IMS and PCC System Engineering
With the advent of technologies such as LTE and 5G, next generation services and charging are now being controlled by IMS and PCC functions; a critical element in a service provider’s requirement to support seamless and rich multimedia services. For those needing to gain an understanding of this service overlay, this course provides a comprehensive technical explanation of how this is achieved. Topics covered include IMS architecture, protocols (SIP and Diameter), Registration, Policy Control and Session Establishment.
Section 1 - IMS Concepts and Architecture
Topic areas covered include:
- IMS Drivers:
- Service Drivers, Open Systems and Seamless Mobility.
- IMS Fundamental Principles.
- Specifications and Standards.
- Interworking with Access Networks.
- Positioning the IMS.
- Control and User Planes.
- IMS Terminal Device Requirements.
- Key Nodes:
- P-CSCF, S-CSCF, I-CSCF, HSS and Application Servers.
- Additional Architectural Elements:
- PSTN Breakout - BGCF, MGCF, MGW and Signalling Gateway.
- Interworking - IBCF and Session Border Controllers.
- Multimedia - MRFC, MRFP, Media Servers and Brokers.
Section 2 - IMS Protocols
Topic areas covered include:
- SIP Fundamentals:
- Methods, network elements, protocol format.
- Diameter Fundamentals:
- Routing, Header Format, Messages and AVPs.
Section 3 - IMS Registration
Topic areas covered include:
- IMS Initial Procedures:
- IP-CAN Connectivity, P-CSCF Discovery.
- IMS Identities:
- IMPU, IMPI, GRUU, PSI.
- Security considerations.
- Service Profiles and ifc (Initial Filter Criteria).
- Detailed Registration Process:
- Including Implicit Registration.
- Activity: detailed analysis of the IMS Registration procedure using Mpirical’s NetX.
Section 4 - Policy and Charging Control Fundamentals
Topic areas covered include:
- QoS in IP Networks.
- Precursors to PCC:
- 3GPP Release 5 SBLP and Release 6 FBC.
- Policy and Charging Control:
- PCC Architecture, Principles, PCC and SAE.
- PCEF, PCRF, OCS, OFCS, SPR, Gx, Rx.
- PCC Binding Mechanism:
- Session Binding, Rule Authorization, Bearer Binding.
Section 5 - IMS Session Establishment
Topic areas covered include:
- Session Policy and Policy Enforcement:
- PCC and the Rx Interface.
- SDP Offer/Answer Model.
- IMS Session Establishment.
- Charging Concepts:
- Offline Charging, Online Charging and Charging Identifiers.
- Activity: detailed analysis of an IMS Session Establishment procedure using Mpirical’s NetX.