August 3-4, 2004 San Jose, CA Introduction to Softswitch Architectures Bob Ehlers Director, Business Development Performance Technologies

August 3-4, 2004 San Jose, CA Definition Overview Elements of Softswitch –Media Server –Feature Server –Media Gateway Controller Summary

August 3-4, 2004 San Jose, CA What is a Softswitch? First - Softswitch is an ambiguous term –Softswitch can refer to only the media gateway controller. This is the device that handles all of the call control. This definition does not include the media services, application services or media gateway functions. –Softswitch can also refer to the entire set of functions included in the media gateway controller, media server, application server, signaling gateway and media gateway. We’ll use the entire set of functions.

August 3-4, 2004 San Jose, CA Basic Definitions Media Gateway is a transition device for moving data from one network topology to another. In our definition it usually means IP to TDM and back. Can include vocoding or can treat the stream as raw. The media gateway translates between circuit-switched voice traffic and packet-based traffic. Media Gateway Controller runs the call control and application- level calling features in a server that supports easy software upgrades and expansion of features. It is also called the "call agent" and it controls the media gateway. Signaling Gateways convert and/or relay network SS7 call signaling between the circuit network and the packet backbone Media Server is a device for storing and serving streams of data to a feature server, media gateway, or media gateway controller. Feature Servers provide less frequently used but more processor intensive services such as voic , call center routing, advanced billing and the like, freeing the media gateway controller to focus on call control functions

August 3-4, 2004 San Jose, CA Basic Softswitch Elements Media Gateway Call Control Services Traditional Proprietary Single Platform (Tandem) Next Generation Modular, Open Platform (Local Exchange) Services MG IPPBXRASIAD MGCSGMSFS

August 3-4, 2004 San Jose, CA Media Gateway Signaling Gateway Softswitch Architecture Media Gateway Controller (Softswitch) IP Network with IP based control SS7 Network PSTN Media Server Feature/ Application Server Broadband IAD IP PBX IP Wireless Device Border Agent/ Session Controller Firewall SOFTSWITCH

August 3-4, 2004 San Jose, CA Architecture Choices Purpose built or general purpose Centralized or decentralized –One Platform running many processes –One Chassis with dedicated processes –Many platforms or chassis at the same location What services? What scale?

August 3-4, 2004 San Jose, CA Next Gen Architecture Adjuncts SIP –Proxy/Redirector –Session Border Controller –STUN, TURN, ICE –Back to Back P2P And much more….

August 3-4, 2004 San Jose, CA Tandem versus Local Exchange Tandem Softswitches –Have existed for several years –Switch long haul, intra and inter-lata traffic (tandem) –Can be call feature ignorant for the most part – they just route the call –Relatively simple to program and maintain Local Exchange Softswitch –Relatively new –Provide local switching AND calling features –Can be extremely complex to program and maintain (Today)

August 3-4, 2004 San Jose, CA What must a local exchange Softswitch do?

August 3-4, 2004 San Jose, CA Why is a local exchange Softswitch cool? But, there is much much more to a softswitch… –Move a voice session from a hard-wired, circuit switched connection to a software serviced session and you can add value… Adjust the quality of the call…echo cancellation, jitter buffering, QoS, latency adjustment Process the call content…record it, translate it, transcribe it, store it for replay Distribute the call content…multicast, call routing Add multimedia services…video, text messaging, subtext Bill for differentiation…quality of call, content of call, priority of the call

August 3-4, 2004 San Jose, CA New services enabled by local exchange Softswitch Distributed Multi User Gaming Virtual reality Web-pages and applets Links in s Web-IVRs Click-to-dial Directory Services Video conferencing Instant Messaging Voic notifications Stock notifications Callback notification Calendars Pre-arranged conference calls Unified Messaging Voic to

August 3-4, 2004 San Jose, CA What is SIP and why is it Hot? Session Initiation Protocol enables a low cost, well understood, cohesive, OPEN session establishment and control method over IP for streams of media, including voice and video. Leverages widely deployed underlying technologies such as DNS. Broadly available open source SIP protocol stack makes VoIP using SIP commonplace Lots of open source applications that use SIP Competition to embellish and support open stacks Service Providers embrace open source concept When you hear SIP think “open VoIP” – that is the implied meaning of SIP.

