HP OpenCall Universal Signaling Platform

Data sheet

The HP OpenCall Universal Signaling Platform protects operators investments by connecting existing and future applications to evolving telecommunication infrastructures. It allows application developers to design new innovative revenue generating services that will be introduced and scaled easily into network infrastructure.
The HP OpenCall Universal Signaling Platform is an integrated, standards-based signaling platform on which a wide range of advanced Telco-grade solutions are developed and deployed. It provides comprehensive, proven, worldwide SS7, SIGTRAN and 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) IP connectivity, paving the way to IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS). This highly reliable, multi-protocol and multi-standard platform reinforces the HP OpenCall suite as the ideal development environment for creating and deploying advanced communication solutions in 2G and 3G networks. Offers N+1 scalability, high performance and reliability Simplifies service provisioning and growth by isolating the location of service execution from the complexity of the network access Leverages HPs expertise as a leading vendor of signaling-based platforms for 15 years. HPs track record includes 4,700 installations in fixed and mobile telecommunication more than 100 countries. Wide-ranging pressures are driving Network Equipment Providers (NEPs) and Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) to look for a cost-effective, future-proof telecom environment that provides high levels of reliability and performance. These increasing demands include sustained high growth in telecommunication traffic, challenges of fixed and mobile network convergence, creation of new IMS/next-generation network infrastructures for advanced services, the need to interconnect new networks with existing ones, and fierce competition in the service industry. The HP OpenCall Universal Signaling Platform is HPs innovative answer for the rapid development and easy deployment of a wide range of signaling services in traditional and next-generation networks, to help you gain vital competitive advantages.

Key features and benefits

The HP OpenCall Universal Signaling Platform Offers a complete software development and deployment environment supporting SS7 and Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) SIGTRAN, as well as 3GPP SIP and Diameter Is based on advanced product design and certified signaling technologies Includes all necessary applications programming interfaces (APIs), tools and procedures for rapid, cost-effective application development and operation

HPs market-leading performance with predictable scaling lifts you into trendsetting leadership.

HP OpenCall Universal Signaling Platform: a solid foundation on the way to IMS

HP OpenCall signaling platforms are used in 4,700 installations with 25,000 servers in fixed and mobile networks in over 100 countries. Their scalability, performance and reliability meet the carrier-grade requirements of the telecom infrastructure environment. HP combines the best of its signaling portfolio and experience into a powerful integrated platform: the HP OpenCall Universal Signaling Platform. A compelling evolution of the HP OpenCall IN7 and SS7 products, this modular platform is well suited for operation in both existing TDM- and IP-based infrastructures. The HP OpenCall Universal Signaling Platform offers full compatibility with both HP OpenCall SS7 and HP OpenCall IN7; it also leverages their superior reliability and track records. It is based on state-of-the-art HP servers and a proven multi-tiered architecture designed for scalability, high availability and seamless evolution to IP. The HP OpenCall Universal Signaling Platform enables existing applications to evolve smoothly toward an all-IP infrastructure and provides a strong, proven foundation for building new solutions using any combination of protocols: SS7, IETF SIGTRAN (M2PA, M3UA, SUA), 3GPP SIP and Diameter.

The HP OpenCall Universal Signaling Platform allows new voice, data and multimedia services to run efficiently across convergent telephony and data network infrastructures. These applications include Free-Phone, Premium Services, Prepaid services, Media Platforms, Intelligent Peripherals, Interactive Voice Response, Home Location Register, Authentication Center, Equipment Identity Register, Messaging Services, Location Based Services, Emergency Services, MGC/VoIP Softswitches, VPN, Conferencing, Roaming, International Gateways and more. The HP OpenCall Universal Signaling Platform integrates new advanced features such as Intelligent Routing and Filtering and edge-STP capabilities to permit networks to connect services without costly deployments of additional platforms and complex network topology changes. This allows many different services to span across a virtually unlimited number of servers, while the scalable front-end manages the networks complexity as well as the signaling traffic load sharing and growth. As part of HPs signaling portfolio, the OpenCall Universal Signaling Platform offers application developers and Network Equipment Providers shorter time to revenue for enhanced telecommunication services for service providers.

Figure 1. HP OpenCall Universal Signaling Platform offering.

