Charging in IP multimedia networks

ArticleIMS charging can be performed at various planes of the IMS architecture. Different charging schemes may be utilized. The optimal charging scheme would be service dependent, but may also be influenced by user expectations. The 3GPP has standardized charging mechanisms, protocols and interfaces for IMS charging control; online and offline charging have been standardized. However, the design and development of charging systems is operator dependent. This paper presents an IMS charging prototype developed and implemented in C, in line with Open IMS research. The testbed supports flow level, subsystem level and content level charging for IPTV and VoIP. The testbed supports online and offline charging; it has been tested with the UCT IMS client and the Fokus Open IMS system. Testbed proof of concept and performance results are presented.IMS charging can be performed at various planes of the IMS architecture. Different charging schemes may be utilized. The optimal charging scheme would be service dependent, but may also be influenced by user expectations. The 3GPP has standardized charging mechanisms, protocols and interfaces for IMS charging control; online and offline charging have been standardized. However, the design and development of charging systems is operator dependent. This paper presents an IMS charging prototype developed and implemented in C, in line with Open IMS research. The testbed supports flow level, subsystem level and content level charging for IPTV and VoIP. The testbed supports online and offline charging; it has been tested with the UCT IMS client and the Fokus Open IMS system. Testbed proof of concept and performance results are presented

Analisis Kinerja Signaling IMS yang Diterapkan pada Jaringan Publik IP di Operator Telekomunikasi Berbasis GSM dan CDMA

ABSTRAKSI: Perkembangan teknologi di bidang Telekomunikasi dewasa ini mengalami kemajuan pesat. Hal ini memeberikan dampak baik bagi perkembangan Next Generation Network yang termasuk didalamnya IP Multimedia Subsystem. IMS yang merupakan teknologi IP based, memiliki kemampuan baru dalam penyampaian informasi kepada pelanggan, terutama pada layanan pesan, suara maupun multimedia. Mobile Virtual Network Operator memungkinkan para pelaku bisnis untuk membuat operator baru dengan menyewa jaringan yang dimiliki oleh Mobile Network OperatorDengan penerapan IMS pada MVNO, operator baru dapat memanfaatkan kemampuan yang dimiliki IMS tanpa harus memiliki jaringan sendiri. Oleh karena itu, dibutuhkan penelitian mengenai penerapan IMS diluar jaringan inti MNO , yang merupakan jaringan yang akan digunakan oleh MVNO. Session setup delay dan SIP retransmisi akan menjadi paramater utama yang akan diuji pada tugas akhir ini. Skenerio yang digunakan adalah penerapan IMS ketika client menggunakan jaringan MNO yang sama, baik 3G maupun 2G. Selain itu akan dilakukan pengujian antar operator dengan memanfaatkan VPN Tunneling untuk mengatasi tidak keluarnya suara ketika kedua client IMS menggunakan MNO yang berbeda.Tools yang digunakan adalah UCT OpenIMSCore sebagai server IMS, Boghe IMS Client sebagai client, modem CDMA dan modem GSM.Hasil penelitian menunjukan, ketika IMS di implementasikan pada jaringan publik, nilai session setup delay dan SIP retransmisi, tidak dapat dipredikisi. Hal ini dikarenakan tidak adanya control pada jaringan publik. Namun, secara garis besar, jaringan 3G untuk masing masing operator memiliki performansi cukup bagus dengan ditunjukan nilai session setup delay rata-rata diantara 0,3s s/d 1s yang masih berada dibawah standart yang telah ditentukan, dan juga SIP retransmisi diantara 15% s/d 30%.Kata Kunci : IMS, MVNO, MNO, Public Network, CDMA, GSM, EVDO , HSDPA, EDGE, CDMA 1xABSTRACT: Technological developments in the field of Telecommunications today is progressing rapidly. This gives a good impact to the development of Next Generation Network which includes the IP Multimedia Subsystem. IMS ,an IP-based technologies, has the capability of deliver information to customers, especially in messaging, voice and multimedia services. Mobile Virtual Network Operator allows businesman to create a new operator by renting network owned by Mobile Network OperatorsWith implementation of IMS in the MVNO, the new operators can leverage the capabilities of the IMS without having its own network. So, research is needed on the implementation of IMS core network outside the MNO, which is a network that will be used by the MVNO. SIP session setup delay and retransmission will be the main parameter to be tested in this final assignment. Scenerio used is the application of IMS when the client uses the same MNO networks, both 3G and 2G. Additionally, it will be tested among operators by utilizing VPN Tunneling to overcome sound problems when both IMS client uses a different MNO.Tools used as IMS server is UCT Open IMS Core , Boghe IMS Client as a client, CDMA modem and GSM modem.The results showed, when IMS implemented on a public network, the value of the session setup delay and SIP retransmission are unpredictable. This is happened because there is no control over public network. However, in general, the 3G network for each operator has a pretty good performance with the indicated value of session setup delay around 0,3s to 1s , that is under a standard, and also retransmisi around 15% to 30%.Keyword: IMS, Public Network, CDMA, GSM, EVDO , HSDPA,EDGE, CDMA 1

