified in
recommendation Q.931. As endpoints may use gatekeeper functions as part of the process leading to call set
ups, we introduce the mechanisms pertinent to this use before presenting the actual call signalling
mechanisms.
Messages pertinent to the use of gatekeeper functions by endpoints are transported on an unreliable channel
known as the registration, admission and status (RAS) channel. From the protocol stack point of view, user
datagram protocol (UDP) is used. The messages and associated procedures allow endpoints to:
discover (if needed) gatekeepers for registration purpose
register by sending their addresses to gatekeepers
cancel registrations
Request admission before placing or receiving calls.
The amount of bandwidth needed for the call is specified in the request. Gatekeepers can initiate registration
cancellations by sending appropriate messages to endpoints. They can also request endpoints status in order
to figure out whether registered endpoints are alive or dead.
Call signalling messages and procedures allow call set up, initial communication and capability exchange,
establishment of multimedia communication, call services such as increase or decrease of bandwidth, and
call termination. The messages are exchanged using a reliable channel known as call signalling channel.
From the protocol stack point of view, transport control protocol (TCP) is used.
H.323 offers two basic call signalling mechanisms: gatekeeper routed call signalling and direct endpoint call
signalling. In the first case, all call signalling messages go via the gate-keeper while in the second case they
are passed directly between endpoints. While endpoints which select to use gatekeepers functions might
express preferences, gatekeepers have the last say when it comes to which method to use for a specific call.
The question does not arise for unregistered terminals since gatekeepers do not even know they exist.
10
H323 Signalling Mechanisms
H.323 signalling is similar to ISDN signalling (Q.931)
H.323 offers two basic call signalling mechanisms:
gatekeeper routed call signalling
direct endpoint call signalling
Two channels:
Registration, admission and status (RAS) channel based on UDP
unreliable channel for messages between gatekeeper and endpoints
messages and associated procedures allow endpoints to discover (if
needed) gatekeepers for registration purpose, register, cancel
registrations, request admission before placing or receiving calls.
Call signalling channel based on TCP (reliable channel)
messages and procedures allow call set up, initial communication and
capability exchange, establishment of multimedia communication,
bandwidth modification, and call termination.
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Internet - 11
A basic H.323 call set up scenario
This slide depicts in two phases a basic call set up scenario with gatekeeper routed signal-ling. It is based on
the simplified network from figure 2. This scenario like the other sce-narios which will be presented in the
rest of the paper is simplified in the sense that only essential messages are shown. We assume that terminal 1
and terminal 2 are registered to the same gatekeeper, gatekeeper 2. We further assume that terminal 2 knows
a priori that it is associated with gatekeeper 2. This is known as manual discovery.
In the first phase, terminal 1 starts by multicasting a gatekeeper request (GRQ) message to the two
gatekeepers in the network (i.e. gatekeeper 1 and gatekeeper 2). Gatekeeper 2 replies by a gatekeeper
confirmation (GCF) message indicating that it can be terminal 1 gatekeeper. Terminal 1 then asks to register
by sending a registration request (RRQ) message and gets a confirmation by receiving the registration
confirm (RCF).
Let us assume that terminal 2 powers up just after. It registers directly to gatekeeper 2 without going through
the gateway discovery process.
In the second phase, terminal 1 decides to call terminal 2. It starts by sending a admission request (ARQ) to
gatekeeper 2. The gatekeeper confirms by sending an admission confirm (ACF) and indicates that the call
shall be gatekeeper routed. Terminal 1 then sends a call set up message to the gatekeeper which forward it to
terminal 2. Terminal 2 replies by a call proceeding then proceed to request admission to the gatekeeper.
When admitted it sends a connect message to the gatekeeper to indicate that the call has been connected.
The gatekeeper forwards the message to terminal 1.
11
A Basic H.323 Call Set Up Scenario
Gatekeeper 1 Gatekeeper 2 Terminal 2 Terminal 2
GRQ (1)
GRQ (1)
RCF (4)
RRQ (3)
GCF (2)
RCF(6)
RRQ(5)
ACF (2)
ARQ (1)
SET UP (3)
ARQ (5)
SET UP (4)
ACF (6)
CONNECT (7)
CONNECT (8)
Phase 2
Phase 1
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Internet - 12
11
12
Infrastructure Comparison
PSTN
IP Net
SSP
IP
SCP
SSP
MCU
H.323
Terminals
Gatekeeper
H.323 Gateway
SSP
Internet Telephony PSTN / IN Telephony
A Comparison
This slide depicts acomparison between the IN components and the Internet Telephony components defined
in H.323.
Note that at this point in time it is not foreseen, that the Gatekeeper is in charge for providing value-added /
supplementary services. However, it is in charge for routing and therefore provides theoretical this
opportunity.
There are some views considering the Gatekeeper also as pseudo-SSP, which may interact for the provision
of advanced routing services with an IN SCP.
The MCU represents an optional resource, and therefore compares to the IP in the IN domain.
Also the Gateway may be seen as an IN IP.
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Internet - 13
4
13
H.323
Terminal
Browser
Internet
PSTN
SCP
T
r
a
n
s
p
o
r
t
SSP
S
e
r
v
i
c
e
C
o
n
t
r
o
l
SRF
Gatekeeper
H.323 Gateway
Internet Telephony
IN for Control of Internet Services
Unified
Messaging
1. IN Services for VoIP (Internet Telephony)
2. Unified Messaging - Intergration of telephony, fax, email
This slide depicts the integration at transport level, which includes on the one hand the usage of IN services
for providing advanced services on top of Voice over IP (VoIP) networks, as well as the provision of
integrated services, such as Unified Messaging (e.g., voice mails received by an IN SRF) may be delivered
as email to the called party.
Note that in this context the SRF will play a important role, since this very IN element provides the chanc to
introduce inside the IN domain new capabilities. It will act as the gatewy to the internet, as it can be an
internet web server.
Furthermore it can act as gateway to VoIP networks!
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Internet - 14
4
14
H.323
Terminals
Internet
PSTN
SCP
SSP
Gatekeeper
H.323
Gateway
Example: IN Service Access from Gatekeeper
SS7 or TCP/IP
Called Party 2
10 pm
Calling
Party
Time Dependent
Routing Service
Called Party 1
8 am
2
3
1
The scenario above depicts the provision of a time dependent routing service, which is provided across
PSTN and VoIP networks. The user uses both a VoIP network during the day and the PSTN in the evening
and night.
In the example above the calling party sits at the VoIP network. Making a call at 8 am the gatekeeper either
may find a registration of the user locally or (more likely) asks an IN SCP how to treat the call. The SCP
passes back as the result of this query the appropriate internet address of the called party to the gatekeeper,
which subequently establishes the internet telephony call.
Assuming that the calling party makes again a call during the evening (10 pm), the SCP query of the
gatekeeper will result in getting back a PSTN number and the address of a gateway able to deliver the call to
the PSTN.
Note that the calling party may also be a PSTN user, resulting in a morning call to be routed from the IN via
the SRF acting as an PSTN/VoIP gateway (not illustrated).
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Internet - 15
Related Standards Fora
1) TIPHON: Its an ETSI activity that focuses on how to "combine telecommunications and internet
technologies to enable voiceband communications over IP networks to work with Circuit Switched
Networks. Look at http://www.etsi.org/tiphon/
2) Multiple Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) Working Groups, such as PINT, IPTEL, Megaco,
SigTrans, PIN, and many more. More details are given in the following!
3) IN Forum (INF) CT-IN Integration WG and IN/IP Integration WG. During 1998, the IN/CT workgroup
has been developing a positioning paper to define the opportunities and the services enabled by the
convergence of IN and Computer Telephony. The mission of the IN/SS7-Internet Protocol Working Group
is to facilitate the broader application of Intelligent Network (IN) capabilities in the Public Switched
Telephone Network (PSTN) to access Internet functionality and vice-versa for providing synergistic
arrangements for existing and new services. The Working Group will define interoperability requirements,
identify any protocol shortfalls, strive to resolve any such shortfalls through influencing appropriate
standards, and develop implementation agreements that meet industry opportunities for inter-networking IN/
SS7 and Internet capabilities. See http://WWW.INF.ORG/techoverview.htm and http://WWW.INF.ORG/
library.htm for details.
4) BT, DGM&S Telecom, Microsoft, Nortel Networks and Siemens have formed a new working group,
called the Parlay Group, to develop a specification for an open network interface that will widen the
horizons of the intelligence in networks. This specification will enable service providers, ISVs and other
developers in the IT and telecommunications industries to generate a new range of applications which access
and use functionality resident in public and/or private communications networks while maintaining the
integrity, performance, and security of those networks. See http://www.parlay.org.
5) Java IN (JAIN) is an activity initiated by Sun in order to allow the use of Suns Java technology for
providing IN services. See http://www.sun.com/smi/Press/sunflash/9806/sunflash.980609.9.html for more
details.
15
Related Standards Fora
ETSI TIPHON (Telecommunications and Internet Protocol
Harmonization Over Networks)
IETF-PINT (PSTN Internet Internetworking) Group
IETF-IPTel (Internet Protocol Telephony) Group
IETF PIN (PSTN - IP Notification) Group
IN Forum (IN-CT and IN-IP groups)
Parlay Project
Java IN (JAIN)
And many more looking at Advanced Internet Telephony and CTI
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Internet - 16
16
ETSI TIPHON Goals
TIPHON is an ETSI Project
Charter: Combine telecommunications and Internet
technologies to enable Voice over IP networks to interwork
with Switched Circuit Networks (SCN)
Goals:
Focus on Services and Specifications
Global World-wide Acceptance
Service Oriented Solutions that can be provided by many
types of network operators
NOT re-invent existing standards (use IETF and ITU protocols
wherever possible)
Based on H.323 series and existing SCN standards
Web, ftp and mailing-list: http://www.etsi.org/tiphon
Recognizing the urgent need for common solutions, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute,
ETSI, has established Project TIPHON - "Telecommunications and Internet Protocol Harmonization Over
Networks".
The project's objective is to support the market for voice communication and related voiceband
communication (such as facsimile) between users. It will ensure that users connected to IP based networks
can communicate with users in Switched Circuit Networks (SCN - such as PSTN[1] /ISDN[2] and GSM[3]),
and vice versa. As well as between users in SCN, where IP-based networks are used for connection/trunking
between the SCN involved. The support comes in the production of appropriate ETSI deliverables: technical
specifications and reports. In addition, the activity will include validation and demonstrations, in order to
confirm the appropriateness of the solutions proposed.
Given the universal nature of IP networks, the prime goal is to produce global standards. As ETSI is
essentially a European body, it recognizes that co-operation with relevant groupings in ITU-T[4] and
IETF[5] is essential. Specifically, ETSI believes that it has a role in opinion leadership and in helping to
build consensus between all the major market players. The Institute co-operates closely with relevant Fora,
especially the IMTC[6] VoIP[7] Activity Group.
The initiative for Project TIPHON was a joint one between a number of ETSI members and the ETSI
Secretariat. Since its creation, support for the Project has continued to grow and, at the time of writing, more
than 40 ETSI members and other companies have committed their support. All of those members are major
players in telecommunications and information technology, and most of them are companies with substantial
global business. Other companies are most welcome to join the Project under the normal terms of ETSI
membership.
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Internet - 17
17
TIPHON Technical Objectives & Structure
Define:
Requirements for Service
Interoperability
Global Architecture:
interfaces and functions
Call control procedures,
information flows and
protocols
End-to-End Quality of Service
parameters
Address translation between
E.164 and IP
Technical Aspects of Billing
& Accounting
Security Profiles and
Procedures
6 Working Groups:
- WG 1: Requirements
- WG 2: Architecture
- WG 3: Protocols
- WG 4: Naming, Numbering and
Addressing
- WG 5: End-to-End Quality of Service
- WG 6: Verification & Demonstration
Specialist Task Force (STF 114)
Much of the specification work will be carried out by ETSI'snormal Technical Organization: its Technical
Committees and their Working Groups. But where the timescales forbid this, or where work is only relevant
to the Project, Working Groups within Project TIPHON will take responsibility. Close liaison is being
maintained between the Project and the relevant elements of the Technical Organization as part of the
project management process. At present the following Working Group themes have been identified:
Requirements for service interoperability, technical aspects of charging/billing and security;
Architecture and reference configurations;
Call control procedures, information flows and protocols;
Naming, Numbering and Addressing;
Quality of Service;
Verification and Demonstration Implementation.
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Internet - 18
18
TIPHON Interworking Scenarios
IP Network
IP Network
Access Access
Switched Circuit
Network
Originator: SCN Terminal
Target: SCN Terminal
Interworking
Function
Interworking
Function
Originator: SCN Terminal
Switched Circuit
Network
Switched Circuit
Network
IP Network
Target: SCN Terminal
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Internet - 19
19
TIPHON Basic Call Reference Configuration
SCN Network IP Network
Gateway
Gatekeeper
Terminal
Gatekeeper
D
B
A C
Back-End Services G
F
PSTN
ISDN
E1
E2
E3
E4
GSM
PISN
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Internet - 20
The PSTN/Internet Interfaces (PINT) WG addresses connection arrangements through which Internet
applications can request and enrich PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) telephony services. An
example of such services is a Web-based Yellow Pages service with the ability to initiate PSTN calls
between customers and suppliers.
This working group has six main objectives:
* Study architecture and protocols needed to support services in which a user of the Internet requests
initiation of a telephone (i.e., PSTN-carried) call to a PSTN terminal (i.e., telephone, FAX machine). The
protocols are not to support any form of third-party call control or, for that matter, any type of call control;
their role is rather to securely carry call requests to the PSTN. Specific services to be considered initially are
Click-to-Dial, Click-to-Fax, Click-to-Fax-Back, and Web access to voice content delivered over the PSTN.
* Produce an informational RFC that describes current practices for supporting the services in question.
* Based on the existing practice and agreed on improvements, develop a standards track RFC that specifies a
Service Support Transfer Protocol (SSTP) between Internet applications or servers and PSTN Intelligent
Network Service Nodes (or any other node that implement the Service Control Function). SSTP is an
application-specific transport protocol operating over TCP.
* Consider security issues relating to prividing functions of this type. In particular understand any threats
posed by this technology and resolve them, and any other security issues in the proposed standard.
* Based on the existing practice and agreed on improvements, develop a standards track RFC for a relevant
MIB (SSTP MIB) to support the service management protocol between Internet applications and the PSTN
Service Management System. The SSTP MIB is to conform to SNMP standards.
* Consider extensions of the above architecture and protocols to support a wider range of PSTN Intelligent
Network (IN) based services.
IETF PINT URL: http://www.ietf.org/html.charters/pint-charter.html
PINT documents are available through http://www.bell-labs.com/mailing-lists/pint/
20
IETF PINT Working Group
In the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) work on IN and Internet
has started in 1997 within the Transport Area
PSTN and INTernet Internetworking (pint) Working Group
Mission: The PINT WG addresses connection arrangements through
which Internet applications can request and enrich PSTN (Public Switched
Telephone Network) telephony services
Specification of a Service Support Transfer Protocol (SSTP) between
Internet applications or servers and IN Service Nodes
Contact: http://www.ietf.org/html.charters/pint-charter.html
Mailing lists:
General Discussion:[email protected]
To Subscribe: [email protected]
Archive: http://www.bell-labs.com/mailing-lists/pint/
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Internet - 21
Service Support Transfer Protocol (SSTP) is running on top of a reliable transport layer (such as TCP). The
SSTP is for interconnection between the Internet and the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN),
specifically, involving Web Server in the former; and Service Node (SN) or Service Control Point (SCP),
and Service Management System (SMS) in the latter. It is to support a combination of services provided
otherwise disjointly by either of the network types. Service examples are those integrating the traditional
telephony services on the PSTN and the World Wide Web-based services on the Internet.
Envisaged services to be supported by SSTP:
Click-to-Dial: A web user can request a PSTN call by clicking a button during a Web session. A typical
scenario is that a user, while browsing through a catalogue, clicks the button inviting a sale representative to
call him or her.
Click-to-Fax: A web user can send a fax by clicking a button during aweb session.
Click-to-Fax-Back: A web user can request (and subsequently receive) a fax by clicking a button during a
web session.
Voice-Access-to-Content: A web user can have access to the web content by telephone. The content is
converted to speech and transmitted to the user on a telephone line.
21
PINT Service Support Transfer Protocol
Service Support Transfer Protocol (SSTP) enables Internet - PSTN
interconnection, i.e. between Internet applications or servers and
PSTN Intelligent Network Service Nodes
SSTP is a request/response type protocol running on top of a reliable
transport layer (e.g. TCP)
SSTP is designed to support services integrating traditional
telecommunications services and WWW-based services
click-to-dial,
click-to-fax,
click-to-fax-back, and
voice-access-to-content
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Internet - 22
A Click-to-Dial Service Scenario
A Web user, who has simultaneous access to the Web and telephone services (this can be achieved, for
example, by having an ISDN connection), is browsing through a sales catalogue and deciding to speak to a
sales representative.
When the Web user clicks a button inviting a telephone call from the sales office, the Web server sends a
message to the SN over the A interface, thus crossing the Internet-to-PSTN boundary. By matching the
information received from the Web server with the content provider profile that had been previously loaded
and activated by the SMS over the D interface, the SN recognizes the signal.
At this point, the SN calls the Web user. The user answers the call, hears an announcement, e.g., "Please
wait, while we are connecting youto the sale agent", and is waiting to be connected to the sale agent.Then the
SN invokes service logic as indicated in the profile. The execution of this logic selects an appropriate sales
agentto call based on the time of the day. It is 8 P.M. in New York where the Web user is located, and the
New York sales office has closed. But the San Francisco office is still open, and so the SN selects an
appropriate central office, establishes the connection (the interface C) to this central office, verifies that there
is at least one sales agent line that is free and instructs the switch to call the agent. Finally, the SN bridges
the two calls andestablishes a two-party call between the sales agent and the Web user.
22
SMS
SCP
PINT Architecture
Internet
SS7
A
B
E
H
D
SSP
SN
Web
Server
SSTP
Click-to-Dial Click-to-Dial
user user
Called Called
Party Party
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Click-to-dial Example
PINT
Server
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Internet - 23
Before Internet telephony can become a widely deployed service, a number of protocols must be deployed.
These include signaling and capabilities exchange, but also include a number of "peripheral" protocols for
providing related services.
The primary purpose of the IETF IP Telephony (IPTEL) WG is to develop two such supportive protocols
and a frameword document. They are:
1. Call Processing Syntax/Logic (CPL): When a call is setup between two endpoints, the signaling will
generally pass through several servers (such as an H.323 gatekeeper) which are responsible for forwarding,
redirecting, or proxying the signaling messages. For example, a user may make a call to
[email protected]. The signaling message to initiate the call will arrive at some server at bigcompany.
This server can inform the caller that the callee is busy, forward the call initiation request to another server
closer to the user, or drop the call completely (among other possibilities). It is very desirable to allow the
callee to provide input to this process, guiding the server in its decision on how to act. This can enable a
wide variety of advanced personal mobility and call agent services. Such preferences can be expressed in a
call processing syntax, which can be authored by the user (or generated automatically by some tool), and
then uploaded to the server. The group will develop this syntax, and specify means of securely transporting
and extending it. The result will be a single standards track RFC. In addition, the group will write a service
model document, which describes the services that are enabled by the call processing syntax, and discusses
how the syntax can be used. This document will result in a single RFC.
3. As IP telephony gateways grow in terms of numbers and usage, managing their operation will become
increasingly complex. One of the difficult tasks is that of gateway location, also known as gateway selection,
path selection, gateway discovery, and gateway routing. The essence of the problem is that an ingress
gateway or end user must select a gateway to terminate a call towards the PSTN. This gateway may lie in a
remote administrative domain, and the selection of the gateway may be based on a number of criteria. To
support discovery and location of gateways in remote administrative domains, a protocol is being developed,
call the Gateway Location Protocol (GLP).
IETF PINT URL: http://www.ietf.org/html.charters/iptel-charter.html
PINT documents are available through http://www.bell-labs.com/mailing-lists/iptel/
23
IETF IPTEL Working Group
In the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) work on Internet
Telephony is studied in the IP Telephony (iptel) Working Group
Mission:
Develop supportive protocols and frameword documents for Internet
Telephony. These include signaling and capabilities exchange, but also
include a number of "peripheral" protocols for providing related services.
Current work focuses on
Call Processing Syntax
Gateway Location Protocol (GLP)
Contact: http://www.ietf.org/html.charters/iptel-charter.html
Mailing lists:
General Discussion:[email protected]
Archive: http://www.bell-labs.com/mailing-lists/iptel/
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Internet - 24
IETF Media Gateway Control (megaco)Working Group
The working group will develop an informational RFC detailing the architecture and requirements for
controlling Media Gateways from external control elements such as a Media Gateway Controller. A media
gateway is a network element that provides conversion between the information carried on telephone circuits
and data packets carried over the Internet or over other IP networks. This work will be done in consultation
with other IETF working groups looking at similar issues. The working group will also ensure that good
information conduits exist with groups in other standards groups with expertise in the relevant PSTN
technology. Other IETF working groups include PINT, IPTEL and SIGTRAN. In addition the working
group will ensure that reasonable liaisons exist with similar activities in other standards bodies such as the
ITU-T and ETSI.
This working group will also define standards track protocol(s) for controlling media gateways from external
control elements such as a media gateway controller.
Examples of media gateways are:
* Trunking gateways that interface between the telephone network and a Voice over IP network. Such
gateways typically manage a large number of digital virtual circuits.
* Access gateways that provide traditional analog or Primary Rate (PRI) line interfaces to a Voice over IP
network.
* Network Access Servers that can attach a "modem" to a telephone circuit and provide data access to the
Internet.
This working group assumes a separation of call control so the call control "intelligence" is outside the
media gateways and handled by a media gateway controller. This group will NOT work on media gateway
controller to media gateway controller protocols, nor on media gateway to media gateway protocols.
