The Evolution of Control Architectures Towards Next Generation
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Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering University College London University of London T h e Ev o l u t io n o f C o n t r o l A rchitectures T o w a r d s N ext G e n e r a t io n N e t w o r k s By Christos Solomonides BEng(Hons), MRes(Distinction) 7 September 2001 A thesis submitted to the University o f London for the Ph.D. in Electronic and Electrical Engineering ProQuest Number: U643054 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. uest. ProQuest U643054 Published by ProQuest LLC(2016). Copyright of the Dissertation is held by the Author. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. ProQuest LLC 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 A b s t r a c t This thesis describes the evolution of control architectures and network intelligence towards next generation telecommunications networks. Network intelligence is a term given to the group of architectures that provide enhanced control services. Network intelligence is provided through the control plane, which is responsible for the establishment, operation and termination of calls and connections. The work focuses on examining the way in which network intelligence has been provided in the traditional telecommunications environment and in a converging environment. In the case of the traditional telecommunications environment, the thesis examines the Intelligent Network (IN) architecture as a case scenario. In the case of the converging telecommunications environment, the work focuses on examining the relation and impact of emerging architectures and protocols and the ways in which these can inter-work with the IN. The discussion is presented using a taxonomy reference model of network intelligence architectures and their relation to the IN. For example, a protocol based on existing IN capabilities is presented that allows end users to engage in electronic commerce without the need for credit cards. The control plane architecture in the Public Switched Telephony Network (PSTN) is heavily based on state machines. The role of state models and the reliance of IP-based protocols on state models are also examined. For this, IP-based architectures are examined and the extent of state utilisation is presented. This enables a classification of IP-based architectures and protocols to be drawn with regard to state utilisation. The role of existing network intelligence within the context of open programmable networks and application servers is also examined. The work identifies the need for a common communications framework between third-party service providers. This is the focus of the API server architecture, which draws from IN concepts and from approaches in the IP domain. Dedicated to my parents A cknowledgements I would like to express my deepest appreciation and gratitude to my supervisor Dr. M. D, Searle for his constant support, encouragement and guidance throughout this project. Without his help this work would never have been completed. I would like to express my most sincere gratitude to my family for their unfailing support. To my Father who has provided me with the enthusiasm to complete this work. To my Mother for her continuous encouragement that has enabled me to successfully complete this work. Without the moral and financial help of my parents I would never have undertaken this work and for this I dedicate the work to them. I would like to extend this to my brother for always being there and supporting me at difficult times. My deepest heartfelt appreciation is offered to my wife Vania Bastajian for her patience and support. I would sincerely like to thank Adonis Michael ides for his support and genuine friendship. I would also like to sincerely thank the following people: Aram Bastajian for taking the time to proof read the text; Christos Drakos for his support; Aristos Michaelides for his sincere encouragement; Jason Spencer and Ognjen Pmjat for their friendship and support; Chryssanthos Kouriefs and Melina Georgiou for providing me with hours of entertainment and helping me cope with the work. My sincere thanks go to all the staff at INSIG Ltd for allowing me to engage in activities that have provided me with the practical experience that compliments the theoretical aspects of this work. Finally the financial support provided by Martin Stanley and the Department of Electronic & Electrical Engineering at University College London. T a b l e o f C o n t e n t s ABSTRACT..........................................................................................................................................................2 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS................................................................................................................................. 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS...................................................................................................................................5 LIST OF FIGURES.......................................................................................................................................... 11 LIST OF TABLES............................................................................................................................................ 15 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................16 1.1 M o t iv a t io n ....................................................................................................................................................................................16 1.2 A im s a n d O b j e c t iv e s ................................................................................................................................................................17 1.2 T h e P r o b l e m F ie l d a n d t h e A p p r o a c h ....................................................................................................................... 17 1.3 S u m m a r y o f M a in C ontributions ..................................................................................................................................18 1.4 T h e sis O u t l in e .............................................................................................................................................................................19 CHAPTER 2: TRADITIONAL APPROACH TO NETWORK INTELLIGENCE............................21 2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................... 21 2.1.1 Introduction to Telecommunications Networks ............................................................................. 22 2.1.2 Distribution of Service Logic .......................................................................................................... 24 2.1.3 Historical Switching and Signalling ............................................................................................... 27 2.1.4 The Strowger Switch .........................................................................................................................28 2.2 S w it c h in g a n d t h e R o le o f S ig n a l l in g ....................................................................................................................29 2.2.1 Access Network.................................................................................................................................30 2.2.2 Core Network ....................................................................................................................................30 2.2.3 Channel-Associated Signalling .......................................................................................................31 2.2.4 Common-Channel Signalling .......................................................................................................... 31 2.3 C o m m o n -C h a n n e l S ig n a l l in g S y s t e m N o . 7 ......................................................................................................... 32 2 .4 T h e In t e l l ig e n t N e t w o r k ...................................................................................................................................................34 2.4.1 The Intelligent Network Conceptual Model ....................................................................................36 2.4.2 The IN Service Processing Model and the Basic Call Process ....................................................38 2.4.3 IN Capability Sets ............................................................................................................................. 39 2.4.3.1 IN Capability Set 1 (CS-1)................................................................................................................................ 40 2.4.5.2 IN Capability Set 2 (CS-2)................................................................................................................................ 42 2.4.3.3 Inter-working Functions in Future Capability Sets...................................................................................... 44 2.4.4 The Basic