KR100911105B1 - A converting gateway and method for interfacing a message between home subscriber server and application server through the same - Google Patents

Abstract

A converting gateway and a method for interfacing a message between a home subscriber server and an application server through the same are provided to enable the data access between plural application servers and a home subscriber server. A first interface unit(311) exchanges a first protocol message with an application server, and a second interface unit(312) exchanges a second protocol message with a home subscriber server. A protocol converter(313) converts the first protocol message transmitted from the first interface unit the first interface unit and transmits the converted first protocol message to the second interface unit. The protocol converting unit transmits the second protocol message transmitted from the second interface unit into the first protocol message and transmits the converted first protocol message to the first interface unit.

Description

A converting gateway and method for interfacing a message between Home Subscriber Server and Application Server through the same}

The present invention relates to an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) based communication system, and more particularly, to an application server of an IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) service network and a home subscriber server (HSS) of an IMS core network. An apparatus and method for mediating a message between) are provided.

As mobile communication technology develops and mobile communication network evolves, the 3rd generation mobile communication system (IMT-2000) essentially provides Internet services, and has a unique Internet Protocol (IP) address assigned by an Internet service provider (ISP). With the IMT-2000 network, it provides mobile IP that can receive internet service. The adoption of IP-based Internet protocols in mobile networks has been accepted as a gradual trend, and Internet protocols are becoming a part of mobile network technologies. The European-led 3GPP (3rd Generation Project Partnership) and the North American-led 3GPP2, which proceeds with the standard of IMT-2000, do not stay here and take the notion of 'ALL IP NETWORK', which replaces all infrastructures of mobile communication with IP. Introduced, ALL IP network is a next-generation mobile communication network that is included in the category of IMT-2000 network but has a completely different infrastructure.

The biggest feature of ALL IP network is that it is the first 3GPP network to support IP multimedia service. This feature is specifically implemented by newly added nodes to support IP multimedia services, collectively called the Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS).

In other words, IMS is a set of nodes newly introduced to provide IP multimedia service, and includes Call Session Control Server (CSCF), Home Subscriber Server (HSS) and Application Server (AS). ) And the like.

5 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an IMS service network according to the prior art.

Referring to FIG. 5, the IMS service network stores user equipment (UE) 10 and all data on subscriber data. The information management function and authority for managing user profiles and mobility management of UEs are stored in the IMS service network. Call session controller (CSCF) for performing multimedia call control based on Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and HSS (Home Subscriber Server) 25 that performs functions such as authentication (Authorization) A control function (20 ') and an application server (AS) 30 for providing various IMS services.

The HSS 25 and call session controller (CSCF) 20 'form an IMS core network 20, and the application server 30 forms an IMS service network.

The call session controller (CSCF) 20 'performs incoming call gateway, call control, serving profile management and address processing. Specifically, the CSCF 20 'includes a Proxy-Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF) 21, an Interrogating-Call Session Control Function (I-CSCF) 22, and a Serving-Call Session Control Function (S-CSCF). (23).

The P-CSCF 21 serves as a proxy and a user agent. The P-CSCF 21 is the first point point at which the user terminal 10 connects to the IMS core network 20. The P-CSCF 21 transfers the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) registration request message received from the user terminal 10 to the I-CSCF 22 with reference to the home domain of the user terminal 10.

The I-CSCF 22 is the first point where the user terminal 10 accesses the home network, and several I-CSCFs 22 may exist in one network domain. The I-CSCF 22 receives the address of the S-CSCF 23 that performs SIP registration of the user terminal 10 from the HSS 25, and then allocates the S-CSCF 23 to be in charge of actual registration. . In addition, the I-CSCF 22 routes the SIP message received from the other network to the S-CSCF 23.

