10.3.2 - An Overview of Features

The following features were added to IMG release 10.3.2:

Controlled Introduction

The following features are in the baseline Controlled Introduction release.

Installation Changes

File Names:

The GCEMS file name convention has changed to include the version number:

IMG_10.x.x.xx.bin (example: IMG_103.2.30.bin)

The IMG User Interface (ClientView, EventView) file name convention has changed to include the version number:

IMGUserInterface_10.x.x.xx.bin (example: IMGUserInterface_10.3.2.20.bin)

Start/Stop GCEMS Scripts:

The scripts to start and stop the GCEMS have been renamed as follows:

StartIMG now named StartGCEMS

StopIMG now named StopGCEMS

ClientView Enhancements

Search Capabilities:

This feature allows you to search text/data within a configuration based on different criteria. Search can be performed in forward or backward direction.  You can search on partial strings (ex. a search on "IM" will find "IMG"). Wildcards are not supported.

See IMG 1010 - ClientView Search Capabilities.

Importing Data Enhancements:

The flexibility and usability of the ClientView data import process has been improved. The Import Manager gives you the ability to define the behavior at certain critical decision points during import: specifically, when duplicate objects or error conditions are encountered.

At the start of the import process, the Import Manager will present choices for how duplicate objects and error conditions are to be handled. The Import Manager will then process the imported file based on these selections.

See IMG 1010 - Importing Route Table Entries .

Monitoring

SNMP:

The IMG supports the following for SNMP:

• Ability to monitor Ethernet, DS1 and DS3 interfaces using industry standards MIBs

• Get and Trap commands (SETs are not be supported)

• Support for industry standard MIBs among common Network Management tools.

See IMG 1010 - Overview of SNMP

MRTG:

The Multi Router Traffic Grapher (MRTG) is a tool to monitor the traffic load on network links. MRTG generates HTML pages containing PNG images which provide a Live visual representation of this traffic.

See IMG 1010 - Overview of MRTG.

H.323

Symmetric NAT Traversal

The IMG now supports Symmetric NAT Traversal for H.323, as well as for SIP.

H323 uses the Symmetric NAT Traversal information internally. No Symmetric NAT Traversal information is shared with other gateways or endpoints.

See IMG 1010 - Symmetric NAT Traversal.

SS7

Forward call Indicators (FCI) Override:

Forward Call Indicators contain information relating to the characteristics of the connection, signaling path and called party sent in the forward direction. This is a mandatory parameter in IAM messages, which is used in countries that offer CUG (closed user group) service. Using the FCI Override pane, you can configure the IMG to send or ignore various indicators.

See IMG 1010 - Configuring SS7 CIC Routing (Configuring FCI Override section) and IMG 1010 - FCI Override pane reference.

COT Test

You can send a Continuity Check request on a CIC or a group of CICs. See the IMG 1010 - Circuit Group pane.

Circuit Query Message

You can send a Circuit Query Message (CQM) on a CIC or a group of CICs. The CIC status will update accordingly if there has been any change. See the IMG 1010 - Circuit Group  pane.

Discard Privacy Info

The options for the Discard Privacy Info field in the IMG 1010 - ISUP Group and  IMG 1010 - ISDN Group panes have been changed. The option selected is removed from the outgoing message.

• Off (default)

• Display Only

• Generic Number Only

• Display and Generic Number

• Calling Party Only

• Display and Calling Number

• Calling, Display and Generic

ISDN

See Discard Privacy Info above.

Routing

IP Traffic Management

IP Traffic Management, also called Call Admission Control, gives you the ability to limit the number of calls going to or coming from a particular gateway.  

See the IMG 1010 - IP Traffic Management pane.

Pre-Call Announcements (Branding)

This feature enables the IMG to play a treatment to an originating number before outbound routing takes place, based on destination number or time of day. An example use would be to inform someone making a long distance call from a hotel room of the service provider. This feature uses the Service Route table, in addition to standard routing tables.

After the pre-call announcement, the call proceeds as normal to the outbound side. If this feature is used, translation table re-run is not performed.

See IMG 1010 - Pre-call Announcements.

Gain Control

This feature allows the configuration of the Input and Output Gain on a per Channel Group basis for TDM and RTP channels. Transformations are allowed from -21 dB to +18 dB in 3 dB increments.  When 0 dB is selected the transformation option is disabled

Clipping - In the case of TDM to TDM calls, the combined Receive and Transmit Gain will be clipped at +18 dB. For example, if channel group A had the Receive gain set to +12 dB and channel group B had its Transmit gain set to +10 dB, and the call was flowing from A to B, one would expect +22 dB of gain. However, the IMG will implement clipping, so the gain on this call would be +18 dB.  It will work the same in the reverse direction as well.

Gain Control is not supported for pre-call announcements, treatments, or ringback.

See the IMG 1010 - Channel Group pane reference.

RADIUS

VSA Name/Numbering

The Dialogic VSAs now use standard text descriptors and have unique VSA numbers so that they can be easily parsed using software. See Cantata RADIUS VSAs.

New VSAs

The following VSAs have been added:

• trans-cause-code (VSA # 53)- Translated Cause Code when translate cause table is used.

