WebSphere IP Multimedia Subsystem Connector

IBM WebSphere IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) Connector, extends the industry leading WebSphere Application Server platform to deliver a fully IMS standards-compliant SIP application server. It is built on the converged SIP-HTTP Servlet container of WebSphere Application Server. With support for IMS-ready HTTP and SIP applications in a single environment, the WebSphere IMS Connector enables truly converged IMS applications to be built and deployed on a single service execution platform, helping customers and business partners reduce the complexity and cost of their IMS solutions.

WebSphere IMS Connector supports key IMS-compliant interface elements based on SIP and Diameter protocols, as defined by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) and Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) to the WebSphere Application Server platform:

• IMS Session Control (ISC) reference point enabling standards-based SIP connectivity to Call/Session Control Functions (CSCF) in the IMS control plane.

• Diameter stack and interfaces supporting subscriber management and charging functions in accordance with IMS standards; complying with standards for IMS reference points, Sh, Ro and Rf.

In addition, WebSphere IMS Connector includes the following:

• Enhanced security with the introduction of the IMS Security Trust Association Interceptor (TAI). The TAI provides an efficient mechanism to take advantage of the authentications performed at the boundaries of the SIP and HTTP networks.

• Improved statistical information management by from WebSphere through native SNMP monitoring capability for reporting the PMI performance metrics as well as faults and alarms raised from the product components to SNMP managers.

• Improved monitoring of Key Performance Indicators which are added to the diameter base implementation and Rf, Ro, Sh Web Services implementations.

Support for Converged and IMS-compliant applications

Customers and ISVs can build their services and applications on the IMS Connector powered WebSphere Application Server, and deploy them as IMS compliant applications running on the industry leading application server platform.

• Converged Container: Support for JSR116 Servlet application programming interfaces (APIs) enabling a truly converged HTTP and SIP container for IMS applications.

• SIP Interface: Bi-directional SIP interface support allows for applications built to be deployed in the roles of originating, terminating, and back to back user agents allowing for the maximum flexibility.

• Private Headers: IMS Connector exposes and supports the PATH header and the IMS specific private headers such p-asserted-id and p-charging-vector to the applications. This enables the applications to fully exploit the IMS capabilities and eases deployment in to a service provider’s operational environment.

Diameter-based Subscriber Management and Charging Functions

WebSphere IMS Connector extends the WebSphere Application Server platform to provide a native Diameter stack and implement standard Sh, Ro and Rf IMS reference points.

• Sh reference point: IMS service plane applications can securely and reliably manage subscriber profiles from and to the Home Subscriber Server (HSS) in the service providers’ environment. With the support for asynchronous notifications, the application can react to real-time subscriber profile changes.

• Rf reference point: IMS service plane applications can securely and reliably support post-paid business models for service usage.

• Ro reference point: IMS service plane applications can securely and reliably support pre-paid/credit business models for service usage.

Reduce Programming Complexity via Diameter Web Services

WebSphere IMS Connector significantly reduces the programming complexity of the Diameter interfaces to the application developer by providing a Web services layer to all the supported APIs (Sh. Ro and Rf). These simple Web services abstractions hide the complexities of interfacing with the Diameter elements using binary protocols. These Web services can also be used as component APIs for service orchestration and choreography in an SOA deployment. Raw Diameter APIs can also be used.

Service Creation Support and Interoperability

WebSphere IMS Connector also provides support for service creation through associated tooling, such as SIP Servlet APIs and programmable IMS APIs, made available as Eclipse plug-ins. With SIP tooling that is part of the WebSphere Application Server Toolkit and also available as a separate Eclipse-based plug-in, IBM provides support for building HTTP Servlets, SIP Servlets, and Portlets in a single integrated development environment. IMS enablement tooling includes support for IBM-defined Diameter Web services, a standard set of Parlay X 2.1 APIs, as well as sample applications. The product also provides REST-style access to Sh subscriber profile web service, which extends the channel support to include HTTP access in addition to the existing SOAP access.

WebSphere IMS Connector also provides the benefits of the integration testing performed by IBM and its business partners to accelerate deployments in an IMS architecture.

With WebSphere IMS Connector , CSPs and ISVs can build IMS-compliant, converged HTTP and SIP applications and deploy them to a single service execution platform, reducing the complexity and cost of their solutions.

Standards Supported:

• SIP Support: RFCs 3261, 3262, and 2543 for backwards compatibility
  • SIP Servlet API v1 – JSR116
  • ISC Support: Bi-directional ISC support per TS 23.238, TS 24.229
  • IMS SIP Header Extensions: RFCs 3327, and 3455
• Diameter Support: RFCs 3588 and 3539
  • Sh reference point support – TS 29.328 and TS 29.329
  • Rf, Ro reference point support – TS 32.260 and TS 32.299