Voice over LTE (VoLTE) is a technology for providing existing voice and SMS services over LTE which does not have a circuit-switched domain. It is implemented using IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), which is a standard 3GPP technology for IP-based multimedia services. One of the key requirements of the Roaming Architecture for Voice over LTE with Local Breakout (RAVEL) as described in 3GPP TS 23.228, 3GPP TS 24.229, and as proposed in 3GPP TR 23.850, is that the Interconnection Border Control Function (IBCF) supports Optimal Media Routing (OMR) procedures and allows bypassing the Transition Gateways (TrGWs).
The 3GPP TS 29.079 describes the procedures for optimizing the media path for call within IP Multimedia Subsystem. The purpose of OMR is to identify and remove unnecessary media functions from the media path for each media stream associated with a session. The OMR procedures identify and name the IP address realm used for each media path segment among UAs and TrGWs. An IP realm name is associated with each set of IP endpoints that are mutually reachable through IP routing and without address translation. Endpoints in different IP realms usually require allocation of a TrGW between those IP realms for connectivity and possibly for NAT.
Prior to OMR procedures, the
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supported direct media between endpoints residing in the same media zone. With the implementation of OMR procedures, the Unable to show "metadata-from": No such page "_space_variables"
is enhanced to perform media path optimization even when direct media is not possible between end points by allowing intermediate nodes to be bypassed for media anchoring. Unable to show "metadata-from": No such page "_space_variables"
supports OMR procedures in IBCF and P-CSCF roles.The
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supports secondary realm if it is present in the OMR SDP attributes. It does not add secondary-realm while forwarding SDP offer.
When the endpoints in different IP realms are mutually reachable without allocation of a TrGW, then OMR procedures may use provisioned information about such connected IP realms to determine possible optimal media paths through these connected realms. An
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can be bypassed if:
- No transcoding is required
- Protection of a network resource is unnecessary
- When multiple
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s are present, the successive Unable to show "metadata-from": No such page "_space_variables"
in a path is reachable by the previous Unable to show "metadata-from": No such page "_space_variables"
on the same path through a common IP realm.
The OMR procedure is applied before sending out the offer and re-evaluated based on the answer received in 18x. The re-evaluation of OMR procedure during answer processing is based on certain conditions:
Four possible outcomes exist when applying OMR procedures:
The OMR procedures are based on ingress and egress trunk group realms, the realm received in the SDP OMR attributes and the codec policy.
The
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remains in the path (local policy) and disables OMR when any of the following features are active:
- Multiple M-Lines in SDP
- Video Only Call
- LRBT
- Two Stage Calls
For the following features, "bypass no local MR, and bypass previous MR" is attempted, with no visited-realm sent in egress INVITE.
- Lawful Intercept
- SIP Rec
- Trans-code Only
- ATCF Call
For ATCF calls, the local
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always stays in the media path and can only try OMR procedure to bypass the previous MR.
OMR Bypass Rules
Four possible bypass rules (outcomes) exist when applying OMR procedures as shown in the table below:
In general, codecs received in main SDP should survive NRMA's intersection with both route PSPs (augmentation also if applicable).
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Bypass Current and Previous Node | Objective: Bypass local media routing (SBC), and bypass previous media routing (SBC) Preconditions: - Egress Realm is present in OMR VR (except in last VR Instance)
- At least one codec in corresponding OMR PSP is present/allowed by egress Route PSP.
Note: |
Bypass Previous Node Only | Objective: Bypass NO local media routing, and bypass previous media routing Preconditions: - Ingress Realm is present in OMR VR (except in last VR Instance)
- Codecs in corresponding OMR PSP survives the NRMA's intersection with both route PSPs (augmentation also if applicable)
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Bypass Current Node Only | Objective: Bypass local media routing, and bypass NO previous media routing – same as the current DM feature that Unable to show "metadata-from": No such page "_space_variables" supportsPreconditions: - Both Ingress and Egress Realms are identical (or configured connected realms are matching)
- Maximum VR Instance also matches the realms
- At least one codec in corresponding OMR PSP is present/allowed by egress Route PSP.
NOTE: - Codec attributes (DTMF, ptime, SS) are considered only if “transcode conditional” for that attribute is enabled.
- Codec attributes are matched for all codec entries present in egress route PSP. For the ones that are not present in egress route, SBC’s behavior is *don’t care* - i.e., neither the basic codec nor their attributes are taken in to account for this rule.
