2. IMS Core Elements
P-CSCF
I-CSCF
S-CSCFHSS
UE
ASService
Session
Control
Access
AS :
HSS :
CSCF :
S-CSCF :
I-CSCF :
P-CSCF :
MRFC:
MRFP:
UE :
Application Server
Home Subscriber Server
Call Session Control Function
Serving – CSCF
Interrogating – CSCF
Proxy – CSCF
Media Resource Function Controller
Media Resource Function Processor
User Equipment
MRFC
MRFP
3. Proxy – Call Session Control Function
• The Proxy-CSCF (P-CSCF) is the first contact point
within the IM CN subsystem;
• The P-CSCF behaves like a Proxy (as defined in
IETF RFC 3261), i.e. it accepts requests and services
them internally or forwards them on;
• Forward the SIP request or response to the UE;
• Maintain a Security Association between itself and
each UE, as defined in TS 33.203
• Authorization of bearer resources and QoS
management. For details see TS 23.203
P-CSCF
UE
4. P-CSCF
I-CSCF
UE
Interrogating – Call Session Control Function
OtherIMSNetwork
• Interrogating-CSCF (I-CSCF) is the contact point
within an operator's network for all connections
destined to a user of that network operator, or a
roaming user currently located within that network
operator's service area;
• Route a SIP request received from another network
towards the S-CSCF;
• Assigning a S-CSCF to a user performing SIP
registration.
5. Serving – Call Session Control Function
P-CSCF
I-CSCF
UE
OtherIMSNetwork
S-CSCF
• The Serving-CSCF (S-CSCF) performs the session
control services for the UE. It maintains a session
state as needed by the network operator for support
of the services;
• Behave as a Registrar as defined in IETF RFC 3261 ,
i.e. it accepts registration requests and makes its
information available through the location server
(e.g. HSS);
• Session control for the registered endpoint's sessions;
• Handle interaction with Services Platforms for the
support of Services.
6. Home Subscriber Server
P-CSCF
I-CSCF
HSS
UE
• The HSS is the master database for a given user. It is the
entity containing the subscription-related information
to support the network entities actually handling
calls/sessions;
• The HSS is responsible for holding the following user
related information:
• User Identification, Numbering and addressing information;
• User Security information: Network access control information
for authentication and authorization;
• User Location information at inter-system level: the HSS
supports the user registration, and stores inter-system location
information, etc.;
• User profile information.
OtherIMSNetwork
S-CSCF
7. Application Server
P-CSCF
I-CSCF
HSS
UE
OtherIMSNetwork
S-CSCF
AS
• An Application Server (AS) i.e., SIP Application
Server, OSA Application Server, or CAMEL IM-SSF,
offers value added IM services and resides either in
the user's home network or in a third party location.
The third party could be a network or simply a
stand-alone AS;
• The Serving-CSCF to AS interface is used to provide
services residing in an AS;
8. Media Resource Function Controller
P-CSCF
I-CSCF
HSS
UE
S-CSCF
AS
MRFC
• Control the media stream resources in the MRFP;
• Interpret information coming from an AS and
S-CSCF (e.g. session identifier) and control MRFP
accordingly;
9. Media Resource Function Processor
P-CSCF
I-CSCF
HSS
UE
S-CSCF
AS
MRFC
MRFP
• Provide resources to be controlled by the MRFC;
• Mixing of incoming media streams (e.g. for multiple
parties);
• Media stream source (for multimedia
announcements);
• Media stream processing (e.g. audio transcoding,
media analysis).
A Home Network may contain one or several HSSs: it depends on the number of mobile subscribers, on the capacity of the equipment and on the organisation of the network;
The HSS also generates User Security information for mutual authentication, communication integrity check and ciphering.
The HSS consists of the following functionalities:
IP multimedia functionality to provide support to control functions of the IM subsystem such as the CSCF;
The subset of the HLR/AUC functionality required by the PS Domain (GPRS and EPC;.
The subset of the HLR/AUC functionality required by the CS Domain.
The OSA Application Server does not directly interact with the IMS network entities but through the OSA Service Capability Servers (OSA SCS-s). Further information on OSA is provided in TS 22.127 [4].
A SIP Application Server specified within 3GPP that supports IMS reference points (e.g. ISC, Sh, Ut), in support of an application, is considered as part of the IM CN subsystem. Examples of such ASs are SCC AS and TAS.