Design and implementation of an IMS network with extended functions using Open IMS Core.

Bakalárska práca sa zameriava na architektúru IP Multimedia Subsystem, jej hlavné prvky a rozširujúce funkcie. Ďalej sa zaoberá implementáciou IMS siete v simulačnom prostredí Open IMS Core, ktoré zároveň stručne popisuje. V prvej časti je charakteristika IMS architektúry, rozdelenie na vrstvy a definícia základných prvkov CSCF a HSS. Okrem toho stručne charakterizuje najčastejšie používané komunikačné protokoly a na koniec rozoberá štruktúru identity v IMS. Druhá časť sa venuje open source prostrediu Open IMS Core, stručne definuje jednotlivé funkčné časti a obsahuje zoznam konfiguračných súborov. Tretia časť bližšie zoznamuje s doplnkovými službami, ktoré ponúka architektúra IMS. Charakterizuje ich základné funkcie a spôsob práce. Štvrtá časť sa venuje praktickej zložke bakalárskej práce. Opisuje postup konfigurácie Open IMS Core a testovanie funkčnosti. Je rozdelená na štyri časti podľa jednotlivých krokov konfigurácie.The bachelor thesis focuses on the architecture of the IP Multimedia Subsystem, its main elements and extension functions. It also deals with the implementation of the IMS network in the simulation environment Open IMS Core, which is also briefly described. The first chapter describes the IMS architecture divided into layers and it also defines the basic elements such as CSCF and HSS. In addition, it briefly characterizes the most commonly used communication protocols and the structure of identity in IMS. The second chapter deals with the open source environment Open IMS Core, it briefly defines the individual parts and contains a list of configuration files. The third chapter introduces the additional services offered by the IMS architecture. It characterizes their basic functions and their way of working. The fourth chapter focuses on the practical part of the bachelor thesis. It describes configuration procedure of the Open IMS Core and testing of its functionality. It is divided into four sections according to the individual configuration steps.

A unified data repository for rich communication services

Rich Communication Services (RCS) is a framework that defines a set of IP-based services for the delivery of multimedia communications to mobile network subscribers. The framework unifies a set of pre-existing communication services under a single name, and permits network operators to re-use investments in existing network infrastructure, especially the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), which is a core part of a mobile network and also acts as a docking station for RCS services. RCS generates and utilises disparate subscriber data sets during execution, however, it lacks a harmonised repository for the management of such data sets, thus making it difficult to obtain a unified view of heterogeneous subscriber data. This thesis proposes the creation of a unified data repository for RCS which is based on the User Data Convergence (UDC) standard. The standard was proposed by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), a major telecommunications standardisation group. UDC provides an approach for consolidating subscriber data into a single logical repository without adversely affecting existing network infrastructure, such as the IMS. Thus, this thesis details the design and development of a prototypical implementation of a unified repository, named Converged Subscriber Data Repository (CSDR). It adopts a polyglot persistence model for the underlying data store and exposes heterogeneous data through the Open Data Protocol (OData), which is a candidate implementation of the Ud interface defined in the UDC architecture. With the introduction of polyglot persistence, multiple data stores can be used within the CSDR and disparate network data sources can access heterogeneous data sets using OData as a standard communications protocol. As the CSDR persistence model becomes more complex due to the inclusion of more storage technologies, polyglot persistence ensures a consistent conceptual view of these data sets through OData. Importantly, the CSDR prototype was integrated into a popular open-source implementation of the core part of an IMS network known as the Open IMS Core. The successful integration of the prototype demonstrates its ability to manage and expose a consolidated view of heterogeneous subscriber data, which are generated and used by different RCS services deployed within IMS

Análisis de la tecnología IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) y diseñar un servicio de transmisión multimedia de video mediante Open IMS Core para evaluar el tráfico Unicast y Multicast.

