SIP Test Phone for Soft Switch Voice Quality Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In soft switch architectures, connecting test phones and I/O devices to servers for payload data testing is challenging due to the split architecture, where servers handle call control and media gateways handle payload data, requiring extra hardware, and existing solutions like mobile phones or remote test phones have limitations such as dependence on radio network performance and limited capabilities.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a test phone using SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) that integrates with Media Gateway Control Function (MGCF) for interworking between SIP and ISUP/BICC signaling networks, allowing for flexible testing without additional hardware, supporting various bearer services, and enabling automatic test cases through SIP application servers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a mobile phone is used as a test phone, then the test phone can be used without fixed location constraints, but the voice quality is limited to the voice quality of the mobile network and the test capabilities are restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The test phone is designed to support multiple protocols (SIP, PRA, H.323) and multiple test modes (circuit-switched, packet-switched, IP-based) within a single device, enabling it to function both as a mobile test tool and as a fixed network test instrument, thereby achieving universal compatibility without sacrificing voice quality or test capabilities
2Adaptability or versatility
If a test phone is placed in a remote exchange, then the test phone can access remote resources, but it is not possible to request certain resources to be used within a test call and the test phone relies on remote control availability
Solution Approach 1:
The test phone functionality is segmented into modular components that can be independently configured and controlled. The test phone can request specific resources (instrument box, I/O device, measurement equipment) to be allocated to its test calls, and can operate independently without relying on remote control availability, as each component can be controlled locally or remotely as needed
3Productivity
If the exchange is split into servers and media gateways in soft switch architecture, then call handling and payload data are separated, but it becomes impossible to connect test phones and I/O devices to servers for payload data testing without extra hardware
Solution Approach 1:
The test phone acts as an intermediary device that can connect to both the server (for call control) and the media gateway (for payload data testing) simultaneously. It supports multiple protocols and can establish dual connections, thereby bridging the gap between the separated server and media gateway components without requiring additional hardware interfaces
4Reliability
If PRA signaling is supported towards the test phone, then traditional test functionality is maintained, but in soft switch architecture extra hardware is needed on servers to support payload data connections
Solution Approach 1:
The test phone is designed with multi-protocol support (SIP, PRA, H.323) and multi-mode operation (circuit-switched, packet-switched, IP-based), enabling it to maintain traditional PRA-based test functionality while simultaneously supporting modern soft switch architecture without requiring extra hardware on servers
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a test phone whereby the test phone comprises means to communicate to a server, means to generate SIP signaling towards the server, whereby the test phone by means for SIP signaling may request the server to set-up a test call using specific resources for routing said test call.