Transcript Introducing the ISC - Sierra Communications

www.softswitch.org
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Agenda
• What is a “Softswitch”?
• The Softswitch Market Opportunity—and Challenges
• The International Softswitch Consortium (ISC)
» Mission
» Working Groups
» Membership
• Questions & Answers
2
What is a “Softswitch”?
A softswitch (a.k.a. call agent, call server or media
gateway controller) is a device that provides, at a
minimum:
• Intelligence that controls connection services for a
media gateway, and/or native IP endpoints.
• It has the ability to select processes that can be applied
to a call.
• It can provide routing for a call within the network
based on signaling and customer database
information.
• It has the ability to transfer control of the call to
another network element.
• It provides interfaces to and supports management
functions such as provisioning, fault, billing, etc.
3
The Softswitch at Work
Application
Servers
SS7
Gateway
SIP
SS7
Digital
Cross
Connect
The softswitch will play a
strategic role in the nextgeneration public
network infrastructure for
voice, video and data
communications
H.323
Q.931/Q.2931
SIP-T
Softswitch
Softswitch
Cellular
Station
MGCP
MEGACO
MGCP
SIP
IAD with
DSL/Cable Modem
Media Gateways
4
Circuit-switch vs. Softswitch
Circuit-Switched
P
R
O
P
R
I
E
T
A
R
Y
Services &
Applications
Soft-Switched
Services, Applications & Features
(Management, Provisioning and
Back Office)
Call Control &
Switching
Open
Transport
Hardware
Open
Protocols
APIs
Softswitch Call Control
Protocols
APIs
Transport Hardware
• Software, hardware and
applications solutions typically
come packaged in a single
(proprietary) box.
• Non-standard solutions are
expensive to implement and leave
little room for innovation.
• Solutions are open standardsbased products, and can come
from multiple vendors.
• Customers are free to choose
best-in-class products to build
their network. Open standards
enable innovation and in the long
run can reduce costs
5
The Softswitch Market Opportunity
Softswitch System Revenue (Yankee Group)
$ Millions
5,000
4,316
4,000
3,000
2,397
2,000
1,000
0
631
104
364
1999
2000
2001
1,262
2002
2003
2004
Service revenue from deployment of softswitches is estimated to be 5
TIMES greater, growing to over $19 Billion in 2004
(International Data Corporation)!
6
The Softswitch Potential
• New and enhanced applications
» Intelligent Networking PLUS
» Multimedia with integrated
voice/video/data
» Limited only by the imagination
• Lower barriers to entry for both
system suppliers and service providers
» Open architecture, protocols and APIs
» Leverages any/all underlying transports (packet/frame/cell)
» Dramatically less expensive development and deployment
• Greater linear scalability based on an incremental “pay as you
grow” infrastructure
• All fully interoperable with the TDM-based PSTN
7
The Softswitch Challenges
• Lots of protocols! (e.g. MGCP, MEGACO, SIP, SS7, H.323, Q.931/Q.2931,
DiffServ, RSVP, RTP, RCP, MPLS, 802.1p, etc.)
• From lots of standards bodies
(e.g. ITU, IETF, FRF, ATM Forum, IEEE, etc.)
• Being implemented by lots of players
• All chasing an evolving architecture
• Under legacy regulatory conditions
(e.g. tariffs, co-location, certifications, etc.)
• In a global marketplace
The effort needs some real
coordination to fulfill the promise!
8
International Softswitch Consortium
• Non-profit industry organization
• Formed in May 1999
• Promotes an open architecture and multivendor interoperability for
next-generation voice/video/data solutions
• Financed and operated by its members
• Membership now includes over 100 system suppliers and service
providers
• Already the largest consortium in the “voice-over” arena
9
The ISC Mission
To promote worldwide compatibility and
interoperability of softswitch operation
through an open membership policy, a
commitment to open standards and protocols,
sponsored interoperability events, and by
maintaining a forum for the identification,
discussion and definition of softswitch
components and functions.