El presente trabajo tiene como objeto analizar la Tecnología IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem), y diseñar un servicio de transmisión multimedia de video mediante Open IMS Core que permita evaluar el tráfico Unicast y Multicast. Se realizó un estudio de la plataforma IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) cómo una Plataforma de Entrega de Servicios en la adopción de Redes de Nueva Generación (NGN). Se planteó un diseño cuasi-experimental y diseño transversal en donde se propone realizar la evaluación del tráfico de datos Unicast y Multicast en los escenarios de streaming de video utilizando Open IMS Core y utilizando VLC, se ha utilizado los métodos inductivo, deductivo, analítico y científico, donde el enfoque de la investigación es cualitativo y cuantitativo. El alcance de la investigación es correlacional. Se evaluó los dos escenarios de streaming de video mediante observaciones subjetivas desde el punto de vista del usuario final en cuanto a la calidad del video recibido utilizando el método Mean Opinion Score (MOS) para cuantificar el impacto que tiene en el usuario la presencia de fallos del servicio. Mediante el análisis de la tecnología IMS se cumplió con el diseño e implementación del prototipo de streaming de video de acuerdo a los objetivos planteados. Por tanto, la aplicación obtenida puntualiza una plataforma ejemplo para la unificación de futuros servicios de usuario final. IMS Core al ser una plataforma de código abierto y orientada principalmente a la parte educativa se recomienda hacer los análisis necesarios para que pueda ser enlazada con plataformas educativas como moodle, e informativas como joomla, drupal etc.The purpose of this work is to analyze the IMS Technology (IP Multimedia Subsystem), and design a multimedia video transmission service through Open IMS Core that allows to evaluate Unicast and Multicast traffic. A study of the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) platform was conducted as a Service Delivery Platform in the adoption of New Generation Networks (NGN). A quasi-experimental and a cross-sectional design were proposed where the evaluation of Unicast and Multicast data traffic in the video streaming scenarios using Open IMS Core and using VLC is proposed. The inductive, deductive, analytical and scientific methods were used and the research approach is both qualitative and quantitative. The scope of the research is correlational. The two video streaming scenarios were evaluated by subjective observations from the point of view of the end user regarding to the quality of the video received using the Mean Opinion Score (MOS) method to quantify the impact that the presence of faults in the service has on users. Through the analysis of IMS technology, the design and implementation of the video streaming prototype was fulfilled according to the objectives set. Therefore, the application obtained specifies an example platform for the unification of future end-user services. Since IMS Core is an open source platform and is oriented mainly to the educational area, it is recommended to make the necessary analyzes so that it can be linked to educational platforms such as Moodle and informative ones such as Joomla, Drupal, etc

Análisis de la tecnología IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) y diseñar un servicio de transmisión multimedia de video mediante Open IMS Core para evaluar el tráfico Unicast y Multicast.

El presente trabajo tiene como objeto analizar la Tecnología IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem), y diseñar un servicio de transmisión multimedia de video mediante Open IMS Core que permita evaluar el tráfico Unicast y Multicast. Se realizó un estudio de la plataforma IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) cómo una Plataforma de Entrega de Servicios en la adopción de Redes de Nueva Generación (NGN). Se planteó un diseño cuasi-experimental y diseño transversal en donde se propone realizar la evaluación del tráfico de datos Unicast y Multicast en los escenarios de streaming de video utilizando Open IMS Core y utilizando VLC, se ha utilizado los métodos inductivo, deductivo, analítico y científico, donde el enfoque de la investigación es cualitativo y cuantitativo. El alcance de la investigación es correlacional. Se evaluó los dos escenarios de streaming de video mediante observaciones subjetivas desde el punto de vista del usuario final en cuanto a la calidad del video recibido utilizando el método Mean Opinion Score (MOS) para cuantificar el impacto que tiene en el usuario la presencia de fallos del servicio. Mediante el análisis de la tecnología IMS se cumplió con el diseño e implementación del prototipo de streaming de video de acuerdo a los objetivos planteados. Por tanto, la aplicación obtenida puntualiza una plataforma ejemplo para la unificación de futuros servicios de usuario final. IMS Core al ser una plataforma de código abierto y orientada principalmente a la parte educativa se recomienda hacer los análisis necesarios para que pueda ser enlazada con plataformas educativas como moodle, e informativas como joomla, drupal etc.The purpose of this work is to analyze the IMS Technology (IP Multimedia Subsystem), and design a multimedia video transmission service through Open IMS Core that allows to evaluate Unicast and Multicast traffic. A study of the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) platform was conducted as a Service Delivery Platform in the adoption of New Generation Networks (NGN). A quasi-experimental and a cross-sectional design were proposed where the evaluation of Unicast and Multicast data traffic in the video streaming scenarios using Open IMS Core and using VLC is proposed. The inductive, deductive, analytical and scientific methods were used and the research approach is both qualitative and quantitative. The scope of the research is correlational. The two video streaming scenarios were evaluated by subjective observations from the point of view of the end user regarding to the quality of the video received using the Mean Opinion Score (MOS) method to quantify the impact that the presence of faults in the service has on users. Through the analysis of IMS technology, the design and implementation of the video streaming prototype was fulfilled according to the objectives set. Therefore, the application obtained specifies an example platform for the unification of future end-user services. Since IMS Core is an open source platform and is oriented mainly to the educational area, it is recommended to make the necessary analyzes so that it can be linked to educational platforms such as Moodle and informative ones such as Joomla, Drupal, etc