24
IETF MEGACO Working Group
Media Gateway Control (megaco) Working Group Mission:
Definition of protocol(s) for controlling media gateways from external
control elements such as a media gateway controller
A media gateway is a network element that provides conversion between
the information carried on telephone circuits and data packets carried
over the Internet or over other IP networks. Examples of media gateways
are Trunking gateways, access gateways and Network Access Servers.
WG assumes a separation of call control
i.e. call control "intelligence" is outside the media gateways and
handled by a media gateway controller
Relationships with PINT, IPTEL and SIGTRAN
Contact: http://www.ietf.org/html.charters/megaco-charter.html
Mailing lists:
General Discussion:[email protected]
Archive: ftp://standards.nortelnetworks.com/megaco
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Internet - 25
IETF SIGTRAN Working Group
The primary purpose of this working group will be to address the transport of packet-based PSTN signaling
over IP Networks, taking into account functional and performance requirements of the PSTN signaling. For
interworking with PSTN, IP networks will need to transport signaling such as Q.931 or SS7 ISUP messages
between IP nodes such as a Signaling Gateway and Media Gateway Controller or Media Gateway.
Examples of such transport include:
- transport of signaling between a Signaling Gateway and Media Gateway or Media Gateway Controller
- transport of signaling ("backhaul") from a Media Gateway to a Media Gateway Controller
- transport of TCAP between a Signaling Gateway and other IP nodes
Applications include:
- Internet dial-up remote access, IP telephony interworking with PSTN, and other services as identified
Specific goals are:
1. Architecture and Performance Requirements: The working group will produce an informational RFC
identifying functionality and performance requirements to support signaling over IP. Signaling messages
have very stringent loss and delay requirements in the existing telephone networks that need to be supported.
2. Transport: The working group will produce a standards track proposal or proposals defining transport of
signaling protocols using TCP or UDP, based on the requirements identified above. These proposals will
identify the method of encapsulation of different signaling protocols. This will include differentiating
between different protocols being carried, and what components are transported, translated or terminated at
the SG. Security and resilience must be addressed.
This work will be done in conjunction with other IETF working groups looking at similar issues.
The group will make use of existing IETF QoS and security technology and will not address creation of new
QoS or security functions for IP networks. Nor will the working group work on defining new call control or
device control protocols.
25
IETF SIGTRAN Working Group
Signalling Transport (sigtran) Working Group looks at
transport of packet-based PSTN signaling over IP Networks
IP networks will need to transport signaling such as Q.931or SS7 ISUP
messages between IP nodes such as a SG and MCG or MC.
Applications include:
Internet dial-up remote access, IP telephony interworking with PSTN,
and other services as identified
Specific goals (RCF production for):
Architecture and Performance Requirements to support signaling over IP
Transport of signaling protocols using TCP or UDP, based on the
requirements identified above
Contact: http://www.ietf.org/html.charters/sigtran-charter.html
Mailing lists:
General Discussion:[email protected]
Archive: ftp://standards.nortelnetworks.com/sigtran
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Internet - 26
IETF PSTN - IP Notification (PIN) Working Group
With the proliferation and wide acceptance of the Internet, and more so with the convergence of the Internet
and PSTN, there is an increasing desire for events occurring on the PSTN domain to be propagated to the
Internet domain.
The protocol of the PINT working group is used to pass requests for service from an IP host to a telephone
network, and to receive responses back from the telephone network. But some Interworking services require
that requests for services go in the opposite direction: from a telephone network to an IP host.
The PIN attempts to fill this void. Entities on the Internet domain can receive the events generated by the
PSTN domain and act appropriately. The major entities that comprise of the PIN protocol are the PIN
Gateway, the PIN Server and various PIN clients.
The Internet Draft "Need for PSTN Internet Notification (PIN) Services" is available from the official IETF
directory and explains the need and gives some requirements for such requests for service and for
notification.
The group will examine the sorts of Telephone Services that present requirements for such requests from a
telephone network to a set of IP hosts. It is important that we agree on the scope of requests for service and
notification that such services might generate. There are various working groups and protocols (most notably
IPTEL, PINT, and MEGACO) which might have relevance for the sort of services the group want to enable.
The PIN mailing list is located at [email protected].
Chair: Alec Brusilovsky <[email protected]>
26
IETF PIN (PSTN - IP Notification) Group
Motivation: increasing desire for events occurring on the PSTN
domain to be propagated to the Internet domain
PIN attempts to define an appropriate protocol
between PIN Gateway, the PIN Server and various PIN clients.
Entities on the Internet domain can receive the events generated by the
PSTN domain and act appropriately.
Internet Draft "Need for PSTN Internet Notification (PIN) Services" is
available from the official IETF directory.
Relations to other IETF working groups
most notably IPTEL, PINT, and MEGACO
PIN mailing list is located at [email protected].
Chair: Alec Brusilovsky <[email protected]>
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Internet - 27
BT, DGM&S Telecom, Microsoft, Nortel Networks and Siemens have formed a new working group, called
the Parlay Group, to develop a specification for an open network interface that will widen the horizons of the
intelligence in networks. This specification will enable service providers, ISVs and other developers in the
IT and telecommunications industries to generate a new range of applications which access and use
functionality resident in public and/or private communications networks while maintaining the integrity,
performance, and security of those networks.
The Parlay Group will produce an open, technology-independent, and extensible API specification. This will
be done quickly, in small increments, to promote open access to a wide range of network-based telecom and
network control functions - many which were previously inaccessible outside of the core signalling
networks.
As part of Parlay Group activities, the API specification will be publicly presented and the concept
demonstrated in trial applications. Publication of the initial specification and a demonstration of its initial
capabilities occurred 4 December 1998.
The API will allow secure access to core and advanced capabilities embedded in the networks of todays
telephone companies while being sufficiently adaptable to address similar capabilities in future
communication technologies. The scope of the activity includes all kinds of communication capabilities such
as telephone technologies (wireline, wireless, and IP telephony), as well as video and data communications.
The API will not directly open up the networks' signalling for public usage. Rather, network capabilities will
be encapsulated and made visible using object technology in a secure, manageable, and billable manner.
Client access to these capabilities will be realised using object access technologies such as COM or CORBA.
It is the Parlay Group's intent to bring a practical API specification to market as quickly as possible. The
Parlay Group intends to develop a high-level definition of the overall Parlay API, and then identify subsets
to be released and supported at frequent intervals. Each of these subsets will be ready for immediate,
practical use. Additionally, the intent of the Parlay Group is to provide unique value in the API; members
will maximise the use of existing technologies and member knowledge to produce the API specification in
an incremental manner.
27
Parlay Project
Parlay =: To use ones talents to achieve success
Project by a 5 Company, Cross Industry Group
BT, DGM&S Telecom, Microsoft, Nortel Networks, Siemens
Started March 98, Press announcements in May 98 and November 98
Purpose:
To Create an Open, Technology Independent, Secure, Communication
Services Network API specification
To open up opportunities and provide greater service possibilities
between both network based services and those offered by Service
providers
Service rich environment
web site: http://www.parlay.org
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Internet - 28
The API will allow secure access to core and advanced capabilities embedded in the networks of todays
telephone companies while being sufficiently adaptable to address similar capabilities in future
communication technologies. The scope of the activity includes all kinds of communication capabilities such
as telephone technologies (wireline, wireless, and IP telephony), as well as video and data communications.
The API will not directly open up the networks' signalling for public usage. Rather, network capabilities will
be encapsulated and made visible using object technology in a secure, manageable, and billable manner.
Client access to these capabilities will be realised using object access technologies such as COM or CORBA.
The Parlay API will allow a wide range of new communication services to be built and deployed both within
the network and outside of the network. This will yield opportunities for third parties to create a diverse set
of new "value added" services and make these available to the mass market. Ultimately, this will allow
customers to buy integrated communications/telephony applications focused on their own niche market at
their neighbourhood computer store or download them via the Internet from their favourite Independent
Software Vendor (ISV). It is possible that such services will be billed on a basis different from todays
telephony services following, for example, the micro-billing concepts now being introduced for the Internet.
This and other secondary effects offer potentially massive revenue enhancement opportunities in the
convergence of network-based telecommunication, CTI, and IT technologies.
The Parlay Group plans to produce a non-proprietary open interface for use by anyone, including the worlds
carriers, equipment and technology suppliers, third party service providers, and ISVs.
28
Parlay API Characteristics
Object Oriented (OO)
Multi-media (not just telephony)
Manageable
Secure
Simple (easy to use)
Extensible (functional, mgmt, billing)
Discovery
Network Independent
E-Commerce & Transaction Oriented
Affects Call Before Delivered
reduced cost / resource utilization
Physical Networks:
ISDN, PSTN, IP...
Service Components:
Authentication, Routing,
Billing, Storage, Configuration...
API
A
p
p

1
A
p
p

2
A
p
p

3
A
p
p

n
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Internet - 29
11
29
Architecture - Details
Resources
Application
Framework
Interface
Service
Interface
Service
Interface
...
Resource
Interface
Resource
Interface
Resource
Interface
Application
Application
The API is object-oriented and consists of two categories of interface:
- Service Interfaces. These offer applications access to a range of network capabilities.
- Framework Interfaces. These provide 'surround' capabilities necessary for the Service Interfaces to be
open, secure, resilient and manageable.
The services are assumed to be co-located with the framework. They are also considered trusted, such that
once an application has been authorised to use particular services by the framework, then no further
authorisation is required when those services are used. In some scenarios, however, additional authentication
may be required for the application to use certain service features.
In order to realise the Service and Framework interfaces, it is recognised that categories of resource
interfaces and service/framework interfaces are required to facilitate integration of network equipment and
Parlay services. The definition of the resource interfaces is not in the scope of the Parlay group at this time.
The architecture of the API is described more fully in the Parlay organisation White Paper. The white paper
provides more information on resource interfaces and the relationship between resource, service and
framework interfaces.
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Internet - 30
12
30
Framework Interface Functionality
Phase 1
Authentication
Event Notification
Integrity Management
OA&M
Discovery
Future
Accounting / Billing Management
Logging / Auditing
Directory Access
Configuration / Provisioning Management
Performance Management
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Internet - 31
14
31
Focus on market drivers
Service Interfaces Functionality
Phase 1
Call Control
Messaging (email, voice)
Future
Multimedia messaging
Customer care / telemarketing
Information appliances
...
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Internet - 32
3
32
EWSD Switch
+ Int. Periph
SS7 Network
ISDN Router
Siemens
SCP
LAN hub
Parlay
Client
WINNT V4
ISDN Router
Nortel M1
Nortel ESN
Messaging
WinNT V4
BT Labs,
Switch Fac.
Nortel,
Dallas
Nortel,
Harlow
Siemens,
Berlin
ISDN
Router
L
e
a
s
e
d

L
i
n
e
4

v
o
i
c
e

c
h
a
n
n
e
l
s
ISDN
Router
Gateway
WINNT V4
LAN hub
Parlay Demonstrator
The demonstration (a fictional service called Guaranteed Call Delivery) illustrates how a customer premises
service application can be built using the capabilities of today's IN infrastructure to create capabilities and
advantages in a manner not previously possible.
The Guaranteed Call Delivery application is a Parlay Group API client program. It runs on a users computer
system outside of the protected and secured telecom network environment. The database used by the
Guaranteed Call Delivery application is also located at the users site - and remains private to the user. The
Guaranteed Call Delivery program will use the Parlay API to invoke the services of the host telecom
network. The program complements these functions with appropriate business logic and access to the user's
database to build a completely new network application.
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Internet - 33
Java IN (JAIN) is an activity initiated by Sun in order to allow the use of Suns Java technology for
providing IN services.
Unfortunately there is not much information available about JAIN, just an undocumented set of slides and
some press releases.
So stay tuned for further information and look periodically at the SUN web server.
See http://www.sun.com/smi/Press/sunflash/9806/sunflash.980609.9.html for more details.
33
Java IN (JAIN)
JAIN is a JavaBeans based industry framework for the Java-based IN
service inmpemention
MTP-L1
MTP-L3
MTP-L2
TCAP
SCCP
TCP/IP
ASP ISUP BISUP
JAIN Adapter
J7 ISUP API
J7 GSM API
J7 INAP API
J7 Control API
J7 IS-41 API
J7 TCAP API
J7 MTP API
JAIN IN Services
JAIN Capability beans
Macro based communication protocol
(e.g. WAP, HTTP, TCP/IP)
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Internet - 34
34
JAIN Architecture
JAIN JAIN
Services Services
SS7 / ATM / TCP/IP SS7 / ATM / TCP/IP
Push/Pull
Java beans Java beans Services Services
Repository Repository
Web Server Web Server
JAIN adapter JAIN adapter
HTTP HTTP, IIOP,SNMP, RMI , IIOP,SNMP, RMI
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Internet - 35
9
35
Related Prototypes and products
Access to Service Management via Internet:
Bellcore: Web Enhanced Intelligent Network
Comverse: Internet Server is integrated in Comverse node for Customer
Service Management - Single Number Services for mobile users
(mobiLINK service - Singapore Telecom)
Nokia prototype: Subscribers have direct access to IN data and SL;
evolution of IN products (Siemens, Alcatel, Ericsson) to offer SMS Web
like interfaces for operators and subscribers
Interworking with 3rd parties information systems:
HP prototype: Web-IN is itegrated in the HP IN platform (OpenCall)
Lucent Techn. prototype: Service Node can interact with Web server
Oasis (Omni-Access System for Information Services)
Internet like User/service interactions:
introduction of interfaces to voice-mail products to allow Internet access
(e.g. Comverse e OCTEL)
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Internet - 36
36
Summary
IN / Internetintegration is a topic in IN CS-3 standardisation
Key issues to be addressed are:
SMS interface toward the internet for advanced service management
SCP interface toward the internet for 3rd party control (to PINT server)
SCP interface to H.323 Gatekeeper
SRF is becomng a key component for Unified Messaging
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/CORBA/TINA - 1
This part investigates the impact of new object-oriented middleware technologies and new open service
archiectures on IN.
In this context the Open Management Groups (OMGs) Common Object Request Broker Architecture
(CORBA) is becoming the defacto standard for distributed object computing middleware gaining importance
in telecommunications. We provide an overview of CORBA and outline the current IN/CORBA integration
activities undertaken by the OMG.
Furthermore, we provide an overview of the Telecommunications Information Networking Architecture
(TINA), gaining importance as universal open service platform for the near future, and address potential
migration steps from IN-based toward TINA-based platforms.
1
Object-oriented IN Environments
Object-oriented IN Environments
CORBA Basics
IN / CORBA Integration Issues
TINA Basics
IN / TINA Integration Issues
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/CORBA/TINA - 2
70
2
Open Management Group (OMG) is a not-for-profit company based in
US, with representation in UK, Japan & Germany
Founded in April 1989 today OMG has more than 700 members!!!
Digital, IBM, HP, NEC, OSF, SunSoft, IONA, ..., GMD FOKUS
Develop a single architecture, using object technology, for
distributed application integration, guaranteeing:
reusability of components
interoperability & portability
basis for commercially available software
OMG adopts & publishes interfaces!
Basis:
Open Management Architecture (OMA)
Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA)
Open Management Group
The Open Management Group (OMG) was founded in May 1989 by eight companies: 3Com Corporation,
American Airlines, Canon, Inc., Data General, Hewlett-Packard, Philips Telecommunications N.V., Sun
Microsystems and Unisys Corporation. In October 1989, OMG began independent operations as a non-profit
corporation. OMG is developing the "Architecture for a Connected World" through its world-wide standard
specifications: CORBA/IIOP, Object Services, Internet Facilities and Domain Interface specifications. OMG
is headquartered in Framingham, Massachusetts, USA, with international marketing partners in the UK,
Germany, Japan, India and Australia.
The Object Management Group has continued to build upon its success and its relevance during the last year
as demonstrated by its ever increasing membership (now close to 760 companies) and with on average 5 new
companies joining each week. It has extended its work area from looking at generic middle-ware issues, to
attempting to address some specific requirements of vertical industries such as Manufacturing, Accountancy
and Finance, Electronic Commerce, and or course Telecommunications. The OMG brings together
companies and technical experts from all aspects of industry from independent software and hardware
vendors to large systems vendors, to global service providers.
For general information on OMG see http://www.omg.org.
For CORBA beginners we recommend http://www.omg.org/news/begin.htm.
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/CORBA/TINA - 3
74
3
Non-standardized
application-specific interfaces
Vertical
domain-specific interfaces
Vertical Market Facilities
General service interfaces
CORBA services
Horizontal Common
facility interfaces
Horizontal Facilities
Application Objects
Externalization
Security
Time
Properties
Query
Licensing
Lifecycle
Events
Naming
Persistence
Transactions
Concurrency
Open Management Architecture
Object Request Broker
Open Management Architecture (OMA) is basis for all OMG standardisation
Common Facilities
The Open Management Architecture (OMA) comprises:
1. Object Request Broker (known as CORBA) providing a runtime system for the execution of client and
server objects and their communication. The ORB relays the invocation from the client to the object
implementation on the server side and the result back to the client. It lets objects make requests transparently
to other locally or remotely located objects.
2. CORBA Services providing necessary basic capabilities. CORBA Object Services are collections of
system-level services, specified in Common Object Services Specification (COSS) of the OMG. They
augment and complement the functionality of the ORB and can be used to create a component, name it, and
introduce it into the environment.
3. Common Facilities representing standardized building blocks, which include specifications for higher
level services and vertical market speciality areas. They are separated into Horizontal Common Facilities
and Vertical Market Facilities.
a) Horizontal Common Facilities including higher level services shared by many or most systems, regardless
of application content area. Four major sets are identified: User Interface, Information Management,
Systems Management and Task Management.
b) Vertical Market Facilities representing standardized application areas. They support the domain-specific
tasks associated with vertical market segments, representing standards for interoperability in particular
speciality areas, e.g. Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM). Each speciality area should represent the
needs of an important computing market. The number of Vertical Market Facilities is not limited.
4. Application Objects created and developed by developers. Application Objects are components specific to
end-user applications representing an enterprise model. An application is typically built from a number of
cooperating business components that together serve a specific purpose. These application objects are built
on top of services provided by the ORB, the Common Facilities and the Common Object Services.
Note that all standardization within OMG populates the OMA!
An introduction to OMA can be found under http://www.omg.org/about/omaov.htm
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/CORBA/TINA - 4
The Object Request Broker (ORB) is the middleware that establishes the client-server relationships between
objects. Using an ORB, a client can transparently invoke a method on a server object, which can be on the
same machine or across a network. The ORB intercepts the call and is responsible for finding an object that
can implement the request, pass it the parameters, invoke its method, and return the results. The client does
not have to be aware of where the object is located, its programming language, its operating system,or any
other system aspects that are not part of an object's interface. In so doing, the ORB provides interoperability
between applications on different machines in heterogeneous distributed environments and seamlessly
interconnects multiple object systems.
4
CORBA Overview
Object
Object
Object Request Broker
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/CORBA/TINA - 5
The Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA), is the Object Management Group's answer to
the need for interoperability among the rapidly proliferating number of hardware and software products
available today. Simply stated, CORBA allows applications to communicate with one another no matter
where they are located or who has designed them. CORBA 1.1 was introduced in 1991 by Object
Management Group (OMG) and defined the Interface Definition Language (IDL) and the Application
Programming Interfaces (API) that enable client/server object interaction within a specific implementation
of an Object Request Broker (ORB). CORBA 2.0, adopted in December of 1994, defines true
interoperability by specifying how ORBs from different vendors can interoperate.
In fielding typical client/server applications, developers use their own design or a recognized standard to
define the protocol to be used between the devices. Protocol definition depends on the implementation
language, network transport and a dozen other factors. ORBs simplify this process. With an ORB, the
protocol is defined through the application interfaces via a single implementation language-independent
specification, theInterface Definition Language (IDL). And ORBs provide flexibility. They let programmers
choose the most appropriate operating system, execution environment and even programming language to
use for each component of a system under construction. More importantly, they allow the integration of
existing components. In an ORB-based solution,developers simply model the legacy component using the
same IDL they use for creating new objects, then write "wrapper" code that translates between the
standardized bus and the legacy interfaces.
A tutorial on CORBA can be found under http://www.omg.org/about/wicorba.htm
5
CORBA Overview (cont.)
Enables applications to communicate with each other reducing the
required knowledge about how each of them is implemented.
More specifically enables applications to use system level
interfaces to local or remote objects without knowing details about
the implementation of the objects including the platform/
programming language etc..
The Object Request Broker (ORB) is the middleware which establishes
the client server relationship between objects.
The ORB intercepts the call and is responsible for finding an
object that can implement the request, pass it the parameters,
invoke its method, and return the results.
The OMG Interface Definition Language (IDL) is the abstract language
which can be used to describe the information shared between object
implementations and the applications that wish to use them.
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/CORBA/TINA - 6
77
6
CORBA tasks:
Request and result delivery
Object / process activation
Request dispatching
Security mechanisms
Exception handling
Mapping of object models
Elements of a CORBA implementations:
ORB core
Object Adapter (OA)
Interface Definition Language (IDL)
IDL Stubs and Skeletons
Interface Repository (IR)
Implementation Repository (ImR)
Dynamic Invocation Interface (DII)
CORBA Overview (cont.)
ORB Core
The ORB Core is that part of the ORB that provides the basic representation of objects and communication
of requests. The components above the ORB Core provide interfaces that can mask the differences between
ORB Cores.
Object Adapter (OA)
An object adapter is the interface between the ORB core and the object implementation, the primary way that
an object implementation accesses services provided by the ORB. Three kinds are identified: the Basic
Object Adapter, which can be used for most ORB objects with conventional implementations. The Library
Object Adapter, primary used for objects that have library implementations. Finally the Object-Oriented
Database Adapter, which uses the connection to an object-oriented database to provide access to the objects
stored in it.
