Media Gateway Control and the Softswitch Architecture

Outline
n n

Introduction Softswitch
n n

Softswitch Architecture Softswitch Operations MGCP MEGACO

Media Gateway Control Protocols

n n

Next Generation Network

n

Internet Telecom & Wireless Communication

GPRS Wireless WLAN CSCF CSCF

3rd Parties App.

App. Server

SIP Server

Internet

MGCF MGW
T-SGW

MGW

IP

PSTN

Gateways
SCP

in Next Generation Networks

PSTN IP Networks
SG MGC TGW

SS7/IN

STP

CO

Trunk Analog Line RGW H.323 GK

MGCP/MEGACO Phones

PBX

H.323 MG MGCP/MEGACO H.323/SIP SIGTRAN RTP/RTCP H.323 Phones

MGC SG TGW RGW

: Media Gateway Controller : Signaling Gateway : Trunking Gateway : Residential Gateway

H323, SIP & MGCP, MEGACO

PSTN

SS7
SG

CA

MGCP GK GW TN H.323 MCU GW GK TN MCU TN TN MCU TN TN CA TGW RGW SG : : : : RTP GK GW TN

PSTN

CO

TGW

RGW

: Gateway : Gatekeeper : Terminal : Multipoint Control Unit

Call Agent Trunking Gateway Residential Gateway Singling Gateway

H323, SIP & MGCP/MEGACO

n

H.323 , SIP
n n n

MGCP/MEGACO
n n n

peer-to-peer internet oriented intelligent endpoint

n

client-server traditional telephony intelligent server

n

optional GK
n

dumb terminal

decentralized
n

centralized gateway decomposed

n

Problems
n

Concept
n

maintenance
n

cost & scalability of large systems

signaling & media control are coupled interoperability with

SS7

separate call control from media ports CA (MGC), MG, SG

interoperability with PSTN

The Telephone Network [1/2]

SS7 Signaling ISUP Messages INAP/TCAP Messages Signal Transfer Point Intelligent Peripheral Service Service + Control Data Point Point Control Layer

Transport Layer

Class 4 Tandem Switch

Class 5 End Office Switch

Circuit Switched Network

The Telephone Network [2/2]

n

5 Basic Components in Intelligent Networks

n

SSP/Service Switching Point

n

switching, signaling, routing, service invocation signaling, routing service logic execution subscriber data storage, access

STP/Service Transfer Point

n

SCP/Service Control Point

n

TCAP messages
IP IP STP STP

SCP SCP

SDP SDP

STP STP

SDP/Service Data Point

n

SSP SSP

ISUP messages Voice

SSP SSP

IP/Intelligent Peripheral
n

resources such as customized voice announcement, voice recognition, DTMF digit collection

Softswitch
n

The switching functions are handled by software International Softswitch Consortium (ISC)
n n

www.softswitch.org To promote the softswitch concept and related technologies A distributed architecture For network operators
n

Why the softswitch approach is popular?

n n

It is possible to use different network components from different vendors. It is possible to focus on one area.

For equipment vendors

n

Abstract Softswitch Architecture

Softswitch/PSTN Interworking
n

SIP is often used as the signaling protocol between the MGCs.

Mo d e m Ba nk

Softswitch Overview [1/3]

n

Softswitch: Emulating Circuit Switching in Software

IN/SCP

PSTN Local Switch

STP

SS7 Network

PSTN Local Switch

SG SIGTRAN MGC Trunk Gateway

IP Network
SIP-T RTP Streams
9000

SG

MGC MEGACO Trunk Gateway

Personalized VoIP Service System

IP Phone Application Server

Softswitch Overview [2/3]

n

Softswitch Provides Open Layered Architecture

Soft-Switched
Services, Applications & Features (Management, Provisioning and Back Office) Open Protocols APIs Softswitch Call Control Open Protocols APIs Services & Applications Call Control & Switching Transport Hardware

Circuit-Switched
P R O P R I E T A R Y

Open APIs for 3rd Party App develop. Scalable, Open Interfaces for Comm. Best-in-class Access Devices.

Transport Hardware

Solutions in a proprietary box Solutions are open standards-based Customers choose best-in-class products Expensive Open standards enable lower cost for Little room for innovation innovation

Softswitch Overview [3/3]

n

Softswitch Changes the Telecom Landscape

n

Integration/Incorporation
n n n n n

Convergence of voice and data Combination of telecom & internet technologies Reuse PSTN database & IN services in packet networks Multiple sources for app development & deployment Decreased operating costs Standard interfaces (protocols) for communications Open standards (APIs) for service creation Customized services created by users themselves Better scalability