The S-CSCF 23 serves as a register and controls a session of a registered endpoint. The S-CSCF 23 is registered with the HSS 25 so as to be equivalent to the user terminal 10, and then downloads and stores subscriber information of the user terminal 10. In addition, the S-CSCF 23 performs a control service while managing session state of the actually registered user terminal 10. The S-CSCF 23 provides the user terminal 10 with information related to service resources. In addition, the S-CSCF 23 performs authentication with the authentication information received from the HSS 25 at the time of registration of the user terminal 10.

On the other hand, the HSS 25 is responsible for all the information of the user terminal 10 subscriber for call / session control. It includes all the functionality of a home location register (HLR) in existing 3G networks, and also includes signaling protocols related to information for IM subscribers for IM services. One or several such HSSs 25 may exist in one same network, depending on the number of subscribers and the configuration capability of the network.

The HSS 25 is a subscriber's master database with basic information related to the subscriber. Such information includes subscriber identifier (ie number and address information), subscriber security information (ie network access control information for authentication and authorization verification), subscriber location information (ie registration and inter-system level mobility information). ) And service profile information of the subscriber.

Based on the above information, the HSS 25 largely provides a home location register / authentication (HLR / AUC) function and an IP multimedia function for an IP multimedia service. In the figure, the user terminal 10 transmits a service request message to the P-CSCF 21 for a multimedia service. The P-CSCF 21 sends this service request message back to the I-CSCF 22, and the I-CSCF 22 selects the corresponding S-CSCF 23. The S-CSCF 23 then provides the information related service to the endpoint.

If there are a plurality of HSSs in the operator's IMS network, the S-CSCF 23 needs to access the registered HSS 25 to obtain the subscriber's information. The S-CSCF 23 performs a procedure of acquiring the address of the HSS 25 using a subscriber locator function (SLF) (not shown) to find the registered HSS 25 among the plurality of HSSs 25. do.

The application server (AS) 30 includes Instant Messaging (IM), Presence (Voice), Voice Call Continuity (VCC), Push-To-Talk (PTT), Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), Group List Management (GLMS) A network element that delivers IP multimedia services to subscribers, including Server), IMS Centralized Services (ICS), and the like.

The IMS uses Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) as a signaling protocol, for example, between the user terminal 10 and the CSCF 20 ', the P-CSCF 21, the I-CSCF 22, and the S-CSCF. (23) Mutual signaling is based on this Session Initiation Protocol (SIP).

On the other hand, the signaling between the S-CSCF 23 and the HSS 25, the HSS 25 and the AS 30 is based on the Diameter protocol. That is, to provide the IP multimedia service to the subscriber, the AS 30 contacts the HSS 25 via the Sh interface, which uses a diameter protocol. Therefore, a separate diameter protocol stack 31 must exist inside all application servers 30 as shown in FIG. 5.

However, there is a problem that separately installing the diameter protocol stack 31 in each of the various application servers 30 causes a waste of resources.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for facilitating data access between a plurality of application servers and a home subscriber server.

Another object is to enable data interworking between an application server not equipped with a diameter protocol stack and a home subscriber server.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be described below and will be appreciated by the practice of the invention. Furthermore, the objects and advantages of the present invention can be realized by means and combinations indicated in the appended claims.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a conversion gateway device for protocol matching between both devices between a home subscriber server of the IMS and a plurality of application servers. Thus, application servers that access home subscriber servers do not need a separate protocol stack.

A gateway device which is located between a home subscriber server (HSS) and an application server (AS) of an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) according to the first aspect of the present invention and mediates data access between an application server and a home subscriber server is the application server. First interface means for connecting with and exchanging a first protocol message; Second interface means for connecting with the home subscriber server to exchange a second protocol message; Converts the first protocol message received from the first interface means into a second protocol message and transmits it to the second interface means, converts the second protocol message received from the second interface means into a first protocol message; Protocol conversion means for delivering to the first interface means.

In addition, the gateway device according to the first aspect of the present invention further comprises a mapping table for storing data for message mapping according to protocol conversion, wherein the protocol conversion means, a parsing module for parsing the received message, the parsed message And a conversion module for mapping a message field with reference to the mapping table, in order to convert a protocol of a message determined to be valid by the verification module.