The OMG Interface Definition Language (IDL)
The Interface Definition Language (IDL) defines the types of objects by specifying their interfaces, which
consist of a set of named operations and their parameters. By this, IDL describes the interface between the
client and the object implementation (often called server).
IDL Stubs and Skeletons
They are statically generated from the IDL interface definition. Based on an OMG defined language
mappings from/to IDL, at compile-time the Stubs are generated in the programming language of the Client
(f. ex. Java), while the Skeletons are generated into the programming language the object implementation
(server) is implemented (f. ex. C++).
Dynamic Invocation Interface (DII)
The DII allows for the client's side the dynamic creation and invocation of request to objects. No information
about the type of object is needed at compile-time.
Dynamic Skeleton Interface (DSI)
The DSI is the dynamic interface for the server. It delivers requests from an ORB to an object
implementation that at compile-time has no knowledge of the type of object it is implementing.
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/CORBA/TINA - 7
78
7
CORBA Overview (cont.)
Dynamic
Invoc.
Client
IDL
stubs
ORB
Interface
Dynamic
Static
Invoc.
Static
Skeleton
Object
Adapter
Object Request Broker core
Client
Object
implementation
Implem.
repository
Interface
repository
Client Object
Represents the Client object, which requests a server object.
Server Object
Represents one object, which can be requested by client objects. Server objects are part of the Object
Implementation (server).
IDL Interface Definition
The Interface Definition contains information about supported operations, the types of their parameters,
exceptions which might be raised and context information the interface definition may use.
Interface Repository
The Interface Repository provides persistent storage of interfaces, specified in IDL.
It manages and provides the access to a collection of interface definitions.
Implementation Repository
The Implementation Repository contains information that allows the ORB to locate and activate object
implementations. Usually control of policies related to the activation and execution of object
implementations as well as the installation of implementations is done via operations of the Implementation
Repository. Further the IR is the common place to store information like debugging information,
administrative control, resource allocation and security related to ORB objects.
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/CORBA/TINA - 8
81
8
Separates the Interface from the Implementation
multiple-inheritance, strongly typed, public interface specification
language
independent of any particular language/compiler
mappings will be provided for many languages/compilers (C++,
Smalltalk, Java, ...)
not a programming language!
Enables Interoperability
Interface Definition Language
C
Client
Java
Client
Client IDL
Object
impl. #1
IDL
Object
run-time
system
Communication of Client and Object Implementation
A request of a client is made via a Dynamic Invocation Interface or a Stub. The ORB is responsible for
locating the object implementation and for transporting the data from the client to the server independent of
location, implementation and host. The result of the request is returned to the client in the same way through
the ORB. The server uses therefore the Dynamic Skeleton Interface or the static Skeleton (at compile-time
generated from IDL interface definition).
Only one IDL interface definition is needed to generate the Client Java-Stub as well as the Skeleton for the
Object Implementation(s).
Clients can use this Java-Stub to request the Object Implementation(s).
Note, the Java mapping is standardized by OMG since September 1997. Older versions of Java-ORBs may
not be conform to it; this reduces the portability of the produced Java source code including the generated
Java Stubs and Skeletons.
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/CORBA/TINA - 9
80
9
CORBA 2.0 allows for inter-ORB communication
Client Obj Impl
Client
ORB
ORB
Obj Impl
ORB
ORB
IDL
IDL
IDL IDL
IDL IDL
Inter-ORB Communication
Obj Impl Client
Possibilities of Inter-ORB-Communication
1. Client and Object Implementation are implemented by two different programming languages. If the ORB
supports the IDL-mapping into both languages they can use the same ORB to communicate. For example: a
Java-Client can communicate with a C++ Object Implementation. The ORB supports the IDL/C++ and the
IDL/JAVA mapping.
2. Client and Object implementation are implemented in the same programming language. To communicate,
they can use the same ORB, which supports the IDL-Mapping of this language.
3. Client and Object Implementation can communicate over different ORBs, using one of the OMG specified
Inter-ORB protocol. Client and Object Implementation can be implemented in the same or in different
programming languages.
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/CORBA/TINA - 10
The Inter-ORB Communication Architecture
To communicate between different ORB implementations, OMG defines special protocols which have to be
used. These protocols are the Internet Inter-ORB Protocol (IIOP) and the Environment-Specific Inter-ORB
Protocol (ESIOP). To pass object references between different ORB, a special object reference has to be
used, the Interoperable Object Reference. CORBA 2.0 defines the interoperability between ORBs of
different vendors by specifying a mandatory Internet Inter-ORB Protocol (IIOP). The IIOP is basically TCP/
IP with some CORBA-defined message exchanges that serve as a common backbone protocol. To be
considered CORBA compliant an ORB must either implement IIOP natively or provide a `half-bridge' to it.
IOR: GIOP also defines a format for Interoperable Object References (IORs). To pass an object reference
between ORBs, an IOR must be created. An IOR describes how an object is to be contacted using a special
ORB mechanism. An IOR includes self-describing data that identifies the ORB domain to which a reference
is associated and the protocols it supports.
GIOP: For the communication between ORBs, a specially built Protocol is defined, the General Inter-ORB
Protocol (GIOP). It specifies a standard transfer syntax (low-data representation) and a set of message
formats for the Inter-ORB communication. GIOP is designed to work directly over any connection-oriented
transport protocol and defines seven message formats that cover all the ORB request and reply semantics.
Therefore no format negotiations are needed. Versions of the GIOP running on different transports would
not be directly interoperable, but their commonality would allow efficient and easy bridging between such
networking domains.
IIOP: The Internet Inter-ORB Protocol (IIOP) specifies how GIOP messages are exchanged over a TCP/IP
network. The IIOP makes it possible to use the Internet itself as a backbone ORB through which other ORBs
can bridge. To be CORBA 2.0 compliant, an ORB must support GIOP over TCP/IP or connect to it via a
half-bridge. The IIOP can also be used as protocol between half-bridges.
Note that all these protocols are used for transfering non-stream information, i.e. the transfer of audio or
video information between client and server has to be performed outside the ORB(s), where only the
signalling information is tranfered through the ORB(s).
10
Inter-ORB Communication (cont.)
IDL
Client
IDL
Server
Internet (TCP/IP)
e.g. DCE RPC (TCP/IP)
ORB X
GIOP
IIOP
ESIOP
OIOP
ESIOP
ORB Y
GIOP
OIOP
ESIOP
IIOP
ESIOP
OSI (TP4)
Object interactions
Streams
outside !
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/CORBA/TINA - 11
The basic structure of OMG are Task Forces. The Task Forces are chartered by the OMG Technical
Committee (TC) for the purpose of solving some particular problem or problems in a particular area for
recommendation to the TC. One of the specific purposes of the Task Forces is to generate Requests for
Information (RFIs) or Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and to evaluate the responses. Task Forces generally
meet when the Technical Committee meets every six to eight weeks.
Currently there are six Domain Task Forces and three Platform Task Forces in the OMG:
I. Platform Technology Committee Task Forces
Common Facilities Platform Task Force
ORB and Object Services Platform Task Force
Analysis and Design Platform Task Force
II. Domain Technology Committee Task Forces
Business Object Domain Task Force
Manufacturing Domain Task Force
Electronic Commerce Domain Task Force
Telecommunications Domain Task Force
Financial Domain Task Force
CORBAmed Domain Task Force
In addition OMG defines socalled Special Interest Groups (SIGs). These have a significant role in the OMG
architecture. Chartered by the one of the three OMG Technology Committees, the SIGs consist of a group of
active OMG members who share a common interest in the application of object technology to a specific
vertical market or technology area. SIG membership is open to all OMG members.
11
OMG Structure
OMG work is performed in Task Forces (TFs)
Platform Technology Committee Task Forces
Common Facilities Platform Task Force
ORB and Object Services Platform Task Force
Analysis and Design Platform Task Force
Domain Technology Committee Task Forces
Business Object Domain Task Force
Manufacturing Domain Task Force
Electronic Commerce Domain Task Force
Telecommunications Domain Task Force
Financial Domain Task Force
CORBAmed Domain Task Force
In addition OMG defines Special Interest Groups (SIGs)
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/CORBA/TINA - 12
A dedicated task force is focusing on telecommunications, the Telecommunications Domain Task Force
(TDTF). It is in existence for one and a half years and is arguably the most active and successful domain task
force of the OMG.
The OMGs Telecoms Task Force is a forum for telecommunications operators and vendors to actively
participate in the standardisation effort. Operators and vendors should raise issues which are important for
CORBA based technology to make a real difference in the engineering of telecommunications solutions and
in facilitating inter-operability between existing systems.
12
OMG Telecom Domain Task Force
Formed as a Special Interest Group (SIG) in March 1994
Chartered as a Domain Task Force (DTF) in January 1996
Telecom DTF Mission Statement:
Issue Requests for Information (RFIs) and Request for Proposal (RFPs)
for CORBA based technology relevant to the Telecommunications
Industry
Evaluate RFI and RFP responses and Requests for Comments (RFCs) for
recommended adoption by the Domain Technology Committee
Communicate requirements from the Telecommunications Industry to the
Architecture Board, the Platform Technology Committee and other OMG
subgroups as appropriate
Assist and advise the Liaison Subcommittee regarding its relationship
with Telecommunications related Standards Organizations and Consortia
Promote the use of OMG technologies as solutions to the needs of the
Telecommunications Industry
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/CORBA/TINA - 13
A dedicated OMG task force is focusing on telecommunications, the Telecommunications Domain Task
Force (TDTF). It is in existence for one and a half years and is arguably the most active and successful
domain task force of the OMG.
The OMGs Telecoms Task Force is a forum for telecommunications operators and vendors to actively
participate in the standardisation effort. Operators and vendors should raise issues which are important for
CORBA based technology to make a real difference in the engineering of telecommunications solutions and
in facilitating inter-operability between existing systems.
One standard, "the control and management of audio visual streams", has been already finalised. Two more
are close to completion, i.e. "Notification Service" and "Topology Service". An RFP on "CORBA/TMN
Interworking" has been issued in September 1997 and another RFP on "CORBA/IN Interworking" has been
issued in December 1997.
More information on these RFPs in progress can be obtained from http://www.omg.org/library/schedule/.
In the future it is the task forces members stated intention to address issues such as:
a logging service for Operations and Maintenance systems,
standardising benchmarks relevant for attaining concrete performance measurements for CORBA
implementations in telecommunications contexts,
standardising an approach to using ATM as a transport for CORBA systems, and
standardising an approach to using OSI stack configurations and a transport for CORBA systems.
13
OMG Telecom Domain Task Force
Formed as a Special Interest Group (SIG) in March 1994
Chartered as a Domain Task Force (DTF) in January 1996
Results achieved:
Management and control of Audio/Video Streams - Adopted July 97
Topology Service - Due for adoption Dec 97
Notification Service - Final Submissions Jan 98
CORBA TMN Interworking - Final Submissions May, 1998
Interworking between Corba and IN Systems - Final Submission
August, 1998
Future work:
Logging Service for Operations and Maintenance
CORBA Benchmarking algorithms for Traffic Systems
CORBA with ATM transport and OSI based transports
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/CORBA/TINA - 14
In the last decade the Intelligent Network (IN) has coined the face of telecommunication service provision.
The IN aims for service and network independence and thus represents a flexible service platform. Evolution
of the IN platform should be possible by the definition of IN Capability Sets, which enable the incorporation
of new service needs and new technologies.
Today object-oriented middleware, such as CORBA, is gaining increasing acceeptance, since it promises on
the one hand the necessary openness required in the telecommunications market, as well as the possibility to
interwork with/integrate legacy technologies.
In the following we look at the evolution of IN in face of emerging CORBA-based middleware. The idea is
to adopt the OMG CORBA standard, enhancing it to make it suitable for telecom system, in particular for
the Intelligent Network (IN).
Distributed object-oriented computing has to be introduced first in the network intelligence. In order for this
to be possible, there are three main factors to be taken into account:
the IN legacy systems, including the Signalling System No. 7 (SS7) network;
the IN event/trigger computing paradigm, based on the Basic Call State Model (BCSM);
and the key non-functional requirements, as high performance and reliability, real-time support.
14
Introduction of CORBA in IN
IN represents an open service middleware
IN is designed as evolvable service platform --> Capability Sets
CORBA represents the state of the art in distributed object
technology enabling a software reuse by legacy integration and
software evolution
IN benefits from introduction of CORBA technology (e.g. software
reuse, distribution, scalability, etc.)
Issues:
Legacy IN integration (Interworking)
Switching aspects (BCSM, events/triggers, etc.)
key non-functional requirements, e.g. performance, reliability,
real-time support
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/CORBA/TINA - 15
In December 1996 the Object Management Group (OMG) Telecommunications Domain Task Force (TDTF)
issued a White Paper on "Intelligent Networking with CORBA" (OMG DTC Document: telecom/96-12-
02.pdf). In January 1997 the OMG TDTF has issued an RFI on Issues for Intelligent Networking with
CORBA (OMG DTC Document: telecom/96-12-02.pdf) in order to setup a corresponding RFP. The
answers provided the basis for the development of a corresponding Request for Response (RFP) on
Interworking between CORBA and IN Systems (OMG DTC Document: telecom/97-12-06.pdf) which has
been issued in December 1997.
Two initial RFP responses have been produced by IONA/Nortel and AT&T/GMD Fokus/Teltec DCU in
May 1998 (OMG DTC Documents: telecom/98-05-06.pdf and telecom/98-05-03.pdf ). However, a revised
joint submission by AT&T, GMD Fokus, IONA, Nortel, Teltec DCU has been submitted in August 1998
(OMG DTC Document: telecom/98-08-11.pdf) represents the latest state of the art. All these documents are
available on the public OMG FTP server under the following URL: "ftp://ftp.omg.org/pub/docs/telecom/".
More information concerning the RFP responses can be found under http://www.omg.org/library/schedule/
CORBA_Intelligent_Networks_RFP.htm.
In addition, the EURESCOM Project 508 has contributed by the production of two White Papers; "White
Paper on CORBA as an Enabling Factor for Migration from IN to TINA: A P508 Perspective" (OMG DTC
Document: telecom/97-01-01.pdf) in January 1997 and "Introduction of Distributed Computing Middleware
in Intelligent Networks" (OMG DTC Document: telecom/97-09-01.pdf) in September 1997.
These two documents are also available from the OMG FTP server.
15
Introduction of CORBA in IN (cont.)
EURESCOM Project P508 - EVOLUTION, MIGRATION PATHS AND
INTERWORKING TO TINA has produced two White Papers on
Introduction of Distributed Computing Middleware in Intelligent
Networks (Jan 97)
CORBA as an Enabling Factor for Migration from IN to TINA: A
P508 Perspective (Sept 97)
OMG Telecom Task Force investigated IN/CORBA Integration:
Request for Information (RFI) on Issues for Intelligent
Networking with CORBA (Jan 97)
Request for Proposal (RFP) on Interworking between CORBA
and IN systems (Dec 97)
Joint Submission from AT&T, GMD Fokus, IONA, Nortel, and
Teltec DCU has been submitted in August 1998
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/CORBA/TINA - 16
The introduction of a middleware software layer in application and data servers, and eventually also in
switching systems, enables to have a component-based, distributed intelligence replacing the traditional
monolithic Intelligent Network functional entities.
The switched transport network ensures transfer of user information across connections, on which calls are
established. It is accessed via a variety of access systems, each roughly corresponding to a class of customer
premises equipment:
mobile systems connecting cellular phones;
Plain Old Telephone System (POTS);
Integrated Service Digital Network (ISDN) connecting digital phones or similar devices;
broadband networks, typically connecting Local Area Networks (LANs).
Personal computers can be networked on the public network using any of these access systems.
The basic call service in the switched network is typically offered by circuit-related signalling protocols,
such as ITU-T Q.931 for N-ISDN.
The middleware platform enables to realise IN functions in a distributed way, that is by a set of application
and data servers interacting via the platform corresponding to IN functional entities. This platform is based
on CORBA, but requires enhancements to the state-of-the-art CORBA specifications and products. CORBA
servers contain CORBA objects, acting as reusable service components. The approach is similar to that of
the Telecommunications Information Networking Architecture (TINA).
Communications at the middleware platform level is based on an Interoperability Protocol (IOP), relying
either on CORBA. The application-level signalling network ensuring communication among platform nodes
is termed Kernel Transport Network (kTN). It should rely on the existing SS7 signalling network, which
fulfillls important requirements for telecom applications (such as high reliability). Interoperability with
legacy IN elements and services is ensured by a CORBA/SS7 gateway.
16
IN and CORBA - Overall Vision
Application and Data Servers
Switched
Transport Network
Mobile
Access
POTS ISDN
Broadband
Access
SSP
(legacy)
SCP
(legacy)
INAP
kTN
SS7
MW
CORBA/
SS#7
Gateway
IOP
MW MW
MW
MW-based
Service
Node
Distributed SCF+SDF+SMF
Access
Systems
Transport
Layer
Intelligent
Layer
MW
Switch
SRF
INAP Intelligent Network
Application Protocol
IOP Interoperability Protocol
IP Intelligent Peripheral
ISDN Integrated Service
Digital Network
kTN Kernel Transport Network
MW Middleware
POTS Plain Old Telephone System
SCF Service Control Function
SCP Service Control Point
SDF Service Data Function
SMF Service Management Function
SN Service Node
SRF Special Resource Function
SS7 Signalling System N. 7
SSP Service Switching Point
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/CORBA/TINA - 17
The architecture of the middleware layer is based on an enhanced CORBA Object Request Broker (ORB),
targeted to telecom applications: it has to include real-time features and a flexible timeout mechanism. The
kTN is a high-capacity and very reliable packet-switched network, that transports signalling messages. It
needs to be based on Signalling System No. 7.
On top of the ORB, some generic CORBA services (i.e., not specifically targeted to telecom applications)
are needed. At least, the naming service and the generic CORBA event service (termed also Event Channel
service) are needed, but other services may be also required.
Generic CORBA services, however, are not enough to fulfill telecommunications application requirements.
Telecom-specific services are needed, for instance to handle different kind of events and to establish a
context (service session) for the provision of telecom services. For interoperability with legacy systems, a
gateway between CORBA and the SS7 protocol stack must be foreseen; this gateway would enable
interoperation between CORBA servers and legacy IN. The usage of special purpose real-time event
services, besides the Event Channel service, could also be investigated; in alternative, event handling could
be also embedded in the telecom ORB.
On top of the middleware layer, depicted as white boxes in figure, three types of entities are deployed:
Service/Service Feature components: the service logic, implementing a wide range of services and
service features by means of reusable components;
CORBA-compliant special resources: resources (such as bridges, multi-media servers, and so on) that have
been designed in such a way that they can be directly plugged in on the middleware layer;
Adapters for special resources (also bridges, multi-media servers and such) that interact with the exterior
with a different paradigm than the distributed computing middleware for example with proprietary
protocols.
17
Introduction of CORBA in IN
Naming service,
Event Channel Service, ...
Telecom CORBA ORB
(RT, flexible timeout, )
Event-based Service Session,
Notification Service,
SS7/CORBA Gateway, ...
Services/SF Components,
CORBA-compliant Resources,
Resource Adapters
SS7-based kTN
ORB
Generic CORBA Services
Telecom-specific services
kTN
Service
Component
Adapter
Special
Resources
Gtw
Special Resource
Legacy Systems
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/CORBA/TINA - 18
In order for this to be possible, three are three main factors to take into account: the IN legacy systems,
including the Signalling System N. 7 (SS7); the IN event/trigger computing paradigm, based on the Basic
Call State Model (BCSM); the key non-functional requirements, as high performance and reliability, real-
time support.
Taking into account the SS7 leads to the issue of defining which profile of the protocol stack must be used,
and of building a bridge (gateway) between the IN and the CORBA world based on SS7; it also leads to the
idea of using the SS7 to develop a kernel Transport Network (kTN) to convey ORB messages over a
geographical CORBA network.
Taking into account the IN computing paradigm leads to define an implementation of the IN service logic in
terms of components interacting using CORBA-based event services.
Taking into account non-functional requirements leads to define requirements on a telecom-specific ORB.
18
Introduction of CORBA in IN (cont.)
Requirements and Key Technical Issues
CORBA/SS7 Integration
CORBA/SS7 Gateway
CORBA over SS7
Event/Trigger Model and the Session Concept
Non-Functional requirements: Real-Time Aspects
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/CORBA/TINA - 19
The migration from IN to TINA is based on the introduction of DPE technology in IN platform entities.
Since CORBA represents the choice for implementing a TINA DPE, an adaptation / integration of SS7 and
CORBA mechanisms is necessary. In this context basically two major issues have to be considered:
1. An SS7 gateway within CORBA has to be provided in order to enable the interworking of SS7 and
CORBA/TINA. Such gateway enables the access to CORBA objects from SS7 entities and vice versa.
2. The use of SS7 network as TINA KTN or more generally the usage of the SS7 protocol suite as inter-ORB
protocol allows to take advantage of SS7 reliability and performance in case CORBA/TINA extends to the
switch.
19
SS7 / CORBA Interworking
Two aspects are important:
SS7 Wrapper in CORBA in order to allow access to CORBA objects
from SS7 and vice versa
Use of SS7 protocol suite as Environment Specific Inter ORB Protocol
(ESIOP) in order to take advantage of SS7 reliability and performance
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/CORBA/TINA - 20
10
In order to enable TINA/CORBA objects to control a IN SSPs it is essential to define a dedicated
application-level gateway object (i.e. an INAP wrapper), that provides a CORBA/IDL interface (API) to the
objects on the CORBA side and an SS7 interface towards the signalling network on the other side. This
means that an IN SSP communicates with other network entities using SS7/INAP, while on the CORBA/
TINA side invocations of IDL interfaces are used for communication. The gateway, located in between, is in
charge of transparently adapting both types of communication.
