Cloud architectures for a scalable and elastic 3GPP IP multimedia subsystem (IMS)

3GPP IP多媒体子系统(IMS)是3G及以上(3 Gb)电信网络的关键组成部分。它实现了跨不同接入技术和跨漫游边界的多媒体服务的可靠交付。然而，它仍然面临着可扩展性和灵活性作为主要挑战。这些挑战不知何故阻碍了它在3G网络中的实际部署。现在，在4G网络中的部署已经开始，最终正在考虑在Beyond 4G中部署，解决这些问题变得更加关键。云计算是一种新兴的范式，它带来了可扩展性和灵活性等固有优势。在这个研究项目中，我们建议研究云体系结构，以应对IMS面临的可扩展性和弹性挑战。我们将使用3GPP用户数据融合(UDC)规范作为起点。该规范规定了将IMS功能实体重新设计为依赖逻辑数据存储库的应用程序前端。虚拟化将被用作这些架构的支柱。爱立信加拿大公司在爱立信IMS产品组合中扮演着重要角色。它现在打算通过调查将为可伸缩性和弹性带来解决方案的研究途径来加强其在IMS中的地位。这一合作研究项目是该倡议的一部分。参与这个项目的学生将接触到最先进的工业环境，并将获得加拿大电信业和其他相关行业(如互联网行业)非常需要的专业技能。这使得该项目与整个加拿大工业高度相关。

The 3GPP IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) is a key component of 3G and beyond (3GB) telecommunication networks. It enables a robust delivery of multimedia services over different access technologies and across roaming boundaries. However, it still faces scalability and elasticity as major challenges. These challenges have somehow hampered its practical deployment in 3G networks. Tackling them is even more critical now that deployment in 4G networks has begun and eventual deployment in beyond 4G is being contemplated. Cloud computing is an emerging paradigm that brings inherent benefits such as scalability and elasticity. In this research project we propose to investigate cloud architectures for tackling the scalability and elasticity challenges faced by IMS. We will use the 3GPP user data convergence (UDC) specification as starting point. The specification stipulates the re-engineering of IMS functional entities into application front ends that rely on logical data repositories. Virtualization will be used as the pillar of these architectures. Ericsson Canada plays an important role in Ericsson IMS product portfolio. It now intends to strengthen its position in IMS by investigating the research avenues that will bring solutions to scalability and elasticity. This collaborative research project is part of that initiative. The students who will participate in this project will be exposed to industrial state of the art environment and will acquire specialized skills that are highly in need in the Canadian telecommunication industry and also in other related industries (e.g. Internet industry). This makes the project highly relevant to Canadian industry at large.