The IP Multimedia SubSystem (IMS) provides rich multimedia services across both next-generation packet-switched and traditional circuit-switched networks for services and applications; it also enables telcos, mobile operators, and other service providers. The subsystem is standards-based and uses open interfaces and functional components that can be assembled flexibly into hardware and software systems to support real-time interactive services and applications.

IBM Simulators for IP Multimedia Subsystem can be used for developing, testing, and demonstrating simple IMS applications and proofs-of-concept (POC) of specific IMS architecture components. These simulators provide an easy way for users to simulate and test the IMS components without any complex set-up of IMS servers or architecture configuration.

How does it work?

This technology can be configured to support following components:

• Home Subscriber Server (HSS)
• HSS Shell Notify Server Simulator
• HSS Shell client Simulator
• Group List XCAP Client
• Group List Sub/Notify Catcher
• Group List Server (GLS)
• Presence Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Client
• Presence Server Simulator
• Charging Collector Function (CCF) Client Simulator
• Charging Service and Registrar (location-based service)
• Call Session Control Function (CSCF)

IBM Simulators for IP Multimedia Subsystem provide a subset of these IMS components' functionality that is required for testing IMS services. These stand-alone simulators can be integrated to create a psuedo-IMS architecture. HSS and CCF simulators are based on Web service; but GLS, Presence, and Registrar are SIP message-based simulators. The simulators are intended for simple testing and message validation and are not designed for load or performance testing. Users can easily perform message-based validation and preliminary testing of simple applications that use one or more of these components.

Can Paul Boyacigiller is a senior managing consultant (senior IT architect) for IBM® Software Group Services for WebSphere (ISSW). He is responsible for service deliverables surrounding the Tier 1 Telecommunications Service Providers. Mr. Boyacigiller has over 15 years of experience in telephony voice solutions within both enterprise and service provider environments.

Kalayana C. Nookala has over 11 years of IT experience. Since joining IBM India Software Labs in 2003, he has been working in the areas of grid computing, EAI, SOA, and interactive voice response (IVR) systems, as well as building IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) demonstrations and simulators.

Harish B. Nanjundappa, a senior software engineer with IBM Software Labs, India, currently works for the industrial solutions team in the communication sector. He contributed to the design and development of WebSphere® Everyplace® Client Toolkit and Websphere Everyplace Deployment.

Manohar K. Chintala, a staff software engineer at India Software Labs, India, was involved in testing all IMS simulators and providing feedback to the developers. Mr. Chintala contributed to Java L3 support, testing of WebSphere Message Broker, WebSphere Embedded Messaging, WebServices client for C/C++, and IMS services.

Dedi Hirschfeld is a senior software developer at IBM's Israel software lab. He belongs to the WebSphere SIP Infrastructure core team that is developing the SIP container component from WebSphere Application Server.

Assya Azrieli is a senior software developer at IBM's Israel software lab. She belongs to the WebSphere SIP Infrastructure core team that is developing the SIP Container component from WebSphere Application Server.

Shewta Dhingra is a staff software engineer at IBM Software Labs, India; her expertise lies in J2EE and Java® technology.