August 3-4, 2004 San Jose, CA What does Open VoIP need to take off? Support!!! –There are many open source projects for everything from IP PBX to SIP Proxy/redirectors to QoS managers, to Media Servers –The applications are well written and very complete, but… –They are very complex. Complex protocols, complex configurations, complex interfaces –Need for new channels of support are clear

August 3-4, 2004 San Jose, CA Opportunities Abound Voice Over Broadband –Cable Operators –DSL Operators –Fixed Wireless –Power Line Operators Hosted IP PBX Enterprise PBX

August 3-4, 2004 San Jose, CA The Elements of Local Exchange Softswitch

August 3-4, 2004 San Jose, CA Softswitch Hardware Building Blocks Computing Elements: Intel ® -based SBCs Intel ® -based SBCs PPC and Sparc SBCs SS7 Elements Signaling gateway blades Signaling gateway blades Rack components OS Software & Middleware: Operating systems Linux dev. environments Communications protocols Media (DSP) tools SS7/IP signaling software I/O & Communications Elements T1/E1/J1 T3 Serial access Media Processing Elements: DSP resource HW platforms Development tools Platform Elements: Packet-based chassis platforms Layer2/Layer3 Ethernet switching System management Power and cooling Network Processing Elements: PPC XScale

August 3-4, 2004 San Jose, CA Media Gateway Controller (What some vendors call Softswitch) Call set upCall Tear downIn call featuresCall Agent - SIP Call Agent – H.323Audit sessionsRestartMultipoint Functions of a Media Gateway Controller

August 3-4, 2004 San Jose, CA Media Gateway Controller Ethernet Switch ISMISM Storage Controller TDM Link to MG MGCP Translator Call Control - IPPBX Signaling Gateway

August 3-4, 2004 San Jose, CA Media Server AnnouncementsDTMFAudio BridgingRecording Speech Recognition Text to SpeechFaxVideo Functions of a Media Server

August 3-4, 2004 San Jose, CA Media Server Ethernet Switch ISMISM Storage Controller Vocoding/Encoding DTMF Detection/Control Streaming Server TDM Call Bridging

August 3-4, 2004 San Jose, CA Feature/Application Server QoS ManagementBilling Fault Detection/ Response Advanced Call Routing Web Client Interface Advanced Conference Features Unified Messaging Voic Call Center Functions of a Feature/Application Server

August 3-4, 2004 San Jose, CA Feature Server Ethernet Switch ISMISM Storage Controller Vocoding/Encoding – Voice Rec IVR DTMF Detection/Control Converged Messaging Video Conference Service

August 3-4, 2004 San Jose, CA Media Gateway Protocol TranslationPhysical Interface Voice Encode Decode Functions of a Media Gateway

August 3-4, 2004 San Jose, CA Media Gateway Ethernet Switch ISMISM Voice Decoding (IP Net In) Voice Encoding (PSTN In) TDM Link to PSTN TDM Link to MGC

August 3-4, 2004 San Jose, CA Session Border Controller (not a softswitch element per se) Protocol TranslationSecurity Billing/ Traffic Reporting Lawful Interception IP Phone Management Failover Reroute Functions of a Border Agent/Session Controller QoS PolicyNAT Traversal

August 3-4, 2004 San Jose, CA Session Border Controller Ethernet Switch ISMISM Turn STUN SBC CALEA/Lawful Intercept

August 3-4, 2004 San Jose, CA OR

August 3-4, 2004 San Jose, CA Because it is all software, functions can be combined into one hardware platform or even one computer Ethernet Switch ISMISM Media Gateway Controller SBC/STUN/TURN Media Server CALEA/Lawful Intercept Media Gateway Feature Server Signaling Gateway

August 3-4, 2004 San Jose, CA Conclusion A softswitch is a platform for routing and delivering multi-media services on a packet switched network (IP) A softswitch replaces traditional circuit switching A softswitch serves as the basis for a whole new range of product offerings Softswitches have existed for over a decade, but are only now finding popular adoption thanks in large part to SIP Softswitch architectures can be centralized or distributed Softswitches are enabling competitive carriers to enter the market…VoDSL, VoCable, VoWiFi

August 3-4, 2004 San Jose, CA Where to Learn More IEC Tutorials Whitepapers ations.html ations.html Call us: Performance Technologies Bob Ehlers, Director of Business Development