Unified Media Function for Low-Latency IMS Call Processing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) network architecture suffers from multi-hop media forwarding, resource waste, limited media processing capabilities, and media collisions, which hinder the provision of low-latency services like extended reality (XR).
Innovation Solution
Introduce a unified media function (UMF) network element that integrates media processing capabilities across the IMS network, reducing media detours and delays by providing rich media processing functions and decoupling media negotiation from signaling, thereby supporting low-latency services.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the IMS half-call model is used with separate media processing network elements for calling and called sides, then media processing capabilities are provided, but multi-hop media forwarding occurs causing increased transmission delay and resource waste
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the media processing network elements of the calling side and called side into a single shared media processing network element. This unified element handles media processing for both parties, eliminating the need for separate elements and the resulting multi-hop forwarding path, thereby reducing transmission delay while maintaining full media processing capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The shared media processing network element is designed to perform multiple functions - it processes media for both the calling party and the called party simultaneously. This multi-functional design allows a single element to replace what previously required two separate elements, reducing the media path hops while maintaining comprehensive media processing support for both sides of the call.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple media processing network elements are used to provide comprehensive media processing capabilities, then diverse media services are supported, but media detours occur increasing processing delay
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple media processing network elements into a single shared element that can handle diverse media processing tasks. By consolidating these functions in one element positioned optimally in the network, the patent maintains comprehensive media processing versatility while eliminating detours that would occur when media passes through multiple separate elements, thus reducing service processing delay.
3Ease of operation
If separate IMS-AGW elements are allocated for calling and called sides in the IMS half-call model, then call processing is simplified, but resource waste occurs due to duplicate media contexts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the IMS-AGW elements of the calling and called sides into a single shared IMS-AGW. This unified element maintains separate logical contexts for both parties but physically consolidates the media processing resources, eliminating duplicate hardware resources while preserving the simplified half-call processing model. This reduces resource waste from duplicate media contexts while keeping call processing straightforward.
Solution Approach 2:
While merging the physical IMS-AGW elements, the patent segments the logical media contexts to maintain separate processing paths for calling and called sides. This segmentation allows each side to have its own media context and processing logic, preserving the simplicity of the half-call model, while the physical consolidation eliminates resource duplication and waste.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Embodiments of this application provide a call processing method and apparatus, and a system. The call processing method is based on an IMS network architecture and is performed by a newly added unified media function network element. The unified media function network element provides a media access capability by using an access side, to reduce a media detour, reduce a media service transmission delay, and facilitate supporting a requirement of a delay-sensitive service, for example, an extended reality XR, for the IMS network architecture. In addition, a UMF transfers a URL to a control network element in an IMS trusted domain by extending an IMS signaling procedure, to implement media resource sharing between a calling side and a called side in an IMS half-call model. A plurality of control network elements may control a session media processing context of a same UMF network element. When a calling party and a called party are accessed by using a same physical UMF, logically, only one UMF is needed, and only one media forwarding is needed. In addition, media resources are saved.