The IP Multimedia

Subsystem (IMS)

Miguel A. Garcia Martin

Nokia Siemens Networks
Application and Services in Internet
Helsinki University of Technology
October 24, 2007

1 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

Contents

• Brief Introduction to IMS

• IMS Architecture
• IMS signalling flows

2 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

The need for IMS

The circuit-switched
network can establish
connections between
terminals
Circuit-switched
network
(2G or 3G)

Packet-switched
network ?
(GPRS or 3G)

IP connections …but also a standardised

with GPRS or way of using IP services
3G also exist... BETWEEN TERMINALS is
needed

3 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

 Person-to-person IP connection

IP Multimedia Core
finds the other
Circuit-switched terminal and connects
Find and network the terminals with IP
connect (2G or 3G)

IP Multimedia
Subsystem
SIP SIP
Packet-switched
network
(GPRS or 3G)

Any IP connection IP-based services

(e.g. GPRS, EDGE, possible between
WCDMA, WLAN) terminals!

4 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

 Person-to-Group IP connection

IP Multimedia Core
finds the other
Circuit-switched terminal and connects
Find and network the terminals with IP
connect (2G or 3G)

IP Multimedia
Subsystem
SIP SIP
Packet-switched
network
(GPRS or 3G)

Any IP connection IP-based services

(e.g. GPRS, EDGE, possible between
WCDMA, WLAN) terminals!

5 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

 Person-to-Machine IP connection

IP Multimedia Core
finds the other
terminal and connects
Find and SIP proxy the terminals with IP
connect

IP Multimedia
Subsystem
SIP SIP
Packet-switched
network
(GPRS or 3G)

Any IP connection IP-based services

(e.g. GPRS, EDGE, possible between
WCDMA, WLAN) terminals!

6 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

Multimedia Communication – Rich Calls
IMS enables IP connections between terminals over different
access networks, and even connections to circuit switched
terminals
Rich communication is possible between IP terminals and can
include e.g.:
• Voice
• Video
• Content sharing
• Application sharing
• Text
• etc.
… within one session, combined flexibly during the session
Sessions may have multiple participants
7 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007
IMS in a nutshell

• IMS is a Multimedia (Call/) Control Service over packet

networks
• IMS builds a common architecture for offering new
services in the packet domain
– Including single login (authentication)
– Including access charging, service charging and content
charging
• IMS allows two or more users to establish multimedia
sessions.
– Including Quality of Service
• IMS introduces enhanced network services
– Including Presence, Conferencing, Push, Chat, Push-to-talk,
…
• Signalling plane is separated from user plane
– Signalling plane always routed home
• IMS is access agnostic

8 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

 IMS architecture

9 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) architecture
Media Server
Application Server

Internet
Mb
SIP phone
ISC Mb
Radio PS Gi/Mb
Cx MGW
Network MRF Mb
UE Go I-CSCF Mp
GGSN
SGSN HSS TDM
IMS ISUP PSTN
Cx
Mw Mg Mn
PS Mw
WLAN P-CSCF
AP
WLAN CPE
UE PDG S-CSCF

P-CSCF SGW

Other TCP/IP SIP

ADSL/cable
SIP phone network

Signaling SIP phone

CSCF — Call Session Control Function SGW – Signaling Gateway

MGW — IM-Media Gateway PDG – Packet Data Gateway
MGCF — Media Gateway Control Function
MRF — Media Resource Function
10 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007
Node classification (1)
Database elements
• HSS (Home Subscriber Server)
• SLF (Subscription Locator Function) Mr
SIP-AS OSA-SCS Sh IM-SSF MRFC
Sh Si
ISC Mp
IMS control elements ISC ISC

Mw
• S-CSCF – Serving Call/Session Cx
Control Function P-CSCF
Mw HSS
• P-CSCF – Proxy Call/Session MRFP
Dx
Control Function Mw
S-CSCF
Cx
• I-CSCF – Interrogating Call/Session Mw SLF
Dx
Control Function Mw
Mi
Mk SGW
P-CSCF
Interworking Elements Mj