Interactive gaming application servicefor the UCT IMS network

Includes abstract.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 72-74).Interactive gaming is a major feature of social sectors. Until recently, interactive games have generally been restricted to solitary access networks. In other words, games have to be played on similar systems. The IP Multimedia Subsystem is designed to help with the convergence of different access networks by creating an all IP based network. In so doing, making it possible to have an interactive gaming application that conforms to all forms of access networks. As a result, the only significant requirements would be on the resources available by the access networks or the user terminals performance. This dissertation examines the concept of a gaming application which is accessible by all kinds of users

Multimedia session continuity in the IP multimedia subsystem : investigation and testbed implementation

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 91-94).The advent of Internet Protocol (IP) based rich multimedia services and applications has seen rapid growth and adoption in recent years, with an equally increasing user base. Voice over IP (VoIP) and IP Television (IPTV) are key examples of services that are blurring the lines between traditional stove-pipe approach network infrastructures. In these, each service required a different network technology to be provisioned, and could only be accessed through a specific end user equipment (UE) technology. The move towards an all-IP core network infrastructure and the proliferation of multi-capability multi-interface user devices has spurred a convergence trend characterized by access to services and applications through any network, any device and anywhere

Towards a scalable video interactivity solution over the IMS

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 72-76).Rapid increase in bandwidth and the interactive and scalability features of the Internet provide a precedent for a converged platform that will support interactive television. Next Generation Network platforms such as the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) support Quality of Service (QoS), fair charging and possible integration with other services for the deployment of IPTV services. IMS architecture supports the use of the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) for session control and the Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) for media control. This study aims to investigate video interactivity designs over the Internet using an evaluation framework to examine the performance of both SIP and RTSP protocols over the IMS over different access networks. It proposes a Three Layered Video Interactivity Framework (TLVIF) to reduce the video processing load on a server

A framework to provide charging for third party composite services

Includes synopsis.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 81-87).Over the past few years the trend in the telecommunications industry has been geared towards offering new and innovative services to end users. A decade ago network operators were content with offering simple services such as voice and text messaging. However, they began to notice that these services were generating lower revenues even while the number of subscribers increased. This was a direct result of the market saturation and network operators were forced to rapidly deploy services with minimum capital investment and while maximising revenue from service usage by end users. Network operators can achieve this by exposing the network to external content and service providers. They would create interfaces that would allow these 3rd party service and content providers to offer their applications and services to users. Composing and bundling of these services will essentially create new services for the user and achieve rapid deployment of enhanced services. The concept of offering a wide range of services that are coordinated in such a way that they deliver a unique experience has sparked interest and numerous research on Service Delivery Platforms (SDP). SDP‟s will enable network operators to be able to develop and offer a wide-variety service set. Given this interest on SDP standardisation bodies such as International Telecommunications Union – Telecommunications (ITU-T), Telecoms and Internet converged Servicers and Protocols for Advanced Networks) (TISPAN), 3rd Generations Partnership Project (3GPP) and Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) are leading efforts into standardising functions and protocols to enhance service delivery by network operators. Obtaining revenue from these services requires effective accounting of service usage and requires mechanisms for billing and charging of these services. The IP Multimedia subsystem(IMS) is a Next Generation Network (NGN) architecture that provides a platform for which multimedia services can be developed and deployed by network operators. The IMS provides network operators, both fixed or mobile, with a control layer that allows them to offer services that will enable them to remain key role players within the industry. Achieving this in an environment where the network operator interacts directly with the 3rd party service providers may become complicated

