A Light Reading Webinar

The Role of SIP in VOIP Services

Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Hosted by

Denise Culver
Research Analyst
Light Reading
Sponsored by:

Speakers
Tony Downes
Principal Technologist, Network Protocol Division
Data Connection Limited

Todd Mersch
Product Marketing Manager
Continuous Computing

Dan Bantukul
Director of Product Marketing
Tekelec

Yaron Eisenstein
Director, Marketing Solutions
TTI Telecom

Data Connection Ltd. (DCL)

Networking
Protocols
Division
Protocol software
for OEMs

Internet
Applications
Division
Communication
application
software for SPs

Enterprise
Connectivity
Division
SNA software for
OEMs and
Enterprises

Class 4/5 softswitch

solutions for
IOCs/CLECs

300+ deployments
3m subscriber
capacity

Continuous Computing
Over 150 Customers Worldwide
Protocol Software

Integrated
Systems

AdvancedTCA &
CompactPCI Hardware

Trillium
Professional Services

www.ccpu.com

For over one billion

mobile and fixed-line
subscribers around
the world, their call or
text message arrives
at its intended
destination thanks to a
TEKELEC solution.

Deployed in more than 300 networks.

Serving more than a billion telephone
customers.

Visit us online
www.tekelec.com

 TTI Telecoms Netrac portfolio delivers a proactive,

customer-centric approach to service assurance and
network management
Netrac's service assurance solution is uniquely
positioned to converge legacy, next-generation, and
IMS-based networks
Publicly traded OSS vendor with more than 15 years
experience in providing OSS solutions to the telecom
industry
TTI Telecoms customer base consists of global Tierone and Tier-two service providers worldwide

Agenda
Fundamentals of SIP
Outstanding enterprise & telecom
applications for SIP
The importance of next-generation networks
The role of SIP in service quality monitoring
Q&A

SIP Overview
SIP is signaling only = control plane
Provides signaling for calls, messaging & presence
Does not carry media (RTP/RTCP)

Text-based protocol derived from research

on multi-party conferences in 1990s
Core function defined by IETF RFCs (3261, etc.)
Higher-level features & conformance sets defined by
organizations including ETSI & MSF

Strengths

Extensible feature set, including authentication framework

Support for nomadic users
Media abstraction
Flexible distribution of function & scaleability
Same messages throughout network >>> simplicity

SIP Signaling Example

sip.dataconnection.com

INVITE sip:jrc@dataconnection.com
+ SDP offer

INVITE sip:jrc@128.96.41.1
+ offer

200 OK
+ SDP answer

200 OK
+ answer

RTP

Proxy looks up AOR (address of record) in its registration

database and routes signaling to registered endpoint
SDP offer/answer to negotiate the media
RTP/RTCP carries the media directly between the endpoints

More Complicated SIP Scenario

3G Mobile

SBC

Service Provider

SIP-T
Service
Provider

MGCP

SBC

RTP
3G

Class 5
SBC

SIP

SOHO

Internet

Enterprise
IP PBX

RTP
NAT / Firewall

SIP Server

Heterogeneous network

Low bandwidth links

Multiple security domains

Current SIP Challenges IMS

SIP provides signalling for calls, messaging & presence
Flexibility
Chosen for its
Abstraction between layers
Ease of function distribution
SIP initially was designed
But telephone networks are
different
for the Internet
PSTN

GSM

Internet
3G

Open Homogeneous IP Network

Complex Heterogeneous Network

SIP IMS Requirements

Low
bandwidth links

Privacy

PSTN &
Legacy
Features

Caller-ID
Legacy services &
business models
Interoperability
with legacy devices

Monitoring of
inter-operator links

Architectural
Differences

NAT & firewall

traversal

SIP

Access network
traversal

Lawful intercept
Emergency call
handling

Security to prevent theft

& DOS
Charging mechanisms
Guaranteed QOS

Commercial
Capabilities

Developing Products for IMS

IMS-compliant SIP stack/toolkit e.g., SIP

SIGCOMP
AKA/MD5
IPv6
P-headers
Non-standard behavior e.g., proxy can release calls

