IMS and PCC System Engineering Training

With the advent of technologies such as LTE and 5G, next generation services and charging are now being controlled by IMS and PCC functions; a critical element in a service provider’s requirement to support seamless and rich multimedia services. For those needing to gain an understanding of this service overlay, this course provides a comprehensive technical explanation of how this is achieved. Topics covered include IMS architecture, protocols (SIP and Diameter), Registration, Policy Control and Session Establishment.

Section 1 - IMS Concepts and Architecture

Topic areas covered include:

• IMS Drivers:
• Service Drivers, Open Systems and Seamless Mobility.
• IMS Fundamental Principles.
• Specifications and Standards.
• Interworking with Access Networks.
• Positioning the IMS.
• Control and User Planes.
• IMS Terminal Device Requirements.
• Key Nodes:
• P-CSCF, S-CSCF, I-CSCF, HSS and Application Servers.
• Additional Architectural Elements:
• PSTN Breakout - BGCF, MGCF, MGW and Signalling Gateway.
• Interworking - IBCF and Session Border Controllers.
• Multimedia - MRFC, MRFP, Media Servers and Brokers.

Section 3 - IMS Registration

Topic areas covered include:

• IMS Initial Procedures:
• IP-CAN Connectivity, P-CSCF Discovery.
• IMS Identities:
• IMPU, IMPI, GRUU, PSI.
• Security considerations.
• Service Profiles and ifc (Initial Filter Criteria).
• Detailed Registration Process:
• Including Implicit Registration.
• Activity: detailed analysis of the IMS Registration procedure using Mpirical’s NetX.

Section 4 - Policy and Charging Control Fundamentals

Topic areas covered include:

• QoS in IP Networks.
• Precursors to PCC:
• 3GPP Release 5 SBLP and Release 6 FBC.
• Policy and Charging Control:
• PCC Architecture, Principles, PCC and SAE.
• PCEF, PCRF, OCS, OFCS, SPR, Gx, Rx.
• PCC Binding Mechanism:
• Session Binding, Rule Authorization, Bearer Binding.

Section 5 - IMS Session Establishment

Topic areas covered include:

• Session Policy and Policy Enforcement:
• PCC and the Rx Interface.
• SDP Offer/Answer Model.
• IMS Session Establishment.
• Charging Concepts:
• Offline Charging, Online Charging and Charging Identifiers.
• Activity: detailed analysis of an IMS Session Establishment procedure using Mpirical’s NetX.