Proceedings of ICCT2003

Study on Application of Softswitch in Wireless Networks

Qiang Wei, Sen Su, Junliang Chen
State Key Laboratory of Switching Technology and TelecommunicationNetworks
Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications,BUPT
Beijing, China
Email: hello-weiqiang@263.net, weiqiang@telestar.bj.cn

Abstract-Today's wireless cmmunication networks is in
the revolution from the 2nd generation (2G) such as GSM to
the 31x3 generation networks such as UMTS. The NGN is
considered as the ultimate goal of this revolution This paper
introduces an study on how softswitch, the core element of
NGN, is applied in the evolving wireless communication
network After a brief overview of NGN and softswitch, thi
paper provides the new sonswitch-involved reference
architechlres for various wireless network It then describes
how softswitch can collaborate with other network elements
to accomplish call handling for mobile usem in wireless
networks.
Keywords4o@switch; Nut Generatwn Nehuork; Wirrless
Nehuork; GSM; UMTS
1; INTRODUCTION.
Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)
has become the most popular 2" generation (2G) wireless
c o d c a t i o n network mwadays. It is a circuit-switched
network and is mainly used to provide voice telephony
services to mobile users. The Universal Mobile
Telecommunication System (UMTS), standardized by the
3d Generation Partnership Program (3GPP), is the chosen
evolution to 3G for GSM networks. The network
architecture is suggested to evolve gradually from the
GSM, Uh4TS Release 1999 (UMTS R99) to UMTS
Release 2000 ( U M T S ROO). Furthermore, Uh4TS Release
2000 has been split up into Releases 4 and 5.
Actually, U M T S has defined a migration to a packet-
switched core network where multimedia bearer traflic is
delivered using packets over this new core network. On the
other hand, the Next Generation Network (NGN) is
proposed as an integrated architecture involving various
legacy networks including wireless communication
networks. At this point, UMTS is consistent with NGN.
TheEfore, utilizing softswitch the core controlling
element of the NGN, will be a good approach for the
wireless communication networks to migrate from GSM to
bothUMTS and NGN.
In this paper we will discuss in detail the application of
softswitch in different wireless netwoks including GSM,
Release 99, Release 4 and Release 5. After an brief
overview of NGN and softswitch, we will defme the new
softswitch-involved reference network architectures for
various wireless systems. That will also identify the
position and functions of softswitch in each network. Then
we will focus on how softswitch can collaborate with other
netwodc elements to accomplish call handling for mobile
users. A detailed call information flow sequence for a
typical call scenario will be proposed.
11. OVERVIEW OF NGN BASEDON SOFTSWITCH
Today, there are a variety of communication networks
such as the public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN),
the packet data networks (e.g. the Intemet), cable TV/data
networks and wireless communication netwotks. EveIy
network is a close one, which has specific architecture,
specific protocols and specific services. The inter-
networking between different networks is always
troublesome and costly. In most cases, the services and
applications can only be provided within a single network.
The NGN is proposed as an convergence of aU various
networks, which can provide multimedia services including
voice, data and video. The relationship between today's
networks and the NGN is shown in Fig. 1.
Serdcer a ApplkaUms Layer ,
Call Control 6 Slgnallng Layer
1 Transport Layer
I
Figure I , Today's Networks and the NON
The NGN has three main characters:
An open network architecture. The entities in
traditional networks are decomposed into multiple
new elements, which can develop individually. The
decomposition reduces the complexity and cost of the
network entities and makes the network more flexible
and scalable. Naturally, the interfaces between these
entities have to be standardized.
A serviceariented network. In the NGN, the service
control function is clearly separated from the call
control function by open interfaces. The sepamtion
provides a programmable platform for the creation and
execution of services. The service platform will not
only simplify the creation of new services, but also
make it possible to develop inter-network services.
A packet-switched backbone network. The NGN is
supposed to have a central high-speed backbone
network using packet protocols such as IP or A T U