• Call-ID (VSA #141)-  Value of the Call-ID header.

• prev-hop-via (VSA # 144)- “Sent-by” portion of topmost via when the request arrived at the proxy.

• prev-hop-ip (VSA # 145)- Previous hop IP address, as seen by the proxy. What would normally be placed in the “received” parameter when the proxy detected that the sender does not agree with the top-most via

• incoming-req-uri (VSA #146)- For inbound Radius mess. both Start & Stop. Access to the value after the RFS on the inbound side)

• outgoing-req-uri (VSA # 147)- For outbound Radius mess.Both Start & Stop Access to the value after outseize of the Invite.

• next-hop-ip (VSA #: 148)- Next-hop IP address where the request is forwarded.

• next-hop-dn (VSA # 149)- The Domain Name (DN) or Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) where the request is forwarded.

• sip-resp-code (VSA #150)- Sip Cause Code before translation to the Q931 value

• sip-attempt-info (VSA # 151)- In case IMG tries the  contacts returned with 3xx, IMG will log to the CDR each attempt.
   

See IMG 1010 - RADIUS - Dialogic VSA's.

RADIUS Server Failure Alarm

The IMG provides automatic alarming notification to IMG users when a Radius Server has changed states and can no longer be accessed. The alarm will include the RADIUS Server Type (Access, Accounting), the Server ID, the mode of the Radius Server (normal, debug), the state of the Radius Server and the IP address.

RADIUS Debug Mode

You can configure your RADIUS Client in Debug Mode so that calls will be completed whether the RADIUS server is active or not. The IMG will not require authentication for the RADIUS server to complete a call and no billing information will be logged if the RADIUS server goes down.

You enable RADIUS Debug Mode using the IMG 1010 - RADIUS Client screen.

Fax

Fallback to Fax Bypass for both H.323 and SIP

The Fax Fallback feature is a backup mechanism to transmit a fax using Fax Bypass mode when T.38 cannot be negotiated successfully. This feature allows you to configure T.38 Fax Relay as the preferred type, and also allow Bypass Fax when T.38 is not supported by the remote end. The added negotiation will therefore reduce the call setup failure rate by increasing the content of the media offer.

In the event where the fallback scenario fails, the IMG is to allow the voice call to proceed, as if no negotiation had happened.

See IMG 1010 - IP Bearer Profile.

Engineering Release 1

The following features have been added to the baseline Controlled Introduction release with Engineering Release 1.

RADIUS for Pre-Paid Applications

This feature was modified in ER2. See above for current implementation.

Engineering Release 2

The following features have been added to the baseline Controlled Introduction release with Engineering Release 2.

G.729 E/G

The G.729E/G codec is a low-bit rate codec that can support greater voice quality than standard G.729, using improved compression algorithms.  

G.729E/G is available in VoIP Resource Profiles 6 and 7. See IMG 1010 - Vocoder Information for details.

You assign vocoders in the IMG 1010 - Vocoder Entry pane

Modifiable RTP Base Port Number

This feature allows you to define the base RTP port value on a per module basis. The port for both VoIP modules can be set to any value in the range 8000-62462 in multiples of 2.

To modify the RTP port range in an existing configuration file, you must delete the VoIP module object under the Facility object and then re-create the object and change the port number.

Benefits:

This feature makes it easier for users with fire walls to insert the IMG into your network, because the RTP port ranges can be configured to fit your guidelines as to what port ranges are left open and what are closed.

You configure the RTP Port Number in the IMG 1010 - VoIP Resource pane.

RADIUS VSA Names

As of 10.3.2 ER2, the word Cantata appears at the beginning of all Cantata VSA names. See IMG 1010 - RADIUS - Dialogic VSA's.

RADIUS for Pre-Paid Applications

The IMG now accepts and acts upon data received in RADIUS Authentication Response messages that the Radius Server may send pertaining to prepaid application. This will allow the IMG1010 to be used in a prepaid application environment.

You enable this feature in the IMG 1010 - RADIUS Client pane.

Note: Radius Prepaid Support Mode will be disabled if Radius Debug Mode is enabled. The two modes cannot be enabled at the same time.

The IMG sends the following VSAs to the RADIUS Server:

Cantata-call-type =

Cantata-voip-dst-sig-ip-in =

Cantata-trunk-grp-in =

and receives the following attributes in return:

Call Duration:

Number of seconds for which the call is authorized.

Call Tracing: Will log the termination [Normal Call Clearing (16)] as a result of the max duration of the call being exceeded

VSA: h323-credit-time (VSA # 102)

New Dialed Number:

Phone number to which the call is redirected; for example, to a toll-free number or a customer service.

Call Tracing: Will log the use of the new Dialed Number, which overrides the Dialed number received in the incoming call.

VSA: h323-redirect-number (VSA # 106)

Engineering Release 4

Local Number Portability (LNP)

This feature allows the IMG to route ported numbers for SIP and SS7.

See IMG 1010 - Local Number Portability (LNP) for details.

Configuration:

You enable or disable LNP Routing in the IMG 1010 - ISUP Group pane.