- During rule re-evaluation based on answer in 18x, Codec attributes are considered even if "transcode conditional" is enabled.
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Bypass Current Node Only | Objective: Bypass NO local media routing, and bypass NO previous media routing – same as normal call without OMR Preconditions: - c=0.0.0.0 is received in OFFER
- At least one codec in corresponding OMR PSP is present/allowed by egress Route PSP.
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Support for Insertion and Transparency of TRF Attribute as per RAVEL Architecture
The
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supports Transit and Roaming Function (TRF) and applies TRF procedures defined for a looped back RAVEL call. The TRF procedures include the following:
- The
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as PCSCF uses Roaming Agreement from Router Controller Bundle (RCB). If UE is identified as roaming, the Roaming Agreements flag Support RAVEL
, is accessed from RCB.
- The
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as PCSCF adds configured preferred URIs using the following objects.
Preferred_TRF_URI
in IPSP in the PSX. If the incoming request is identified as roaming (calling Party), the Unable to show "metadata-from": No such page "_space_variables"
adds "Feature-Caps" header with configured TRF-URI in "+g.3gpp.trf" parameter value.Preferred_MRB_URI
in IPSP in the PSX. If the incoming request is identified as roaming (calling Party), the Unable to show "metadata-from": No such page "_space_variables"
adds "Feature-Caps" header with configured MRB-URI in "+g.3gpp.mrb" parameter value.
The
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as IBCF adds configured preferred URIs using the following objects.Preferred_TRF_URI
in IPSP in the PSX. If the incoming request is identified as roaming (calling Party) and call is originating, the Unable to show "metadata-from": No such page "_space_variables"
adds "Feature-Caps" header with configured TRF-URI in "+g.3gpp.trf" parameter value. If the received request already contains a "+g.3gpp.trf" parameter field in "Feature-Caps" header, the Unable to show "metadata-from": No such page "_space_variables"
does not overwrite the header field value with the configured Preferred_TRF_URI
value.Preferred_MRB_URI
of type "string" in IPSP in the PSX. If the incoming request is identified as roaming (calling Party) and call is originating, the Unable to show "metadata-from": No such page "_space_variables"
adds "Feature-Caps" header with configured MRB-URI in "+g.3gpp.trf" parameter value. If the received request already contains a "+g.3gpp.mrb" parameter field in Feature-Caps header, the Unable to show "metadata-from": No such page "_space_variables"
does not overwrite the header field value with the configured Preferred_MRB_URI
value.
- The
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as IBCF/TRF identifies TRF role and Mark Looped-back call. If the SIP INVITE contains "Feature-Caps" header field “+g.3gpp.loopback”, the call is marked as a looped back call. If the top route header points to self, the Unable to show "metadata-from": No such page "_space_variables"
considers itself as the TRF. As part of TRF Processing, the Unable to show "metadata-from": No such page "_space_variables"
performs:
- The
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as IBCF/TRF supports to remove loopback from "Feature-Caps". Unable to show "metadata-from": No such page "_space_variables"
removes “+g.3gpp.loopback" when copying "Feature-Caps" header to egress. - The
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as IBCF/TRF supports to handle IOI-Parameter (Inter-Operator-ID) in P-Charging Vector.
- The
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stores any orig-IOI parameter received in P-Charging-Vector header. - The
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uses a type-2 orig-IOI parameter in the P-Charging-Vector header of egress request, which identifies the network that SBC (TRF) belongs to (IOI Configured in Ingress SG). - The
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stores the term-IOI in P-Charging-Vector and uses a type-2 term-IOI, which identifies the TRF’s network in the P-Charging-Vector header of the response generated for corresponding 1xx/2xx responses received. - The
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removes any transit-IOI parameter from P-Charging-Vector sent in egress request.
- The
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as IBCF to add TRF. SBC checks if "+g.3gpp.trf=<trf_uri>" exists in "Feature-Caps" header. if not, the Unable to show "metadata-from": No such page "_space_variables"
supports to send bottom "Route Header" in PSX Query to fetch Roaming Agreement. If Roaming Agreement is present and TRF-URI/MRB_URI
is configured in egress IPSP (in PSX), SBC is supported to send "+g.3gpp.trf=<trf_uri>"/"+g.3gpp.mrb=<mrb_uri>" in "Feature-Caps" header.
Simplified Loop-back Ravel Call Flow with TRF