20
SS7 / CORBA Gateway
Switched Network
INAP
SS.7
Network
Switch Switch
CORBA
SCP
CORBA
IP
Legacy
IP
IN
SSP
SS7/CORBA
Gateway
Gateway
Enables communications across legacy IN components and CORBA servers
Adapts TCAP messages (i.e. Intelligent Network Application Protocol) to
ORB requests
IP
Network
IIOP
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/CORBA/TINA - 21
Two options exist for the realisation of such a gateway:
1. Definition of an INAP/CORBA gateway: INAP specifications can first be converted into IDL-based
interfaces. This involves converting the IN operations and their returns into CORBA operation signatures.
This would be a IN-specific mapping, but it must be noted that there are various dialects of the ITU-T
standardized INAP.
2. Definition of an TCAP/CORBA gateway: A generic application-level gateway could be defined for all
TCAP / ROSE Users (of which INAP is one example) by providing translation algorithms for converting
between ROS constructs defined in Abstract Syntax Notation One (ASN.1) and the corresponding CORBA
constructs using IDL.
The second option is probably the better one. Internally the gateway could look like the following. INAP
operations received from the SSP are forwarded from an SS7 driver (offering a TCAP interface) to an INAP
Protocol Handler. The INAP Protocol Handler forwards the INAP operation to an INAP-IDL Translator.
Besides the INAP operation also the ID of the TCAP transactions must be forwarded. This is necessary in
order to dispatch all INAP operations belonging to one transaction to the same object in the CORBA/TINA
environment. The functionality of the INAP-IDL Translator is very simple. It only takes the INAP operation
with the included Information Elements and invokes an IDL interface of the Dispatcher, taking the name of
the INAP operation and its Information Elements as parameters for the IDL interface invocation. The IDL
interface at the Dispatcher is general and used for all kinds of INAP operations. These procedures are used
analogously for sending messages into the opposite direction.
21
SS7 / CORBA Gateway (cont.)
Object Request Broker
INAP
Protoc.
Handler
OSI Domain CORBA Domain
Distributed objects
supporting IN Services
SS7
Stack
TCAP
Dynamic
Invocation
INAP- IDL
Translator
Life
cycle
Naming Persist.
Event
Notify..
CORBA Framework
INAP Adapter
SS7 signalling
network
KtN
SSP
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/CORBA/TINA - 22
11
22
SS7 network as kTN
Issue: Provision of connectivity between CORBA nodes in telecom networks
strong requirements in telecom world (real-time, reliability etc.)
protection of operators investment
Reuse of SS7 for Inter-ORB communications
NCCE
SS7 protocol stack
DPE (CORBA)
Object 4
SS7 protocol stack
DPE (CORBA)
Object 5
Object 6
SS7 network
Object 1
Object 2
Object 3
CORBA Node 1 Corba Node 2
We assume that all IN platform entities are modelled by means of distributed CORBA/TINA objects located
at DPE nodes. The SS7 signalling network acts as a KTN providing the communication infrastructure for a
DPE. The main benefit to be obtained from this strategy is that any investments incurred by network
operators during the deployment of their existing SS7 networks are preserved. On the other hand the inter-
ORB communication will profit from the reliability and performance of the SS7 network!
A possibility is to build an implementation of Generic Inter-ORB Protocol (GIOP) on top of SS7 or if
necessary build a new Environment-specific Inter-ORB Protocol (ESIOP) on top of SS7 layers. It is
structurally similar to the engineering commonly used to bridge nodes within a single ORB. It means in
particular adding a new inter-process communication schema on top of new transport protocol stack. This
strategy needs of course the participation of ORB vendors.
At present, OMG has defined a general purpose inter-ORB protocol called GIOP, that can be used over
transport services.
Using GIOP as the basis for ORB interoperability in SS7 networks is not as easy as for TCP/IP or OSI
networks due to the following reasons. SS7 does not currently specify a transport service for non-circuit
related applications such as IN services. This type of applications are defined over TCAP which is
conceptually supported by an Intermediate Service Part (ISP) covering layers 4 through 6 of the ISO OSI
reference model. However, existing SS7 standards do not specify ISP and thus TCAP is directly positioned
above the SS7 network service (i.e. SCCP). Although SCCP specifies connection-oriented protocol classes,
most SS7 networks are connectionless. Furthermore, the connectionless services of SCCP limit the size of
network service data units to 2K octets.
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/CORBA/TINA - 23
The introduction of a distributed processing platform in the intelligent layer enables the service logic to be
structured in service components, corresponding to objects on a CORBA platform. This component-based
approach enables dynamic service composition, i.e. the flexible assembling of pre-existing components. The
IN is based on the event/trigger paradigm, by which the service logic is triggered by events expressed as
detection points in the BCSM. This paradigm is well suited to support dynamic service composition.
Therefore it is necessary to define a context for the execution of advanced services composed dynamically.
The concept of service session, taken from TINA, can be used to this purpose.
Consequently, an IN call, on which value-added services are provided, corresponds to a service session.
Within the session, services are provided by means of components running as objects in CORBA servers,
interacting among themselves with an event-based paradigm.
Events can be classified in two categories:
Call-related events, originated by the SSF (i.e., in the SSP); these events are related to the IN Basic Call
State Model (BCSM), which is expressed by a state machine governing the interaction between call control
and service control; the IN trigger detection points (TDPs) and event detection points (EDPs) in the BCSM
can be easily mapped to this concept.
Session-related events, originated by service components in the service session; these events can be seen as
value-added events produced by service components: components process call related events, and produce
these more specific events, which in turn can be consumed by other components in a flexible event / trigger
activation mechanism dynamically binding all components.
This approach, based on the service session concept, enables the integration of a wide range of systems with
the IN infrastructure. In fact, adapters can be implemented that convert signalling protocol messages (such as
INAP) into events, as shown in figure. This facilitates the adoption of this approach already on present-day IN
systems. Non-IN devices, such as CTI resources, can also be plugged in the event platform and thus be made
available to the service session. In this way the same service logic can be used to provide a given service on
multiple network infrastructures (such as, for example, IN and CTI).
23
Event-Based Service Session
Service Application
Objects/Servers
ORB
CORBA Services
Event Service
Call-related events
Session-related
events
IN Call
Service Session
Switched
Transport Network
SSP
(legacy)
Switch
Adapter
IN legacy resource
(SCP, IP/SN, SMS)
non-IN legacy
resource (e.g. CTI)
Adapter
Adapter
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/CORBA/TINA - 24
Another important idea needs to be introduced to describe modular services: the service feature concept,
defined by IN standards. A service feature is a constituent part of a service as perceived by the service user:
PIN authentication, split charging, are service features. In a component-based approach, a service feature
does not necessarily correspond to one component, but rather to a set of components (ultimately mapping to
CORBA objects) distributed over multiple nodes, possibly spanning multiple administrative domains.
Service features can be viewed as entities emitting and receiving events; these entities are deployed in a
plug-and-play fashion on an event bus (the event service on CORBA). These service features are
implemented by a set of CORBA objects.
In order to achieve this, the following needs to be specified and implemented:
1. An event service targeted to the IN session; this event service has to be superposed to CORBA to
constitute an upper middleware layer, as shown in figure.
2. An event model, i.e. an open set of pre-defined events; the set of event types constituting the event model
is the shared knowledge among all plug-and-play components. Component designers have the knowledge of
all possible events, and choose which defined events a given component reacts to; they can also define new
events specific to services and/or network resources. These events need to be registered to the event service.
3. Service/Service Feature components; these are the software packages that implement service features;
they are defined by service designers in accordance with the CORBA platform, the service session concept,
the event service and the event model. Hence, they are plug-and-play in the IN context.
4. Signalling/resource adapters; they implement adaptation functions from different protocols to the service
session.
24
Event/Trigger Model and Session Concept
Event Service:
standard CORBA Event Service requirements
real-time behaviour
telecom-level robustness and scalability
event queuing/priority handling
Event Model:
open (possible to define new event types)
integrated with Intelligent Networks EDPs and TDPs
Service Components:
library of plug-and-play components interacting via events
Signalling/Resource Adapters:
conversion between protocol messages and events
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/CORBA/TINA - 25
14
All the scenarios presented are based on the assumption that the platform is able to support real-time
performance. This is a fundamental requirement in order to allow the use of distributed processing within IN
environments. The round trip time of a query from an SSP to the Intelligent Layer has to be within 500 ms.
In many (European) countries the usage of IN services is below 10% of the total number of calls. In this
respect the current configuration of SCP/SMS systems is appropriate for supporting this traffic. However, in
the future it is foreseen a strong increase in the demand and usage of IN-intensive services. Many telecom
actors consider, in the long run, the IN infrastructure as a means to cope with Number Portability. There
could be the need to change the classical centralised IN architecture in order to introduce distributed
processing mechanisms on a geographical scale. In order to achieve good performance figures, the
processing time needed by the CORBA platform has to be negligible with respect to the total processing
time required by an IN call. The foreseen increased demand for IN services and the fast response time
requirement pose very stringent requirements on a CORBA based DPE.
The ideal solution for distributed IN systems is the use of general-purpose computing nodes. This could
foster a reduction in prices of IN systems. However, it is requested that High Availability or Fault Tolerance
capabilities are provided by distributed IN systems in order to ensure they have the same robustness as
current IN systems. High availability solutions (realised via software) should be offered by CORBA
platform. In addition, CORBA platforms should be developed and be compatible with fault-tolerant systems
(hardware solutions). CORBA platform should be profiled in order to be applicable to different hardware
and software configurations.
Another important issue is related to the capability to decouple data management from the service logic
execution. Data are to be accessed in real-time for service execution purposes, and, at the same time, data
should be stored for management purposes. Integration between CORBA platforms and relational and OO
databases must be carefully considered in order to guarantee real-time access to data and data integrity.
25
Real-Time Requirements
Performance requirements
round trip time for a query from an SSP to an SCP = 500ms
currently only 10% (in Europe) of the total number of calls are
intelligent calls
however: increased demand for IN services is foreseen (in
particular because of Number Portability requirements)
stringent performance requirements
Availability and Fault-Tolerance
high availability solutions (realised via software) combined with
faul-tolerant hardware systems should be offered
Integration with RT databases
Integration between CORBA platforms and relational/OO DBMS
must be carefully considered
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/CORBA/TINA - 26
Useful References for further studies
T.Mowbray, R.Zahavi: The essential CORBA: System Integration using Distributed Objects; John Wiley;
1995
R.Orfali, D.Harkey: The Essential Distributed Objects Survival Guide; John Wiley; 1995
H. Zuidweg et.al.: A Distributed CORBA-Based IN Architecture, pp. 260-265, Int. Conference on IN
(ICIN), Bordeaux, France, November 1996
S. Mazumdar, N. Mitra: ROS-to-CORBA Mappings: A First Step towards Intelligent Networking using
CORBA, in: "Technology for Cooperative Competition - IS&N'97", Springer Publishers, May 1997
OMG White Paper on Intelligent Networking with CORBA, OMG DTC Document: telecom/96-12-
04.xxx, December 1996
OMG Request for Information (RFI) on issues concerning intelligent networking with CORBA, OMG
DTC Document: telecom/96-12-02.xxx , November 1996
OMG Request For Proposal (RFP) on "Interworking between CORBA and Intelligent Networks Systems",
OMG DTC Document: telecom/97-12-06.xxx, December 1997
EURESCOM Project P508 White Paper: CORBA as an Enabling Factor for Migration from IN to TINA:
A P508 Perspective, OMG DTC Document: telecom/97-01-01.xxx, January 1997
EURESCOM Project P508 White Paper: Introduction of Distributed Computing Middleware in Intelligent
Networks, OMG DTC Document: telecom/97-09-01.xxx, October 1997
All OMG and EURESCOM documents are available on the public OMG FTP server under the following
URL: "ftp://ftp.omg.org/pub/docs/telecom/".
26
IN/CORBA Integration Conclusions
Network operators are looking at CORBA as an enabling technology
for the evolution of network intelligence
To apply CORBA to the IN, the key technical issues are:
To take into account legacy systems, based on the SS7
To take into account the IN event/trigger model based on BCSM
Telecom-specific event service and model
Service Session as a context for service execution
Meet key non-functional, telecom-specific requirements
OMG Telecom Domain Task Force is looking at these issues
RFP on Interworking between CORBA and IN Systems has
been issued in December 1997 (Responses are due June 1998)
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/CORBA/TINA - 27
TINA is an open software architecture for distributed telecommunications, information and management
services on top of any type of network (such as PSTN, ISDN, B-ISDN, etc.), although a broadband
environment represents the primary target. The intent is that all software applications (telecommunications,
operations and management) be easier to develop and maintain within an environment, where global aspects
increasingly have to be taken into account. This architecture is being defined by the TINA consortium
(TINA-C), which was founded in 1992 and comprises all major network operators, telecom manufacturers
and computer manufacturers worldwide.
The focus within work of TINA-C is the development and validation of architecture specifications, which
should be based as far as possible on an integration of available concepts, standards and products in the
fields of telecommunications and information technology. These specifications will be developed by the
TINA-C "core team", a permanent set of about 40 researchers working together in a single location.
Although TINA started as a closed research effort in the beginning, i.e. TINA draft specifications have been
marked confidential to its members, TINA has been opened in 1996.
Besides annual TINA conferences detailed information on TINA-C and the specifications can be obtained
from the TINA web server.
The TINA architecture comprises basically a TINA-C Distributed Processing Environment (DPE) which
enables TINA applications to be transparently distributed on top of a heterogeneous hardware/software
environment; a set of generic applications and service components to control and manage resources,
providing the platform for flexible service realization; and a set of rules for the description, specification,
deployment, usage and management of services.
27
TINA Overview
TINA represents an open service control and management architecture
based on ODP concepts and DOC technology
Basic inputs: ODP, IN, TMN, CORBA, B-ISDN
Architecture is developed by TINA Consortium (TINA-C) comprising all
major IT and telecommunications vendors and Telcos
TINA-C has started its work in 1993 and is scheduled to end in 1997
TINA-C objective is the development of TINA specifications
TINA concepts are going to influence major telecom standards
Dissemination of TINA results via
Annual TINA conferences (91-97)
TINA-C web server "http://www.tinac.com"
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/CORBA/TINA - 28
A basic architectural separation divides the TINA Architecture in three major parts:
The DPE to get ubiquitous support for computational components, support location transparency. It was
isolated because it provides common mechanism supporting all TINA applications
The DPE is made up of Computing supporting DPE implementations on nodes interconnected by
a kernel Transport Network (kTN) for communication (e.g. IP)
The DPE can be split into multiple domains providing inter-operation between the domain
through the IOP (CORBA)
The Network Resource Architecture to provide modeling of Network resources in a technology
transparent way. This will promote re-use and will make it possible to provide rapid changing services on
a slow changing network environment. The Provisioning of Transport Connections to transport user data
is provided though the Transport Network.
The Service Architecture to provide the mechanisms and re-usable components to rapidly develop and
deploy (using the DPE) services.
28
TINA Architectural Separations
TINA Applications
Telecommunications Information System
DPE DPE
DPE Implementation
Native Computing &
Communications Env.
Hardware
Inter-DPE interface
e.g. IOP
TINA Service TINA Service
Components Components
TINA Network Resource TINA Network Resource
Components Components
Kernel Transport Network
Transport
Network
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/CORBA/TINA - 29
The TINA Business model provides a framework in which stakeholders (e.g.. Telcos) can set the context for
the provisioning of TINA services. It includes the concept of stakeholders, business roles, contracts and
reference points. It also provides the requirements for the TINA system to provide the TINA service(s).
Basic business roles identified so far: Customer, Retailer, 3Party Service Provider, Connectivity Provider,
Broker.
Service Architecture:
Describes the information and computational objects supporting generic functions to provide TINA services.
It provides the concept of Session (Service, Access and Communication) plus how these are combined in
TINA services for the Customers. It also deals with Service Management.
Network Resource Architecture:
Provides an abstraction of the network resources. Its Informational and Computational objects support the
functions to perform and manage connections based on Third party control paradigm and provides the
FCAPS management separation.
Distributed Processing Environment:
Provides the description of the platform services on which TINA computational objects are run. It hides the
location of the objects from its clients.
Methods:
The ODP viewpoints are applied (Business, Informational, Computational, engineering and Physical). TINA
does not address the Physical viewpoint (protocol stacks, OS descriptions) to remain technology
independent.
The tools currently used are:
StP and ObjectPartner (Verilog) to manage OMT object and relation descriptions for the Informational and
Computational viewpoints.
Platytools (based on ORBIX) to compile ODL including an IDL compiler to make computational interface
specifications executable on the DPE
ACE (CSELT) to capture ODL specifications and perform simulations based on OMT and IDL
29
What is TINA
Service Service
Architecture Architecture
Session
Concept
Network Network
Resource Resource
Architecture Architecture
D Distributed istributed P Processing rocessing E Environment nvironment
Business Model Business Model
Requirements, Reference Points
M
e
t
h
o
d
s
T
o
o
l
s
T
o
o
l
s
Objects and Objects Groups (ODL) supported by
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/CORBA/TINA - 30
This slide visualises the relationships between the different TINA components
30
Network
Provider
Retailer Consumer
TCon TCon TCon
CSLN LNFed
Bkr
Bkr Bkr
3 Pty
Ret
PA UA
Other AS
objects**
Other AS
objects**
UA
SF
Other AS
objects**
PA
GSEP95 USM SSM USM
UAP
UAP
in
s
ta
n
tia
tio
n
SSO
GSEP95
Business Model Business Model
Service Architecture Service Architecture
Components Run
On The DPE
Network Resource Architecture Network Resource Architecture
Computing
Platform
DPE DPE
TINA
System
CSM
CC
LNC
NML CP
TCMS TCSM
EML CP EML CP
NE proxy
Service Components
Elements
Network
Elements
Services
Components
Support Roles
NE proxy
roles
reference
points
Broker
3 pty Service
Provider
Ret-Ret
Bkr
3 Pty
Object (groups)
Basic TINA Components
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/CORBA/TINA - 31
The following types of businesses are identified:
Consumer: a stakeholder that consumes various services.
Retailer: sells different kinds of services to the consumers (can be compared with supermarket).
Broker: provides a specific service for getting information how to reach other stakeholders and how to find
certain services. The service which is provided by the broker is comparable with search engines in the
Internet. The broker is responsible for commercial assignments, it handles subscription, accounting, security
etc. (can be compared with an independent regulator or yellow pages).
Third-party service provider: provides services to stakeholders other than consumers (retailers or other
third-party providers). A third-party service provider could be a content provider. (can be compared with
wholesale trader).
Connectivity (network) provider: provides transport services. The connectivity provider offers an interface
the retailers and third-party service provider businesses which enables them to request connections for
offering the services to their customers.
The following Reference Points are defined between the roles:
Ret Retailer relationship
3pty Third-party service relationship
Bkr Broker relationship
TCon Terminal connection relationship
ConS Connectivity service relationship
LNFed Layer network federation relationship
CSLN Client-server layer network relationship
31
Business Roles and Reference Points
Broker
Connectivity
Provider
3 Pty Service
Provider
Retailer
Consumer
TCon
TCon TCon
CSLN
LNFed
Bkr
Bkr
Bkr
Ret-Ret
3 Pty
Ret
3 Pty
Bkr
Service Architecture
Network architecture
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/CORBA/TINA - 32
The Service Architecture defines a set of principles for providing services. It is based on the session concept
which is an important original concept of TINA. A session represents the information used by all processes
involved in the provision of a service for a certain duration. For example, in a multipoint conference, the
information about connections, charging and user profiles may change during the onference as participants
join and leave. The session helps keep such information coherent throughout the conference. A session can
also be very simple (e.g., a web search).
The notion of session is further refined to allow for separation of access, service usage, and communications,
Objects are separated into generic objects (common to all services) and service-specific objects (representing
service logic, data, management, etc.). Several sessions are defined, corresponding to different types of
activities.
The access session corresponds to the establishment of the terms and conditions of the session (e.g.,
authentication, selection of service profile) during the connection of a user to a system. It allows the user to
start service sessions, combine sessions, and participate in several services.
The service session corresponds to the provision of the service itself (e.g., moderated multiparty conference
with information retrieval capabilities) and insures overall coherence of control and management. It is
divided into: the user service session that manages the state of each user's activity (local view) and resource
attributes (e.g. charging context, current page), and the provider service session that contains the service
logic and offers the functions allowing the user to join a session, to be invited in a session, etc. (global view).
Finally the communication session provides an abstract view of the actual transport network connections.
32
Service Architecture
TINA Service Architecture provides
a generic re-usable set of components for rapid service
development and provisioning
support for a wide range of services (communication, information,
multi-party, multi-media)
management and customization of services
open interfaces supporting an open (multi-player) environment to
allow:
third party development of applications
interoperability amongst stakeholders
service, personal, terminal and session mobility
integration of non-TINA systems and services
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/CORBA/TINA - 33
Access Session:
provide initial entry for the user (e.g......... default configuration)
Manages over services sessions (e.g......... subscription data)
allows migration (downloading) of objects (software) for the usage phase
User Service Session:
manages specific resources for one user in a service session
Provider Service Session:
manages resources specific to a service, manages parties and roles and their interaction (e.g.........
negotiation)
manages constrains and QoS
manages communication
Communication Session:
supports the communication needs of the service session
manages communication resources
Difference between Call (ITU-T) and Session:
session is independent of connection (e.g........ WWW page retrieval)
session is inherently multi party
session can persist over time without the presence of a connection (maintains context in which
communication takes place)
33
Service Architecture - Session Concept
A Session is the evolution of a Call and basis for the Service Architecture
Four Session Types exist:
Access Session (service independent)
User & Provider Service Session (service dependent)
Communication Session (service independent)
User Service User Service
Session Session
Provider
Service
Session
User Service User Service
Session Session
Service Session
Communication Session
Access
Session
Access
Session
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/CORBA/TINA - 34
The main Service components (and their properties) are displayed above:
UAP: User Application (e.g teleconferencing user part, information browsing)
UA: User Agent (forms the user part of the Access Session, contains user profiles (for e.g. access rights
and security))
PA: Provider Agent (forms the provider part of the Access Session, contains initial interaction
establishment functions, can be downloaded)
SF: Service Factory (user to set establish service session components
USM: User Service Session Manager (manages the user part of the service session, contains the local view
of the service, provides user environment settings and customization for the user)
SM: Service Management related objects
SSM: Service Session Manager (manages the provider part of the service session, contains the global view
of the service)
SSO: Service Support Object (objects needed for special service functions e.g. a video bridge control)
In the following we illustrate the necessary interactions between these objects for a simple two party
multi media service.
