N20-20021118-xx

3GPP2
TSG-N
TITLE:
MMD: Additional P-CSCF discovery method for IMS
SOURCE:
Thomas Towle
Lucent Technologies
1960 Lucent Ln. Naperville, IL 60566

Tel : +1 630 979 7303

Fax : +1 630 713 1921
Email : ttowle@lucent.com

ABSTRACT
An additional P-CSCF discovery mechanism is necessary to support home proxy discovery in early
deployments of the IMS where roamed to networks may not support IMS capabilities.
RECOMMENDATION:
Discuss and adopt the proposed text for inclusion in N.P0024.2

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This document has been prepared by Lucent Technologies to assist the development of specifications by 3GPP2. It is
proposed to the Committee as a basis for discussion and is not to be construed as a binding proposal on Lucent
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Discussion
It can be expected that early deployments of the MMD will be done one at a time as
upgrades to existing systems rather than a flash cut across all networks. This method of
deployment will result in a some systems where MMD services will be supported and
some systems where these capabilities are not supported.
As a MMD subscriber roams from his/her home network it is desireable that they can
obtain as much of their home network experience as possible. With this in mind, we
should minimize the dependency on the visited network for the provision of IMS services
in early deployments.
One area where this is currently a problem for 3GPP2 systems (but not for 3GPP
systems) is in the ability to have the P-CSCF located in the home network. Since 3GPP
networks support the location of the GGSN in a home network it is easy to discover a
P-CSCF in the home network as well. For 3GPP2 systems, the only mechanism currently
provided is the DHCP based discovery mechanism, which can only find a P-CSCF in the
same network as the PDSN.
If this current view is not changed, the roaming IMS customer will not be able to obtain
any IMS services while roaming unless the roamed-to network has upgraded to IMS
capabilities (note that this applies even if the roamed to network is owned by the home
operator but is distant from the home area of the subscriber).
This contribution proposes to add an additional P-CSCF discovery mechanism that will
work to find a P-CSCF in the home network without additional capabilities being
deployed in the visited network. It is proposed that we allow for terminals that can be
configured to know their home domain and the name of a P-CSCF in that domain.
Discovery can then be based on a simple DNS lookup.

Proposed Changes
5.1.1

Procedures related to local CSCF discovery

The Proxy-CSCF discovery shall be performedafter GPRS attach and after or as part of a
successful activation of a PDP context for IMS signalling using one of the following
mechanisms:
1. Use of DHCP to provide the UE with the domain name of a Proxy-CSCF and the address of a
Domain Name Server (DNS) that is capable of resolving the Proxy-CSCF name, as described below
in clause 5.1.1.1.
2.

2.
Transfer of a Proxy-CSCF address within the PDP Context Activation signalling to the
UE, as described below in clause 5.1.1.2.to the UE may be supported by the specific ITS bearer
activation procedures, as described in [xx]. The UE shall request the P-CSCF address(es) from the
GGSN when activating the PDP context. The GGSNCN-POA . The CN-POA shall send the PCSCF address(es) to theUE when accepting the PDP context activation. Both the P-CSCF
address(es) request and the P-CSCF address(es) shall be sent transparently through the SGSN.UE.

3.

The UE may be configured to know the fully qualified domain name of the P-CSCF or its IP
address. This mechanism is most applicable for use with a P-CSCF in the Home operators
network. If the domain name is known, DNS resolution is used to obtain the IP address.