• MGCF - Media Gateway Control

Function I-CSCF BGCF MGCF
Mn
• BGCF – Breakout Gateway Control
Function
• SGW – Signaling Gateway
• MGW – Media Gateway MGW

11 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

Node classification (2)

Media server
• MRFC – Media Resource Function Mr
SIP-AS OSA-SCS Sh IM-SSF MRFC
Controller Sh Si
• MRFP – Media Resource Function ISC Mp
ISC ISC
Processor
Mw
Cx
P-CSCF
Mw HSS
Dx MRFP
S-CSCF
Application Servers Mw
Cx
Mw Dx SLF
• SIP AS – Session Initiation Protocol Mw
Application Server Mi
Mk SGW
• OSA-SCS AS – Open Service P-CSCF
Architecture Service Capability Mj
Server
• IM-SSF AS – IP Multimedia Service I-CSCF BGCF MGCF
Switching Function Mn

MGW

12 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

The HSS and SLF

Home Subscriber Server (HSS)

• Main user database
Mr
• Stores IMS user related information SIP-AS OSA-SCS
Sh
Sh IM-SSF
Si
MRFC
ISC Mp
• Authentication vectors ISC ISC

Mw
• Service profile P-CSCF
Cx
Mw HSS
• Considered an evolution of the GSM HLR Dx MRFP
S-CSCF
Mw
Cx
• Acts as a Diameter server Mw Dx SLF
Mw
• Protocol: Diameter Mk
Mi
SGW
P-CSCF
Mj

Subscription Location Function (SLF) I-CSCF BGCF MGCF

Mn

• Required when there is more than one HSS

• Looks up the user identity and finds its HSS MGW

• Acts as an enhanced Diameter relay

• Protocol: Diameter

13 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

The S-CSCF

Serving Call/Session Control Function

• Central control plane node
Mr
• Provides session control SIP-AS OSA-SCS
Sh
Sh IM-SSF
Si
MRFC
ISC Mp
• Always located in the home network ISC ISC

Mw

• Acts as a SIP proxy and SIP registrar P-CSCF

Mw
Cx
HSS

• Acts as a Diameter client towards the Mw

S-CSCF
Dx MRFP
Cx
SLF/HSS Mw Dx SLF
Mw
• Performs authentication of the user P-CSCF
Mk
Mi
SGW

Mj
• Triggers services (but do not execute them)
• Applies network and user related policy I-CSCF BGCF MGCF
Mn

• Is dynamically allocated at registration time

• Generates charging records MGW

• Protocols: SIP and Diameter

14 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

The I-CSCF

Interrogating Call/Session Control Fction.

• First entry node in the home network
Mr
• Selects a S-CSCF for a user, when required SIP-AS OSA-SCS
Sh
Sh IM-SSF
Si
MRFC
ISC Mp
• Acts as a SIP proxy server ISC ISC

Mw
Cx
• Acts as a Diameter client towards the P-CSCF
Mw HSS
SLF/HSS S-CSCF
Dx MRFP
Mw
Cx
• Queries the HSS to find out the S-CSCF Mw Dx SLF
Mw
allocated to the user Mk
Mi
SGW
P-CSCF
• Generates charging records Mj

• Protocols: SIP and Diameter I-CSCF BGCF MGCF

Mn

MGW

15 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

The P-CSCF

Proxy Call/Session Control Function

• First signaling point of contact from the UE
Mr
• Acts as an outbound SIP proxy server SIP-AS OSA-SCS
Sh
Sh IM-SSF
Si
MRFC
ISC Mp
ISC ISC
• Located either in the visited or home network
Mw
Cx
• Performs compressions/decompression of P-CSCF
Mw HSS

SIP and SDP S-CSCF

Dx MRFP
Mw
Cx
• Applies local policy to media streams Mw Dx SLF
Mw
Mi
• Interacts with the policy elements to authorize P-CSCF
Mk SGW

media streams Mj

• Establishes an IPsec connection to the IE I-CSCF BGCF MGCF

Mn

• Generates charging records

• Protocols: SIP, IPsec, Sigcomp, Diameter
MGW

16 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

The PCRF

Policy Control and Charging Rules Ftion.