34
Service Architecture - Components
instantiation
SF UA UA
SSO
PA PA
UAP UAP
Other SM
objects
CSM
Each Session is realized by a set of computational objects!
Provider domain
User
domain
SSM USM USM
Other SM
objects
User
domain
operational interface
stream interface
computational object
comp. object group
operational interface binding
stream interface binding
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/CORBA/TINA - 35
The Network Architecture defines a generic technology independent model for setting up connections and
managing telecommunications networks. It inherits concepts used in ITU-T and other standards bodies. It
extends these concepts to integrate network control and management software for different network
technologies. The Network Architecture has the following three layers:
The Communication Session layer provides service-independent interfaces for the service components to
manage end-to-end communication at an abstract level. Therefore, this layer concerns both network and
terminal parts of the communication.
The Connectivity Session layer abstracts all the different network technologies and provides technology-
independent interfaces for the communication session layer to interconnect network-level termination points.
It also handles interworking between different network technologies.
Finally the Layer Network is an abstract generalisation of each specific network technology. It deals with the
set-up and management of connection within a specific network technology.
35
Network Resource Architecture
The Resource Architecture provides:
Modeling of Network Resources supporting:
Binding of Stream interfaces (Connection Graph)
Management of Streams and Stream Flows
Management of Connectivity Resources (Connectivity Layer)
Information Resources (e.g. HTML pages)
(under study)
Computing Resources
= Object Management
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/CORBA/TINA - 36
The NRA Computational Objects perform the following functions:
Service Session Manager (SSM):
Establishes end to end connectivity requested bases on the user services. this request is passed on in the form
of a Logical Connection Graph.
Communication Session Manager (CSM):
Coordinates the end to end stream binding between the network part (CC) and the consumer domain part
(TCSM)
Connection Coordinator (CC):
Sets up end to end connectivity over several subnetworks both in sequential (subnetworks federate) and
hierarchical (subnetworks utilize connections set up by lower layer subnetworks).
Layer Network Coordinator (LNC):
Sets up the connection within a subnetwork. A subnetwork always comprises of a particular technology (e.g.
SDH, ATM).
Connection Performer (CP):
Sets up subnetwork connections, e.g. a path through a switch of network of switches.
36
Network Resource Architecture (cont.)
represented by
Physical CG
Terminal Public Network Terminal
represented by
Logical CG
Public Network
terminal
terminal
Computational Objects Information Objects
Service Session
Manager
Connection
Graph Logical
Connection
Graph Physical
Trail
SNC
NML Con.
Performer
NML Con.
Performer
NML Con.
Performer
NE NE NE NE NE NE NE
SNC
S
e
r
v
i
c
e
s
R
e
s
o
u
r
c
e
s
E
l
e
m
e
n
t
s
Communicatin
Session Manager
Connection
Coordinator
Layer Network
Coordinator
NML Connection
Performer
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/CORBA/TINA - 37
TINA Application Services
Application developed according to TINA-C Architecture
Example: BVPN
TINA Facilities
Generic TINA Application Services
Examples: Connection Services, User agent, ...
DPE Services:
Trader: Supports dynamic location & binding
Notification: Supports of multicast, subscribed notification
Factory: Supports instantiation of objects
DPE Kernel: support of distribution transparencies
Repository Functions: Storage/access to permanent information
Management Functions: Control of DPE processing functions
Coordination Functions: Coordination of resource usage
Security Functions: Support to security policies
Communication Functions: Support for inter-node communication
Native Communication and Computing Environment
Computing nodes and peripherals (not described by TINA)
Kernel Transport Network
Provides interconnection of DPE
37
TINA Facilities TINA Facilities
DPE Services DPE Services
DPE Kernel DPE Kernel
Native Computing Communication Environment Native Computing Communication Environment
kernel Transport Network kernel Transport Network
TINA Application Services TINA Application Services
1 2
4 5
7 8
* 0
3
6
9
#
DPE Facilities DPE Facilities
Tina Application Services
Application developed
according to TINA
Example: BVPN
Tina Facilities
Generic TINA Application
Services
Examples: Connection
Services, User agent, ...
DPE Services
Services provided by some
DPE platforms as a support to
TINA services
Example: Trader
DPE Functions
Basic functions of a DPE
Example: DPE management
Native Communication and
Computing Environment
Not described by TINA
Kernel Transport Network
Interconnection of DPE
DPE Architecture
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/CORBA/TINA - 38
TINA concepts and the inherent usage of DPE/CORBA technology are regarded as enabling technology, to
provide the necessary flexibility for the emerging telecommunication service market. The advantages of
introducing CORBA / TINA based solutions within the IN are mainly related to the possible rationalisation
of the service aspects (e.g., the integration of service management and control), to a higher level of
interoperability between applications running on DPEs, to the ability to extend service related capabilities
(e.g., several points of control for a service), scalability of the service platform, vendor independence, etc.
In general, TINA concepts may be used in the following IN areas:
Service Management: The introduction of TINA in the Service Management area seems to be promising
because there is a lack of standardised IN management solutions and TINA offers the ability to integrate
service management and control aspects by means of common objects and protocols.
Service Data: TINA could be useful for supporting distributed incall and outcall signalling related personal
profile access, in particular for personal and terminal mobility support.
Service Control: Access Session and Service Session mechanisms could be usefully adopted in order to
provide enhanced flexibility for supporting multi-party/multi-connection capabilities.
Migration of an IN-based platform toward a TINA platform means a step by step 'TINA-risation' of the IN
platform elements, i.e. specific IN functional entities will be replaced by means of appropriate TINA service
components, i.e. COs on top of a DPE.
38
From IN to TINA
Introduction of TINA /DPE technology in specific IN domains
management
control
switching
Advantages
Integration of service control and management
Reuse and extensibility of service components
Step-by-step TINA-risation of the IN
replacement of IN elements by means of TINA computational objects
stepwise extension of DPE (CORBA) domain is prerequisite!
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/CORBA/TINA - 39
39
DPE
DPE
INAP
DPE
AU
SCF SDF
SSF
SMF
Pure IN Step 1 Step 2 - Pure TINA
DPE
TINA objects
DPE
TINArized SMF and SCF/SDF
CMIP
DPE
AU
Progr.
Switch
Service
Management
Service
Control
Service
Switching
From IN to TINA (cont.)
SSF
The following evolution steps seem to be most likely in this context, as illustrated above:
1. Harmonised TINArisation of IN Service Control, Data and Management
This scenario promotes the harmonised TINArisation of the SMF, SCF, SDF in order to take full advantage of
the TINA service architecture and the object-oriented approach. Only the SSF remains IN compliant, since it
represents the biggest IN investment. This scenario allows network operators to keep the existing Basic Call
State Model (BCSM) and the INAP interfaces in operation as long as possible/required. This means that IN
service control and service management are TINArised, i.e. are implemented by means of appropriate TINA
COs on top of a DPE. Note that this could be realised in a TINA-based IN Service Node or in a real distributed
manner by a collection of distributed TINA nodes. Correspondingly dedicated AUs are required in order to
enable the interworking between the TINA COs implementing IN SCF/SDF and IN SMF capabilities, and the
IN SSF for the sake of service control and management. One basic rationale for an operator to adopt this
migration step is to introduce TINA concepts for the realisation of IN services on top of an existing
narrowband network, particularly for new operators without existing IN service infrastructure.
2. TINA to the switch
This scenario goes one step beyond the previous one by also replacing the IN SSF. Therefore it represents the
ultimate evolution step toward TINA. This scenario will be interesting with the introduction of new
(broadband) switch generations, such as emerging programmable switches, which offer a very granular
interface in order to control switching functions. This (proprietary) interface is described in terms of events
(sent from the switch to the host controller) and commands (sent from the host computer to the switch). In this
sense the "call processing" could be aligned to the TINA "call control" capabilities (i.e., the TINA service and
connection management architecture). By this approach the INAP interface is no longer required and the
exchanges can directly invoke the operations provided by the TINA computational objects via the DPE.
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/CORBA/TINA - 40
Below we assume that IN services, i.e. IN service logic and data, will be realised by appropriate COs in the
TINA environment. In this context we concentrate on the AU between an IN SSF and the TINA part, also
called IN(-SCF)-AU. The AU looks from the IN side as an SCF, whereas on the TINA side the AU behaves
like a TINA (end user) system comprising multiple COs and maps SS7-based INAP operations invoked by
the IN SSF into TINA CO method invocations via a DPE and vice versa. Thereby, the AU enables the
establishment of a (service) control relationship between an SSF in the IN domain and a Service Session
Manager (SSM) in the TINA domain, i.e. the TINA SSM controls the IN SSF and the related Connection
Control Function (CCF) in the switch through the AU.
Freephone Example
1.-2. Call will be initiated by a TINA user from a non-TINA terminal identical to the previous scenario.
3. SSM will receive from the UAP a service invitation for the called party.
4.-5. SSM contacts the corresponding named UA of the called party, the UA of the called party interacts
with the other access session objects, such as a personal profile CO, which returns the appropriate terminal
information (in accord to time of day or call origin, etc.).
6. This information is used by the SSM to deliver the invitation to the UAP of the called party.
7. In case of an acceptance, the SSM generates a logical connection graph, from the AU Bridge to the end
system of the called TINA User, which will be passed to the CSM.
8.-9.The CSM creates a physical connection graph and delivers it to the CC. The CC establishes via the LNC
and TLNCs the connection from the AU Bridge to the end system of the called TINA User.
9. In parallel the AU sends a Connect INAP Operation to the SSF in order to establish via the CCF a
connection from the initiating switch to the AU bridge.
10. The connection is established. Charging treatment is not considered in the example!
40
Freephone Service Implementation with TINA
TINA-based service implementation with IN-based service access
IN service features relate mostly to TINA Access Session
Connection establishment via SSF and TINA Connection Management
CSM
UA
Ret-RP
UAP
PA
TLNC
TCSN
LNC
TCon-RP
UAP
PA
TLNC
TCSN TCSN
UA
CC
TINA End user
System
1
2
3
4
5
6
7 10
8
9
9
10
9'
TINA based Part IN based Part
SSF
SSM
SCF
Adaptation
Unit
Bridge
IN Switch
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/CORBA/TINA - 41
The best forum to watch out for the IN migration towards TINA is the TINA-IN Working Group.
The TINA-IN-Workgroup has been created beginning of April 1998 as part of the structure of the TINA
Forum, with the objective of assessing and fostering the evolution of Intelligent Network specifications and
products towards TINA. The ultimate goal of the work group is to enable the development of industrial
quality software products, by proposing implementable specifications to real business needs. Thus, the work
group will continuously be in line with market needs and business opportunities related to IN and IN
evolution, such as:
Existing IN services that need integration with other IN or non-IN services,
New IN services that could take advantage of TINA capabilities (i.e. distribution of intelligence,
connection management),
Web and IN convergence, like service interaction requiring IN connection management (e.g. click2dial), or
IN service customization and management using Web access ;
Services that span PSTN and corporate telephone networks domains (CTI and IN convergence).
Membership:
The three traditional types of actors of TINA can find interest in joining and influencing the TINA-IN-WG,
and in using its results : Telecom operators, Telecom vendors and IT vendors.
A web page dedicated to the TINA-IN-WG is available at http://www.tinac.com/98/WORKGROUPS/IN/
Main.htm.
The charter (Green Paper) can be found under http://www.tinac.com/98/WORKGROUPS/IN/General/
GreenPaper.html
The group is open to any TINA member company, and any company (whether TINA member or not) is
invited to answer to any RFP issued (see next slide).
Contact: Didier GUY - CNET DAC/ARP, FRANCE TELECOM ([email protected])
41
TINA-IN Interworking Working Group
TINA-IN-Workgroup has been created April`98 as part of the TINA Forum
Objective: Assess and foster the evolution of IN specifications and
products towards TINA, primarily to enable the development of
industrial quality software products
Thus, the work group will continuously be in line with market needs and
business opportunities related to IN and IN evolution, such as:
Existing IN services that need integration with other IN or non-IN services,
New IN services that could take advantage of TINA capabilities (i.e.
distribution of intelligence, connection management),
Web and IN convergence, like service interaction requiring IN connection
management (e.g. click2dial), or IN service customization and management
using Web access,
Services that span PSTN and corporate telephone networks domains (CTI
and IN convergence).
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/CORBA/TINA - 42
Application of TINA principles and concepts to IN evolution
As already mentioned, the TINA-IN-WG deals with IN to TINA evolution. Part of the work, dedicated to
CORBA and SS7 interworking, is currently carried out by OMG (Object Management Group) with the
CORBA/IN RFP (Request For Proposal). However, migration to TINA needs more than the ability for a
CORBA application (e.g. CORBA SCP) to interwork with SS7-enabled switching equipments.
Evolution from IN to TINA also deals with applying TINA generic concepts to the specific domain of
Intelligent Networks (including current status and foreseen evolutions), which means for instance assessment
of the impact of TINA on IN business model and on IN elements design (SCP, IP...).
To be more specific, topics to be studied will include:
mapping of TINA access, usage and communication sessions in an IN context ;
TINA architectural design (information and computational modeling) of the traditional IN triggering and
access to services and of IN connection management ; this topic may include the design of TINA-endorsed
Adaptation Units ;
definition of the role of the Intelligent Peripheral (IP) according to TINA concepts, including switching
from a signaling approach (through INAP) to a management approach (CORBA-IP and connection
management).
42
Application of TINA Concepts & Principles to IN
Part of the work, dedicated to CORBA and SS7 interworking, is
currently carried out by OMG
However, migration to TINA needs more, i.e. application of TINA
generic concepts to the specific domain of Intelligent Networks
Topics to be studied will include:
Mapping of TINA access, usage and communication sessions in
an IN context,
TINA architectural design (information and computational
modeling) of the traditional IN triggering and access to services
and of IN connection management (may include the design of
TINA-endorsed Adaptation Units),
Definition of the role of the Intelligent Peripheral (IP) according to
TINA concepts, including switching from a signaling approach
(through INAP) to a management approach (CORBA-IP and
connection management).
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/CORBA/TINA - 43
Work Progress
To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the TINA-IN-WG will issue Requests For Refinements &
Specifications (RFR/Ss) related to the evolution of IN towards TINA, evaluate responses and submit them to
the TINA Architecture Board (TAB) and TINA Forum (TF) for endorsement as TINA specifications.
According to the industry target mentioned above, TINA-IN-WG specifications should be based on
prototypes or already available products, in order to meet current market demand, or have a significant
influence on industry standards. Moreover, specifications should reach long-term stabilization by
cooperating with recognized standard bodies.
This means that the TINA-IN-WG will coordinate its work with bodies such as ETSI NA6, ITU_T SG11,
IETF PINT, OMG Telecom Domain Task Force, JAIN (Java Advanced Intelligent Network) and IN Forum.
Workplan and results achieved in 1998:
Business cases identification for IN to TINA migration (http://www.tinac.com/98/WORKGROUPS/IN/
Work/Business/TINA-IN-BusCases.doc)
TINA/IN triggering and connection management RFP release recently renamed into RFP on "IN access to
TINA services & Connection management (IN-TINA Adaptation Unit)" in October 1998 (http://
www.tinac.com/98/WORKGROUPS/IN/RFPs/IN-TINA-AU/IN-TINA-AU.html)
Web/IN integration in TINA RFP release (http://www.tinac.com/98/WORKGROUPS/IN/Work/Web-IN/
Web-IN.html)
SCP-SCP ' la TINA' white paper
43
TINA-IN WG Work Plan (1998)
The WG issues Requests for Proposals (RFP)
Business cases identification for IN to TINA migration
TINA / IN triggering and connection management RFP renamed
into "IN access to TINA services & Connection management (IN-
TINA Adaptation Unit)"
Web/IN integration in TINA RFP
SCP-SCP ' la TINA' white paper
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/CORBA/TINA - 44
RFP on "IN access to TINA services & Connection management (IN-TINA Adaptation Unit)" has been
issued in October 1998 (http://www.tinac.com/98/WORKGROUPS/IN/RFPs/IN-TINA-AU/IN-TINA-
AU.html), Editor: Didier Guy, France Tlcom, Contributing companies: France Tlcom, GMD-Fokus,
Alcatel, CSELT, Deutsche Telekom, Nortel.
The introduction of TINA concepts and products in IN will certainly raise issues related to interactions
between legacy-IN world and emerging TINA world. One of these issues relates to interactions between
DPE-based software (i.e. CORBA-based SCP) and SS7-INAP enabled network elements (SSPs). This issue
is currently tackled by the OMG Telecom Domain Task Force. A second issue, much closer to what TINA
architecture deals with, relates to the service layer itself. According to TINA, telecommunication services
are designed following Business Model and Service Architecture principles, and relying on the Network
Resource Architecture for all that concerns network issues. In object oriented terms, TINA defines an object-
framework for distributed-object implementations of telecommunication services, whatever these services
might be. In particular, TINA has identified business roles and reference points that help designing and
reusing software telecommunication service elements.
However, this framework has to be adapted in order to be used in a legacy IN world, since some of the
concepts of TINA do not yet map well with IN, and vice-versa. In fact, TINA clearly identifies concepts like
access session, service session and communication session, where IN deals with triggering, Basic Call State
Model and call management.
When evolving from IN to TINA, two functions are to be dealt with, which can be provided by the
Adaptation Unit this RFP is seeking solutions for:
1. Managing and/or controlling access to TINA services through IDL-defined operations invocations that
correspond to INAP primitives; as an example, establishing access and service sessions from INAP InitialDP
and other primitives;
2. Managing narrow-band connections (i.e. telephone calls) from a TINA service layer; this means end-to-
end connections establishment, release and monitoring via IDL-defined operations invocations and
receptions.
For both functions, it is assumed that the IN-TINA Adaptation Unit will manage an SS7/INAP - IDL
translation.
44
RFP on IN access to TINA services & Connection management
(IN-TINA Adaptation Unit)
The following time table will be applied:
Oct 16, 1998 Release of the RFP
Nov 27, 1998 Reception of LoI by submitters
Feb 19, 1999 Reception of submissions
4 submissions received (BT, DT&FT, Lucent, Alcatel)!
April 2, 1999 Evaluation of submissions
July 23, 1999 Revised submissions Deadline for reception of
revised submission
Sept. 3, 1999 Final evaluation
Oct. 15, 1999 Final adoption of proposal by TINA
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/CORBA/TINA - 45
Useful References for further studies
B. Kitson: "CORBA and TINA: The Architectural Relationship", in: Proceedings of the 5th TINA
Workshop, pp. 371-386, Melbourne, Australia, February 1995
C.A.Licciardi et.al.: Would you use TINA in your IN based Network?, pp. 35-40, Int. Conference on IN
(ICIN), Bordeaux, France, November 1996
C. Capellmann et.al.: "Migration Scenarios for Evolving to TINA", Proceedings of the 6th TINA
Conference, ISBN: 3-8007-2201, Heidelberg, Germany, September 3-5, 1996
U. Herzog, T. Magedanz: "From IN toward TINA- Potential Migration Steps", 4th Int. Conference on
Intelligence in Services and Networks (IS&N), Como, Italy, May 1997, pp. 219-228, A. Mullery et al. (Eds),
ISBN: 3-540-63135-6, Springer Verlag, 1997
U. Herzog, T. Magedanz: "Intelligent Networks and TINA - Migration and Interworking Issues", Int.
Switching Symposium (ISS), Toronto, Canada, September 21-26,1997
EURESCOM Project P508 White Paper: "CORBA as an Enabling Factor for Migration from IN to TINA:
A P508 Perspective", OMG DTC Document: telecom/97-01-01.xxx, January 1997
A.Couturier, L.-P. Anquetil, "Implementing an IN Service ' la TINA'", Proc. of 7th IEEE Intelligent
Network Workshop, pp. 195-206, May 1998
T.Eckardt, D.Guy, P.Kielhfer, V.Prbaskine, A.Akram, "A TINA Trial: Interworking Experience with
the Legacy Telephone System", Proc. of TINA'97, pp. 70-77, Nov 1997
P.Kielhfer, T.Magedanz, U.Scholz, P.Schoo, "A TINA Service Node for IN Environments", Proc. of
ICIN'98, pp.133-138, May 1998
Y.Lu, P.Foliant, J.P.Van der Bijl, E.Teseling, R.SChiellius, W. Levelt, J.Kroeze, "Universal Services
Platform: Implementing TINA-based service platform over the existing infrastructure", Proceedings of
ICIN'98, pp.144-148, May 1998
45
Conclusions
Modelling of Service Control and Management Objects for IN Services
based on CORBA requires an additional structure/framework
TINA architecture provides this additional framework gaining
increasing acceptance in the telecom world
TINA Service Architecture can be seen as an OMG Object Management
Architecture (OMA) Vertical Facility
IN/CORBA Interworking is prerequisite for IN-TINA migration
(OMG work started!)
TINA provides guidance for CORBA-based IN implementation
(TINA-IN WG work started!)
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/CORBA/TINA - 46
Useful References for further studies
D.K. Brown: Practical Issues Involved in the Architectural evolution from IN to TINA, pp. 270-275, Int.