Application enhancements e.g., SBC

Application support for P-headers & other extensions
IMS architecture: reference points to billing, policy, etc.
Protocol interworking between IMS & non-IMS variants

SIP Pervasiveness
2010
2009

SS7

2008

VOIP
SIP

Low Growth

SIP
Growth

Relative Market Size Represents

New Product Shipments

High Growth

SIP Peer-to-Peer Applications

Each peer acts as a SIP registrar,
user agent & proxy
Each peer maintains registration
information via distributed hashing
table (DHT) algorithms
Peers refresh regularly to
maintain:
Location information
Node availability

Supports value-added services

(e.g., conferencing, voicemail,
etc.)
VAS server acts as another peer
Multiple solutions presented
depending on service type

SIP Peer-to-Peer Applications

Benefits
Challenges
Highly reliable & scaleable
Security
No single point of failure
DOS prevention
Low cost of ownership
Malicious P2P nodes
No maintenance or
Authentication & authorization
configuration
E-mail/password based
Free- or low-cost client
Certification standards in
software
work
No need for monolithic central
Ensuring QOS
servers
Call setup latency
Interoperable
Efficient mixing of services
Works with other SIP-based
VOIP systems
Not true of P2P systems, like
Skype

Next Generation Network

Feature
Server
MGCP/
H/248

Application
Server
SIP

MGCP/
H.248
Media
Server

IP
Network

SIP

SIP
MGCP/
H.248

RTP

Softswitch
(Call Agent,
MGC)

SIGTRAN

MGCP/
H.248

MG
TDM
SS7

PSTN
Wireless

SG

Co-Existence And Cross-Connect Of

Legacy PSTN/CS Wireless And Pure
IP Networks
SG For Signaling Conversion
MG For Data Conversion
Centralized Set Of SIP-based
Application Servers
General App Server
Specific Feature Server
Media Server
Functional Architecture
Grouping Of Functions Up To
Network Designer Or Equipment
Manufacturer
Lends Itself To Bladed
Standardized HW Components
Legacy And IP Signaling
Requirements
SIP, RTP, MGCP/H.248 => IP
SS7, TDM, SIGTRAN => Legacy

Next-Generation Networks
Benefits
Transition from CS to
PS IP backbone
Reduced cost of IP
transport
Expedited new service
deployment
Substantial bases of
vendors & tested
products
Foundation for future
transition to IMS

Challenges
Large initial investment
Complex array of new
hardware & software
Management of legacy
& NGN infrastructure
OSS & BSS integration
SIP performance &
reliability
Security

IP Multimedia Subsystem
GSM

Service Layer

PSTN

IM-SSF
SMSC

MMSC

SCP

OSA AS

SIP AS

IMS Enablers

SC
P
SCS
MSC
server

HLR

LE

TE

x CSCF
HSS

HLR

MSC

MRFC

MRF
IP/MPLS

MGW
GGSN

SGW

MGW

PLMN
CS

PSTN
CS
BB
Wireline

Carrier Grade IP N/etwork

IP
PLMN
PS
BB
Wireless

Standard interfaces
between each
layer/function

MGCF

GMSC

SGSN

Access Layer

SMSC
USSD

SCP

Control Layer
Network Layer

3G/ GPRS

Separation of
transport, control &
application layers

MM IP

PSTN
CS

PLMN
PS

PLMN
CS
BB
Wireline

Access
independence
provided via array
of gateways

IP
BB
Wireless

MM IP

Signaling
simplification with
SIP as core
technology

IP Multimedia Subsystem
Benefits
Ubiquitous service
delivery
Consolidated mobile &
fixed-core network
Rapid delivery of new
services
Leverage IT/Internet
innovation into telecom
services
Standardized interfaces
for vendor interoperability