The research in this paper is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under the contract number 60002006 and
90204007.
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 All kinds of inherited networks, such as PSTN, are
connected to the backbone by various of gateways
respectively.
For a better description to the functions of the NGN,
the NGN can be divided into three functional layers:
T m p o ~ iCall
, Control & Signaling and Service &
Application
Transport Layer: The transport layer is responsible for
the bansport of 1 1 kinds of MICS across the NGN.
These MICS may be for signaling or any kinds of
media.
Call Control & Signaling Layer: This layer is
responsible for call control based on signaling
messages received from the Transport Layer, and
handle establishment and teardown of media
connections by controlling components in the
T m p o x t Layer.
Service & Application Layer: This layer provides the
control, logic and execution for the services or
applications. The elements in this layer control the
flow of a call based on the service execution logic by
commnnication with elements in the Call Control &
Signaling Layer.
Softswitch is the core element of the NGN in the Call
Control & Signaling Layer. According to the International
Softswitch Consortium (ISC), softswitch is defmed as a
software-based entity that provides the call control
functionality in the IP network. Softswitch mainly has
three functions:
Call control function with various signaling protocols,
such as ISUP, H.323, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP),
MegacoRI.248, and Bearer Independent Call Control
(BICC). In fact, softswitch provides the call control
poxtion of the legacy switch in circuit-switched
network.
Control the Media Gateway (MG) to accomplish the
transforming of the bearer between packet-switched
network and circuit-switched network. In fact, MG
provides the switching podon of the legacy switch in
circuit-switched network.
Provide necessary control abilities to the service plane
elements to implement various services and
applications. The service plane elements include
Application Server (AS) and Media Server (MS).
However, the softswitch doesn't control the service
logic itself.
111. NETWORK
ARCHITECTURES OF SOFTSWITCH-
INVOLVED WIRELESSNETWORKS
Since different wireless systems have different network
architectures, it would be better to discuss the new
softswitch-involved architecturesrespectively.
A. Sofswitch-involvedGSM Nehvork
The reference architecture for such a softswitch-involved
GSM network is shown in Fig.2. As we know, the
128
traditional GSM network can be divided into two
subsystems - Base Station Subsystem (BSS) and Network
Switching Subsystem (NSS). In the softswitch-involved
GSM network, BSS remains the same while NSS can be
divided into the. Ip NSS and the Circuit NSS. The IP NSS
includes IP-based elements such as softswitch, Media
Gateway (MG) and Signaling Gateway (SG). As
mentioned before, softswitch is responsible for the call
control and media switching control functions. In
traditional GSM network, these functions are provided by
Mobile Switching Center (MSC). Therefore, softswitch,
Media Gateway (MG) and Signaling Gateway (SG)can
serve as a MSC replacement for GSM networks. The VLR
can either exist within the softswitch or exist as a separate
element as well. The Circuit NSS includes all the
remaining circuit-based elements such as legacy MSC,
Home Location Register (HLR) and Authentication Center.
- Mcdii urd Sipling .......-.Sipling0nly
F i p 2. Softswitch-involvedGSM network architecture
Intemetworking with the PSTN is a basic requirement
for GSM. In legacy GSM networks, this job is done by
Gateway MSC (GMSC). Softswitch can act as a GMSC
since it is able to bridge various signaling protocols.
Anyway, if there is still a legacy GMSC in the network,
softswitch should be able to coexist and work with i t
A more detailed softswitch centralizing architecture is
shown in fig.3. MG and SG are. two kmds gateways that
bridge the packet-switched (IF') network and the circuit-
switched network. MG performs the media conversion
while SG performs the signaling caniage conversion. In
the IP Network, the media is transported as Real-time
Transport Protocol (RTP) packets and tbe signaling is
transported using Sigtran. Softswitch communicate with
all circuit-based elements through these two gateways.
Softswitch controls the MG by the Megaco protocol
standardized by the Intemet Engineering Task Force
(IETF), which is also named H.248 by ITU-T. Services
and applications can be provided by the 3" party
Application Server (AS), using the service interfaces with
softswitch such as Parlay, JAIN and SIP.
Especially to wireless networks, softswitch must provide
some extra functionalities such as Mobility Management
(MhQ and Radio Resource (RR) Management. This is
different from applying softswitch in a wire-line network
such as PSTN.