• Policy Control Decision
• Gets dynamic session information from the P-
CSCF
• Gets subscriber policy information from the
SPR (Subscription Profile Repository)
• Performs service data flow detection, gating,
QoS and service flow charging
• Decides how a service data flow is treated
at the GGSN
• Authorizes QoS resources
• Protocols: Diameter

17 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

The PCEF

Policy and Charging Enforcement Ftion.

P-CSCF
• Policy Enforcement Function, integrated in
the GGSN, PDG, or similar node Rx

• Performs gate enforcement:

• A data flow passes through the GGSN Sp

• Performs QoS enforcement: SPR

• Controls bandwidth usage and packet PCRF

forwarding time
Gx
• Performs credit control
Gy

• A data flow passes through the GGSN if

Online Charging
there is enough credit to pay for it System

• Protocols: Diameter Gz

GGSN (incl.
PCEF)

Offline Charging
System

18 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

Media Resource Function
Media Resource Function (MRFC+MRFP)
• Provides additional media resources
• Media announcement, IVR, transcoding,
conferencing, etc. SIP-AS OSA-SCS
Sh
Sh IM-SSF
Si
Mr
MRFC
ISC Mp
ISC ISC

Media Resource Function Controller P-CSCF

Mw
Cx
Mw HSS
• Acts as a SIP User Agent S-CSCF
Dx MRFP
Mw
Cx
• Controls resources in MRFP via H.248 Mw Dx SLF
Mw
Mi
• Generates charging records P-CSCF
Mk SGW

Mj
• Protocols: SIP, H.248
I-CSCF BGCF MGCF

Media Resource Function Processor Mn

• Mixes media
MGW
• Offers media resources (e.g., announcements)
• Provides floor control
• Protocols: RTP, MSRP, H.248
19 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007
Interworking with CS networks

• Needed when the IMS boundary is crossed

to a Circuit Switched network (e.g., PSTN, SGW
ISUP/MTP
PLMN, etc.) Telephone
ISUP/IP
• May take place at a home or third party
network
SIP SIP
• Both control and user plane Telephone
BGCF MGCF Switch

H.248
PCM

IMS PSTN
RTP Telephone

MGW

20 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

The BGCF

Border Gateway Control Function

• IMS originated call breaks to the PSTN
• One BGCF located in the home network
SGW
• Does B-number analysis ISUP/MTP

ISUP/IP Telephone
• Locates a CS gateway operator
• Another BGCF located in visited/3rd party
network SIP SIP

Telephone
• Does B-number analysis BGCF MGCF Switch

• Locates an MGCF H.248

PCM

• Generates charging records IMS PSTN

RTP Telephone
• Protocols: SIP, Diameter (for charging)
MGW

21 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

The MGCF

Media Gateway Control Function

• Translates SIP to ISUP (or BICC) over IP SGW
ISUP/MTP

• Controls resources in a Media Gateway via ISUP/IP Telephone

H.248
• Generates charging records SIP SIP

• Protocols: SIP, ISUP/SCTP, BICC/SCTP, MGCF Switch

Telephone
BGCF
H.248
H.248
PCM

IMS PSTN
RTP Telephone

MGW

22 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

The SGW and MGW

Signaling Gateway
• Bridges lower layers:
• ISUP/SCTP/IP <-> ISUP/MTP
SGW
• BICC/SCTP/IP <-> BICC/MTP ISUP/MTP

ISUP/IP Telephone
• Protocols: MTP, SCTP

SIP SIP

Telephone
Media Gateway BGCF MGCF Switch

H.248
• Translates Real-Time Protocol (RTP) to PCM

Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) in a circuit IMS PSTN

RTP Telephone
• Transcodes when needed
• Protocols: H.248, RTP, PCM MGW

23 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

Application Servers

Application Servers
OSA AS gsmSCF
• Services are executed in Application Servers
• The S-CSCF involves one more ASes in the
session signaling
• Three types of Application Servers
• SIP AS: native to IMS OSA-SCS SIP AS IM-SSF
Sh
• OSA-SCS AS, IM SCF: legacy services ISC Sh
Si
• All three types exhibit the same behavior towards ISC
ISC
the S-CSCF
• ASes interface the S-CSCF and the HSS HSS