The Logic & Limits of the Exceptional Circumstances Test in Magill and IMS Health

In this Article, we show that, in contrast to the Commission\u27s balancing approach in Microsoft, the ECJ\u27s narrow construction of the obligation to license IP under Article 82 of the EC Treaty is based on sound economics and constitutes appropriate public policy. The set of “exceptional circumstances” listed in Magill and IMS Health constitutes a reasonable implementation of the optimal legal standard for the assessment of refusals to licence IP: modified per se legality. In the IP context, an obligation to make property available is a requirement for compulsory licensing. The ECJ test limits compulsory licensing to those situations in which the prospective social benefits of licensing are large, while the negative effects of reducing the incentives to innovate are small. The ECJ test ensures that intervention is restricted to cases where the intervention is still likely to increase social welfare. The Commission\u27s test in Microsoft, being a balancing test, does not. As noted by Professor Gerardin, “balancing ex ante vs. ex post efficiencies is obviously a very difficult process, which even the most sophisticated economists may find daunting. The risk of mistaken decisions is therefore high.

User generated content for IMS-based IPTV

Includes abstract.Includes bibliographical references.Web 2.0 services have been on the rise due to improved bandwidth availability. Users can now connect to the internet with a variety of portable devices which are capable of performing multiple tasks. Due to this, services such as Voice over IP (VoIP), presence, social networks, instant messaging (IM) and Internet Protocol television (IPTV) to mention but a few, started to emerge...This thesis proposed a framework that will offer user-generated content on an IMS-Based IPTV and the framework will include a personalised advertising system..

Study, Analysis and Modeling of IP Multimedia systems on next generation networks providing mobile and fixed multimedia services

Not availabl

Optimized IP-CANs to support best charged IMS scenarios

conference paper Published in Personal, Indoor and Mobile Radio Communications, 2009 IEEE 20th International Symposium by IEEE.The pricing and charging mechanisms used in Next Generation Network (NGN) deployments will influence the profitability of network operators. NGNs present an opportunity for the success of service delivery platforms designed for IP multimedia communications, like the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS). Moreover, they present a platform for the delivery of a multitude of applications and services to users with different expectations and budgets. Although usage-based charging schemes are more meaningful, some recent successful Internet-based applications and services have attracted widespread usage due to enforcement of flat-rate pricing. The choice of a pricing scheme often has a one-to-one relation to the access network technology and the quality of service guarantee. Flat-rate pricing may easily be associated with best effort transport. This implies that some users opt for services without QoS guarantee when favoured by the pricing methodology. This paper explores scenarios where services with different QoS requirements available to users with varying pricing preferences can be provided over a set of IP connection access networks (IP-CANs) of the IMS.We explore the use of different pricing schemes for different IP-CANs of the IMS. We perform testbed evaluations and present results depicting the income patterns of networks enforcing different pricing and charging schemes for VoIP and IPTV services. Moreover, we emphasize the use of simplified pricing schemes on communication networks.The pricing and charging mechanisms used in Next Generation Network (NGN) deployments will influence the profitability of network operators. NGNs present an opportunity for the success of service delivery platforms designed for IP multimedia communications, like the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS). Moreover, they present a platform for the delivery of a multitude of applications and services to users with different expectations and budgets. Although usage-based charging schemes are more meaningful, some recent successful Internet-based applications and services have attracted widespread usage due to enforcement of flat-rate pricing. The choice of a pricing scheme often has a one-to-one relation to the access network technology and the quality of service guarantee. Flat-rate pricing may easily be associated with best effort transport. This implies that some users opt for services without QoS guarantee when favoured by the pricing methodology. This paper explores scenarios where services with different QoS requirements available to users with varying pricing preferences can be provided over a set of IP connection access networks (IP-CANs) of the IMS.We explore the use of different pricing schemes for different IP-CANs of the IMS. We perform testbed evaluations and present results depicting the income patterns of networks enforcing different pricing and charging schemes for VoIP and IPTV services. Moreover, we emphasize the use of simplified pricing schemes on communication networks