Conference on IN (ICIN), Bordeaux, France, October 1994
L. Demounem, H. Zuidweg: On the Co-existence of IN and TINA, pp. 131-148, TINA 95, Melbourne,
Australia, February 1995
B. Kitson: "CORBA and TINA: The Architectural Relationship", in: Proceedings of the 5th TINA
Workshop, pp. 371-386, Melbourne, Australia, February 1995
C.A.Licciardi et.al.: Would you use TINA in your IN based Network?, pp. 35-40, Int. Conference on IN
(ICIN), Bordeaux, France, November 1996
C. Capellmann et.al.: "Migration Scenarios for Evolving to TINA", Proceedings of the 6th TINA
Conference, ISBN: 3-8007-2201, Heidelberg, Germany, September 3-5, 1996
U. Herzog, T. Magedanz: "From IN toward TINA- Potential Migration Steps", 4th Int. Conference on
Intelligence in Services and Networks (IS&N), Como, Italy, May 1997, pp. 219-228, A. Mullery et al. (Eds),
ISBN: 3-540-63135-6, Springer Verlag, 1997
U. Herzog, T. Magedanz: "Intelligent Networks and TINA - Migration and Interworking Issues", Int.
Switching Symposium (ISS), Toronto, Canada, September 21-26,1997
EURESCOM Project P508 White Paper: "CORBA as an Enabling Factor for Migration from IN to TINA:
A P508 Perspective", OMG DTC Document: telecom/97-01-01.xxx, January 1997
T. Magedanz, U. Scholz, P. Schoo: A TINA Service Node for IN Environments - A First Step in IN-TINA
Evolution, International Conference on Intelligent Networks (ICIN), Bourdeaux, France, May 13-15, 1998
46
Conclusions
Modelling of Service Control and Management Objects for IN Services
based on CORBA requires an additional structure/framework
TINA architecture provides this additional framework gaining
increasing acceptance in the telecom world
TINA Service Architecture can be seen as an OMG Open Management
Architecture (OMA) vertical facility
IN/CORBA Interworking is prerequisite for IN-TINA migration
TINA provides guidance for CORBA-based IN implementation
TINA Service Node is the first step toward TINA-based IN
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Mobile Agents - 1
This part introduces emerging Mobile Agents (MAs) concepts, technologies and standards. In contrast to the
early days of agent mania, today agent technology will be integrated with CORBA technology , where the
OMG Mobile Agent System Interoperability Function (MASIF) represents an important step.
An application area which could potentially benefit greatly from the success of agent technology, but is also
among the most challenging application fields possible, is the field of telecommunications. The rationale
behind this viewpoint is the assumption that intelligent mobile agents may enable new and much more
flexible and efficient ways for the distribution of control and management in telecommunication systems.
We will see how an MA-based IN environment can be constracted by introducing MA platforms into IN
elements, thereby enabling the concept of intelligence on demand.
IN and Mobile Agents
IN and Mobile Agents
Mobile Agent Basics
MA-based IN Environments
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Mobile Agents - 2
Within the last five years the paradigm of Intelligent and Mobile Agents has gained momentum in the field
of software engineering. Agents are autonomous, asynchronous and intelligent software entities which, in
order to fulfil their tasks, can migrate to and reside in a number of networked nodes. A variety of agent
languages, architectures and platforms have been developed within the last three years in academia and
industry, including AgentTCL, Telescript, Tabriz, Active X, Java and a variety of Java enhancements, such
as Aglets, Voyager, Odyssey, etc. However, all of these developments are incompatible with each other and
designed for specific environments and application domains. One main reason was the lack of standards and
consequently a lack of a unique agent definition. It is to be noted that the work on the standardization of
more generic agent platforms and facilities has started late in 1996/7 within the FIPA, OMG and IETF.
The application of the agent technology, however, has already a history and spreads over many areas,
including user interface/personal assistance, mobile computing, information retrieval & filtering, data
mining, smart massaging, the electronic marketplace, and telecommunication services control and service /
network management. The last two areas represent still new application fields for agent technology, now
rapidly gaining importance in the problem area addressed by the emerging open telecommunication and
information environments.
Fortunately there is today a common understanding that mobile agent technology should be seen as an
enhancement of distributed object technology rather than a replacement. The reason is that both technologies
offer advantages in different aspects, which only collectively provide the maximum flexibility in application
design.
Therefore the recent OMG work on a Mobile Agent System Interoperability Facility (MASIF) specification
can be regarded as a milestone on the road toward a unified distributed mobile object middleware, which
enables technology and location transparent interactions between static and mobile objects. However, the
MASIF is just the starting point for implementation of common agent platforms, since it concentrates only
on the interoperability support between different agent systems.
In the following we provide a brief introduction to mobile agent concepts, illustrates what basic
functionalities are covered by todays mobile agent platforms, what functionality is covered by the MASIF
specification and upcoming MASIF conform mobile agent platform. In particular, we illustrate how such
MA platform could be used to establish an MA-based IN environment, which provides intelligence on
demand.
Introduction
Agent paradigm has gained momentum in th e early 90s
NO unique Agent definition
many languages, platforms, application areas
Basic agent issues
Intelligent Agent + Mobile Agents = Intelligent Mobile Agents?
Agent versus Distributed Object Computing platforms
Agent standards appeared in 1997 (FIPA, OMG MASIF)
MASIF conform platforms are coming integrating MA and CORBA
Telecommunications is a promising MA application area:
Intelligence on demand, flexible intelligence (logic) distribution
IN and TMN will be impacted by MA technology
MA-Based IN Enviroments are going to be prototyped right now!
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Mobile Agents - 3
The term "Agent" is associated with various expectations and is used in many different contexts. Thus no
Agent definition exists.
However, the following attributes are typical for agents: An agent is a self-contained software element
responsible for performing part of a programmatic process. Therefore, it contains some level of intelligence,
ranging from predefined rules up to self-learning AI inference machines. It acts typically on behalf of a user
or a process enabling task automation.
Agents operate rather autonomously and asynchronously to the user (they are often event or time triggered)
and may communicate with the user, system resources and other agents as required to perform their task.
Moreover, more advanced agents may cooperate with other agents to carry out tasks beyond the capability of
a single agent.
Finally, as mobile or even active objects, they may move from one system to another to access remote
resources or even meet other agents and cooperate with them.
Agent Definition
There is no unique Agent Definition!
BUT: Agents can be characterised by their attributes / properties
The only common attribute is Autonomy
an agent exercises control over its own activities
Complementary (but not mandatory) attributes
Intelligence (goals, reasoning, planning, learning)
Mobility (remote execution vs. migration)
Social ability (communication vs. cooperation)
many others depending on application domain and origin
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Mobile Agents - 4
Intelligent Agent Principles
Intelligent Agents origin is Distributed Artificial Intelligence (DAI)
Believe - Desire - Intention (BDI) Agents
Reactiveness vs. Proactivenes
Most important aspect is inter-Agent Communication (based on
Speech Act Theory)
Agent Communication Language (ACL)
Communication Language versus Content Language
Communication
Agent
Communication
Language
Content Language/
Ontology
Communication
Language
Content
Layer
Message
Layer
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Mobile Agents - 5
Benefits of Intelligent Agents
Distributed problem solving
Negotiation capabilities
Proactiveness - Learning capabilities
Adaptability of functionality and interfaces
Interoperability via high level Agent Communication
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Mobile Agents - 6
In contrast to static agents, which remain in a single location throughout their entire life time, mobile agents roam the
network to perform their tasks. All aspects of an agents behavior including execution, communication and agent
mobility are supported by respective support services of an agent run-time environment. Allowing agents to move
around enables them to perform their tasks locally, i.e. at the location where the involved resources/entities are located.
This concept is often referred to as Remote Programming. Remote programming represents an alternative to the
traditional client/server interaction paradigm, where static components located at different computers communicate
remotely via a Remote Procedure Call (RPC) mechanism.
Generally, two levels of agent mobility can be identified:
Remote Execution: An agent (i.e. program code and data) is transferred to a remote system, where it is activated and
executed in its entirety. In the context of its remote execution the agent will then interact with resource objects located
at the receiving server host (e.g. at agent system B - not illustrated). After performing its task(s), the agent may either
be destroyed or it may stay at the server host in a dormant state in order to be re-activated at a later time.
Agent Migration: In the course of its execution, an active agent may move from one node to another node in order to
accomplish its task progressively. An agent environment supporting agent migration allows active agents to suspend
their execution, to move to another node in the network, and to resume execution from the point where it was
suspended. This requires the preservation of the agents execution state. Migrating agents may return to the originating
host in order to deliver specific results.
Mobile Agent Principles
Trend coined by Telescript and Java!
Idea is shipping code to data vs. remote communication (RPC)
Two approaches:
Remote execution
Agent transfer (code and data) before Task execution
Migration
Agent transfer during Task(s) execution, i.e. Agent performs specific task(s) at
different nodes (Agent decides when and where to go )
In addition to code/data, also execution state has to be transferred!
Agent
System A
Agent
System C
Agent
System B
Agent
System A
Agent
System B
Remote Execution
Migration
Code
Code
& State
Code
& State
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Mobile Agents - 7
The envisaged advantages of Intelligent Mobile Agents:
Asynchronous/autonomous task execution, i.e. client systems releasing agents may terminate, while agent
controls task execution
Reduction of network traffic and client processing power (depends on agent size and interaction pattern),
ie. weak clients may outsource tasks and low bandwidth environments (e.g. wireless) may be used, since
interactions are performed locally and only results may be trasnfered via the network.
Robustness: reduction of dependence of network availability and client/server availability, i.e. already
migrated agents are not anymore affected by network failures/breakdowns
Automation of distributed task processing, i.e. agent performs predefined task at different places
Decentralised / local task processing (control & management), i.e. dedicated agents are travelling close to
the resources and thereby enabling better performance through load balancing
Flexibility: On-demand software distribution / service provisioning
Network-centric computing / flexible end user systems, i.e. modular service structure allows to download
required or new functionality to the end system
Adaptation/Combination of existing services, i.e. agents may act as gateways or filters integrating even
multiple services
Benefits of Mobile Agents
Asynchronous/autonomous task execution
Reduction of network traffic and client processing power
Robustness: reduction of dependence of network availability and
client/server availability
Automation of distributed task processing
Decentralised / local task processing (control & management)
Flexibility: On-demand software distribution / service provisioning
Network-centric computing / flexible end user systems
Adaptation/Combination of existing services
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Mobile Agents - 8
MA Benefits (cont.)
Automation of distributed task processing
MA performs specific activities at different places
Source System
Target Systems
Agent
System A
Agent
System B
Server
Agent
System C
Server
Agenda:
Do this at B;
Do that at C;
Come back!
Do this
Do that
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Mobile Agents - 9
MA Benefits (cont.)
Decentralised / local task processing (control & management)
enables better performance, reliability, security, etc.
Agent
System A
Agent
System B
Client
Server
System A
System B
Client
Server
Controller
System C
Client
Server
Agent
System C
Client
Server
Controller
Controller
Controller
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Mobile Agents - 10
MA Benefits (cont.)
Flexibility: On-demand and customised service distribution
instant downloading of service clients from service providers to service
users
also servers may be extended or replaced dynamically
Agent Provider
System A
Customer
System
Service Provider
System
Step 1: Downloading
Step 2: Service Usage
Clients
Servers
Agent Provider
System B
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Mobile Agents - 11
Agent Execution Support: An agent platform must provide the capability to create mobile agents, taking into account
agent-specific requirements regarding the runtime environment. Before the creation, the platform has to retrieve the
agents code, that may either be delivered during the creation request, or downloaded separately from an external code
base.
Management Support: It is necessary for agent administrators to be able to monitor and control their agents. The control
aspect comprises among others the temporary interruption of an agents task execution, its premature termination, or
the modification of its task. The monitoring of an agent is associated with its localization in the scope of the whole
distributed environment. Regarding an agent system, all hosted agents as well as the occupied system resources have to
be monitored and controlled by the system administrator.
Security Support: The privacy and integrity of agents as well as agent systems must be guaranteed throughout their
entire lifetimes. This requirement comprises the encryption and decryption of agents during migration, the
authentication and authorization of agents and agent systems, and access control regarding the resources of an agent
system or even of an agent offering some functionality.
Mobility Support: A special mobility support must be provided by the platform, supporting remote execution as well as
migration. Note that the mobility aspect cannot be sufficiently handled without regarding the security support
mentioned above.
Support for Unique Identification: Mobile agents as well as agent systems have to be uniquely identifiable in the scope
of the entire agent environment. Thus, special support is required for the generation of unique agent identifiers.
Transaction Support: An important requirement is the support of correct and reliable execution of agents in presence of
concurrency and occurrence of failures. Therefore, transaction support must be provided.
Communication Support: Agents should be able to communicate with each other as well as with platform services.
Several mechanisms are possible, such as messages, method invocation or a blackboard mechanism. Communication
through messages may be done point-to-point, by multicasting or broadcasting. Furthermore, agent communication
includes support for semantic analysis.
Basic Agent Platform Services
Agent
Management
Service
Security
Service
Agent
Transport
Service
Enhanced
Services
Agent System
Network
ID
Generator
Information
Base
Agent
Execution
Service
Agent
Communication
Service
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Mobile Agents - 12
Telescript from General Magic: In 1991, General Magic provided one of the first operational agent environments,
comprising an agent programming language (Telescript) and an execution platform. Despite the very good design and
functionality, the lack of interoperability with other languages and platforms hindered the acceptance of Telescript.
Odyssey from General Magic: After canceling the Telescript project, General Magic provided Odyssey which is a
completely Java-based agent environment. Odyssey runs on any platform that supports JDK 1.1 or higher. Mobile
agents are transferred via Java RMI, Microsofts DCOM or CORBA IIOP. The Odyssey concepts are strongly related
to Telescript. However, it is not possible to realize the entire Telescript functionality with pure Java. Odyssey will be
enhanced in order to become compliant to the OMG MAF standard.
Aglets Workbench (AWB) from IBM: AWB is a Java-based environment for the construction and operation of mobile
agents, consisting of development tools, libraries and ready-to-run agent system components. AWB runs on any
platform that supports JDK 1.0.2 plus RMI preBeta2, JDK 1.1 or higher. For agent transport, AWB uses Java sockets
and a special agent transfer protocol. The whole Workbench comprises the required Framework APIs, a visual agent
manager, and an agent Web launcher. An enhancement of the AWB is planned in order to satisfy the OMG MAF
standard .
Voyager from ObjectSpace: Voyager is a Java-based, agent-enhanced Object Request Broker (ORB), running on all
platforms that support JDK 1.1. Voyager allows the development of network applications using both the traditional
client/server paradigm and agent technology. Agents use the ORB for migration, and an integration of Microsofts
DCOM is planned. Besides, agent communication is supported by means of local and remote message transfer.
Grasshopper from IKV++: Grasshopper is an agent platform that is also entirely implemented in Java, thus running on
platforms supporting JDK 1.1. Besides, it is built on top CORBA and thus, like Voyager, combines the client/server
paradigm and mobile agent technology. Agents are transferred via CORBA IIOP or Java RMI. Apart from a distributed
agent runtime environment, Grasshopper provides various plug-ins to enhance the core functionality of agents and
agent systems. Grasshopper is developed compliant to the OMG MASIF (http://www.ikv.de/products/
grasshopper.html).
Mobile Agent Platform Products
Today the following agent products represent the state of the art:
Telescript (General Magic) is not supported any more!
Aglets Workbench (IBM)
Concordia (Mitsubishi)
Grasshopper (IKV++)
Odyssey (General Magic)
Voyager (Object Space)
All platforms are Java-based!
These platforms just cover basic infrastructure for Agents!
IN ADDITION: application specific wrappers/gateways are needed!
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Mobile Agents - 13
Today distributed object computing technology / middleware, such as OMGs Common Object Request
Broker Architecture (CORBA), has gained considerable acceptance in the telecommunications systems.
Particularly, TMN and IN are currently targeted for the introduction of CORBA technology, in order to
achieve more flexibility in terms of software distribution, interoperability of heterogeneous platforms and
particularly integration of legacy technologies.
On the other hand, mobile agent technology is currently gaining momentum in many domains (particularly
in telecommunications), too. However, the mobile agent paradigm has been adopted by many people as
some kind of religion, which prohibits somehow the usage of Remote Procedure Calls (RPCs) across a
network for client/server communication.
Hence in the last years mobile agent technology had to be regarded as another technology incompatible with
current distributed object technology. But in order to support various applications in a flexible and efficient
way, sometimes RPCs are necessary or more sensible than shipping agents back and forth. On the other hand
only mobile agent technology enables the distribution of intelligence on demand.
Fortunately there is today a common understanding that mobile agent technology should be seen as an
enhancement of distributed object technology rather than a replacement. The reason is that both technologies
offer advantages in different aspects, which only collectively provide the maximum flexibility in application
design.
Integration of DOC and MA Technology
DPE DPE
Agent
System A
Agent
System B
MA Technology
DOC Technology
Object
Object
DPE X
Agent
System A
DPE Y DPE Z
Agent
System B
Basic Services
Messaging, RPCs
Locations
Transport
Cooperation
Object
Object
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Mobile Agents - 14
This slide depicts a general structure of a CORBA-based MA platform. The actual runtime environments for
mobile agents are called agencies. Each agency consists of one or more places that provide specific
resources (e.g. services, memory, file system access, etc.). This concept has been proved to be valuable by
several existing platforms, in the first place Telescript. Agencies may be grouped to regions in order to
facilitate management operations. E.g. a region can be associated to a single authority, providing certain
security policies for each comprised agency. The agent transport as well as further interactions between
distinguished DAE and non DAE components are performed via CORBA. In this way, legacy services, like
e.g. a CORBA trading, naming, or event service can be used to enhance the platform functionality in a very
comfortable manner.
The core agency comprises only those capabilities that are inevitably necessary for the maintenance of the
agency itself, as well as for the execution and migration of mobile agents. Additional, application-dependent
functionality is realized by modular and reusable building blocks that can easily be plugged into a core
agency. Examples of building blocks are adapter services for the access of telecommunication hardware or
sophisticated communication services. In this way, any requirements regarding desired functionality or
hardware restrictions can be met.
Integration of DOC and MA Technology (cont.)
Communication Channel (ORB)
User
Application
Non
Agent-based Service
Agent-based
Service
Region
Agency
Resources
Place
Resources
Place
Resources
Agency
Resources
Place
Resources
Human User
Region
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Mobile Agents - 15
Agent Standardization Activities
1) Object Management Group (OMG)
According to an OMG request for proposal, Crystaliz, General Magic, GMD FOKUS, IBM, and The Open Group are
developing the Mobile Agent System Interoprability Facility (MASIF) as a standard for mobile agent technology. The
standard comprises, among others, CORBA IDL specifications supporting agent transport and management, including
localization capabilities. The objective is to enable interoperability between agent platforms of different manufacturers.
For the details see: http://www.omg.org/library/schedule/Mobile_Agents_Facility_RFP.htm. In autumn 1998, an Agent
Special Interest Group (SIG) has been established. See for details: http://www.objs.com/isig/home.htm
2) Foundation for Intelligent Physical Agents (FIPA)
FIPA has developed in 1997 a seven-part specification called FIPA 97. The three main specification documents are
focusing on agent management, defining an agent communication language, and dealing with agent/software
interaction. Besides, four application design tests have been developed in order to validate these specifications. These
comprise Personal travel assistance, Personal assistant, Audio-visual entertainment and broadcasting, and Network
management and provisioning. In 1998 FIPA started work on an enhanced set of specfications, called FIPA`98. In
addition to modifications and extensions of FIPA'97 specifications, FIPA'98 also contains six new parts. These are:
Human Agent Interaction, Product Design and Manufacturing Agents, Agent Security Management, Agent
Management Support for Mobility, Ontology Service, and a FIPA97 Developers Guide. FIPA URL is: http://
www.fipa.org/
Agent Standardisation Overview
1) Object Management Group (OMG)
ORBOS Group looked at Mobile Agent Platform interoperability from 1996-1997
Mobile Agent System Interoperability Facility (MASIF) specification
http://www.omg.org/library/schedule/Mobile_Agents_Facility_RFP.htm
Agent Special Interest Group (SIG) started work in late 1998
Green Paper under production
http://www.objs.com/isig/agents.html
2) Foundation for Intelligent Physical Agents (FIPA)
Intelligent Agent interoperability -> agent communication
FIPA `97 Specifications cover agent management, agent communication
language definition, and agent/software interaction
FIPA `98 includes also security and mobility support, human-machine
interactions and an ontology service
Besides, application design tests have been developed
http://www.fipa.org
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Mobile Agents - 16
The Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA) has been established as an important standard,
enhancing the original RPC based architectures by allowing relatively free and transparent distribution of
service functionality. Besides, mobile agent technology has been proved to be suitable for the improvement
of todays distributed systems. Due to its benefits, such as dynamic, on-demand provision and distribution of
services, reduction of network traffic and the reduction of dependence regarding server failures, various
problems and inefficiencies of todays client/server architectures can be handled by means of this new
paradigm. However, for several applications RPCs still represent a powerful and efficient solution. Thus, an
integrated approach is desirable, combining the benefits of both client/server and mobile agent technology,
and on the other hand eliminating or at least minimizing the problems that rise if one of these techniques is
used as stand-alone solution. This slide shows this integrated approach by means of a distributed agent
environment (DAE) that is built on top of a CORBA distributed processing environment (DPE).
Today, the CORBA standards gain high acceptance in the world of distributed computing. Various service
specifications have been developed, providing standardized, implementation-independent interfaces and a
common protocol, and thus enabling a high degree of interoperability between applications of distinguished
manufacturers. In contrast to this, mobile agent technology is driven by a huge variety of different
approaches regarding implementation languages, protocols, platform architectures and functionality. In order
to achieve a sufficient integration with CORBA, a standard is required for mobile agent technology. This
standard has to handle interoperability between distinguished agent platforms, and the usability of (legacy)
CORBA services by agent-based components.
Therefore OMG issued a Request for Proposal (Common Facilities RFP3) for a mobile agent facility in
November 1995. After the failure of former proposals, the Mobile Agent System Interoperability Facility
(MASIF) submission, written by Crystaliz, General Magic, GMD FOKUS, IBM, and The Open Group, has
been sent to the OMG for voting in November 1997. The OMG adopted the submission in spring 1998.