• Protocols: SIP, Diameter S-CSCF

24 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

The SIP AS

SIP AS OSA AS gsmSCF

• Native AS for newly developed IMS services

• Can act as either SIP proxy, User Agent, or
Back-to-Back-User-Agent (B2BUA)
• May interfaces the HSS to retrieve user data
• Generates charging records OSA-SCS SIP AS IM-SSF
Sh
ISC Sh
• Protocols: SIP, Diameter Si
ISC
ISC

HSS

S-CSCF

25 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

The IM-SSF

IM-SSF AS
OSA AS gsmSCF
• Interfaces IMS with legacy Intelligent Network
(IN) services
• From the IN perspective, it acts as a Service
Switching Function (SSF)
• From IMS perspective, it acts as a SIP node
OSA-SCS SIP AS IM-SSF
• Executes legacy IN services Sh
Sh
ISC
Si
• May interface the HSS to retrieve user data ISC
ISC
• Protocols: SIP, CAP (CAMEL Application
Protocol), Diameter (charging) HSS

S-CSCF

26 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

The OSA-SCS

OSA-SCS AS
OSA AS gsmSCF
• Interfaces IMS with legacy Open Service Access
application servers
• OSA is capable of providing authentication for
third party service providers
• From IMS perspective, it acts as a SIP node
OSA-SCS SIP AS IM-SSF
• Executes legacy OSA services Sh
Sh
ISC
Si
• May interface the HSS to retrieve user data ISC
ISC
• Protocols: SIP, Diameter
HSS

S-CSCF

27 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

IMS-ALG and TrGW
IMS Application Layer Gateway
• Provides IPv4/IPv6 interworking in the signaling
path
Mr
• Acts as a SIP B2BUA SIP-AS OSA-SCS
Sh
Sh IM-SSF
Si
MRFC
ISC Mp
• Controls a TrGW through the Ix interface ISC ISC

Mw

• Interfaces the I- and S-CSCF P-CSCF

Mw
Cx
HSS

• Rewrites SDP and SIP to change IP addresses Mw

S-CSCF
Dx MRFP
Cx

• Protocols: SIP, non-standardized Ix interface Mw

Mw Dx SLF

protocol P-CSCF
Mk
Mi
SGW
Mx
Mj
Mx

Transition Gateway
I-CSCF BGCF MGCF
Mn
• Provides IPv4/IPv6 interworking in the media IMS-ALG
Ix
path
MGW
• Acts as a NAT-PT/NAPT-PT (Network Address
Port Translator – Protocol Translator). TrGW

• Protocols: RTP, non-standardized Ix interface

protocol
28 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007
Visited / Home domain
Sh
Home network
SLF HSS AS