M2PA, M3UA, SUA

SS7, SIGTRAN

3GPP IETF SIP

3GPP IETF Diameter

OCIP-STG

OCIN7 API

OCSS7 API

C/C++ API

JAVA SIP API

C/C++ API

JAVA API

OCUSP
OCIP-STG

OCUSP SIP

OCUSP Diameter

NSL, HSL, ATM

Network-ready offering

HP developer offering = HP OpenCall USP

HP services: consulting, development, integration, deployment, operation and support

Future-proof worldwide connectivity

The HP OpenCall Universal Signaling Platform supports all combinations of SS7 and SS7 over IP protocols: SS7, IETF SIGTRAN (M2PA, M3UA, SUA), as well as 3GPP SIP and 3GPP Diameter. It therefore offers worldwide-certified connectivity with all major networks. This allows existing applications to smoothly evolve toward an all-IP infrastructure and provides a robust, proven foundation for building new solutions using any combination of these protocols. The HP OpenCall Universal Signaling Platform includes: Ethernet cards for SIGTRAN M2PA, M3UA, SUA, 3GPP SIP and 3GPP Diameter SS7 high-density and high-performance boards providing E1/T1 NSL 64Kbps/56Kbps, High Speed Link 2Mbps ClearChannel, 1.5Mbps ATM HPs combination of servers and PCI-based quad-board signaling cards offering high-density and cost-effective SS7/MTP network connectivity Solutions based on the HP OpenCall Universal Signaling Platform benefit from HPs unique expertise and 15 years experience as a leading vendor of signaling platforms.

Rapid, cost-effective application development

The HP OpenCall Universal Signaling Platform offers developers a complete, proven development environment that enables service providers to bridge all network technologies seamlessly. It includes all the necessary application programming interfaces (APIs), carrier-grade functionality, tools and procedures necessary to link services to the worldwide PSTN and IMS networks. Among other features: Open C, C++ APIs,: TCAP, ISUP, SCCP, MTP3/M3UA Open C, C++ and Java APIs for SIP and Diameter APIs transparency to access either full SS7 stack or SS7 over IP stack. For ISUP, the definition of the ISUP message exchange between the network equipment and the platform is dynamically loaded onto the platform, enabling developers to adapt applications quickly to countryor equipmentspecific variants of ISUP protocol. Command Line Interface and SNMP agents are available for operations, administration and maintenance (OA&M) of the platforms. They support the development of node management applications and integration with existing management applications and management systems.

Figure 2. HP OpenCall multi-tiered infrastructure allows operators to deploy multiple services on any type of network. Multiple services Multiple services SCCP TCAP Multiple services Multiple services SIP DIAMETER

Developers can take advantage of a complete set of tools and services designed to improve the speed and quality of application development. These include: Software Developers Kits (SDKs): The HP Opencall USP SDKs are easily downloaded from the HP OpenCall website. One month of free technical assistance is provided for a safe trial. Evaluation license. This license allows application development and testing involving the full platform functionality, including physical connectivity to SS7 and IP networks. Developer Assistance Services: these services include online or onsite technical assistance from HP OpenCall experts, as well as training for development, platform administration and operation.

Fast, flexible and secure deployment

The HP OpenCall Universal Signaling Platform offers the reliability, performance and high availability of HP OpenCall signaling platforms. In addition, it provides even more scalability with the ability to extend a N+1 architecture solution over multiple geographical sites.

Multi-tiered infrastructure

MTP

M3UA

OpenCall Signaling Platform

Access to all signaling protocols SS7 IP-STG IMS SIP and DIAMETER

SIGTRAN

Simplified service provisioning through distributed architecture The HP OpenCall Universal Signaling Platform relies on a proven multi-tiered architecture where service execution is kept separate from the complexity of network access. Network access is served by the HP OpenCall IP-Signaling Transfer Gateway, used as a signaling access point. This commercially available, off-the-shelf unit also manages the networks complexity. One of the primary advantages of the Universal Signaling Platforms unsurpassed architectural flexibility is that it simplifies service provisioning and growth. This also brings many further benefits, including increased scalability, high availability, trouble-free upgrades and shorter timeto-market, all of which contribute to a reliable and cost-effective solution. Strong performance and predictable scalability The HP OpenCall Universal Signaling Platform is extremely scalable, from both the hardware and the software perspectives. It allows smooth capacity expansion without any changes in applications. It enables NEPs and ISVs to help service providers keep up with the growth in telecommunication traffic, and to interconnect multiple networks.

Service providers can start with an economical compact solution and expand, by cost-effective increments, to very large systems when capacity demand increases. This can be done using the same commercial off-the-shelf equipment, resulting in a cost-effective evolution. Communications links, processing capacity, routing rules and any new logical entity can be added to an existing configuration without any service disruption. Consequently, solutions based on the HP OpenCall Universal Signaling Platform can easily adapt to varying user requirements. Because they can transparently add new functionality and dynamically expand their existing base infrastructure, service providers experience a cost-effective, trouble-free upgrade path without the expense of forklift upgrades. Sizing of any telecom solutions is also straightforward: the platforms overall performance is directly proportional to the number of servers. The highly modular N+1 architecture allows the solution to scale according to user needs. Add processing power and network connectivity when needed, and get the full value of truly linear scalability for a predictable return on investment. High availability The HP OpenCall Universal Signaling Platform enables high availability of telecommunications services. Service providers enjoy optimized uptime, a key asset in protecting their revenue and market share. Like other products in the HP OpenCall signaling suite, the HP OpenCall Universal Signaling Platform offers a true fault-tolerant model providing high reliability at all levels: hardware architecture, software resiliency and deployment model. The platforms functions are distributed both logically and physically in the HP OpenCall Universal Signaling Platform cluster. This unique design enables high availability: There is no single point of failure. In the event of a component failure, all traffic is automatically redistributed across all servers in the platform cluster.