Standardization
n n n n

Softswitch Architecture

SCP

SCP
SS7 TCAP

App. Server SIGTRAN SSA/SCTP

Media Gateway Controller

SIP-?/ MGCP Media Server

STP IP

STP

Signaling (SS7) Gateway

SIP-TSI
Media Gateway Controller

Signaling Layer Transport Layer CO Switch

ISUP/TCAP

SIP-T

CO Switch

Trunking Gateway

MGCP/MEGACO

RTP

MGCP/ MEGACO Phones

Softswitch Operations [1/3]

n

Basic Call Control

SCP

STP

STP

STP

STP

STP

ISUP ACM ISUP ANM

ISUP IAM 3

Local Switch 1 Voice

Signaling SIGTRAN (SS7) 5 4 Gateway Local

Routing Directory 8

ISUP IAM 9 10
Signaling (SS7) Gateway

6
Trunking Gateway

Gateway Controller

Media Switch

7
Trunking Gateway

12 ISUP ACM 13 ISUP ANM Local Switch 11 Voice

MGCP/MEGACO 14 RTP

Softswitch Operations [2/3]

n

Inter-Softswitch Communications
STP STP Domain A Routing Directory 8 7 SIP-T
Media Gateway Controller

STP Domain B

STP

STP

2 ISUP ACM ISUP ANM

ISUP IAM 3

ISUP IAM 11 12 14 ISUP ACM 15 ISUP ANM Local Switch 13 Voice

Local Switch 1 Voice

Signaling SIGTRAN 5 (SS7) Gateway

Media Gateway Controller

10 9

Signaling (SS7) Gateway

Trunking Gateway MGCP/MEGACO

Trunking Gateway

16 RTP

Softswitch Operations [3/3]

n

IP-PSTN Interworking for IN Services

SCP

STP

STP 3 INAP/TCAP 6

STP

STP 11

STP

ISUP IAM ISUP ACM ISUP ANM 2

ISUP IAM 12 14 ISUP ACM 15 ISUP ANM Local Switch 13 Voice

Local Switch 1 Voice

Signaling SIGTRAN (SS7) 7 5 Gateway Local

Routing Directory 10

Signaling (SS7) Gateway

Gateway Controller

Media Switch

Trunking Gateway

8 9 MGCP/MEGACO 16 RTP

Trunking Gateway

Introduction
n

Voice over IP
n n n n

Lower cost of network implementation Integration of voice and data applications New service features Reduced bandwidth

Replacing all traditional circuit-switched networks is not feasible. VoIP and circuit-switching networks coexist
n n

Interoperation Seamless interworking

Separation of Media and Call Control

n

Gateways
n n

Interworking To make the VoIP network appear to the circuit switched network as a native circuit-switched system and vice versa

Signaling path and media path are different in VoIP systems.

n n

Media directly (end-to-end) Signaling through H.323 gatekeepers (or SIP proxies) The logical separation of signaling and media

SS7, Signaling System 7

n

Separation of Media and Call Control

n

A network gateway has two related but separate functions.

n

Signaling conversion
n

The call-control entities use signaling to communicate. A slave function (mastered by call-control entities)

Media conversion
n

Figure 6-1 illustrates the separation of call control and signaling from the media path.

Separation of Media and Call Control

n

Advantages of Separation
n

n n

Media conversion close to the traffic source and sink The call-handling functions is centralized. A call agent (media gateway controller - MGC) can control multiple gateways. New features can be added more quickly. IETF IETF and ITU-T Study Group 16

MGCP, Media Gateway Control Protocol

n

MEGACO/H.248
n

Requirements for Media Gateway Control [1/2]

n

RFC 2895
n

Media Gateway Control Protocol Architecture and Requirements The creation, modification and deletion of media streams
n

Requirement
n

Including the capability to negotiate the media formats

The specification of the transformations applied to media streams Request the MG to report the occurrence of specified events within the media streams, and the corresponding actions

Requirements for Media Gateway Control [2/2]

n n

Request the MG to apply tones or announcements The establishment of media streams according to certain QoS requirements Reporting QoS and billing/accounting statistics from an MG to an MGC The management of associations between an MG and an MGC
n

In the case of failure of a primary MGC

A flexible and scalable architecture in which an MGC can control different MGs Facilitate the independent upgrade of MGs and MGCs

Protocols for Media Gateway Control

n

The first protocol is MGCP

n n n

RFC 2705, informational To be succeeded by MEGACO/H.248 Has be included in several product developments A standards-track protocol RFC 3015 is now the official version.
SGCP
IETF RFC 2705 October 1999

MEGACO/H.248
n n

Telcodia (Bellcore)

IETF RFC 3435 January 2003

MGCP 1.0
IETF RFC 3015 ITU-T H.248 November 2000

Level 3 Communication

MGCP

IPDC
Lucent (by ITU-T)

