Supporting Ubiquitous IMS-based Teleconferencing Through Discovery and Composition of IMS and Web Components

Natural communication among people happens in flexible ways and is strongly affected by the users’ situation (such as communication tools available, user’s location, and user’s preferences). This situation or context information is seldom used to initiate communication sessions among users. Current communication systems are indifferent about users’ context, often require time consuming manual configurations and often result in conferencing tools not being easily accessible when needed. This leads to lower adoption of innovative communications services. IMS SIP (IP Multimedia Subsystem, Session Initiation Protocol) sessions allow users to access the session from different points of contact (home, office, etc.), however, IMS still requires a prior knowledge of all SIP components that might be used in a SIP session. Furthermore, IMS makes limited use of context information (mainly user-defined availability). To address these issues our research approach combines techniques from pervasive computing with IMS networking principles to facilitate compositions of communication sessions based on users’ context. We propose a platform and APIs for pervasive application development support to allow greater intelligence in IMS applications. We additionally provide mechanisms for IMS applications to apply their intelligence to the configuration of physical devices and web resources used to set up a conference. The innovations proposed in this paper are: (1) A new standard for intelligent IMS-based conferencing applications. (2) Application Development Interfaces (APIs) for a platform for pervasive computing. (3) An architecture for a pervasive IMS platform.

一种可支持多种多媒体业务的基于IMS的IPTV架构

IP多媒体子系统用于实现端到端的IP多媒体通信,具有接入无关性、对各种接入技术广适性的特点,因此,下一代网络采用IP多媒体子系统作为核心架构.提出一个基于IP多媒体子系统的IP电视架构,在IP多媒体子系统核心模块的基础上,以一组互相独立的基于会话初始化协议的功能模块构成应用服务器,并设计了能够支持和提供不同IM S业务的客户端与内容提供商端,使该IPTV框架可以在下一代网络上支持基于IP多媒体子系统的包括IPTV业务在内的多种多媒体业务.     

The IP multimedia domain: service architecture for the delivery of voice, data, and next generation multimedia applications

The IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) is defined by the 3 ^rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) as a new core network domain. IMS provides a service control platform that allows creation of new multimedia and multi-session applications utilizing wireless and wireline transport capabilities. In this paper we will cover the concepts and standards defining IMS and review the network architecture from a mobile perspective. We will see how IMS interacts with the Packet Switched Domain (e.g. Wireless LAN, GPRS, and UMTS networks), the Internet, and application services. Then we will examine the key IMS capabilities and show how they can be combined to create new mobile IP services. Finally, we present a software architecture, which is enabled by IMS and allows development of unique applications (with multimedia/multi-session functionality, single/multi-user, service to user). The software architecture is illustrated by an example of a prototype application. This work was done when the author was with Siemens Communications Inc., Boca Raton, FL     

The IP multimedia domain: service architecture for the delivery of voice, data, and next generation multimedia applications

The IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) is defined by the 3^rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) as a new core network domain. IMS provides a service control platform that allows creation of new multimedia and multi-session applications utilizing wireless and wireline transport capabilities. In this paper we will cover the concepts and standards defining IMS and review the network architecture from a mobile perspective. We will see how IMS interacts with the Packet Switched Domain (e.g. Wireless LAN, GPRS, and UMTS networks), the Internet, and application services. Then we will examine the key IMS capabilities and show how they can be combined to create new mobile IP services. Finally, we present a software architecture, which is enabled by IMS and allows development of unique applications (with multimedia/multi-session functionality, single/multi-user, service to user). The software architecture is illustrated by an example of a prototype application. This work was done when the author was with Siemens Communications Inc., Boca Raton, FL     

A network algorithm for 3D/2D IPTV distribution using WiMAX and WLAN technologies

The appearance of new broadband wireless technologies jointly with the ability to offer enough quality of service to provide IPTV over them, have made possible the mobility and ubiquity of any type of device to access the IPTV network. The minimum bandwidth required in the access network to provide appropriate quality 3D/2D IPTV services jointly with the need to guarantee the Quality of Experience (QoE) to the end user, makes the need of algorithms that should be able to combine different wireless standards and technologies. In this paper, we propose a network algorithm that manages the IPTV access network and decides which type of wireless technology the customers should connect with when using multiband devices, depending on the requirements of the IPTV client device, the available networks, and some network parameters (such as the number of loss packets and packet delay), to provide the maximum QoE to the customer. The measurements taken in a real environment from several wireless networks allow us to know the performance of the proposed system when it selects each one of them. The measurements taken from a test bench demonstrate the success of our system.     