All data about the network topology and all platform entities is managed real time by an in-memory database replicated on each server. A consistent view of the network is always available; this helps prevent data loss and enables automatic recovery. Failure of any platform function is handled efficiently, with no service disruption. In particular: Component failure: Fail-over to functioning components is automatic; further traffic is then processed by other subsystems of the platform. After the problem is solved, the subsystem is integrated back into the platform without interrupting the traffic. Similarly, new subsystems can be added as capacity requirements increase. Link failure: the platforms front-end (IP-STG) reroutes messages onto a backup link even if it is located on another server in the platform. A linkset can be shared by several IP-STG servers; the linkset is always up, even if a server fails. IP failure: Under normal operation, the IP traffic is shared between redundant logical and physical elements. For example, if one of the two Ethernet buses fails, all traffic is routed on to the remaining Ethernet; when the controller is operational again, the load is shared again. In another example, SIGTRAN communications are secured by multi-SCTP associations among the servers. Failure at a geographical site and disaster recovery: Services powered by a HP OpenCall Universal Signaling Platform can run on several geographical sites. If a major problem occurs at one of the sites, the overall service availability is maintained. The reliability and robustness of the HP OpenCall Universal Signaling Platform have been developed and tested in collaboration with the worlds most demanding telecom operators.

Enhanced user experience

HP OpenCall signaling platforms offer service providers a satisfying experience. Service providers can easily and confidently deploy systems using HP OpenCalls advanced technology, which complies with industry standards and simplifies operations. This is all backed by HPs worldclass services and support. The combination of HP OpenCall technology and HP support gives service providers the confidence and the ability to consolidate, cut costs and expand, where they need it, when they need it.

Figure 3. HP OpenCall facilitates the consolidation of networks. Telecom services

Geographic region 1
Servers HLR AAA Direct delivery SMSC Device management OTA Antispam Televoting Storage and databases Storage and databases

Geographic region 2 Service-oriented infrastructure

Servers Telecom services Charging Pre-paid Conferencing VPN Media Softswitch Emergency LBS

Powered by HP OpenCall USP technology Multiple geographic regions

Network access infrastructure

ANSI SS7 network

ITU-T SS7 network

SIGTRAN IP network

Simplified development and deployment The HP OpenCall Universal Signaling Platform provides all the functionality necessary for networks and applications to rapidly and easily develop and deploy services. In particular: The distributed multi-tiered architecture simplifies system deployment and evolution. The application level is isolated from the network connectivity so it is not necessary to recompile or test the application when the front-end evolves. Likewise, no changes to the back-end are required when the front-end is enriched with new features. The HP OpenCall Universal Signaling Platform handles intelligent routing, filtering, and edge-STP capabilities. With such unique, patented technological innovations, HP delivers more, and better serves the development of telecommunications services. With the HP OpenCall Universal Signaling Platform, companies can focus their resources on service development, and reap the benefits of a simplified deployment and accelerated time-to-market.

Single platform view The HP OpenCall Universal Signaling Platforms architecture provides the user with a single, consolidated platform view, regardless of the number of servers in the platform and geographical sites on which the platform is distributed. All servers share the same view of the networks topologies and entities, thanks to the replicated in-memory information database on each server. The platforms administrator can easily access and manage all platform entities through a single administration and trouble-shooting console connected to any server on the platform. Easy online operations Users can perform many operations on a live Universal Signaling Platform without interfering with services operation: Add new HP OpenCall USP servers and SS7 or IP boards to handle more signaling traffic Add new SS7 links, linksets and IP associations Add or remove application servers on IP and remote destination and originating point codes on SS7 Add or modify Routing and GTT rules, etc.

