IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem)
IMS standards provide mobile, fixed and broadband service providers the ability to quickly create, deliver and manage new revenue generating services, while sharing common network resources to deploy distributed multimedia applications across PSTN, TDM and IP networks.
The key benefit of IMS is the standardization of common network elements to cost-effectively create, manage and deliver new voice and multimedia services over an all-IP or converged network.
The IMS building-block approach provides service providers the resources required to offer new multimedia applications seamlessly across multiple networks today.
Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC)
By harnessing the power of the IMS architecture, service providers can deliver media-rich services (voice, data, multimedia and video) to a wide variety of devices (phone, mobile handset, PDA, PC, etc.) independent of network access type (UMTS, CDMA, IP, WiFi, WiMax).
Fixed Mobile Convergence is the converging of network access types to offer common service to users, regardless of network access or devices they are using to receive voice or multimedia services. Global service providers are now creating wireless and fixed broadband partnerships to create an FMC offering for voice, audio, video and data to consumers and enterprises, seamlessly across cellular networks, fixed IP networks and wireless IP networks.
This quadruple-play service offering requires the use of common network elements to develop, deliver and manage enhanced services across these converged networks.
Common Media Processing for Distributed Multimedia Applications
In the IMS specification, media resources are handled by the Media Resource Function (MRF) which consists of a Media Resource Function Controller (MRFC) and a Media Resource Function Processor (MRFP). The MRFC acts as a control layer which co-ordinates operations between the Application Server (AS) and the MRFP. When the application server requires media processing it sends a request to the MRFC which in turn manages the MRFP to invoke the media processing required for media transcoding, anchoring and streaming.
AudioCodes Media Resource Function acts as a service-independent media processing platform for distributed application servers for delivery and management of multimedia services. Due to AudioCodes leading MRF technology, the company is in a strong position to partner with leading application developers and network equipment providers to offer a bundled MRF for conferencing, messaging, audio and video streaming, lawful intercept and IP-PBX enterprise extensions for wireless across IMS and converged networks. Additionally, due to a new 3GPP standard for FMC, AudioCodes has partnered with leading FMC solution providers to build a MRF for call anchoring and transcoding for dual-mode devices to manage UMTS/CDMA/IP hand-over, conferencing, streaming, messaging and CALEA services.
MRF - Media Resource Function:
A common network element that processes media streams for distributed multimedia applications (Voice, Video, Audio, Lawful Intercept)
Core functions include:
• Playing announcements
• Collecting DTMF digits
• Audio, video recording and playback
• Audio and video conferencing (bridging, switching and mixing multiple streams)
• Fax detection and decoding
• Speech recognition, text-to-speech
• Media anchoring, streaming, hand-over and transcoding between TDM, PSTN and IP networks
New Standards:
An IMS/3GPP standard, 3GPP TR23.806, has been defined to give service providers flexibility in building FMC service management and control solutions within their existing networks. This new standard elevates the need for a common MRF to handle bearer and media anchoring in the IMS network to manage transcoding, call hand-over, and seamless service deliver to dual-mode devices.
AudioCodes is currently working with leading FMC solution vendors to offer a highly-available and scalable MRF for converged voice, audio, video and data services to multiple device types.
Converged Service Examples:
FMC is defined for seamless voice, audio, video and data delivery to and from multiple network access types, such as CDMA-IP, UMTS-IP, CDMA-UMTS, UMTS-4GV, CDMA-4GV and 4GV-IP, while supporting legacy devices, new SIP devices and dual-mode handsets.
Examples of converged services include:
- Network tones/ announcements
- Audio/video conferencing
- Audio/video streaming
- Mobile/IP video services
- IP-PBX extensions for legacy devices
- Legacy teleservices for new SIP devices
- PoC for messaging, audio and video
- Unified messaging services and enhanced voicemail
- Lawful intercept for VoIP
- Find-me/follow-me integrated with presence information
- Personalization with music, pictures, ringback tones
- Voice-activated dialing
- Instant sharing of live video and web content
- Mobile/IP conferencing
- Mobile/IP multiplayer gaming
- Enhanced directory services with text and image retrieval
IMS and FMC has become a reality for wireless, wireline and broadband service providers, due to the creation and deployment of new voice, audio, video and data services being introduced for the consumer and enterprise communities.
AudioCodes is actively working with leading Network Equipment Providers, System Integrators and Application Partners to develop IMS-compliant MRF solutions. AudioCodes’ IPmedia™ product line, which includes the IPmedia™ 2000, 3000, 5000 and 8000, offers carriers the reliability, flexibility, quality and cost-performance needed for large-scale deployments of converged services for wireless, wireline and broadband customers.
AudioCodes is a leading provider of innovative, scalable and cost-effective IMS-based Voice over Packet technology and Converged Network platforms to OEMs, network equipment providers and system integrators.
AudioCodes is a leading provider of Media Resource Function platforms that enable Fixed Mobile Convergence of IMS-based applications.