基于IMS的移动多媒体广播时移系统信令设计

提出一种基于IMS的移动多媒体广播时移系统架构,该架构融合广播网络和无线移动通信网络,为移动多媒体广播提供时移服务,实现服务与接入无关。设计基于SIP的时移信令流程来完成对时移业务的支撑。利用排队论方法对时移请求信令延迟进行理论分析,结果表明信令延迟能够满足实时性需求,证明该系统是完全可行的。     

An IMS-based integration architecture for WiMax/LTE handover

To enable seamless handovers for broadband networks, many researchers have addressed the integration of heterogeneous access technologies to provide users with always-on connectivity. Currently, there are several researches reported in the literature that discuss the integration of beyond 3G networks such as 3GPP Long Term Evolution LTE and mobile WiMax networks. They mainly focused on providing mobile users with seamless mobility when switching between heterogeneous access networks. In this context, many solutions for integration architecture have been proposed with mobility management considerations such as loose and tight coupling, IP Multimedia Subsystem IMS-based architecture and Evolved Packet Core EPC-based solutions for the purpose of providing mobile users with seamless handovers. In this paper, we present the different integration solutions and propose an integration architecture for WiMax and LTE access technologies with EPC as core network and IMS for service provisioning. A vertical handover VHO scheme is presented based on cross-layer approach that enables vertical handover with less handover latency and signaling cost.     

Modeling and evaluating IPTV applications in WiMAX networks

Internet Protocol-based Television (IPTV) is a digital television service which delivers television content via an IP network. The rapid growth of wireless network technology in recent years has changed, the way people access the Internet. Adding mobility to IPTV can create a truly compelling ubiquitous service which spans different network domains and varied IP-enabled terminals and devices, such as set-top boxes, PCs and cell phones. However, extending IPTV service to wireless networks requires overcoming bandwidth bottlenecks and high packet loss rates. Following the IEEE 802.16 standard, worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) features high data rates and large service coverage, offering a wireless broadband solution for IPTV services. While previous research has focused on creating a broadband IPTV service few studies have practically evaluated IPTV applications in a wireless broadband network environment. In this paper, we model and evaluate a common constant bit rate (CBR)¹ based IPTV application and an IPTV live streaming (PPStreaming)² application while retrieving IPTV content via a WiMAX network. We also use the NS2 simulation tool to evaluate the performance of these two IPTV applications. The evaluation metrics include latency, packet loss, data rate and throughput statistics when the two IPTV applications are run in the WiMAX network. ¹The simplest IPTV solution is to convey video content by CBR. IPTV operators and content delivery networks relay CBR streaming content to control the demand for network capacity. Broadcasters prefer CBR video as it conserves bandwidth resources, but CBR delivery can degrade video quality result in higher overall demand on network capacity. ²PPStreaming (also referred to as P2P streaming Internet TV) is a network for live media streaming. In principle it’s similar to BitTorrent (BT) in that it provides stable and smooth broadcast of TV programs to broadband users. Unlike traditional streaming media, PPStreaming adopts P2P-streaming technology and supports full-scale visits with tens of thousands of simultaneous users. Its client software can be used in the browser or as a standalone executable.     

Zebroid: using IPTV data to support STB-assisted VoD content delivery

IPTV, unlike Internet TV, delivers digital TV and multimedia services over IP-based networks with the required level of quality of service (QoS) and quality of experience (QoE). Linear programming channels in IPTV are delivered through multicast, which is highly scalable with the number of subscribers. Video-on-demand (VoD) content, on the other hand, is typically delivered using unicast, which places a heavy load on the VoD servers and all the network components leading to the end-user set-top boxes (STBs) as the demand increases. With the rapid growth of IPTV subscribers and the shift in video viewing habits, the need to efficiently disseminate large volumes of VoD content has prompted IPTV service providers to consider the use of STBs to assist in video content delivery. This paper describes our current research work on Zebroid, a potential VoD solution for fiber-to-the-node (FTTN) networks, which uses IPTV data on a recurring basis to determine how to select, stripe, and preposition popular content in selected STBs during idle hours. A STB requesting VoD content during the peak hours can then receive necessary stripes from participating STBs in the neighborhood. Recent VoD request access patterns, STB availability data, and capacity data on network components are taken into consideration in determining the parameters used in the striping algorithm of Zebroid. We show both by simulation and emulation on a realistic IPTV testbed that the VoD server load can be reduced by more than 70% during peak hours by allocating only 8 GB of storage on each STB. The savings achieved through Zebroid would also allow IPTV service providers to add more linear programming channels without expensive infrastructure upgrades.     

IPTV architecture for an IMS environment with dynamic QoS adaptation

This paper describes the development, implementation and evaluation of a SIP based IPTV architecture with a new dynamic QoS adaptation method and signaling structure. The implemented QoS adaptation method allows dynamic updates of session parameters, maximizing the QoE and turning the solution suitable for live multimedia streaming, independently of the cast mode (unicast or multicast). The new SIP signaling structure, for session and media control, was developed following an All-SIP approach and a hybrid SIP+RTSP approach, both suited for an IMS environment, in order to compare the system behavior and performance using either approach. The details of both the IPTV Application Server and the IPTV Client prototypical implementations are described, as well as the results of field tests carried out across different Fixed and Mobile access networks for each of the signaling structures. The proposed IPTV architecture revealed to be suitable for scalable converged networks, due to its flexible multimedia delivery of personalized streams over a variety of network infrastructures, namely, Mobile radio networks.     