Challenges
True interoperability
Confusing array of
specifications
End-to-end security &
QOS
Management of legacy
& IMS infrastructure
SIP performance &
reliability
Business-case
realization

Audience Poll #1
Does your company have plans to implement
into its products or networks
any of the following?
SIP only within the next year
SIP & IMS within the next year
SIP only within the next 2 years
SIP & IMS within the next 2 years
We have no plans to implement SIP or IMS

NGN Scaleability
PBX
SIP
PBX

IAD

VOIP
End-Point
SIP
Services

VOIP
Edge
Proxy

A/Abis
MG

RAN

A/Abis
RAN

MG

SBC
MSC
Server

VOIP
Edge
Proxy

Cost reduction at core through VOIP

SBC

Expansion of VOIP to enterprise & residential

VOIP

Introduction of services based on SIP

application servers
VOIP peering
R4 MSC servers introduction

PSTN
Region

PSTN
Region

PSTN
Region

Current NGN Implementation

SIP
AS

SIP
AS

MSC
Servers

IP
PBX

- IP layer routers
- IP routing protocols
- IP QOS controls

PSTN
GW
Payload

S
IP

SIP
End-Points

D
IP

Softswitch
Multimedia Servers

Current NGN Implementation

SIP
AS

SIP
AS

MSC
Servers

IP
PBX

- IP layer routers
- IP routing protocols
- IP QOS controls

PSTN
GW

SIP
End-Points

Softswitch
Application
Intelligent

Network
Intelligent

Business
Intelligent

Subscribers
Intelligent

Multimedia Servers

NGN Mapping to OSI Model

OSI
Layer 7
Application

Layer 6
Presentation

NGN
Protocols
Video, Voice, Data
IM etc.

SIP Signaling Router

SDP
Session Routing
Engine

Layer 5
Session

SIP

Intelligent

Layer 5
Session

Layer 4
Transport

TCP/UDP
SCTP

Layer 4
Transport

Layer 4
Transport

Layer 3
Network

IP

Layer 3
Network

Layer 3
Network

Layer 2
Data Link

Ethernet

Layer 2
Data Link

Layer 2
Data Link

Layer 1
Physical

802.x

Layer 1
Physical

Layer 1
Physical

Transport

IP Routers
IP Switches

NGN 2.0: Dedicated

SSR Session Layer
SIP
AS

SIP
AS

MSC
Servers

IP
PBX

- IP layer routers
Session Routing
- IP routing
protocols
Engine
-Session
IP QoSSetup
controls

Session Routing
Engine

PSTN
GW

SIP
End-Points

URI Routing
Service Orchestration
IOT point

Softswitch
Multimedia Servers

Media-Independent
Session Setup
Media
Server

SSR

th
Pa
ia P)
ed S
M (RT

SSR
SSR

SI
P

Pa
th

SSR

Me
d ia

P at
h (R
TP)

Single Protocol Interworking Point

NO
NO SSR
SSR

With
With SIP
SIP Signaling
Signaling Router
Router (SSR)
(SSR)

IOT
IOT #

#1

1 IOT

IOT # 3

#4
IOT

New SIP
element

SSR
New SIP
element

Evolution/Interworking
Path to IMS
IMS
SIP AS

IMS
P-CSCF

IS
C

An IMS subscriber
uses NGN services
S-CSCF

w
M
Mw

SSR

NGN

NGN
Subscribers

IMS
Subscribers

Cx/Dx

I-CSCF

Audience Poll #2
What is the most pressing problem with
next-generation networks that a SIP
signaling router should solve?
Simplifying route provisioning within softswitches
Easing the introduction of new SIP network
elements into the NGN
Ability to support NGN in the multimedia
infrastructure
Facilitating interworking between NGN & IMS
Implementing number portability within the NGN

QOS
Benchmarking

Session
Success
/Failure
Metrics

SessionSession
Session
Timers timers
Efficiency
Metrics
Metrics

Metrics

QOS
Monitoring

QOS
Mechanism

Packet
Packet
Packet
Packet

PESQ

E-Model

CCI

QOS
Service-Level Agreement

MOS

Service Quality Monitoring:

The Bigger Picture

delay
delay variation
loss ratio
error rate

SIP Monitoring:
Holistic Approach to SQM
Understand customers
experience

How long does it

take to connect?