ISC
Dx Cx Cx

Gm Mw Mw Mr

UE P-CSCF I-CSCF S-CSCF MRFC

PDF
Mi
Go MRFP

SGSN GGSN
Mj

Visited network BGCF MGCF SGW

•P-CSCF and GGSN are always Mc

located in the same network, in this
case, the visited network MGW

29 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

Visited / Home domain
Sh
Home network
SLF HSS AS

ISC
Dx Cx Cx

Gm Mw Mw Mr

UE P-CSCF I-CSCF S-CSCF MRFC

PDF
Mi
Go MRFP

SGSN GGSN
Mj

Visited network BGCF MGCF SGW

•P-CSCF and GGSN are located in Mc

the home network
•SGSN is located in the visited MGW
network Third party network

30 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

3GPP Rel 5/6 IMS Main Protocols
Sh

SLF HSS AS

ISC
Dx Cx Cx
Diameter
Gm Mw Mw Mr

UE P-CSCF I-CSCF S-CSCF MRFC

H.248
Compression Mi
Diameter for
Go SIP MRFP
Policy Control

GGSN
Mj

BGCF MGCF SGW

SIP SIP-ISUP

H.248 Mc

MGW

31 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

User Plane in IMS

• User plane in IMS is generally sent end to end (e.g., UE to UE, UE to MGW, or
UE to MRFP)
• Audio and video protocols are sent over the Real-time Transport Protocol
(RTP)
• The companion Real-time Transport Control Protocol (RTCP) is used to get
feedback of the media reception
• Mandatory codecs in IMS:
– AMR narrowband
– Telephone event (RFC 2833) to send DTMF signals
– If wideband is supported, then AMR wideband is mandatory
– If video is supported, then H.263 baseline is mandatory; H.263 version 2 profile 3 and
MPEG-4 visual are optional
– If text telephony is supported, then T.140 is mandatory
• Lately, the Message Session Relay Protocol (MSRP) has been added to carry
instant messages

32 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

Session Setup (1)
Visited Network A Visited Network B

1. INVITE P-CSCF P-CSCF 12. INVITE

11. INVITE
2. INVITE

9. INVITE
HSS I-CSCF S-CSCF AS
10. INVITE
3. INVITE

8. INVITE
4. INVITE
7. Diameter
AS S-CSCF 6. INVITE I-CSCF LIR/LIA HSS
5. INVITE

Home Network A Home Network B

33 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007
Session Setup (2)

Visited Network A Visited Network B

P-CSCF Home networks P-CSCF

INVITE 200 OK 200 OK INVITE

RTP
GGSN
GGSN

• Signalling traverses SGSN

SGSN proxies and home
network
• User plane is sent
end to end

34 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

Identities in IMS

IMS defines three types of

identities:
• Public User Identity
• Private User Identity
• Public Service Identity

35 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

Public User Identity

• One or more public user identities are

allocated to each user
• Takes the form of a SIP URI or TEL URI
– sip:[email protected]
– tel:+358-50-480-4585

• Allocated by the home operator

• Used for triggering services
• Not used for authentications
• One public user identity can be stored in
the UICC (aka SIM card)
• The user can register to the network one
more public user identities
simultaneously,
– Procedure: Implicit public user identity
registration

36 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

Private User Identity

• One private user identities is allocated

to each user
• Takes the form of a Network Access
Identifier (NAI, RFC 2486)
– [email protected]

• Allocated by the home operator

• Not known by the user
• Used for authentication purposes
• The private user identity is stored in
the UICC (aka SIM card).
– It is unique, since the SIM is un-
clonable

37 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

Public/private user identity relation

• Assumption: one terminal, one UICC, one private user identity

• Different public user identities can be registered from different
terminals
• The same public user identity can be be registered from different
terminals
Public User
Identity -1
Private User
Identity -1

IMS Public User

Subscription Identity -2

Private User
Identity -2
Public User
Identity -3

38 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

Public Service Identity

• Similar to public user identities, but

allocated to services rather than
users
• Take the form of a SIP URI or TEL
URI
– sip:[email protected]
– tel:+358-800-555-2321
• Typically hosted by an Application
Server
• Public service identities are not
authenticated
– No corresponding private user
identity

39 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

 IMS signaling flows

40 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

Preconditions for registration

UE SGSN GGSN HLR HSS S-CSCF

1. GPRS level registration

2. PDP Context Activation

3. P-CSCF discovery

4. IMS level registration

41 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

IMS registration (1)
Visited Network A

1. REGISTER P-CSCF
8. 401 Unauthorized

2. REGISTER

7. 401 Unath.
3. Diameter
HSS UAR/UAA I-CSCF

4. REGISTER
5.

6. 401 Unath.
M Dia
AR m
/M eter
AA

AS S-CSCF

Home Network A
42 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007
IMS registration (2)
Visited Network A