The method for mediating a message using a gateway device located between an application server of an IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) service network and a home subscriber server of an IMS core network according to the second aspect of the present invention may include requesting subscriber information from the application server. Receiving a first protocol based message for; Converting the first protocol based message into a second protocol based message; Sending the second protocol based message for the subscriber information request to the home subscriber server; Receiving a second protocol based message for subscriber information response from the home subscriber server; Converting a second protocol based message for the subscriber information response into a first protocol based message; And sending the first protocol based message for subscriber information response to the application server.

In addition, a method for mediating a message using a gateway device located between an application server of an IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) service network and a home subscriber server of an IMS core network according to a third aspect of the present invention may include: Receiving from the first protocol based message for subscriber information change notification; Converting the first protocol based message into a second protocol based message; Sending the second protocol based message for subscriber information change notification to the application server; And generating a first protocol-based response message to notify the normal arrival of the second protocol-based message and transmitting it to the home subscriber server.

It is also possible to construct an IMS network using the gateway device according to the first aspect.

According to the present invention, there is no need to install a separate protocol stack in an AS (application server) that wants to access an HSS (home subscriber server). That is, a simple gateway device that interfaces between the HSS and the AS allows the AS to easily access the HSS.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, Figure 1 is a block diagram of an IMS network according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the IMS network of the present invention includes an IMS core network 200 and an IMS service network 300. The IMS core network 200 again includes a call session control unit (CSCF) 220 and a home subscriber server (HSS) 210, and the IMS service network 300 includes an application server unit (AS) 320. Includes a gateway 310.

The user terminal (UE) 100 communicates with an IMS network including an application server unit (AS) 320 through an access network (not shown). In this case, the user terminal 100 uses the call session controller 220 and a session initiation protocol (SIP).

The call session controller (CSCF) 220 corresponds to a P-CSCF forming a first point of contact with the user terminal 100, an S-CSCF providing an IP multimedia service to the user terminal 100, and a user terminal. I-CSCF is defined as identifying the S-CSCF and sending a SIP request received from the user terminal to the corresponding S-CSCF.

The home subscriber server (HSS) 210 stores all data on the subscriber, and performs functions such as profile management of the user and information management and authority verification for mobility management of the user terminal.

The application server unit (AS) 320 is instant messaging (IM), presence (Presence), Voice Call Continuity (VCC), Push-To-Talk (PTT), Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), Group List (GLMS) A network element that delivers an IP multimedia service including a Management Server (IMS), IMS Centralized Services (ICS), etc. to a subscriber, and includes at least one application server (ie, AS1, AS2, AS3, etc.).

The application servers AS1, AS2, and AS3 according to the present invention do not include a separate diameter protocol stack for accessing the home subscriber server (HSS) 210, unlike a conventional application server. .

Therefore, the IMS network (in particular, the IMS service network) of the present invention further includes a gateway having the configuration as shown in FIG. 2. That is, in order to deliver the packet to the S-CSCF in which the location information of a specific called terminal is stored, the application server 320 should inquire the information of the called subscriber to the HSS 210. At this time, the application server 320 should use the "Diameter" protocol to access the HSS (210). However, since there is no diameter protocol stack in the application server 320, it contacts the HSS 210 via the gateway 300.

 That is, the application server 320 and the gateway 310 use the TCP protocol, and the gateway 310 and the HSS 210 use the "Diameter" protocol. Accordingly, the gateway 310 has a protocol conversion function for converting the TCP protocol into the Diameter protocol or converting the Diameter protocol to the TCP protocol.

Hereinafter, the configuration and function of the gateway device will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 2.

The gateway 310 of the present invention shown in FIG. 2 includes a first interface unit 311, a second interface unit 312, a converter 313, and a mapping table 314.