Routing on Originating IMG

This feature allows you to route based on the originating IMG as well as the Dialed Number.

Benefits:

You can route a call from the same dialed number to different channel groups, depending on the IMG it comes in on.

Configuration:

You enable this feature by selecting an IMG in the Match IMG as Well field in the IMG 1010 - Route Entry  pane.

SIP Based Load Balancing

This feature allows you to distribute SIP traffic between IMGs configured as “SIP Servers” using virtual IP Addresses and a SIP load balancer.

See the following topics for more information:

 IMG 1010 - Overview of SIP

IMG 1010 - Configuring SIP-Based Load Balancing

IMG 1010 - SIP Virtual Address

IMG 1010 - IP Network (Interface)

Engineering Release 5

SIP Reason Header

RFC: 3326

Description:

The Reason Header field for the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is included in BYE, CANCEL, 4XXs, 5XXs, and 6XXs messages to indicate why a SIP request or response was issued. Clients and servers are free to ignore this header field as it has no impact on protocol processing.

Benefits:

This feature is useful for debugging purpose, particularly if there is a call failure in SIP to SS7 traffic.

See IMG 1010 - SIP Reason Header

Add "+" in Translation Table

In the SIP protocol a “+” sign is used to indicate an international number. This feature allows you to append or strip digits based upon the presence or absence of the “+”, as well as how the Nature of Address is set.  

Note: A “+” sign can only be the first digit in a number string.

See IMG 1010 - Translation Entry pane.

SS7 - Suppress UCIC

This feature allows you control the sending of UCIC. By default, UCIC is sent for National calls, and is suppressed for International calls, based on the Network Indicator setting of the SS7 Stack. You can change these setting if required.

See the Suppress UCIC field in the IMG 1010 - SS7 Stack pane.

Engineering Release 6

G.729 AnnexB Selection

The media attribute "Annexb=no" can be sent by the IMG in the SIP SDP when enforcing the use of the G.729a payload type.

The annexb setting is available for G.729 and G.729E payloads.

Note that the media attribute "Annexb=yes" is not sent by the IMG in a SIP SDP, as this value is implied when unspecified in the SDP.

This feature is configured using the IMG 1010 - Vocoder Entry pane.

Setting Local Time

This feature allows you to set the local time zone on a per IMG basis.  All IMG functions that use time will use the local time.

The local time is also used in the Radius attributes that use time:

• setup time

• connect time

• disconnect time

See IMG 1010 - Setting Local Time for more information.

SIP

The following SIP features were added to IMG release 10.3.2:

SIP Profiles

A SIP Profile allows you to easily assign unique features sets to a Physical IMG, or a common set of features to multiple IMGs. You create a SIP Profile and then assign profiles to a gateway in the External Gateway pane. You can also assign a SIP Profile to a SIP Signaling object, which will indicate to another IMG should treat a call going to or coming from the IMG.

See IMG 1010 - SIP Profiles for more information.

SIP Redirect Server Support

This feature allows the IMG to respond to the 3XX class of SIP messages returned from a redirect server.

See IMG 1010 - SIP Redirect Server Support.

SIP Diversion Header

The IMG supports the INVITE Diversion Header (Diversion and CC-Diversion) to support PSTN Redirecting Services (also known as Call Forwarding). The INVITE Diversion header carries information about the redirection. The Diversion header prevents this pertinent SS7 redirection information from being lost in the SS7 to SIP conversion. When SS7 redirection information is received on the incoming side, it is relayed in the Diversion header on the outgoing SIP side

You enable this feature in the IMG 1010 - SIP Profile - 10.5.3 .

See IMG 1010 - SIP Diversion Header.

SIP Re-origination Attempts

The feature allows you to re-originate a call on another gateway to limit the amount of unnecessary bandwidth utilization on your network. By default, if the IMG does not receive a 100 Trying response to an INVITE, it will re-send the INVITE up to 5 times.

By using less re-origination attempts, less SIP messages go out to the network, which in effect reduces the bandwidth used.

Another benefit is the savings in time that the physical resources are allocated for a call that will never complete. By reducing the re-origination attempts, the call attempt will be torn-down sooner and the physical resources associated with the call will be released sooner.

See IMG 1010 - Overview of SIP (Routing/Call Handling section).

SIP Proxy Handling

This feature allows the IMG to interact with SIP Proxy Servers and Session Border Controllers as intermediate routes between domains. The IMG can route SIP traffic to these SIP entities (SIP proxies) and with the knowledge of their final destination (remote SIP UA).

See IMG 1010 - SIP Proxy Handling.

SIP Trunk Group Selection

Use these features if you have a Centralized Routing Model and do not require the IMG to perform routing decisions. These features are enabled or disabled in the IMG 1010 - SIP Profile - 10.5.3 , which can be assigned on a SIP Gateway or SIP Signaling basis.

SIP Info Method for DTMF

This feature allows the use of the INFO method to send a DTMF digit to another gateway.

See IMG 1010 - SIP INFO Method - DTMF.

Non-Standard Tags in From Header

This feature allows you to select multiple non-standard tags to include in the From header. You configure this feature in the IMG 1010 - SIP Profile - 10.5.3 pane.