MEGACO MDCP

Relation with H.323/SIP Standards

Concept of MGCP/MEGACO
Connection Create Delete Modify Event Notification Request Status Query Intelligent Server MGC

SCP
SS7 TCAP SIGTRAN Signaling SSA/SCTP Gateway ISUP/TCAP

STP

MGC MGCP/MEGACO

CO Switch

Trunking Gateway

Media Gateway

RTP PSTN Phones

MGCP/ MEGACO Phones

Response Success Failure Event Notify Status Report

Dumb Client Stateless

MGCP
n

A master-slave protocol (A protocol for controlling media gateways)

n

Call agents (MGCs) control the operation of MGs

n n

Call-control intelligence Related call signaling Do what the CA instructs A line or trunk on circuit-switched side to an RTP port on the IP side

MGs
n n

Types of Media Gateway

n n n

Trunking Gateway to CO/Switches Residential Gateway to PSTN Phones Access Gateway to analog/digital PBX Likely to be the SIP

Communication between call agents

n

The MGCP Model

n

Endpoints
n n n n

Sources or sinks of media Trunk interfaces POTS line interfaces Announcement endpoint Allocation of IP resources to an endpoint An ad hoc relationship is established from a circuited-switched line and an RTP port on the IP side. A single endpoint can have several connections

Connections
n n

MGCP Endpoints [1/3]

n

DS0 channel
n n

A digital channel operates at 64kbps. Multiplexed within a larger transmission facility such as DS1 (1.544 Mbps) or E1 (2.048 Mbps) G.711 (u-law or A-law) To a standard telephone line An analog voice stream Could also be audio-encoded data from a modem
n

Analog line
n n n

The gateway shall be required to extract the data and forward it as IP packets.

MGCP Endpoints [2/3]

n

Announcement server access point

n n

Provide access to a single announcement One-way

n

No external circuit-switched channels

Interactive voice response (IVR) access point

n

Provide access to an IVR system Media streams from multiple callers can be mixed A firewall between an open and a protected networks

Conference bridge access point

n

Packet relay
n

MGCP Endpoints [3/3]

n

Wiretap access point

n n

For listening to the media transmitted One way The termination of an ATM trunk May be an ATM virtual circuit

ATM trunk-side interface

n n

Endpoint Identifier
n n

GWs Domain Name + Local Name Local Name

n

A hierarchical form: X/Y/Z To identify DS0 number 7 within DS1 number 12 on DS3 number 4 at gateway.somenetwork.net $, any; *, all e.g., trunk1/5/$@gateway.somenetwork.net
n

trunk4/12/7@gateway.somenetwork.net
n

Wild-cards
n n

CA wants to create a connection on an endpoint in a gateway and does not really care which endpoint is used. CA requests statistical information related to all endpoints on a gateway.

e.g., trunk1/5/*@gateway.somenetwork.net
n

MGCP Calls and Connections

n

A connection
n

Relationship established between a given endpoint and an RTP/IP session A group of connections The connections to be created The session descriptions to be exchanged between the connections

A call
n

The primary function of MGCP is to enable

n n

1 4 7 *

2 5 8 8

3 6 9 #

1 4 7 *

2 5 8 8

3 6 9 #

Calls, Connections and Call Agents

n

Call Identifier (Call ID)

n
n

Created by CA Unique within CA Scope Created by GW Unique under Its GW

1. CRCX 3. MDCX

CA IP, Port, Packetization

2. CRCX

Connection ID
n
n

Endpoint

RTP

Endpoint

CA Identifier (its domain name)

n

Redundant CAs with a domain name: reliability

MGCP Commands
n

9 commands to handle Connection/Endpoints

EndpointConfiguration (coding characteristics) NotificationRequest (requested events) Notify (GW: detected events) CreateConnection ModifyConnection DeleteConnection AuditEndpoint AuditConnection RestartInProgress (GW : taken in/out of service)

EPCF n RQNT n NTFY n CRCX n MDCX n DLCX n AUEP n AUCX n RSIP n

n

All commands are acknowledged.

MGCP Command Format

n

A command line
n n n n

Request verb (the name of the command) Transaction id Endpoint id (for which the command applies) Protocol version

n n

A number of parameter lines An optional session description (SDP)

n

Separated by a single empty line One command can be included within another Only one level of encapsulation E.g., when instructing a gateway to create a connection, CA can simultaneously instruct the gateway to notify the CA of certain events.