Do my sessions
meet quality
expectations?

Performance and quality indicators for

evaluating different segments of
service usage

Be proactive with useable

metrics
Identify quality impairments before
customers have noticed

SLA monitoring
Comparable metrics for internal &
partner SLA monitoring

Why does my
session keep
dropping?
How fast is
my service
restored?

What performance
level is my session
operating at?

Analyzing a SIP Sessions Performance

Proxy

User
A

User
B

REGISTER: sip:ttia@ttil.com

Registration
Request Delay
(RRD)

401 - Unauthorized

REGISTER: (add credentials)

200 - OK

Session
Establishment Rate
(SER)

Session
Request
Delay (SRD)

Calls:
ttib@ttil.com

INVITE: sip:ttib@ttil.com
INVITE: sip:ttib@18.18.2.4
100 - Trying
180 - Ringing
180 - Ringing

200 - OK

SIP timers should

at least match
(if not surpass)
familiar traditional
telephony timers

Rings

Answers

200 - OK

Session
Duration Time
(SDT)
Session
Disconnect
Delay (SDD)

ACK

Talking

Hangs up

Talking

RTP

BYE
200 - OK

SIP Monitoring Life Cycle

Session
Processing

Metric
Dimensioning
& Creation
Customers
Customer groups
Services
Service levels
Domains
Partners
Equipment type

Service
Degradation
Rules

Root-Cause
Isolation

SIP Performance Indicators

Session Establishment Rate (SER)
Answer Seizure Rate (ASR)
Network Efficiency Rate (NER)
Session Establishment Efficiency Rate (SEER)

Registration Request
Delay (RRD)

Session Duration Time

(SDT)

Session Request Delay

(SRD)
Post-Dial Delay (PDD)
Average hops/ INVITE
(AHI)

Call Hold-Time (CHT)

Ineffective Session
Attempts (ISA)
Session Defects/ million
(SPM)

Session Initiation

Session Progress

Session Completion Rare

(SCR)
Call Completion Rate
Session Success Rate
(SSR)
Call Success Rate (CSR)

Session Disconnect Delay

(SDD)
Session Disconnect
Failure (SDF)
Cut-off Calls

Session Termination

Performance indicators provided for VOIP telephone calls,

multimedia distribution & multimedia conferences

Service Degradation,
Detection & Isolation
Detecting service degradation
effectively
Cut-off calls > 0.3 of total calls the last hour
Current ASR < 75% of average ASR for the
last 4 weeks
Generating operations, engineering &
business alarms

Threshold management
Abatement threshold (hysteresis)

Isolating root cause of poor customer

experience with drill-down
Identify CDR contribution to aggregated result
Immediate attention of customer support

SIP: End-to-End
Performance Summary
The
Challenge

Monitoring
Approach

Solution
Benefits

Implementing
end-to-end
service quality
monitoring
in SIP-based
networks

Four phases of SIP

monitoring life cycle:

Evaluate customers

Session processing

Be proactive with

Metric dimensioning
& creation

Service degradation
rules

Root-cause isolation

experience
actionable metrics

Manage customers
& inter-connectivity
SLAs

Audience Poll #3
What should be the preferred method for
SIP-based network quality monitoring?
Testing results from SIP analyzers & emulators
Examine CDRs/IPDRs generated by network
devices
Calculate KPIs/KQIs of the SIP signaling layer
Use subjective live test calls

Q&A