These operations and more (for example, addition of new functionality) are transparently handled online, with no disruption to services. In line with this simplicity, the HP OpenCall Universal Signaling Platforms licensing scheme permits to easily upgrade your platform capacity with the licenses that match its evolution. With this pay-as-you-grow approach, you purchase just the license that most closely corresponds your needs, not more. Freedom to deploy on separate geographies The HP OpenCall Universal Signaling Platforms architecture brings greater freedom to your deployment configuration scenarios and provisioning: Applications running the same or different services can be deployed on different locations. Applications can be deployed on different locations than that of the network connectivity. Also, network connectivity of the same or different types can be deployed on separate locations. The HP OpenCall Universal Signaling Platforms advanced provisioning, routing and load-sharing mechanisms facilitate application distribution and geographical dispersion. Mergers and acquisitions in the telecom industry have resulted in market concentration around fewer, large service providers. These service providers need to optimize their network infrastructure to increase operational efficiency. By achieving a simplified, consolidated view of mixed networks, good service delivery to subscribers and efficient disaster recovery design for business continuity, the HP OpenCall Universal Signaling Platforms geographical dispersion addresses some of the main challenges service providers are facing. Serviceability is not tied to a single equipment, technology or site. This reduces risks by lowering geographical and hardware dependency, and radically broadens your deployment choices. For example, service bureaus that deliver prepaid, location based, emergency services and messaging for operators can manage the application resources on HPs signaling platform back-end, which is 100 percent ITbased. The platforms front-end centralizes and isolates access to multiple telecom networks with a flexible infrastructure. Easy upgrades for existing customers The HP OpenCall Universal Signaling Platform is built on top of HP OpenCall IN7 and HP OpenCall SS7, and offers functional and architectural compatibility with both of these renowned products. This brings significant benefits to companies using these products. For example,

they can expand the traffic capacity of their current signaling platforms or easily evolve to new-generation networks, while retaining their existing infrastructure. This translates into higher reusability and a greater level of investment protection. The installed base is easily upgraded; customers can rest assured that they will experience a secure migration path as their network evolves. Because they can safely leverage existing platforms, service providers can take full advantage of painless capacity increase or access to new connectivity. They also enjoy shorter time-to-market for introduction of new services. Global reach HP OpenCall Universal Signaling Platforms are factory integrated by HP. The result is fast and secure delivery of a fully functional signaling platform at your site. The HP OpenCall Universal Signaling Platform complies with national and international industry standards and variants for SS7, SS7 over IP and IMS, including: ANSI, ITU, ITU-T Chinese (narrowband and HSL broadband) and TCC Japan implementations of SS7 protocols Hybrid stacks (ANSI TCAP over ITU SCCP/MTP), reverse hybrid stacks (ITU TCAP over ANSI SCCP/MTP) Multiple SS7 stacks running on a single platform IETF SCTP, M2PA, M3UA, SUA 3GPP SIP and Diameter Application deployment is straightforward regardless of the type of network and protocol(s) that are being used. As the application level is isolated from the network connectivity, there is no need to retest or recompile services that have already been deployed with a given network or protocol to comply with other networks and protocols around the world. Worldwide delivery and services In addition to the platform capabilities, NEPs and ISVs benefit from HPs wide range of services dedicated to the deployment and operation phases of the platform. These include: Factory Integration Services for staging, configuration and testing of HP OpenCall Universal Signaling Platform components and other software and hardware components, including user-developed applications Worldwide logistics and shipment capabilities Onsite installation and platform start-up In the operation phase, HP provides support services that meet the stringent requirements of telecommunications services. These services are delivered through a single point of contact backed by specialized support teams.

Increased profitability
With HPs computer-based OpenCall Universal Signaling Platform and its distributed multi-tiered architecture, operators can count on high availability and increased flexibility. These benefits, combined with HPs comprehensive services and environment, allow a focus of resources on core competencies. This is why major telecommunications players have been relying on HP OpenCall for many years to enable service availability, accelerate time to market and generate more revenue.

A complete solution
Providing you with a first-to-market advantage HP provides high-quality software that addresses all aspects of your software application lifecycle needs. With HP as your partner, you have access to standards-based, modular, multi-platform software coupled with best-in-class services and support. HP offers premier development services, including developer training, consulting and assistance; integration services for hardware and software; start-up services such as administrator training and onsite activation; in-production telco 24x7 base-level foundation support; and mission-critical support. For more information on HP Software services, visit: www.hp.com/go/opencall/services. To learn more about HP Software Customer Connection, a one-stop information and learning portal for software products and services, visit: www.hp.com/go/swcustomerconnection. The smartest way to invest in IT HP Financial Services provides innovative financing and financial asset management programs to help you costeffectively acquire, manage and ultimately retire your HP solutions. For more information on these services, contact your HP sales representative or visit: www.hp.com/go/hpfinancialservices.

For more information

About HP OpenCall Leading carrier-grade platforms HP OpenCall Software is an integral part of HPs portfolio of wireline, wireless, IP and media solutions and enables service providers to transition to IMS-based networks and effectively manage the triple play of voice, data and multimedia services. Deployed in 40 of the worlds top 50 service provider networks, HP OpenCall is the market leader in many industry categories, facilitating the convergence of the Internet with the world of voice communications. For further information on HP OpenCall, visit www.hp.com/go/opencall.

Copyright 2006 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein. Java is a U.S. trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc.

For more information, please visit www.hp.com/go/opencall

*DRAFT*, May 2006