Availability of MASIF-compliant agent platforms are expected for end of 1998.
The MASIF (formerly MAF) RFP is available through ftp://ftp.omg.org/pub/docs/1995/95-11-03.rtf.
The submitted MASIF specification is available through ftp://ftp.omg.org/pub/docs/orbos/97-10-05.pdf.
For the MASIF progress look at http://www.omg.org/library/schedule/Mobile_Agents_Facility_RFP.htm
OMG MASIF
Mobile Agents are considered as specific (CORBA or non-CORBA)
objects that have the ability to move and to start executing
autonomously and asynchronously within specific (secure) Run time
systems (Agent Systems)
The Mobile Agent System Interoperability Facility (MASIF) should
define how mobility of agents and invocation of agent systems could
be supported on top of CORBA
OMG issued correspoponding Request for Proposal (RFP) in November
1995 (Common Facilities RFP3) for a mobile agent standard
A joint submission by Crystaliz, General Magic, GMD FOKUS, IBM, and
The Open Group was finished in September 1997 (orbos/97-10-05)
MASIF 1.0 has been adopted by OMG in December 1997
The MASIF is a collection of of definitions and interfaces that provide
an interoperable interface for MA applications
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Mobile Agents - 17
The idea behind the MASIF standard is to achieve a certain degree of interoperability between mobile agent
platforms of different manufacturers without enforcing radical platform modifications. MASIF is not
intended to build the basis for any new mobile agent platform. Instead, the provided specifications shall be
used as an add-on to already existing systems.
As shown in above, MASIF has adopted the concepts of places and regions that are used by various existing
agent platforms, such as Telescript. A place groups the functionality within an agency, encapsulating certain
capabilities and restrictions for visiting agents. A region facilitates the platform management by specifying
sets of agencies that belong to a single authority.
Two interfaces are specified by the MASIF standard:
the MAFAgentSystem interface provides operations for the management and transfer of agents, whereas
the MAFFinder interface supports the localization of agents, agent systems, and places in the scope of a
region or the whole environment, respectively.
As part of a MASIF-compliant agency, a MAFAgentSystem object interacts internally with agency-specific
services and provides the associated CORBA interface to external users. In this way, it is possible to
communicate with an agency either in a MASIF-compliant way (using the MAFAgentSystem interface) or
in a platform-specific way (using platform-specific interfaces that may provide additional functionality, not
handled by MASIF).
Apart from the agent-specific CORBA interfaces MAFAgentSystem and MAFFinder, the MASIF standard
explains in detail how existing CORBA services, like e.g. the Naming, Life Cycle, Externalization, and
Security Service, can be used by agent-based components to enhance the provided functionality. Note that
the current MASIF submission only represents the first approach for a mobile agent standard. Enhancements
are planned when sufficient experiences have been made with the implementation of the provided
specifications.
Basic Interfaces of the OMG MASIF
Basic
Agency
Services
MAF
Agent
System
MAF
Finder
Enhanced
Agency
Services
Agency
Communication Channel (ORB)
System-specific
Agent-based and
non Agent-based
Applications / Actors
MAF-compliant
Agent-based and
non Agent-based
Applications / Actors
Agents
create/suspend/resume/terminate agent
receive agent,
list agents/places,
get MAFFinder,
get agent system type,
get agent status, .....
register agent/place/system
de-register agent/place/system
lookup agent/place/system
Place
Region
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Mobile Agents - 18
Based on the previous considerations a generic mobile agent platform will look quite similar as the one
depicted above. Three main objectives are associated with such a platform:
1) In order to support both the traditional client/server paradigm and mobile agent technology, the agent
platform has to be built on top of RPC-based middleware. Regarding its high acceptance, CORBA should be
chosen for this task.
2) To support various application areas with distinguished needs regarding the platform functionality, a
separation is necessary between the core functionality of the platform and additional capabilities. The
additional capabilities have to be designed by means of modular, reusable functional building blocks which
can be plugged into the platform, enhancing its core.
3) In order to take advantage of interoperability with further agent platforms of different manufacturers,
compliance to the OMG MASIF standard has to be achieved.
Note that the platform architecture is similar to the one shown before. Special emphasis lies on the
opportunity to easily enhance the platform capabilities in order to fulfill individual needs, depending on
concrete application scenarios. To achieve this goal, the core agency comprises only those capabilities that
are inevitably necessary for the maintenance of the agency itself, as well as for the execution and migration
of mobile agents. Additional, application-dependent functionality is realized by modular and reusable
building blocks that can easily be plugged into a core agency. Examples of such building blocks are adapter
services for the access of telecommunication hardware or sophisticated communication services. In this way,
any requirements regarding desired functionality or hardware restrictions can be met.
Apart from the agencies themselves, demands for various tools have to be provided. An agent creation
environment enables the plug and play composition of mobile agents out of reusable functional building
blocks. In this way, new agent-based services can be created and provided very dynamically and on-demand.
Similar to the agency, an agent is divided into a core and an application-specific part. An agent testing
environment allows for the simulation of the whole distributed environment by means of a single agency.
The entire execution of an agent, including its migration and access of sensible software and hardware, can
be simulated locally without endangering the real resources. Finally, a graphical agent management tool
enables the monitoring and control of agents and agencies in the scope of one or more regions.
MASIF conform MA Platform
INAP CMIP
NetworkNodes
Agent Creation Envi.
Agent
Management
Agent Management
Agent Testing Envi.
Agency
Telecom
Place
IN
Bridge
Enhanced
Services
TMN
Bridge
Transport Security
Management Naming
Execution
Core Services
Accounting
Service Communicat.
MAF
AgentSystem
MASIF
Realization
MAF
Finder
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Mobile Agents - 19
The agent transport as well as interactions between different Distributed Agent Enviroment (DAE) and non
DAE components are performed via CORBA. In this way, existing services, e.g. a CORBA trading, naming,
or event service can be used to enhance the platform functionality in a very comfortable manner. By
providing the CORBA interfaces specified by the OMG MASIF standard, interoperability to other agent
platforms can be achieved.
MA-based
Applications
Distr. Processing
Environment
Native Computing &
Communications Env.
Inter-DPE interface
Service Components
(Objects & Agents)
Kernel Transport Network
Transport
Network
Distr. Agent Environment
Switching
Nodes
Target Flexible Telecom Middleware
Integration of Distributed Object and Mobile Agent Technologies
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Mobile Agents - 20
The heterogeneity, distribution, scale and dynamic nature of the emerging open Telecommunication
environments, sometimes referred to as information infrastructure, is calling for new paradigms for the
control and management of the open resources. In this context, the agent-based technology seems to offer a
promising solution to cope with the complexity of this environment.
Within such an open environment, an agent-based solution can:
reduce the requirement of traffic load and the availability on the underlying networks (via the autonomy
and asynchronous operations of the agents);
reduce the requirement on customer intelligence during the installation, operation and maintenance of the
resources (via the intelligence and autonomy of the agents);
enable on demand provision of customized services (via dymanic agent downloading from the provider
system to the customer system and further on back to the provider system or directly to the resources);
increase the flexibility, reusability and effectiveness of the software-based problem solutions;
allows for a more decentralized realisation of service control and management software, by means of
bringing the control or management agent as close as possible or even onto the resources.
Mobile Agents for Telecommunications
MAs provide new opportunities for service control & management
reduction of traffic load and availability requirements of the underlying
networks and systems
via the autonomy and asynchronous operations of the agents
reduction of customer intelligence required during installation,
operation and maintenance of resources
via the intelligence and autonomy of the agents
enable on demand provision of customised services
via dynamic agent downloading from the provider system to the customer
system and further on back to the provider system or directly to the
resources
enable more decentralised realisation of service control and
management software
by means of bringing the control or management agent as close as
possible to the resource(s)
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Mobile Agents - 21
The IN architecture provides several important advantages, like e.g. the opportunity to create or modify
network capabilities without any changes at the switches. However, due to the rising number of service users
and the increasing number of provided IN services, the centralized SCPs are likely to become the bottleneck
of the whole system. Even now the SCP capacity is temporarily overdrawn. Besides, the deployment and
subscription of services by the SMS is not efficient and open enough to handle the demands of the emerging
open service market. Finally, due to the centralized architecture, a server (i.e. SCP) failure would cause
immense costs for the service providers.
Based on these limitations, the introduction of distributed object technology, such as CORBA, is considered
currently in the IN world. Taking this into account, we propose the introduction of the previously described
standard mobile agent technology into the IN environment in order to achieve ultimate flexibility. This
means that IN services could be implemented by either CORBA objects and/or by mobile agents on top of
CORBA. However, we focus on the last issue.
By realizing IN services by means of mobile agents, the service provision can be improved in several ways:
Services can be provided time-dependent, i.e. installed for a limited time duration. Distributed provision of
services or service components enables load balancing in the network. Finally, the management can be
facilitated by automating the service provision, i.e. by dynamically installing and maintaining mobile service
agents on those network nodes where they are needed.
Toward an MA-Based IN Environment
Open Service Market requires flexible service infrastructure
IN architecture is limited in terms of flexibility and may become
overloaded due to the centralized approach of service provision
Introduction of distributed object technology, such as CORBA, is
considered currently in the IN to increase flexibility
Introduction of standard mobile agent technology into the IN
environment would increase flexibilty even more!
IN services are realized by means of mobile agents, the service
provision can be improved in several ways:
Services can be provided time-dependent, i.e. installed for a limited time
duration.
Distributed provision of services or service components enables load
balancing in the network.
Finally, the management can be facilitated by automating the service
provision.
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Mobile Agents - 22
Within an MA-based IN envrionment the approach is to introduce services on demand and ultimately
distribute service logic and data from the centralized SCP to switches and end user devices by means of
mobile agents. To support agent technology, the distinguished network nodes are containing agencies (in
line with those outlined before). In this way, agents representing IN service logic and data can be sent
dynamically to those network locations where the functionality is currently required.
An agent-enhanced service creation environment (SCE) allows to develop appropriate IN service logic and
data, including the envisaged itinerary of the agent.
An agent-enhanced service management system (SMS) allows to introduce the service agents into the MA-
based IN infrastructure. It is a key component in respect to providing the service to potential customers and
configuring service agents accordingly. After agent release the SMS keeps track of an agents location and it
status.
The outlined integrated approach, combining both agent technology and client/server technology, allows to
enhance the current IN architecture instead of completely removing it. Note that the agent transport shown
above is not performed via the signaling system no.7 (SS7), but instead via a data network that interconnects
the agencies.
MA-Based IN Environment
Service Data
Service Logic
Service Data
Service Logic
Agency
Agency Agency
Agency
Agency
Agency
Mobile Agent
SSP SSP
SCE/ACE
SMS
IP
SS7
SCP
Agency
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Mobile Agents - 23
.
Distributed Agent Environment within IN
Distributed
Processing
Environment
(DPE)
Provider System Provider System
(SMS) (SMS)
SCP / SSP/ Switch SCP / SSP/ Switch
End User System End User System
Communication Channel (ORB)
Agency
Enhanced
Services
Basic
Services
Distributed
Agent
Environment
(DAE)
Agency
Enhanced
Services
Basic
Services
Agency
Enhanced
Services
Basic
Services
This slide depicts an agent oriented view of the IN environment. Basically each IN element has to provide an
agency, which collectively form a distributed agent environment on top of a distributed processing
environment.
Thus service agents can easily migrate in this harmonized environment from the provider system (i.e. the
SMS) to the customer or end user system (for further service agent customisation) and furtheron to the best
suited network location, which may be (depending on the telecommunications service to be offered) a local
switch/SSP or a more central SCP.
In the following we look in more detail at the service provision process.
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Mobile Agents - 24
In this approach it is important to note that the a Service Agent comprises in principle two different parts:
The first part - the application part - is related to the provision of the real service, i.e. the control or
management of switches. Therefore the agent contains appropriate (e.g. IN) logic and data and makes use of
external interfaces (e.g. INAP interface at the switch or SCP) or adapted interfaces offered within the agency
(e.g. a CORBA object which maps INAP operations into CORBA object invocations). In the first case
traditional IN logic may be used, whereas in the second case advanced OO-based logic may be used. Note
that this functionality may include also functionalities for service subscription, customisation and service
logic maintenance (including appropriate GUIs).
The second part - the (core) agent part - is devoted to the agents nature of being an autonomous mobile
entity. This means that this part comprise all functionalities required for agent lifecycle management and
mobility support (e.g. itinerary maintenance). These functions are realized by strongly interworking with the
agency services.
It has to be stressed that these two parts are totally separated, since relationships exist between the agents
mobility and the provision of service subscription, customisation and real service control/management
functionalities.
The two Faces of a Mobile Agent
Distinction between Agent Support Part and Application Part
Agent Functionality:
Life Cycle Control Functions
Management GUI
Mobility (e.g. Itinerary)
Security
Application Functionality:
Task Control (Service Logic/Data)
Application-specific GUIs
Use of Resource Interfaces (e.g. INAP, CMIP)
Mgt. Logic
IN Logic
Route
Life Mgt.
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Mobile Agents - 25
Three kinds of actors are involved in the scenario: An agent provider who is accessible via the WWW, a
customer representing a company or organization, and various end users. Each actor requires access to an
agency. Additional agencies are connected to the distinguished network elements, i.e. SCP and switches.
The scenario is initiated by the customer accessing the provider via the WWW and requesting for an IN
service agent (0).
The provider sends the requested agent to the customer (1) who is now able to pre-configure it (2).
The pre-configuration comprises the selection of end users who shall be able to use the agent, and the
specification of various access restrictions concerning the selected end users. Afterwards, the service agent is
sent to the end users (3) where it is supplied with individual service logic configurations (4).
Before the agent executes its designed task, it automatically migrates back to the provider (5) in order to
allow security checks, e.g. the determination of code modifications (6).
Only if the security checks have been successful, the agent moves to a specific network node. Three
possibilities are taken into account:
Agents representing a global service, like e.g. freephone or premium rate, migrate to the agency connected
to the centralized SCP (7a).
Agents realizing a called party service, like e.g. call forwarding or originating call screening, move to the
agency at the called party switch (7b).
Agents representing a calling party service, like e.g. abbreviated dialing or termination call screening,
move to the agency at the calling party switch (7c).
After reaching their destination agency, the agents connect themselves to specific IN service adapters which
can either be realized by enhanced agency services or in turn by special (stationary) agents. Finally, the
service execution starts (8a-8c).
Mobile Agent-based Service Provision
Provider
Agency
Customer
Agency
End User
Agency
1
3
5
4
2
0
7a
7b
7c
SCP
SCP
Agency
Called Party
Calling Party
Switch
Agency
Switch
Agency
SMS
8c
6
8b
8a
Provider Domain Customer Domain
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Mobile Agents - 26
In order to relieve the centralized Service Control Points from network traffic, the basic call processing has
to be performed without contacting the SCP. This can be achieved by mobile agents which represent the
required service logic and data, and which reside on agencies connected to switching facilities. Thus we
focus in the following on an agent-based service node implementation. This slide depicts an approach of
an agent-based call processing.
An enhanced agency service (named IN adapter service above) represents the bridge between the switch
and the agent environment. The trigger table that has formerly been maintained by the switch itself, is now
provided by the stationary Service Trigger Agent (STA). The STA in turn is connected to the mobile IN
service agents which comprise the actual service logic/data that has formerly been stored within the SCP. In
this way, the switch agency hosts the SSF, SCF and SDF.
The service agents can be sent dynamically on-demand to those switches where they are currently required.
After their arrival, they connect themselves to the STA, delivering the necessary trigger information. During
the call processing, when a detection point is reached, the processing is suspended, the Service Trigger
Agent is contacted and determines if there is any connected service agent responsible for the occurred event.
If this is true, the service agent is accessed and performs the associated maintained logic program. After
returning the result, the call processing is resumed.
Switch Agency (Detailed View)
BCSM
DP1
DP2
DP3
DP4
Switch
Agency
Service
Logic & Data
1
Incoming
Call
CF Agent 1
AD Agent 1
CF Agent 2
2
DP3
3
Trigger Agent
Trigger 1
Trigger 2
Trigger 3
Trigger 4
Trigger 3
5
6
7
IN Adapter Service
4
CCF
SSF
SCF/SDF
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Mobile Agents - 27
The agent-based call forwarding service enables end users to initiate an automatic routing of their own
telephone number to another device, dependent on the time of day, the calling party number, or specific
events .
The pre-configuration phase at the customer agency (step 2) comprises the specification of the end users
who shall be allowed to use the CF agent. Relevant user information contains the name and phone number as
well as the address of the end users agencies.
Additionally, several restrictions can be specified for each user: By activating the call screening mechanism
of the agent, the area to which the phone number may be forwarded can be limited to the scope of a single
town or country. Besides, the entire life time of the agent can be set. Note that further configuration aspects
can easily be added.
In the final configuration phase that is performed by the end user(s) (step 4), the customization of the call
forwarding logic is performed. The routing can be time-dependent or event-dependent, i.e. for example
dependent on the calling partys number. The figure shows a simple example of the forwarding logic script:
from 0900am to 1200am calls are forwarded to the number 282 (time-dependent routing); if the participant
with the number 239 calls, the call is forwarded to the number 200 (event-dependent routing). Note that
there are no restrictions regarding the complexity of the possible service logic. All states and events that are
associated to detection points of the switchs basic call state model can be used by the IN service agents.
Note that the progress of this scenario is similar to the scenario overview described in the previous slide. In
contrast to the general approach, the configured service agents do not move back to the provider for security
purposes before executing their task on the switch agency. This intermediate step has been skipped since this
first version of the scenario has been developed just to validate the idea and feasibility of an agent-based IN.
However, this step is required in a real world application.
MA-based Call Forwarding Service
Provider
Agency
Customer
Agency
End User
Agency
Network
Switch
Agency
Calling
Party (239)
Forwarded
Party (282)
Called
Party (293)
Agent CF Script:
0900-1200: -> 282
1200-1500: -> 293
1500-1800: -> 282
if (callingNo != 239)
-> 200
1
3
4
2
0
6
5
SMS
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Mobile Agents - 28
The IN service virtual private network (VPN) provides private network capabilities by using public network
resources. The customers lines, connected to different network switches, constitute the VPN. This slide
shows how even this sophisticated service can be realized by mobile agent technology.
In order to establish the VPN, the customer retrieves a VPN management agent from a provider (step 0/1).
The configuration of this management agent (step 2) comprises the definition of a private numbering plan,
the specification of the locations and addresses of the desired VPN participants, and if desired, additional
settings like e.g. special charging or call forwarding mechanisms. After the configuration, the management
agent creates several VPN end user agents according to the specified participants (i.e. end users), supplies
these agents with the required configuration data, and sends them to the switches that are associated to the
participants end user devices (step 3). The end user agents connect themselves to the hosted trigger agents
(cf. Figure 8) and in this way automatically establish the virtual private network (step 4).
Apart from initiating the establishment of the VPN, the management agent maintains control over the
network during its entire life time, allowing the customer to dynamically modify any configuration settings,
or even to increase or reduce the number of participants by creating new end user agents or terminating
existing ones. Changes of the numbering plan or any other information that is maintained by the end user
agents can be modified by the management agent via RPC interactions (step 5).
MA-based Virtual Private Network Service
Provider
Agency
Customer
Agency
0
1
2
Switch
Agency
Switch
Agency
Switch
Agency
Network
4
4
4
3
3
3
VPN Mgmt Agent
VPN End User
Agents
VPN Script
1 -> 30 7293
2 -> 705 555
3 -> 123 9876
5
SMS
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Mobile Agents - 29
Based on the fact, that IN and TMN, considered today as the basis for the evolution of mobile communication system,
will be affected by both distributed object technology and mobile agent technology, it seems to be logical to study these
impacts also on mobile communication systems.
Basically three main areas have to be addressed in such an analysis:
1. Usage of agent technology for value added service subscription and provision to the end user, such as dynamic
downloading of application software between the end users mobile terminal and the 3rd party service provider. In this
case the mobile communications system is just the transport means for mobile agents.
2. Usage of agent technology for mobile communication service provision to the end user, such as dynamic
downloading of appropriate/customized mobile communications service logic into arbitrary mobile stations. This
allows for flexible extension of service software and increasing intelligence in the mobile terminal required for the
Virtual Home Environment (VHE) implementation.
3. Usage of agent technology within the mobile communication system for flexible control and management solutions,
such as mobile subscriber profiles. For example appropriate control logic can be flexible distributed across access
network, i.e. follow the roaming user.
For further reading:
D. Chess et al.: "Itinerant Agents for Mobile Computing", IEEE Personal Communications Magazine, October 1995
R. Ramjee et al.: "The Use of Network-Based Migrating User Agents for Personal Communication Services", IEEE
Personal Communications Magazine, December 1995
T. Magedanz, L. Hagen, M. Breugst: Impacts of Mobile Agent Technology on Mobile Communication System
Evolution, pp.56-69, IEEE Personal Communications Magazine, Vol. 5, No. 4, August 1998
Mobile Agents in Mobile Systems
Other CNs
MSC
MSC
Core Network
Mobile
Station
USIM
MSC
MSC
MSC
MSC
Access
Network
DPE
DAE Agency Agency Agency Agency Agency Agency
Visited MSC MSC Gateway
MSC
other
MCSs
3PSPs
1
3
2
Application areas:
1. End user Application, e.g. stock information from 3rd Party SPs
2. VHE: Adaptation of MS capabilities to visited network capabilities
3. Within Mobile System: MA-based Mobility Management
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Mobile Agents - 30
The distribution of management tasks in (network) management represents a major research issue since many years.
This field of research, also referred to as "Management by Delegation (MBD)", adopts a decentralized management
paradigm that takes advantage of the increased computational power in network nodes (i.e. management agents) and
decreases pressure on centralized network management systems and network bandwidth. MBD enables both temporal
distribution (i.e. distribution over time) and spatial distribution (i.e. distribution over different network nodes). The
basic idea is to increase the management autonomy of management agents by running socalled "elastic procceses" on
the "elastic" agents, which could absorb dynamically (i.e. by delegation) new functions. Besides the distributio of pure
management applications the distribution of connection management logic emerged the last years. Today this approach
provides the basis for active network research (see later in this talk).