- Media -. - Signaling
Figure 3. lhe Softswitch in the GSM nelwork
B. Sopwitch-involvedUMTS R99 Network
The difference between R99 and GSM is that the BSS in
GSM is replaced by a newly defined Radio Network
System (FWS) in R99. Since the NSS of R99 keeps the
same as that of GSM, things are mostly uncbanged to
softswitch. The architecture of softswitch-involved R99
networks is very much alike to the architecture of
softswitch-involved GSM networks, which is shown in
fig.1.The difference between them is that ME, BTS, BCS
and BSS are replaced by UE, Node B, RNC and RNS
respectively. As far as softswitch is concerned, it should be
able to control the RNC with lu-cs interface rather than
control the BCS with A interface.
-. S'oRnuitch-involved I~.~
C. J m R4 .Network
~~~.
~~
In U M T S R4 network, a MSC is decomposed into a
Media Gateway (MG)and a MSC Server, which resides in
an IF' network. This architecture actually bases on the same
idea with softswitch and NGN. So softswitch can be
perfectly involved into the R4 network by simply acting as
a MSC Server. In fact, softswitch and MSC Server can be
considered as the different names for the same thing in R4
network.
D. Sopswitch-involvedUMTS R5 Network
UMTS R5 network is an all IP network trying to
pmvide new IF' multimedia services. R5 specifcations
recommend the MSC Server to be disaggregated into
Media Gateway Control Function (MGCF) and the Call
State Control Function (CSCF), hut it is still a softswitch
though it now deals with multimedia call contml which
differs quite a bit from voice call control.
In order to provide new services in a more flexible
manner, R5 also introduces new network elements such as
AS and innovative concepts such as Virtual Home
Environment (VHE). Softswitch should support these
service providing elements as well.
129
IV. A TYPICAL CALL SCENARIO IN SOFIXWITCH-
INVOLVED WIRELESS NETWORKS
According to the architectures proposed above, this
section will review a typical call scenario to describe how
the call is established by softswitch in the new
architectures, with the collaboration with other network
elements. Here we will consider the most common and the
most important call scenario where the originating party is
in the wireless network and the termination par@ is in the
PSTN.
As described above, different wireless network has
different call control mechanism because of their different
architectures and elements. But in fact, because of their
similar softswitch-based network architectures, their call
control mechanism are quite similar too. Therefore, here
we will focus on the scenarios in the softswitch-involved
GSM network.
A basic GSM user originated call involves signalling
between the MS. the BSS. the VLR the softswitch and the
hAG,as indicated in fig.4.'
1. When the Setup message amves from the MS, the
softswitch performs a call-routing determination. It
then responds with a Call Proceeding message to the
MS. Based on the call-muting determination, the
softswitchchooses a MG to handle the call.By an Add
Request message, it instmcts the MG to establish a
new context and places a termination in that context.
The termination in question (TI) will be on the
network side of the MG.
2, once the new is established by the Mq, the
softswitch requests the BSS to set up a uaffc channel
over the radio interface with MS.
3. Once the channel has been assigned, the softswitch is
in a position to establish a media connection between
the BSS and the MG. Therefore, it requests the MG to
add a new termination to the context that has just been
established. This new termination (T2) will face
towards the BSS. Because the new termination is in
the same context as termination TI, a path is created
from one si& of the MG to the other.
4. The softswitch then sends the ISW Initial Address
Message (IAM) to the called PSTN. Upon receipt of
an Address Complete Message ( A 0 from the far
end, the softswitch sends an Alelting
5. ISUP Answer Message (ANM) to be received at the
softswitch. At this point, the softswitch may ~ p t i ~ ~ l l y
modlfy the context established on the MG.
Specifically, when the terminations were established
in the new context, they may have been configured to
not provide a complete thmugh-connection. For
example, one or both of the terminations could have
been confiigured to allow only a one-way media path
(from the far end to MS for the purposes of receiving a
ring-back tone). In such a case, the softswitch requests
the MG to modify !t confinuratiou so that a full two-
way media path is established.
6. Finally, the s o h i t c h sends a Connect message to the ciphering. They are not descnied in this paper because
Ms and the MS responds with a Connect acknowledge. those procedures are just the same as those in W t i o n a l
Then the call has been established successfuUy GSM networks.

CONCLUSIONS
V.
As a “y, we can see that, in fact, the 3G wireless
networks and the NGN have similar objectives and
architectures. They both try to provide more exciting
multimedia services on an I?’ backbone network. So
applying softswitch into the wireless networks not only
helps the revolution from 2G to 3G,but also provides a
smooth migration towards the NGN. As far as GSM and
UMTS are concemeQ the application of softswitch in
various wireless networks can take similar architectures.
With the support of SG and MG,The softswitch will take
place of the MSC in original GSM network to provide call
control and signaling process functions. This architecture
3 w has been proved to be qualified of these functions in this
4 u paper. As the wireless network keeps evolving, the
4
4. Almig softswitch may be further decomposed into more dedicated
4 ~

5 . 1
functional entities, as suggested in UMTS Release 5.
4
6 MIhFmrd. am,
s llmhw,. (a). m)
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