- Service Broker
- Advantages of using Service Broker vs Total Migration from In to IMS
- Provisioning via fixed/mobile brands «service profile» in Service Broker
- Architecture of SDP / Service Broker
Service Broker
We know that a Service broker is a service abstraction layer between the network and application layer in a telecom environment. SB( Service Broker ) can enable us to make use of existing applications and services from Intelligent Network’s SCP ( Service Control Point ), IMS’s Application Server as well as other sources in a harmonized manner.
Service brokers allow operators to selectively trigger and run multiple services on a single network. SB’s can manage the signalling interactions between the services in a centralised middleware layer, which sits between the network and the services layer. Example: The OpenCloud Service Interaction SLEE (SIS) provides service brokering and service interaction functionality for SS7 and IMS networks.

The service provider can combine the services from various sources written in various languages in numerous permutations and combinations. This saves the time, energy and reworks required to launch new services.
I have written a couple of posts before on Service Broker. Description of What is Service Broker, its definitions and application can be found below. This also defines service orchestration and harmonization.
https://telecom.altanai.com/2013/03/19/service-broker/
Another post on Service Borker’s role and functions which mentions the service brokering role in network environment. But ofcourse it was a mere introduction. The following post clarifies the concept in greater light.
https://telecom.altanai.com/2013/08/07/service-broker-2/
Advantages of using Service Broker vs Total Migration from In to IMS
I believe and it truly is a wonderful thing to make use of Service Broker while network migration from IN to IMS.The following architecture model depict the placement of Service Broker component in IN and IMS integrated environment .

The figure above portrays how a service provider acts as a central Node for Services invocation and services composition. SB is responsible for Services Orchestration / Interaction , service development, third party integration and acts like a protocol gateway .
Let us discuss service broker in a full fleshed network’s structure . It includes the access network components and detailed core network components with the name of interfaces between all nodes.

The Applications as described by the above figure could be majorly of 4 types :
1. applications developed on a SIP application Server and invoked via SIP/ ISC
2. Applications developed over SIP servlets or JAINSLEE platform such as mobicents , Opencloud Rhino etc
3. Application developed on a SCP ( Service Control Point ) of a IN ( Intelligent Network ) . This is invoked via INAP CS1/CS1+ or CAP
4. Application developed on a J2EE server Invocated via http REST API like GSMA OneAPI such as
- Call Control API for voice
- Messaging API for SMS, MMS
- localisation API
Provisioning via fixed/mobile brands «service profile» in Service Broker
Service Broker interfaces the core NGN ( next-generation networks ) and Core IMs ( IP multimedia subsystems ) via IN and SIP respectively. It is responsible to provide unform services to both endpoints such as-
subscription options
change/removal/ query options
data subscription / modification / removal / Interrogation

Architecture of SDP / Service Broker


OTT ( Over the Top ) Communication applications
Market trends are not in favour of Telecom Service /providers with increasing use of OTT ( Over The Top ) applications like WhatsApp, Facebook messenger, Google hangouts, skype, Viber, etc. OTT applications are often blamed to take a stake in voice traffic revenue by using IP calls where the telco could’ve charged based on its … Continue reading OTT ( Over the Top ) Communication applications
Service Creation Environment (SCE ) for SIP Applications
Develop a SCE ( Service Creation Environment ) to addresses all aspects of lifecycle of a Service, right from creation/development, orchestration, execution/delivery, Assurance and Migration/Upgrade of services.
Service Harmonization between generations of telecom
I shall be editing this post to discuss more on the process of Service Harmonization to save the Telecom Service Provider the trouble of rewriting call logic with every telecom generation evolution ie IN to SIP to Web based WebRTC phones. Service Harmonization The Service Harmonization Layer does the job of holding all new and … Continue reading Service Harmonization between generations of telecom