In addition to the usage of code mobility, intelligent agent research concentrates on the negotiation between fixed
agents controlling the connectivity and bandwidth of network nodes. This means that these agents could offer capacities
in an open market model. One FIPA application is looking at a VPN implementation through negotiating agents.
Agent-Based Telecom Management
Application areas in Service and Network Management
- Management by Delegation
Agency
Agency
Agency
Agency
Migration
Management
Application
1
2
3
4
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Mobile Agents - 31
The distribution of management tasks in (network) management represents a major research issue since many years.
This field of research, also referred to as "Management by Delegation (MBD)", adopts a decentralized management
paradigm that takes advantage of the increased computational power in network nodes (i.e. management agents) and
decreases pressure on centralized network management systems and network bandwidth. MBD enables both temporal
distribution (i.e. distribution over time) and spatial distribution (i.e. distribution over different network nodes). The
basic idea is to increase the management autonomy of management agents by running socalled "elastic procceses" on
the "elastic" agents, which could absorb dynamically (i.e. by delegation) new functions. Besides the distributio of pure
management applications the distribution of connection management logic emerged the last years. Today this approach
provides the basis for active network research (see later in this talk).
In addition to the usage of code mobility, intelligent agent research concentrates on the negotiation between fixed
agents controlling the connectivity and bandwidth of network nodes. This means that these agents could offer capacities
in an open market model. One FIPA application is looking at a VPN implementation through negotiating agents.
Agent-Based Telecom Management
Application areas in Service and Network Management
- Connection Management, Admission Control
Agency
Agency
Agency
Negotiation
Negotiation
Customer
User Agents
1
Network
Provider
Agents
Service
Provider
Agents
Agency
Agency
Agency
2
Service
Requests
Service
Requests
3 3
4
4
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Mobile Agents - 32
Today flexibility is a key design issue for emerging network architectures in order to adapt instantly to
changing customer service demands. In this context an emerging vision is to allow the network itself to take
an active part in service provision, evolving from a dump transport network towards a large distributed
processing environment. The basic idea of such "Active Networks" is the movement of service code, which
has been traditionally placed outside the transport network, directly to the networks switching nodes.
Furthermore, this movement of service code should be possible in a highly dynamic manner. This allows the
automated, flexible, and customised provision of services in a highly distributed way thereby enabling better
service performance and optimised control and management of transport capabilities.
Taking into account the current research related to the developments toward open, active, and programmable
networks within both telecommunications and internet communities, it becomes obvious that two enabling
technologies are key in both worlds: programmable switches, which provide flexibility in the design of
connectivity control applications, and mobile code systems / mobile agent platforms, which enable the
dynamic downloading and movement of service code to specific network nodes.
Whereas current active network research concentrates mostly on multimedia information processing within
internet environments, such as packet filtering, format conversion, packet distribution (i.e. multicasting), etc.
in order to optimize the usage of the transmission networks, value added services are not yet considered in
this context. However, this issue is becoming important in the context of PSTN / internet integration , where
for example enhanced service control capabilities may have to be provided to internet-based telecom
services, e.g. internet telephony.
Useful References:
D.L. Tennenhouse, et.al.: "A Survey of Active Network Research", IEEE Communications Magazine, pp.
80-85, Vol. 35, No. 1, January 1997
Active Networks home page of MIT Lab for Computer Science, "http://www.tns.lcs.mit.edu/activeware/"
Summafour Open Programmable Switching: http://www.summa4.com/products/openswitch.htm
IEEE P1520 - Proposed IEEE Standard for Application Programming Interfaces for Networks: http://
www.iss.nus.sg/IEEEPIN/
The Future Vision: Active Networks
Term Active Network (AN) originates from Internet community, but
same ideas exist in the telecom world
Idea: Let the network take an active part in the service processing
Key concepts: Programmable Switches & Mobile Code Systems
Two approaches for AN exist:
Discrete Approach - Programmable Switches (short term)
separation of service deployment and service processing
outband service deployment
Integrated Approach - Capsules (long term)
every message is a programm, i.e. it contains a program fragment
inband service deployment and subsequent processing
Hybrid Approach is possible
Send a capsule inband, subsequently fetch program outband
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Mobile Agents - 33
Active Networks: Programmable Switches
Open
Switches
Service
Node
Agency
SMS/SCE
Agency
Agency
Signalling
Network
Agency
Agency
1
Service Data
Service Logic
1. Outband Service Deployment
2. Service Processing
2
1
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Mobile Agents - 34
Active Networks: Capsules Approach
Open
Switches
Service Data
Service Logic
Agency
1 + 2
Agency
Agency
Agency Agency
Integrated Inband Service Deployment (1) and Service Processing (2)
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Mobile Agents - 35
Active Intelligent Network - MARINE
B-SSPs Open Switches
Service Data
Service Logic
B-INAP
SS7
Service
Node
Service Data
Service Logic
Agency
SMS/SCE
Agency
Agency
B-SCP
IOP
KTN
Agency
Agency
Agency
B-IP
The European research programme on Advanced Communication Technologies and Services
(ACTS) has launched in March 1998 a cluster of 14 projects dedicated to explore the usage of
agent technologies in the area of telecommunications. As part of this cluster, the project MARINE
("Mobile Agent Environment in Intelligent Networks") is realising some of the presented ideas for
implementing Broadband IN services. Other projects focus on the usage of agent technology in the
context of mobile communications, service and network management, and electronic commerce.
References:
Information about the Cluster for Intelligent Mobile Agents for Telecommunications
Environments (CLIMATE): http://www.fokus.gmd.de/cc/ima/climate/
Web site of the ACTS MARINE project: http://www.italtel.it/drsc/marine/marine.htm
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Mobile Agents - 36
CLIMATEs mission is to optimise the information exchange and to promote co-operation between these projects in
order to enable the harmonisation of work, which ideally will result in a flexible common agent middleware, which
could be used for different application domains. An important aspect of CLIMATE is the collaboration with other agent
projects particularly in ESPRIT and EURESCOM, which are considered as associated CLIMATE projects. However,
also other external projects may become associated members.
CLIMATE promotes the ACTS agent project activities and results towards the outside world (i.e. standard bodies, fora,
industry, etc.) taking advantage of adopting an integrated view across all projects. It is envisaged that CLIMATE is
taking an active part in contributing to relevant agent standards (e.g. OMG, FIPA) and telecommunication standards
(e.g. IN, TMN, UMTS standardisation).
ACTS CLIMATE Initiative
CLIMATE is a Cluster of Agent Technology related projects
14 Core projects from the ACTS programme
10 associated projects from ESPRIT and EURESCOM programmes
CLIMATE has been constituted at the 9th ACTS Concertation
Meeting in February 1998
CLIMATE Mission
Promotion of information exchange and co-operation between projects
Harmonisation of work --> flexible common agent middleware
Collaboration with other agent projects, particularly ESPRIT and EURESCOM
projects
Promotion of project results towards the outside world (i.e. standard bodies,
fora, industry, etc.) adopting an integrated view across all projects
Links to ESPRIT (AgentLink) and EURESCOM have been established
Links to OMG and FIPA are available
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Mobile Agents - 37
CLIMATE projects are contributing to an overall Agent Framework which is depicted above. This looks quite similar
to OMGs Object Management Architecture
Starting buttom up there are a variety of transport resources, which have to be controlled and managed in the
telecommunications environment, spanning fixed and mobile smallband and broadband networks, as well as the circuit
switched and packet data networks, such as the internet. These networks are controlled and managed through dedicated
(legacy) protocols and interfaces, which have to be taken into account when developing advanced telecommuncation
solutions. Furthermore, this includes also the access to databases and other services.
The access to these protocols (and thus the networks) will be performed via appropriate Wrappers or gateways to be
provided in an agent environment, i.e. in an agent platform. Since there are different agent standards with different
focal points, different platforms exist (i.e. mobile agent platforms versus intelligent agents). Within CLIMATE there is
the idea to develop a Mobile Intelligent Agent (MIA) platform. Therefore all the projects, although focusing typically
on different platforms, contribute through their developments to different components of such a generic agent platform.
In fact an agent platform provides services through static service agents.
Additional (horizontal) facilities and tools, such as agent creation environments, testing environments, or agent service
management systems enhance the capabilities of the platform itself. Although different projects focus on different tools
and facilities it is believed that there is some common understanding in the end in regard to what is needed to be
developed for supporting agent based application development. For example the relationship between DOT based
service design and MAT based service design has to be studied.
On the top we have the application domains, which can be compared to vertical facilities. Specific applications will be
implemmented by dedicated agent types, which require at the platform level specific wrappers in order to control or
manage specific networks. However, there may be common agents for different application domains, which could be
considered to be part of the agent facility level, such monitoring or subscription agents, user agents, terminal agents,
etc.. The deveopment of an Agent Catalogue is a basic target for CLIMATE.
CLIMATE Populates an Agent Framework
B-IN
Services
Agent Facilities
& Tools
AgentPlatform
Components
Application
Areas
Legacy Platform
Resources
Transport
Resources
INAP
ACL
GSM
ATM SS7
ISDN Internet
Security
Agent Creation
CMIP
Agent Management
Wrappers
MAP
RMI IIOP
UMTS
VHE
Subscr.&
Acctount.
Mgt
Connect./
Admission
Control
Virtual
Enterprises
EC
Video
Analysis
SNMP
FIPA MASIF
MHEG
Agent Testing
Common Agents
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Mobile Agents - 38
CLIMATE is structured into so-called sub-clusters in accord to three major application domains addressed by the core
CLIMATE projects. However, it should be noticed, that a project may be active in multiple sub-clusters, since some
projects are addressing several. These are:
The mission of the IN & Mobility Sub-cluster is to explore the application of Intelligent Mobile Agent Technologies in
the context of IN-based and mobile telecommunication environments. Focal points of research include extension of
existing IN and mobile architectures, including mobile devices and smart cards by introduction of mobile agent
platforms, in order to provide ubiquiteously new applications, comprising Video an Demand, UMTS Virtual Home
Environment, Customer Profile Management, mobility support, financial services, and dynamic provider selection.
The Communications Management Sub-cluster is looking at the impact of mobile and intelligent agent technologies on
the design of service and network management services. Besides the development of agent-based management
platforms, the management areas addressed by the projects forming this subcluster include IN/SS7 load control,
connection admission control for ATM networks, accounting and charging services for fixed and mobile environments,
and service reservation.
The End-to-End Agent Systems Subcluster is concerned with agent software designs which are concentrated in "end-
systems" rather than within a network. The ACTS projects involved span a variety of application domains but recognise
common DAI issues which can be illuminated optimally in this inter-project forum. To this end, the sub-cluster seeks to
analyse selected design topics in relation to agent negotiation, knowledge representation, and human-to-agent
interaction. Considerations, will where possible, include relevant standards with a view to comment and input from
member projects and/or the sub-cluster as a whole.
The Agent Platform Sub-cluster is providing a forum of information exchange on agent platform issues, comprising
experiences in the usage of available platform products, extension of basic platform capabilities as well as application
related extensions.
CLIMATE Structure - (Sub) Clusters
Agent Platforms
MIAMI & FACTS plus all other projects
MIAMI
FACTS
MARINER
IMPACT
MONTAGE
OCEANS
ABROSE
DICEMAN
MODEST
OSM plus
End-to-End
Agent Systems
Comms.
Management
IN &
Mobility
AMASE
CAMELEON
MARINE
MARINER
MONTAGE
SCARAB
FIPA OMG
Existing ACTS
Projects and Clusters
EURESCOM
Agent Projects
ACTS Domain 5 Agent Cluster
Standards Bodies
IN, TMN, Mobility
Guidelines
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Mobile Agents - 39
Agentified Mobile Access to Multimedia Services (AMASE),
Contact: R. Pascotto ([email protected]), WWW: http://b5www.berkom.de/amase/
Keywords: user mobility, Wireless Access to Multimedia Services, Scalable Agent Platform, Small and mobile devices, WAP.
Communication Agents for Mobility Enhancements in a Logical Environment of Open Networks (CAMELEON),
Contact: Dr. F. Ramme ([email protected]), WWW: http://www.comnets.rwth-aachen.de/~cameleon/
Keywords: Mobile and Intelligent Agent Technology, Ubiquitous Telecommunication Services, Service Roaming, Virtual Home
Environment, VHE, UMTS, IMT-2000
Mobile Agent Environment for Intelligent Networks (MARINE),
Contact: Fabrizio Zizza ([email protected]), WWW: http://www.italtel.it/drsc/marine/marine.htm
Keywords: IN, user mobility, service logic, DPE, MAT, MA.
Multi-Agent Architecture for Distributed-IN Load Control and Overload Protection (MARINER),
Contact: Brendan Jennings ([email protected]), WWW: http://www.teltec.dcu.ie/mariner
Keywords: Agents, Multi-Agent Systems, FIPA, OMG MASIF, Intelligent Networks, CORBA, Load Control, Overload Protection,
Real-time.
Agent-based Personal Mobility Management (MONTAGE),
Contact: Mrs. Didoe Prevedourou ([email protected]), WWW: http://montage.ccrle.nec.de
Keywords: Ubiquitous Service Provisioning, Service Selection, Personal Mobility, Accounting and Charging, Hypermedia
Information Browsing
Smart Card and Agent-enabled Reliable Access (SCARAB),
Contact: Michel Van Ackere ([email protected]), WWW: http://www.scarab.montrouge.tt.slb.com:65530/
Keywords: smart card, agent, architecture, service, service access, mobility, user interface.
IN & Mobility Sub Cluster
Projects
Agentified Mobile Access to Multimedia Services (AMASE)
Communication Agents for Mobility Enhancements in a Logical
Environment of Open Networks (CAMELEON)
Mobile Agent Environment for Intelligent Networks (MARINE)
Multi-Agent Architecture for Distributed-IN Load Control and Overload
Protection (MARINER)
Agent-based Personal Mobility Management (MONTAGE)
Smart Card and Agent-enabled Reliable Access (SCARAB)
Chairman
Chairman: F. Zizza ([email protected])
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Mobile Agents - 40
FIPA Agent Communication Technologies and Services (FACTS)
Contact: Alan Steventon ([email protected]), WWW: http://www.labs.bt.com/profsoc/facts/
Keywords: Agent interoperability, FIPA,Intellgent Agents, electronic commerce, service reservation, audio-visual
broadcasting and entertainment.
Multi Agent-based ATM Management (IMPACT)
Contact: John Bigham ([email protected]), WWW: http://www.acts-impact.org/
Keywords: intelligent agents, agent architecture, Connection Admission Control (CAC), control strategies, accounting/
charging, Agent Control Language (ACL), real applications, network simulation, FIPA model validation.
Multi-Agent Architecture for Distributed-IN Load Control and Overload Protection (MARINER)
Contact: Brendan Jennings ([email protected]), WWW: http://www.teltec.dcu.ie/mariner
Keywords: Agents, Multi-Agent Systems, FIPA, OMG MASIF, Intelligent Networks, CORBA, Load Control,
Overload Protection, Real-time.
Mobile Intelligent Agents for Managing the Information Infrastructure (MIAMI)
Contact: Dr. Stefan Covaci ([email protected]), WWW: http://www.fokus.gmd.de/ima/miami/
Keywords: mobile agents, network and service management, remote fault management, flexible routing strategies.
Agent-based Personal Mobility Management (MONTAGE)
Contact: Mrs. Didoe Prevedourou ([email protected]), WWW: http://montage.ccrle.nec.de
Keywords: Ubiquitous Service Provisioning, Service Selection, Personal Mobility, Accounting and Charging,
Hypermedia Information Browsing
Communications Management Sub Cluster
Projects
FIPA Agent Communication Technologies and Services (FACTS)
Multi Agent-based ATM Management (IMPACT)
Multi-Agent Architecture for Distributed-IN Load Control and Overload
Protection (MARINER)
Mobile Intelligent Agents for Managing the Information Infrastructure
(MIAMI)
Agent-based Personal Mobility Management (MONTAGE)
Chairman
Dr. S. Covaci ([email protected])
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Mobile Agents - 41
Agent-based Brokerage Service Environment (ABROSE)
Contact: E. Athanassiou ([email protected]), WWW: http://b5www.berkom.de/ABROSE/
Keywords: Information Brokerage, Electronic Commerce, Intelligent Agents, Multi Agent System, Transaction and
mediation Agents.
Open Communication Environment for Agent-based Networked Services (OCEANS)
Contact: Stefano Antoniazzi ([email protected]), WWW: http://www.sintef.no/ACTS-OCEANS
Keywords: agents, set-top-box, Internet, multimedia, protocols, user interface.
Open Service Model for Global Information Brokerage and Distribution (OSM)
Contact: Stephen McConnell ([email protected]), WWW: http://www.osm.net
Keywords: OSM, ELECTRONIC COMMERCE, ECOMMERCE, BUSINESS OBJECTS, NEGOTIATION,
MEDIATION, CORBA, ECDTF, AGENT, OMG.
Distributed Internet Content Exchange with MPEG-7 and Agent Negotiations (DICEMAN)
Contact: Liam Ward ([email protected]), WWW: http://www.teltec.dcu.ie/diceman
Keywords: MPEG-7, FIPA, Internet, audio-visual content, multimedia database, agents.
Multimedia Object Descriptors Extraction from Surveillance Tapes (MODEST)
Contact: B. Macq ([email protected]) or P. Piscaglia ([email protected]), WWW: http://www.tele.ucl.ac.be/
MODEST
Keywords: segmentation/tracking, description, intelligent agents, multi-agent system, MPEG, FIPA.
End-to-End Agent Systems Sub Cluster
Projects
Agent-based Brokerage Service Environment (ABROSE)
Open Communication Environment for Agent-based Networked
Services (OCEANS)
Open Service Model for Global Information Brokerage and Distribution
(OSM)
Distributed Internet Content Exchange with MPEG-7 and Agent
Negotiations (DICEMAN)
Multimedia Object Descriptors Extraction from Surveillance Tapes
(MODEST)
Chairman
Keith Start ([email protected])
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Mobile Agents - 42
Contact Points for the different Sub Cluster are:
1. IN & Mobility - Chairman: Fabrizio Zizza ([email protected])
2. Communication & Management - Chairman: Dr. Stefan Covaci ([email protected])
3. End-to-End Agent Systems - Chairman: Keith Start ([email protected])
4. Agent Platforms- Chairman: Dr. Stefan Covaci ([email protected])
CLIMATE Contact Points
CLIMATE Web site:
http://www.fokus.gmd.de/cc/ima/climate/
For further information contact:
Dr. Thomas Magedanz (CLIMATE Chairman)
IKV++ GmbH, Kurfrstendamm 173-174, D-10707 Berlin, Germany
Email: [email protected]
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Mobile Agents - 43
MA technology is gaining momentum in telecommunications. CORBA-based mobile agent platforms are
under development. MA Platforms could be integrated in IN elements in order to provide services on
demand.
For further reading:
D. Chess et al.: Itinerant Agents for Mobile Computing, IEEE Personal Communications Magazine,
October 1995
T. Magedanz, K. Rothermel, S. Krause: "Intelligent Agents: An Emerging Technology for Next
Generation Telecommunications?", in: Proceedings of IEEE INFOCOM 96, pp. 464-472, IEEE Catalog No.
96CB35887, ISBN: 0-8186-7292-7, IEEE Press, 1996
T. Magedanz, R. Popescu-Zeletin: "Towards Intelligence on Demand - On the Impacts of Intelligent
Agents on IN", Proceedings of 4th International Conference on Intelligent Networks (ICIN), pp. 30-
35,Bordeaux, France, December 2-5, 1996
M. Breugst, T. Magedanz: On the Usage of Standard Mobile Agent Platforms in Telecommunication
Environments, pp. 275-286, in: Lecture Notes of Computer Sciences 1430, Intelligence in Services and
Networks: Technologies for Ubiquiteous Telecom Services, S. Trigila et al. (Eds.), ISBN: 3-540-64598-5,
Springer Verlag 1998
T. Magedanz, M. Breugst: Mobile Agents - Enabling Technology for Active Intelligent Networks, IEEE
Network Magazine, pp. 53-60, Vol. 12, No. 3, Special Issue on Active and Programmable Networks, May/
June 1998
T. Magedanz, L. Hagen, M. Breugst: Impacts of Mobile Agent Technology on Mobile Communication
System Evolution, pp.56-69, IEEE Personal Communications Magazine, Vol. 5, No. 4, August 1998
Summary
Mobile agent technology offers new opportunities for
telecommnications in respect to flexible service provision
Integrated platform approach combines client/server paradigm and
mobile agent technology
Emerging CORBA-based mobile agent platforms are appearing for
telecommunication applications
MA-Based IN environment is based on Agencies within IN elements,
enabling dynamic and better distribution of service agents
Intelligence on demand to the switch --> Active Networks
Many research projects within ACTS and EURESCOM look at this
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Mobile Agents - 44
Putting the pieces together
The IN for the next millenium:
Besides mobile services, data service will become dominant
Fixed / mobile / internet convergence (--> unified messaging)
Decentralised service intelligence (distributed objects)
On demand service downloading (mobile code)
Open programmable switches --> flexible basic call models
Internet (IP) will become key bearer transport network
Service Nodes (incl. SRF) are key elements (allow for flexible
extension, i.e. gateways)
1999, T. Magedanz - IN Seminar - IN/Mobile Agents - 45
More Information ?
If you are intersted in onsite IN courses contact me directly!
Dr. Thomas Magedanz
IKV++ GmbH Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologie
Kurfrstendamm 173-174
D-10707 Berlin, Germany
Fax: + 49 30-171 172 70 70
Email: [email protected]
Internet: http://www.ikv.de