10
ISC’s Organizational Structure
Board of Directors
Technical Advisory
Council
Executive
Director
Appointed by the
Board to handle
the organization’s
daily business
12 Directors (elected
from and by the ISC’s
membership to terms
of one year) who serve
as the chief architects
for all specifications
produced by the ISC
Working
Groups
Application Architecture
Carriers Device Control
Marketing Session
Management SIP
11
Application Working Group
• Adopts interfaces for access and control of the basic and enhanced
services functions of a softswitch,
• Evaluates existing APIs and protocols to determine a suitable starting
point for an extensible softswitch services interface
• Goal is multi-vendor interoperability of services and softswitches
SCP
• Terminate SS7 A/F-links
• SS7/IP to other devices
Softswitch
SS7 Gateway
SS7
Gateway
Switch
Circuit
• Circuit/packet conversion
• Echo cancellation
• Audio processing
•
•
•
•
Provisioning
Services
Routing
Call Control
Packet
Open
AS
AS
AS
Application Servers
12
Architecture Working Group
• Advances an overall architecture for a softswitch that encompasses
all functions and interfaces
• Interacts with others ISC working groups to identify architectural
requirements and strategies
• Objective is softswitch independence from the underlying transport
Data Plane
Application Plane
Control Plane
Signaling G/W
Function
Transport Plane
Adaptation
Function
Database
Function
Database
Function
Session Control
Function
Service Logic
Function
Connection/Bearer
Leg Control
Control Function
Function
Media Gateway
Gatekeeper/Proxy
Control Function
Function
Logical Port
Function
Switching
Function
13
Carrier Working Group
• Facilitates the development of a Service Level Interface that permits
end-to-end management of QoS parameters, call connection, billing and
settlement costs, and other essential functions
• Identifies necessary test processes and measurements
• Selects network/protocol analyzers that meet measurement requirements
• Goal is multi-carrier and multi-vendor interoperability of softswitches
Packet
Circuit
Packet
Circuit
14
Device Control Working Group
• Continuously reviews advancement of the MGCP
draft specification for providing input to the IETF to
identify ambiguities and desired enhancements
• May submit other proposed standards for
consideration by the IETF
• Objective is interoperability of independently
developed softswitch devices through a single, wellrecognized and clear standard
15
Marketing Working Group
• Increases general market awareness
and acceptance of next-generation
softswitch-based networking
capabilities
• Objective is to pursue on-going
promotional and educational activities
that complement the marketing efforts
of ISC’s member organizations
16
Session Management Working Group
• Effort includes set of requirements and potential protocol
tensions, long with "Best Current Practices" documents
outlining a proposed architecture, data format and
transport protocol for session-specific information
• Goal is to promote interoperability of network
management and mediation across independently
developed switching, gateway and border element devices
17
SIP Working Group
• Addresses the collaboration of multiple
softswitches, during the setup and teardown of
calls, using the Session Initiation Protocol
• Scope of work involves two essential areas:
– Signaling of packet-based IP networks
– Interworking of IP-based network signaling
with PSTN signaling
18
ISC’s Membership
2nd Century Communications
8x8
Accelerated Networks, Inc.
ACE*COMM Corporation
ADC NewNet
Alcatel
Aplion Networks
AP Engines, Inc.
Aspect Telecommunications
AudioCodes
Broadband Access Systems
BroadSoft, Inc.
Catena Networks, Inc.
Cbeyond Communications
CCL/ITRI
Cisco Systems
Clarent Corporation
Clustra Systems, Inc.
Cognitronics Corporation
Com21, Inc.
Comgates Communications
Congruency
Consumer DSP Technology
Convergent Networks
Data Connection Limited
dynamicsoft
DTI Networks
Eagle Communications, Inc.
eFusion, Inc.
empowerTel Networks, Inc.
Ennovate Networks, Inc.
Enron Communications
Ericsson Datacom, Inc
Facet Corp.