1. REGISTER P-CSCF
8. 200 OK

2. REGISTER

7. 200 OK
3rd party
3. Diameter
registration: HSS UAR/UAA I-CSCF
Informs the AS

4. REGISTER
about the user 5.
M Dia

6. 200 OK
registration AR m
/M eter
AA

9. REGISTER
AS S-CSCF
10. 200 OK
Home Network A
43 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007
Registration flow
IMS
P-CSCF I-CSCF HSS S-CSCF
Terminal
(1) REGISTER
(2) REGISTER (3) Diameter
UAR
(4) Diameter
UAA
(5) REGISTER
(6) Diameter
MAR
(7) Diameter
MAA
(8) 401 Unauthorized
(9) 401 Unauthorized
(10) 401 Unauthorized

(11) REGISTER
(12) REGISTER (13) Diameter
UAR
(14) Diameter
UAA
(15) REGISTER

(16) Diameter
SAR
(17) Diameter
SAA
(18) 200 OK
(19) 200 OK
(20) 200 OK

44 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

Session initiation (1)
Visited Network A Visited Network B

1. INVITE P-CSCF P-CSCF 12. INVITE

11. INVITE
2. INVITE

9. INVITE
HSS I-CSCF S-CSCF AS
10. INVITE
3. INVITE

8. INVITE
4. INVITE
7. Diameter
AS S-CSCF 6. INVITE I-CSCF LIR/LIA HSS
5. INVITE

Home Network A Home Network B

45 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007
Session initiation flow (1)
Originating Originating Terminating
Visited Home Terminating Home Network Visited
Network Network Network

IMS IMS
P-CSCF S-CSCF I-CSCF HSS S-CSCF P-CSCF
Terminal #1 Terminal #2
(1) INVITE
(2) 100 (3) INVITE
Trying (4) 100
Trying
Evaluation of
initial filter criteria
(5) INVITE
(6) 100
Trying (7) Diameter
LIR
(8) Diameter
LIA
(9) INVITE
(10) 100 Trying
Evaluation of
initial filter criteria

(11) INVITE
(12) 100
Trying (13) INVITE
(14) 100
Trying Pre-alert
user
(15) 183
(16) 183 Session
Session Progress
(18) 183 (17) 183 Sesssion Progress Progress
(19) 183 Session
(20) 183 Session Progress
Session Progress
Progress

46 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

Session initiation flow (2)

Originating Originating Terminating

Visited Home Terminating Home Network Visited
Network Network Network

IMS IMS
P-CSCF S-CSCF I-CSCF HSS S-CSCF P-CSCF
Terminal #1 Terminal #2
(20) 183
Session
Progress
(21) PRACK
Resource Reservation

(22) PRACK
(23) PRACK
(24) PRACK
(25) PRACK

(26) 200 OK

Resource Reservation
(27) 200 OK
(28) 200 OK
(29) 200 OK
(30) 200 OK

(31) UPDATE
(32) UPDATE
(33) UPDATE
(34) UPDATE
(35) UPDATE
(36) 200 OK Alert
(37) 200 OK
(38) 200 OK user
(39) 200 OK
(40) 200 OK

47 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

Session initiation flow (3)
Originating Originating Terminating
Visited Home Terminating Home Network Visited
Network Network Network

IMS IMS
P-CSCF S-CSCF I-CSCF HSS S-CSCF P-CSCF
Terminal #1 Terminal #2

Alert
(41) 180 user
(42) 180 Ringing
(43) 180 Ringing Ringing
(44) 180
(45) 180 Ringing
(46) 180 Ringing
Ringing

(47) PRACK
(48) PRACK
(49) PRACK
(50) PRACK
(51) PRACK
(52) 200 OK
(53) 200 OK
(54) 200 OK
(55) 200 OK Accept
(56) 200 OK
(57) 200 OK session
(58) 200 OK
(59) 200 OK
(60) 200 OK
(61) 200 OK
(62) 200 OK
(63) ACK
(64) ACK
(65) ACK
(66) ACK
(67) ACK

Media plane (RTP)

48 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

Call to Circuit Switched (CS) networks
Visited Network A

10. ISUP IAM PSTN

1. INVITE P-CSCF SGW
switch

9. ISUP IAM
2. INVITE

3. INVITE
AS S-CSCF MGCF 8. H.248 MGW
4. INVITE

7. INVITE
5. INVITE

HSS BGCF 6. INVITE BGCF

Home Network A CS interworking network

49 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007
Call flow to CS networks (1)

