Rev A Mikko Suominen Enhancing System Capacity and Robustness by Optimizing Software Architecture in a Real-time Multiprocessor Environment Mikko Suominen S Thesis Seminar on Networking Technology Helsinki University of Technology

Rev A Mikko Suominen Basic Information Thesis written at Oy L M Ericsson Ab, Finland Supervisor: Professor Jorma Jormakka Instructors: M.Sc. Ilkka Koskinen and M.Sc. Juha Eloranta

Rev A Mikko Suominen Contents Background Problem Description Objectives Scope UMTS Release 4 Network Media Gateway Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method Architecture Optimization and Analysis Conclusion and Future Research

Rev A Mikko Suominen Background (1/2) The Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) is a third generation mobile network standard specified by the 3 rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). The UMTS has been evolved from the GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) and the GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) networks. UMTS specifications are divided into multiple releases. –Each release contains some new functionalities and modifications to the network architecture.

Rev A Mikko Suominen Background (2/2) The UMTS Release 4 network architecture physically separates call control from media and bearer control. This means that the Mobile Switching Centre (MSC), which handles these tasks in the GSM network, is divided into two separate network elements. –The MSC server handles the call control. –The Media Gateway (MGW) handles the media and the bearer control. –The MSC server controls the MGW via the Gateway Control Protocol (GCP) interface.

Rev A Mikko Suominen Problem Description (1/2) The Ericsson Media Gateway for Mobile Networks (M- MGW) is an existing product that fulfills the specifications for the MGW. The M-MGW is the real-time multiprocessor system this thesis deals with.

Rev A Mikko Suominen Problem Description (2/2) System properties, such as capacity and robustness, are highly dependent on the software architecture. The research problem of this thesis is to find and analyze different kinds of distributed software architectures that could enhance the capacity and the robustness of the M- MGW. –The capacity enhancement increases the possible amount of traffic carried through the M-MGW. –The robustness enhancement improves the in-service performance of the M-MGW.

Rev A Mikko Suominen Objectives The purpose of this thesis is to find a number of software architectures that would help to solve the research problem of the thesis. Every proposed software architecture optimization will be shown to work according to the specifications. Finally, the proposed architectures will be analyzed in the light of capacity and robustness improvements.

Rev A Mikko Suominen Scope This thesis deals with the UMTS Release 4, because it is the first release containing the physical separation between the MSC server and the MGW functionalities. Inside the M-MGW, the software architecture optimization scope is limited to the User Plane Control Functions (UPCF), which handles the GCP and controls the actual User Plane. This thesis presents only architectural level solutions. –More detailed solutions including the implementation have been left to future research.

Rev A Mikko Suominen UMTS Release 4 Network AuC BSC BSS BTS CN CS EIR GGSN GMSC HLR ME MGW MS MSC PSTN RNC RNS SGSN SIM USIM VLR Authentication Centre Base Station Controller Base Station System Base Transceiver Station Core Network Circuit Switched Equipment Identity Register Gateway GPRS Support Node Gateway Mobile Switching Centre Home Location Register Mobile Equipment Media Gateway Mobile Station Mobile Switching Centre Public Switched Telephone Network Radio Network Controller Radio Network Subsystem Serving GPRS Support Node Subscriber Identity Module User Services Identity Module Visitor Location Register

Rev A Mikko Suominen Media Gateway (1/2) The fundamental purpose of the MGW is to connect the UMTS Core Network to other networks, such as UTRAN (UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network) and ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network). The MGW transports traffic between different networks and may support: –media conversion –bearer control –payload processing e.g. with different codecs

Rev A Mikko Suominen Media Gateway (2/2) API CPP GCP MGW Application Programming Interface Connectivity Packet Platform Gateway Control Protocol Media Gateway M-MGW Software Architecture

Rev A Mikko Suominen Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method (1/2) Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method (ATAM) is a technique for analyzing software architectures. The ATAM is developed in Software Engineering Institute of Carnegie Mellon University (CMU/SEI). The purpose of the ATAM is to assess the consequences of architectural decisions in light of quality attribute requirements. The ATAM process consists of nine steps. –A simplified version of the ATAM is used in this thesis.

Rev A Mikko Suominen Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method (2/2) Quality Attribute Scenario

Rev A Mikko Suominen Architecture Optimization and Analysis (1/5) Capacity enhancement  Increase the possible amount of traffic carried through the M-MGW  UPCF software architecture optimization so that it is able to handle more GCP messages simultaneously  Study, which UPCF tasks can be run in parallel on different processors Robustness enhancement  Improve the in-service performance of the M-MGW  UPCF software architecture optimization so that its fault tolerance is improved  Study, which UPCF services can be replicated across multiple processors

Rev A Mikko Suominen Architecture Optimization and Analysis (2/5) UMTS Originating Call

Rev A Mikko Suominen Architecture Optimization and Analysis (3/5) Signaling Connection Failure

Rev A Mikko Suominen Architecture Optimization and Analysis (4/5) Quality attribute scenario 1 –Capacity  Transaction Throughput  Handling Busy Hour Call Attempts i.Source of stimulus:MSC server ii.Stimulus:GCP transaction arrivals during the busy hour iii.Environment:Normal operation iv.Artifact:UPCF system area v.Response:All arrived GCP transactions can be handled vi.Response measure:All arrived calls can be established

Rev A Mikko Suominen Architecture Optimization and Analysis (5/5) Quality attribute scenario 2 –Robustness  Software Failure  Handling A Subsystem Crash i.Source of stimulus:Subsystem internal to the UPCF ii.Stimulus:Subsystem crash iii.Environment:Normal operation iv.Artifact:UPCF system area v.Response:UPCF system area degraded vi.Response measure:No downtime

Rev A Mikko Suominen Conclusion and Future Research (1/2) Three different architecture enhancements were found.  Enhancement 1 +Easy to implement +Most of the legacy architecture could be re-used –Does not improve the M-MGW capacity or robustness from a single MSC server’s point of view  Enhancement 2 +Improves notably the M-MGW capacity and robustness +Future proof solution (very scalable) –Harder to implement than the first one  Enhancement 3 ±Might improve the M-MGW capacity, but not robustness ±Can be seen as a further enhancement of the first or the second enhancement

Rev A Mikko Suominen Conclusion and Future Research (2/2) Possible topics for future research: –Testing and simulating the M-MGW software architecture enhancements found in this thesis –Enhancing the user plane functions –Optimizing the usage of the GCP in the M-MGW

Rev A Mikko Suominen Thank you for listening! Questions?