Firstworld Communications
Fujitsu
General Bandwidth
GN Nettest (Canada) Inc.
HarvardNet, Inc.
Hewlett Packard Company
Hitachi, Ltd.
Inet Technologies, Inc.
Integral Access
InterSoft Technologies
IP Mobile, Inc.
IPCell Technologies, Inc.
Iperia, Inc.
IP Unity
IpVerse, Inc.
iTopia, Inc.
Jato Communications
Kabira Technologies, Inc.
Level 3 Communications
LG Sansys, Inc.
Libertybay.com, Inc.
Lucent Technologies, Inc.
Marconi Communications
Merlot Communications
Mission Communications, LLC
Natural MicroSystems
NetFone
Netrix Corporation
Netrue Communications, Inc.
Nexbell Communications
NexTone Communications, Inc.
Nippon Telegraph & Telephone
Nokia
NorthPoint Communications
Nortel Networks, Inc.
NTT Communicationware
Nuera
Open Telecommunications, Ltd.
Open Telephone Network
Pactolus Communication Software
PhoneXchange
Pingtel
Polycom, Inc.
pulver.com
PurePacket Communications
RCN
Radcom
RADVision
Rapid5 Networks, Inc.
Rhythms Netconnections, Inc.
Ryan-Hankin-Kent, Inc.
Rikei Corporation of America
SALIX Technologies, Inc.
Santera Systems, Inc.
Shoreline Teleworks, Inc.
S-Link
Sonus Networks
Sphere Communications, Inc.
Spring Tide Networks, Inc.
SS8 Networks, Inc.
Strata Group, Inc.
Sylantro Systems Corporation
Syndeo Corporation
Tachion Networks, Inc.
Taqua Systems
Technology Control Services
Tekelec
Telcordia Technologies, Inc.
Telecom Software Enterprises
Telecom Technologies
TeleNetwork, Inc.
Telephony Experts
Telesynthesis, LLC
Telica, Inc.
Telocity, Inc.
TELOS Technologies, Inc.
TeraBridge Technologies
Corporation
Timeshift
TimesTen Performance Software
Time Warner Telecom
TransMedia
Trillium Digital Systems, Inc.
Tundo Corporation
Ubiquity
Ulticom (formerly DGM&S
Telecom)
Unisphere Solutions
UTStarcom
Vail Systems, Inc.
Vertical Networks
VocalData, Inc
Vovida Networks
Vsys
Westwave Communications
Wireless System Technologies,
Inc.
Woodwind Communications
Systems
World Telecom Labs
Xybridge Technologies
ZTE (USA), Inc.
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Value to ISC’s Members
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Attendance at developers’ conferences and events
Exposure to market requirements and available offerings
A chance to leverage developments on related fronts
Early awareness of advancements in standards activity
A convenient means to help establish strategic partnerships
A chance promote vendor/provider-led initiatives
Risk reduction through “market smart” decisions
Ability to shape short- and long-term directions
Opportunity to influence implementors’ agreements
Use of industry-leading reference implementations
Access to the multi-vendor interoperability test lab
Formation of diverse set of best-in-class solutions
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ISC Membership Options
• Full Membership
» Large Company (gross revenues exceeding 50M USD)
Annual dues of 50,000 USD
» Small Company
Annual dues of 5,000 USD
• Affiliate Membership
» Non-commercial organizations (e.g. educational institutions)
» Annual dues of 5,000 USD
All levels of membership enjoy the same
voting rights and privileges
21
Conclusion
• The softswitch opportunity is HUGE for both system
suppliers and service providers
• Success—for both the industry and individual players—
requires navigation of uncharted waters
• Enter the International Softswitch Consortium
• The ISC is helping its members design, develop and deploy
the next-generation network
• The ISC is already the industry’s largest and most powerful
driving force—and growing
• If voice-over-packet/frame/cell is in your future, then the
ISC is for you!
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Questions &
Answers
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