The first interface unit 311 is a means for managing a connection with a plurality of application servers in order to send and receive a TCP-based message with the application server 320, the second interface 312 is an IMS core It is a means to manage the connection with the HSS to transmit and receive the HSS 210 and Diameter messages of the network.

The conversion unit 313 receives a Diameter message or a TCP message from the first interface unit 311 or the second interface unit 312, parses the message, checks the validity, and then checks the mapping table 314. As a means for converting into a corresponding protocol message by reference, it comprises a parsing module 313a, a verification module 313b, and a mapping module 313c.

The parsing module 313a is a means for parsing a message received from the first interface unit 311 or the second interface unit 312, and the verification module 313b is configured by the parsing module 313a. A means of checking the validity of a parsed message.

The mapping module 313c converts the message protocol by mapping the fields of the first message in the first protocol to the fields of the second message in the second protocol with reference to the mapping table 314. Then, the converted message is transmitted to the corresponding network node.

The mapping table 314 stores data for message mapping according to protocol conversion.

As such, the gateway 310 of the present invention converts the TCP message received from the application server 320 into the Diameter message through the first interface unit 311, and converts the converted diameter message into the second interface unit 312. It passes through the HSS 210 through. Also, the Diameter message received from the HSS 210 through the second interface 312 is converted into a TCP message, and then transmitted to the corresponding application server 320 through the first interface 311.

Therefore, even if a separate protocol stack (ie, Diameter protocol stack) is not provided in the plurality of application servers 320, the interworking between the application server 320 and the HSS 210 is enabled by way of the gateway device of the present invention.

Hereinafter, a process in which the application server (AS) inquires subscriber information from the HSS 210 will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

For example, in order to deliver a packet to an S-CSCF (not shown) in which location information of a specific called terminal is stored, the application server 320 needs to inquire the information of the called subscriber to the HSS 210. In this case, the application server 320 transmits a TCP-based message for requesting user information (UDR) to the first interface unit 311 of the gateway 310 illustrated in FIG. 2 (S110).

The first interface unit 311 transfers the TCP message to the conversion unit 313, and the conversion unit 313 parses the TCP message and performs validity check, and then refers to only the valid message by referring to the mapping table. Map the field to the message field of Diameter (S120).

The converted Diameter message (subscriber information request message) is transmitted to the HSS 210 through the second interface unit 312 (S130).

The HSS 210 generates a subscriber information response message based on the Diameter message (subscriber information request message), and transmits the response message to the second interface unit 312 of the gateway 310 using the Diameter protocol. (S140)

Upon receiving the Diameter message from the HSS 210, the gateway 310 parses and validates the Diameter message, and then maps the message field of Diameter to the message field of the TCP by referring to the mapping table for only valid messages. S150)

The converted TCP message (subscriber information response message) is transmitted to the corresponding application server 320 through the first interface unit 311 (S160).

In addition, referring to FIG. 4, a process of notifying a change of subscriber information to an application server (ASS) through a gateway by a home subscriber server (HSS) will be described.

If the subscriber information of the home subscriber server (HSS) is changed, the home subscriber server (HSS) needs to inform the specific application server (AS) of this change information. In this case, the home subscriber server transmits a diameter message (PUR Diameter Message) requesting the subscriber information change notification to the gateway (S210).

The gateway receiving the " PUR Diameter Message " from the home subscriber server converts the Diameter message into a TCP based message which is a message exchange rule with the application server. That is, the conversion unit 313 of the gateway refers to the mapping table 314 and maps the message field in the Diameter protocol to the message field in the TCP protocol.

The protocol-converted TCP-based "PUR Message" is transmitted to the application server 320 through the first interface 311 of the gateway. (S230) The application server 320 is the TCP-based "PUR Message". After receiving the message ", the gateway sends an ACK message indicating the normal arrival of the message. (S240)

Receiving the ACK message from the application server unit, the gateway generates a Diameter message (PNA Diameter Message) in response to the notification of the subscriber information change, and transmits it to the gateway (S250).