Designing and prototyping WebRTC and IMS integration using open source tools

WebRTC, or Web Real-time Communications, is a collection of web standards that detail the mechanisms, architectures and protocols that work together to deliver real-time multimedia services to the web browser. It represents a significant shift from the historical approach of using browser plugins, which over time, have proven cumbersome and problematic. Furthermore, it adopts various Internet standards in areas such as identity management, peer-to-peer connectivity, data exchange and media encoding, to provide a system that is truly open and interoperable. Given that WebRTC enables the delivery of multimedia content to any Internet Protocol (IP)-enabled device capable of hosting a web browser, this technology could potentially be used and deployed over millions of smartphones, tablets and personal computers worldwide. This service and device convergence remains an important goal of telecommunication network operators who seek to enable it through a converged network that is based on the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS). IMS is an IP-based subsystem that sits at the core of a modern telecommunication network and acts as the main routing substrate for media services and applications such as those that WebRTC realises. The combination of WebRTC and IMS represents an attractive coupling, and as such, a protracted investigation could help to answer important questions around the technical challenges that are involved in their integration, and the merits of various design alternatives that present themselves. This thesis is the result of such an investigation and culminates in the presentation of a detailed architectural model that is validated with a prototypical implementation in an open source testbed. The model is built on six requirements which emerge from an analysis of the literature, including previous interventions in IMS networks and a key technical report on design alternatives. Furthermore, this thesis argues that the client architecture requires support for web-oriented signalling, identity and call handling techniques leading to a potential for IMS networks to natively support these techniques as operator networks continue to grow and develop. The proposed model advocates the use of SIP over WebSockets for signalling and DTLS-SRTP for media to enable one-to-one communication and can be extended through additional functions resulting in a modular architecture. The model was implemented using open source tools which were assembled to create an experimental network testbed, and tests were conducted demonstrating successful cross domain communications under various conditions. The thesis has a strong focus on enabling ordinary software developers to assemble a prototypical network such as the one that was assembled and aims to enable experimentation in application use cases for integrated environments

Provision of caller ring back tones for IP multimedia platforms

The conference aimed at supporting and stimulating active productive research set to strengthen the technical foundations of engineers and scientists in the continent, through developing strong technical foundations and skills, leading to new small to medium enterprises within the African sub-continent. It also seeked to encourage the emergence of functionally skilled technocrats within the continent.Customised Caller Ring Back Tones (CRBT) are used to entertain callers by playing a media clip while the callee’s phone is ringing. CRBT involves the mobile operator replacing the standard audio clip with a clip selected by the user, in this case the callee. The service may be offered by 3rd party application providers, but can also be offered by mobile operators themselves. CRBT service can be supported by different mobile network infrastructures including the circuit switched GSM networks and IP multimedia networks such as IMS. These networks need integration of additional components to provide the CRBT service.3GGP has standardized the IMS architecture, which comprises transport, control and application planes. SIP interface to application can enable 3rd party application providers to offer value added services such as IPTV and CRBT. RTP packets conveying media for these applications would be streamed across transport plane connections. This paper presents the design and implementation of CRBT on IMS networks. It presents considerations for deploying both CRBT and reverse CRBT. The design adopts the architecture where an IMS application server is used to control CRBT service, while the media is stored and served from an RTSP media server. We utilize the Fraunhofer Fokus open source IMS core and UCT IMS client for implementation. Test results are geared to proof of concept; performance tests show minimal added call setup delay of 15 millisecond.Strathmore University; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE

Core Network Design of Software Defined Radio Testbed

The 4th generation of cellular system (LTE) does not inherit the traditional voice (circuit-switched) capabilities from its predecessors. Instead it relies on its high speed packet-switched core network with IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) for voice capabilities. Even though there are temporary solutions available until LTE gets its full deployment and coverage, operators are looking for a long term solution known as VoIMS which uses VoIP with SIP protocol for voice in the LTE network (VoLTE) through the IMS domain. The scope of this thesis work is to design, implement and verify the working of the core network for an LTE type software defined radio (SDR) testbed which is able to initiate, maintain and terminate voice and data connections. First step in this regard is to search and select the tools, programs and technologies that fulfil the network requirement in terms of network performance and user satisfaction. Next is to build, configure and verify the network operations of the designed network. As SDRs are used for testing purposes, the core network is also designed in correspondence to that, i.e., it is a test (lab) core network with configurations that are simple to implement and do not require coding implementation. The core network makes use of the virtualization technology and is realized with the help of open-source solutions, i.e., protocols and technologies that are customizable as required and does not require licensing for their use. These functionalities are implemented with the help of OpenSIPS, an open-source SIP server, DHCP and DNS servers. Demonstration of the core network verifies that successful voice and video call can be made between registered users on two different networks, running VoIP client software on different operating system platforms. The core network provides features such as voice, video, instant messaging, presence, dynamic IP assignment, IP address to name resolution and mobility

Learning Design and Service Oriented Architectures:a mutual dependency?

This paper looks at how the concept of reusability has gained currency in e-learning. Initial attention was focused on reuse of content, but recently attention has focused on reusable software tools and reusable activity structures. The former has led to the proposal of service-oriented architectures, and the latter has seen the development of the Learning Design specification. The authors suggest that there is a mutual dependency between the success of these two approaches, as complex Learning Designs require the ability to call on a range of tools, while remaining technology neutral. The paper describes a project at the UK Open University, SLeD, which sought to develop a Learning Design player that would utilise the service-oriented approach. This acted both as a means of exploring some of the issues implicit within both approaches and also provided a practical tool. The SLeD system was successfully implemented in a different university, Liverpool Hope, demonstrating some of the principles of re-use

Student-Centered Learning: Functional Requirements for Integrated Systems to Optimize Learning

The realities of the 21st-century learner require that schools and educators fundamentally change their practice. "Educators must produce college- and career-ready graduates that reflect the future these students will face. And, they must facilitate learning through means that align with the defining attributes of this generation of learners."Today, we know more than ever about how students learn, acknowledging that the process isn't the same for every student and doesn't remain the same for each individual, depending upon maturation and the content being learned. We know that students want to progress at a pace that allows them to master new concepts and skills, to access a variety of resources, to receive timely feedback on their progress, to demonstrate their knowledge in multiple ways and to get direction, support and feedback from—as well as collaborate with—experts, teachers, tutors and other students.The result is a growing demand for student-centered, transformative digital learning using competency education as an underpinning.iNACOL released this paper to illustrate the technical requirements and functionalities that learning management systems need to shift toward student-centered instructional models. This comprehensive framework will help districts and schools determine what systems to use and integrate as they being their journey toward student-centered learning, as well as how systems integration aligns with their organizational vision, educational goals and strategic plans.Educators can use this report to optimize student learning and promote innovation in their own student-centered learning environments. The report will help school leaders understand the complex technologies needed to optimize personalized learning and how to use data and analytics to improve practices, and can assist technology leaders in re-engineering systems to support the key nuances of student-centered learning