Service Concentration Node in Internet Multimedia Subsystem (IMS)

Abstract

Convergence of the cellular world to an all-IP domain has stimulated the development of Internet Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) service architecture, which is touted by service providers and vendors as the next generation solution for breaking the barriers not only between cellular and IP worlds, but also between wireline and wireless networks. Although many GSM operators and legacy network service providers are adapting rapidly to the IMS world, the pace of this adaptation process is still quite low in certain parts of the world. In this paper, we propose a novel IMS concept referred to as Service Concentration Node (SCN), which enables the operators to provide their customers with IMS services that are offered in other domains with which the operator has a signed agreement, and thereby facilitates the utilization of a vast amount of IMS services in various operator networks. The formulated technical framework as well as its accompanying business model is quite promising in enriching the IMS services experience in next generation networks.