TM Forum’s IPsphere Framework specifications are defined for the automated offer, purchase and provisioning of service components between multiple stakeholders.
In addition to architecture and detailed implementation specifications, IPsphere provides a pre-commercial “test bed” for pilot program testing and demonstrations of multi-vendor interoperability.
IP Convergence Through Release 1 Technical Specification
The June 2007 publication of IPsphere Framework’s Release 1 Technical Specification was a major milestone in driving the IPsphere vision of a world of communications services that could transcend geographical and stakeholder boundaries, and deliver on the promise of IP convergence.
The foundation specification outlines the rationale behind the IPsphere Framework mission, and the technical framework functionality required to support this.
Leveraging the strengths of Service Oriented Architectures (SOA), the heart of IPsphere’s universal operational framework is the ability to abstract and compose telecommunications and IT resources into unlimited service possibilities via a standardized messaging structure.
The Release 1 Technical Specification details three key areas:
- Service Abstraction describes the business and technical characteristics of a service and its constituent service elements.
- Service Composition identifies and selects elements that satisfy these technical and business requirements.
- The IPsphere Service Structuring Stratum provides support for structuring, executing and assuring these services.
Figure 1: IPsphere Framework in the Context of Typical Network Provider’s Operating Environment
Publication of the Release 1 Technical specification was endorsed by a significant statement of support from the IPsphere Framework Service Provider Council. This validation of the real demand for IPsphere capabilities shows the very serious intentions of network operators worldwide.
Mobile and Fixed/Mobile Convergence
The Session Services and Resources Management (SSRM) Framework
This specification is now due to go into final ballot and extends the operation of IPsphere into mobile and fixed/mobile convergence.
The SSRM Specification is a crucial step forward, as it describes the way that session-based services such as telephony and Video-on-Demand interact with IPsphere-controlled resources.
Figure 2: Provisioning of resources for session-based services
IPsphere enables service providers to create end-to-end, pan-provider services with guaranteed QoS and will, therefore, play an important role in the creation of such competitive solutions.
The SSRM document provides a high-level framework that identifies functional elements, including the IPsphere itself and external network elements, and the role they play in session management and resource-control.