Originating
Home Network CS interworking Network
Network

S-CSCF BGCF 1 BGCF 2 MGCF MGW SGW

(1) INVITE

(2) 100 Trying

Evaluation of
initial filter criteria

(3) INVITE

(4) 100 Trying

(5) INVITE

(6) 100 Trying

(7) INVITE
(9) H.248 ADDrq
(8) 100 Trying
(11) 183 Session (10) H.248 ADDrp
(13) 183 Session Progress
(14) 183 Session (12) ISUP: IAM
Progress
(15) 183 Session Progress
Progress
(16) PRACK
(17) PRACK
(18) H.248 MODrq
(20) 200 OK
(21) 200 OK (19) H.248 MODrp

50 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

Call flow to CS networks (2)
Originating
Home Network CS interworking Network
Network

S-CSCF BGCF 1 BGCF 2 MGCF MGW SGW

(22) UPDATE
(23) UPDATE
(26) ISUP: COT
(24) 200 OK
(25) 200 OK

(27) ISUP: ACM

(28) 180 Ringing
(29) 180 Ringing
(30) 180 Ringing
(31) 180 Ringing

(32) PRACK
(33) PRACK

(34) 200 OK
(35) 200 OK

(36) ISUP: ANM

(37) H.248 MODrq

(38) H.248 MODrs
(39) 200 OK
(40) 200 OK
(41) 200 OK
(42) 200 OK
(43) ACK
(44) ACK

Media plane (RTP)

51 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

Call from Circuit Switched (CS) networks
Visited Network A

1. ISUP IAM PSTN

10. INVITE P-CSCF SGW
switch

2. ISUP IAM
9. INVITE

7. INVITE
AS S-CSCF MGCF 3. H.248 MGW
8. INVITE
6. INVITE

TE
VI
IN
4.

5. Diameter
HSS LIR/LIA I-CSCF BGCF

Home Network A CS interworking network

52 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007
Call flow from CS networks (1)
Terminating
Home Network CS interworking Network
Network

S-CSCF HSS I-CSCF MGCF MGW SGW

(1) ISUP: IAM

(2) H.248 ADDrq

(3) H.248 ADDrp

(4) INVITE

(5) 100 Trying

(6) Diameter LIR

(7) Diameter LIA

(8) INVITE

(9) 100 Trying

Evaluation of
initial filter criteria

(10) INVITE

(11) Trying

(12) 183
Sess. Progress (13) 183
Session Progress (14) H.248 MODrq
(16) PRACK
(17) PRACK (15) H.248 MODrp

(18) 200 OK
(19) 200 OK

53 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

Call flow from CS networks (2)
Terminating
Home Network CS interworking Network
Network

S-CSCF HSS I-CSCF MGCF MGW SGW

(20) ISUP: COT

(21) UPDATE
(22) UPDATE

(23) 200 OK
(24) 200 OK

(25) Ringing
(26) Ringing
(27) ISUP: ACM
(30) PRACK
(31) PRACK (28) H.248 MODrq

(32) 200 OK (29) H.248 MODrp

(33) 200 OK

(34) 200 OK
(35) 200 OK
(36) 200 OK
(37) ISUP: ANM
(40) ACK
(41) ACK (38) H.248 MODrq

(39) H.248 MODrp

Media plane (RTP)

54 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

Triggering services

• Services are triggered in the S-CSCF (but executed in ASes)

• Central to triggering services is the initial Filter Criteria (iFC)
– The iFC is a collection of triggers set for a given public user identity
– The iFC defines the Application Servers to be contacted when the conditions
are fulfilled
– The iFC is stored in the HSS embedded in the user profile.
– The S-CSCF downloads the user profile when the user registers.
• Every SIP request that initiates a SIP dialog (e.g., INVITE,
SUBSCRIBE) , or every standalone SIP request (e.g., REGISTER,
OPTIONS), make the S-CSCF to evaluate the iFC
• Example of Filter Criteria semantics:
– All INVITE requests addressed to the user
– Where the calling party is a given identity
– Are sent to a given AS