Command Encapsulation
n n n

MGCP Parameters [1/6]

n

BearInformation (B)
n n

The line-side encoding B:e:mu Comprised of hexadecimal digits In response to an audit Comprised of hexadecimal digits Send only, receive only and send-receive

CallId (C)
n

Capabilities (A)
n

ConnectionId (I)
n

ConnectionMode (M)
n

MGCP Parameters [2/6]

n

ConnectionParameters (P)
n n n

Connection-related statistical information Average latency, jitter, packets sent/received/lost GW -> CA That an endpoint should detect during quarantine period E.g., off-hook, on-hook, hook-flash, DTMF digits An SDP session description Bandwidth, packetization period, silence suppression, gain control, echo cancellation L: e:off, s:on
n

DetectEvents (T)
n n

LocalConnectionDescripter (LC)
n

LocalConnectionOptions (L)
n n

To turn echo cancellation off and to turn silence suppression on

MGCP Parameters [3/6]

n

EventStates (ES)
n n

In response to an audit command A list of events associated with the current state To indicate the maximum size MGCP packet supported by an MG Included in the response to an AUEP command An address for the CA Detected by an endpoint Supported by an endpoint Events and signals are grouped into packages
n

MaxMGCPDatagram (MD)
n n

NotifiedEntity (N)
n

ObservedEvents (O)
n

PackageList (PL)
n n

Analog line endpoint

MGCP Packages
n n

Events & Signals package name(o)/event or signal name (insensitive)

n

L/hu = Hu (if L is the default package for the endpoint)

packages: grouping of events & signals for a particular type of endpoints

n n n n n n n n n n

Generic Media (G) DTMF (D) MF (M) Trunk (T) Line (L) Handset (H) RTP (R) Script Network Access Server (N) Announcement Server (A)

Gateway Trunk GW (ISUP) Trunk GW (MF) Network Access Server Combined NAS/VOIP GW Access GW (VOIP) Access GW (VOIP + NAS) Residential GW Announcement GW

Supported packages G, D, T, R G, M, D, T, R G, M, T, N G, M, D, T, N, R G, M, D, R G, M, D, N, R G, D, L, R A, R

The experimental packages have names beginning with the two character x-.

MGCP Parameters [4/6]

n

QuarantineHandling (Q)
n

Events that occur during the period in which the GW is waiting Request Notify Response for a response to a Notify command Time Process the events or discard Quarantine Period them When a GW deletes/restarts a connection
Q: Q: process/discard process/discard step/loop step/loop (notify) (notify) T: T: events events to to detect detect during during quarantine quarantine

ReasonCode (E)
n

RemoteConnectionDescripter (RC)
n

An SDP session description

MGCP Parameters [5/6]

n

RequestEvents (R)
n n

A list of events that an endpoint is to watch for Associated with each event, the endpoint can be instructed to perform actions E.g., collect digits, or apply a signal In response to audit requests The current values of RequestEvents, DigitMap, NotifiedEntity To correlate a given notification from a GW A number of seconds indicating when an endpoint will be brought back into service

RequestInfo (F)
n n

RequestIdentifier (X)
n

RestartDelay (RD)
n

MGCP Parameters [6/6]

n

RestartMethod (RM)
n

Graceful or Forced The connection on a second endpoint A connection between two endpoints on the same GW Signals to be applied by an endpoint Used to indicate a single endpoint

SecondConnectionId (I2)
n

SecondEndpointID (Z2)
n

SignalRequests (S)
n

SpecificEndpointID (Z)
n

Digit Map
n

CA ask GW to collect user dialed digits

n

Created by CA
Inter-digit Timer

Usage
n
n

Gateways detect a set of digits.

e.g., (11x|080xxxxxx|03xxxxxxx|002x.T) under-qualified, do nothing further matched, send the collected digits to CA over-qualified, send the digits to CA

Match accumulated digits

n n n

MGCP Response
n

Header
n n n

A response line Return code + TransID + Commentary A set of parameter lines (optional)
n

E.g., I: A3C47F21456789F0 (ConnectionId)

Session Description
n n

Session Description Protocol separated from header by an empty line

Return Code
n

100~199: provisional response

n

current being executed executed normally could not be executed because of no sufficient resources at this time phone already off/on hook endpoint unknown protocol error

200~299: successful completion

n

400~499: transient error

n

500~599: permanent error

n n

Protocol Description [1/2]

n

Transactions (simple text format)

n

command
n

header n a command line (case insensitive) n Action + TransId + Endpoint + Version n a set of parameter lines n parameter name (upper case): value n Example n RQNT 1201 endpoint/1@rgw.net MGCP 1.0 n X: 0123456789B1 (RequestIdentifier) n R: hd (requestedEvent: hang down) n S: rg (signalRequest: ring tone) session description

Protocol Description [2/2]

n

Transactions
n

response
n

header n a response line n Response code + TransId + Commentary n a set of parameter lines (optional) n Example n 200 1201 OK n after CRCX(/MDCX/DLCX/Audit/Restart) n I: A3C47F21456789F0 (ConnectionId) session description n Session Description Protocol (RFC 2327) n separated from header by an empty line

Call Setup Using MGCP

i Ma c

i Mac