IMS基本探讨TP3-0

IMS,IP多媒体子系统,为下一代网络用户服务提供强大的会话和服务体系结构平台。简要回顾了IMS的发展历程;详细介绍了IMS的体系结构,阐述了IMS机构的三层:应用层、会话控制层、传输与端点层的基本技术与功能;从兼容性、管理、安全三个方面分析了IMS的特点.;展望未来IMS的应用前景。     

基于IMS的多媒体彩像业务的设计和实现

多媒体彩像(MRT)业务是一种采用多种媒体作为振铃音的增值业务。该文结合IP多媒体子系统(IMS)网络体系结构和MRT业务属性,提出了一种利用多媒体彩像业务平台(MRTSP)来实现MRT业务的方案,包括系统设计和基于会话发起协议(SIP)的信令流程,分析了相关特点并进行了总结。     

An analytical evaluation of mobility management in integrated WLAN-UMTS networks

Ensuring uninterrupted service continuity for handoff calls in an all-IP inter-networked heterogeneous environment requires successful session management among participating access networks. As such, a mobility-aware novel interworking architecture is presented in this article that facilitates session management including session establishment and seamless session handoff across different networks. This framework conveniently enables any 3G cellular technology such as the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) to interwork with a given Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) technology such as the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) network or the Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) under a common signaling platform. This framework exploits the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) as a universal coupling mediator for real-time session negotiation and management. Next, a Queuing Theory based analytical model for evaluating the performance of vertical handoff management between these interworked 3rd Generation (3G) cellular networks and the WLANs is presented. The analysis includes vertical handoff performance measures such as delay, transient packet loss, jitter, and signaling overhead/cost. The latter part of this paper presents some results from OPNET based simulations for the verification of the analytical model and results.     

一种全IP宽带移动P2P网络结构及性能分析

提出一种全IP宽带移动P2P网络结构,通过在数据网关上增加分布式用户服务器实现异构网络的互联,形成了虚拟的二维覆盖网络,采用IMS为核心控制网络,基于此结构可开展各种移动P2P业务。以资源共享流程为例,对比分析了该结构和基于IMS的P2P网络结构的差异,结果表明该网络结构在具有更小的系统开销。     

Providing advanced remote medical treatment services through pervasive environments

Advances on sensor technology, wireless environments and data mining introduce new possibilities in the healthcare sector, realizing the anytime-anywhere access to medical information. Towards this direction, integration of packet-switched networks and sensor devices can be effective in deploying assistive environments, such as home monitoring for elderly or patients. In this paper we describe a policy-based architecture that utilizes wireless sensor devices, advanced network topologies and software agents to enable remote monitoring of patients and elderly people; through the aforementioned technologies we achieve continuous monitoring of a patient’s condition and we can proceed when necessary with proper actions. We also present a software framework and network architecture that realizes the provision of remote medical services, in compliance with the imposed security and privacy requirements. A proof of concept prototype is also deployed, along with an evaluation of the overall architecture’s performance.     

Wireless CDN video streaming architecture for IPTV

Wireless IPTV (Internet Protocol TeleVision) aims to make the traditional IPTV and related services available to users anywhere, anytime, on any device, and through any network. Mobile streaming TV is one of the alternatives to deploy such a system; others are DVB-H or MediaFLO. In this paper we propose an alternative CDN-based architecture to distribute contents to different access networks, in order to create a triple screen platform. The core elements of the system are the video streamers, acting as surrogates of the mobile CDN-based architecture, installed in the access networks (including mobile), and the transcoding servers in the premises of the content providers. The paper focused on the wireless part of the system, analyzing the architecture and performance results related with the video coding and the efficiency obtained due to the placement of the streaming servers. The system has been deployed by a Spanish media company for its use with different Telcos, ISPs and media companies.     

Scalable multimedia delivery with QoS management in pervasive computing environment

People are increasingly demanding rich-media and bundled services. However, the diverse terminals, heterogeneous networks as well as various user requirements constrain the multimedia access to low quality in the pervasive computing environment. In order to enable rich-media delivery across a wide range of devices and networks, multimedia adaptation with scalable QoS management is an important issue. Our research introduces a Scalable Multimedia Delivery (SMD) framework with QoS management. This framework utilizes the CAM4Home metadata model to aggregate multimodal rich media services into a bundle. MPEG-21 metadata is integrated into the CAM4Home model to enforce interoperable QoS management. The issues in supporting QoS are addressed on both fidelity and modality. We further develop the SMD system in IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) architecture, where multimedia adaptation is implemented through application-level QoS negotiation.     

基于IP多媒体子系统的IPTV业务控制服务器集群负载均衡机制

基于IP多媒体子系统(IMS)的IPTV引入集中式SIP会话管理机制,除对业务控制功能(SCF)服务器提出更高的响应性能要求,而且由于SIP的事务和对话双重完整性,对传统负载均衡技术也带来诸多限制。针对SCF的性能瓶颈,结合IMS的业务触发过程和IPTV业务的会话统计特性,探讨了集群间区分业务和集群内对后台服务器负载感知的多级负载均衡机制,并提出基于SIP事务优先级的轻量级动态权值随机调度算法。最后在IPTV原型系统中验证了该负载均衡机制的技术可行性,并给出具体实验方案。