As described above, the present invention describes an example of converting a TCP message into a Diameter message using the gateway 310, but the protocol between the gateway 310 and the application server 320 is not necessarily limited to TCP. That is, the gateway 310 of the present invention converts all protocol messages (first protocol messages) that the application server 320 can use into Diameter messages (second protocol messages) that the HSS 210 can recognize. It is possible.

In addition, in the case of FIG. 3, the message exchanged between the application server 320, the gateway 310, and the HSS 210 describes only an event for a user data request (UDR). Based on the idea and principle of solving the problem, it can be applied to events such as user information update request (PUR: Profile Update Request), user information change request (SNR: Subscribe Notification Request), and user information change notification (PNR: Push Notification Request). Of course.

In the above described with reference to the accompanying drawings, preferred embodiments of the present invention in detail. However, embodiments of the present invention can be variously modified or applied by those skilled in the art, the scope of the technical idea according to the present invention should be determined by the claims to be described later will be.

The following drawings, which are attached to this specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention, and together with the detailed description of the present invention serve to further understand the technical spirit of the present invention, the present invention includes matters described in such drawings. It should not be construed as limited to.

1 is a block diagram of an IP multimedia subsystem according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an internal functional block diagram of a gateway applied to FIG. 1.

3 is a data flow diagram for requesting subscriber information from an application server to a home subscriber server.

4 is a data flow diagram requesting a subscriber information change notification from a home subscriber server to an application server.

5 is a block diagram of an IP multimedia subsystem according to the prior art.

Claims (12)

A gateway device interposed between a home subscriber server (HSS) and an application server (AS) of an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) to mediate data access between an application server and a home subscriber server. First interface means for connecting with the application server to exchange a first protocol message; Second interface means for connecting with the home subscriber server to exchange a second protocol message; Converts the first protocol message received from the first interface means into a second protocol message and transmits it to the second interface means; converts the second protocol message received from the second interface means into a first protocol message; And a protocol converting means for transferring to the first interface means. The method of claim 1, The second protocol message is a gateway device, characterized in that the message based on Diameter. The method of claim 2, And the first protocol message is a TCP-based message. The method of claim 2 or 3, And a mapping table for storing data for message mapping according to protocol conversion. The method of claim 4, wherein the protocol conversion means, A parsing module for parsing the received message; A verification module for checking the validity of the parsed message; And a conversion module for mapping a message field with reference to the mapping table, in order to convert the protocol of the message determined to be valid by the verification module. A method of mediating a message using a gateway device located between an application server of an IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) service network and a home subscriber server of an IMS core network, Receiving a first protocol based message for requesting subscriber information from the application server; Converting the first protocol based message into a second protocol based message; Sending the second protocol based message for the subscriber information request to the home subscriber server; Receiving a second protocol based message for subscriber information response from the home subscriber server; Converting a second protocol based message for the subscriber information response into a first protocol based message; And Transmitting the first protocol based message for subscriber information response to the application server. The method of claim 6, The subscriber information request includes a subscriber information inquiry request, a subscriber information update request, and a subscriber information change request. The method according to claim 6 or 7, And the second protocol based message is a diameter based message. The method of claim 8, And the first protocol based message is a TCP based message. A method of mediating a message using a gateway device located between an application server of an IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) service network and a home subscriber server of an IMS core network, Receiving a first protocol based message for subscriber information change notification from the home subscriber server; Converting the first protocol based message into a second protocol based message; Sending the second protocol based message for subscriber information change notification to the application server; And Generating a first protocol based response message to notify the normal arrival of the second protocol based message and transmitting the first protocol based response message to the home subscriber server. The method of claim 10, The first protocol based message is a message relay method, characterized in that the message based on Diameter. The method of claim 11, And the second protocol based message is a TCP based message.

Images