55 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

Structure of the User Profile / Filter Criteria
User Profile Initial Filter Criteria
Private User Identity
Priority

Service Profile n
1 to n 0 to 1
Trigger Point
Service Profile 2
Trigger Point
Service Profile 1

Public Identification n Service Point Trigger

1 to n
1 to n
Public Identification 2
Service Point Trigger
Public Identification 1
Service Point Trigger

Initial Filter Criteria n Request-URI

0 to n SIP Method
Initial Filter Criteria 2 SIP Header
Initial Filter Criteria 1
Session Case
Session Description

Shared Initial Filter Criteria n

0 to n Application Server
Shared Initial Filter Criteria 2
SIP URI
Shared Initial Filter Criteria 1 Default Handling
Service Information

56 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

AS acting as a SIP UA (1)

AS

4. 200 OK
3. INVITE
1. INVITE 2. INVITE

6. 200 OK 5. 200 OK

P-CSCF S-CSCF

Service provided to an originating user

57 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

AS acting as a SIP UA (2)

AS

4. 200 OK
3. INVITE
1. INVITE 2. INVITE

6. 200 OK 5. 200 OK

I-CSCF S-CSCF P-CSCF

Service provided to a terminating user

58 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

AS acting as an originating UA

AS

6. 200 OK
1. INVITE
3. INVITE 2. INVITE

4. 200 OK 5. 200 OK

P-CSCF S-CSCF

59 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

AS acting as a SIP proxy

AS

7. 200 OK
3. INVITE

8. 200 OK
4. INVITE
1. INVITE 2. INVITE 5. INVITE

10. 200 OK 9. 200 OK 6. 200 OK

P-CSCF S-CSCF

Service provided to an originating user

60 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

AS acting as a SIP proxy

AS

9. 200 OK
10. 200 OK
3. INVITE
4. INVITE
1. INVITE 2. INVITE 5. INVITE 6. INVITE

12. 200 OK 11. 200 OK 8. 200 OK 7. 200 OK

I-CSCF S-CSCF P-CSCF

Service provided to a terminating user

61 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

AS acting as a redirect server

4. 302 Moved
Temporarily
AS

3. INVITE
1. INVITE 2. INVITE

6. 302 Moved 5. 302 Moved

Temporarily Temporarily
I-CSCF S-CSCF P-CSCF

Service provided to a terminating user

62 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

AS acting as a B2BUA

AS

10. 200 OK
3. INVITE A

7. INVITE B
4. 200 OK
1. INVITE A 2. INVITE A 8. INVITE B

6. 200 OK 5. 200 OK 9. 200 OK

P-CSCF S-CSCF

Service provided to an originating user

63 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

AS acting as a B2BUA

AS

12. 200 OK
3. INVITE A

7. INVITE B
4. 200 OK
1. INVITE A 2. INVITE A 8. INVITE B 9. INVITE B

6. 200 OK 5. 200 OK 11. 200 OK 10. 200 OK

I-CSCF S-CSCF P-CSCF

Service provided to a terminating user

64 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007

IMS bibliography

Two books on the market describe IMS

“The 3G IP Multimedia Subsystem: Merging the
Internet and the Cellular Worlds, 2nd edition”.
• Gonzalo Camarillo and Miguel-Angel Garcia-Martin
• Published by John Wiley and Sons Ltd.
• ISBN: 0470018186
• December 2005

“The IMS: IP Multimedia Concepts and Services in

the Mobile Domain, 2nd edition”.
• Miikka Poikselkä, Georg Mayer, Hisham Khartabil, and Aki
Niemi.
• Published by John Wiley and Sons Ltd.
• ISBN: 0470019069
• March 2006
65 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007
 Thank you!
Send comments, questions and feedback about this lecture to
mailto:[email protected]
sip:[email protected]

66 © Nokia Siemens Networks IMS / Miguel A. Garcia-Martin / October 2007