Voice over LTE

Introduction

• Volte literally stands for "Voice over LTE",which is based on the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network
• The Volte, service enables wireless operators to use the data network to transmit voice services in the same
way they transmit data. In short, it chops up voice calls into packets, just as emails, Facebook messages, and all
other communications over the Internet are "packetized.“
• When it comes to voice support in LTE, the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) is a key technology. IMS provides a
framework for supporting IP based services and requires new IMS-specific network elements as part of the
dedicated core network architecture
• The IMS is an access-independent and standard-based IP connectivity and service control architecture. It
provides the framework for IP-based multimedia services in a mobile network and is an optimum choice to
offer voice over IP services.
 Overview Of IMS

The call session control function( CSCF) are the core component of IMS
• Proxy-CSCF : The P-CSCF is the first point of contact for a user. The p-cscf behaves like a proxy ,i.e it accepts
requests and forwards them on
• Interrogating- CSCF: The I-CSCF is the entry contact within an operator’s network for all connections destined to a
subscriber
• Serving- CSCF : The S-CSCF is responsible for handling the registration process, making routing decisions,
maintaining sessions, and downloading user information and service profile from HSS
• The Home subscriber server is the master database for a user.The HSS contain the subscription related
information required for thr network entities
• The application server (AS) provides specific IP applications
 IMS Protocols

IMS uses a set of internet-based protocols

• The session initiation protocol (SIP) as a text-based protocol for registration, subscription ,notification
and initiation of sessions
• The session Description protocol (RTP) and RTP control protocol (RTCP) for transport of real time
application (eg: audio)
• The Extensible Markup Language (XML) Configuration Access Protocol (XCAP). XCAP allows a client to
read, write and modify application configuration data,stored in XML format on a server. XCAP maps
XML document sub-trees and element attributes to HTTP uniform resource identifiers (URI), so that
these components can be directly accessed by HTTP
• The Dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) for configuring IP addresses
IMS Registration ,authentication and key agreement

• The subscriber must perform IMS registration ,before IMS services like voice or SMS can be obtained
• Registration can be initiated once the UE has established an EPS bearer for IMS signaling and after P-CSCF discovery
has taken Place.
• With registration ,the UE’s IP address can be connected to the user’s public identity as known to other
subscribers.The public user identity is a SIP uniform resource identifier (URI) in the format “sip:username@domain”

• INITIAL IMS REGISTRATION

• The initial registration procedure consists of UE sending an unprotected SIP Register request to the P-CSCF
• The P-CSCF then determines the appropriate I-CSCF of the ue;s home network using the user identity the
subscriber wants to register
• The I-CSCF then contact the HSS.The HSS stores user preferences and settings and check whether user is already
registered or whether user may register in that p-cscf network
• The S-CSCF serves to authenticate the user and acquire the necessary keys from the HSS.via I-CSCF And P-CSCF it
returns an authentication challenge the UE in the form of negative reply 401 unauthorized to the initial SIP
REGISTER request .
• As soon as the UE has correctly responded to this challenge with another SIP REGISTER request ,it has been
successfully registered in ims,which S CSCF confirms by a positive reply
Obtaining voice services via IMS
Description for voice over ims call

• The SIP INVITE request contains an initial SDP information, describing one or more media for a multimedia session.
The P-CSCF forwards the INVITE to the S-CSCF identified during the registration procedure

• The S-CSCF forwards the Offer Response message received from the terminating network to the P-CSCF authorizing
the resources necessary for this session. The P-CSCF forwards the Offer Response message to the originating
endpoint

• The UE confirms the receipt of the Offer Response message, resource reservation is initiated either by the UE. This
Includes the establishment of EPS bearers with the appropriate quality of service

• After receiving the confirmation to the initial offer response message, the terminatingend point responds to the
originating end with an acknowledgement. When theresource reservation is completed, the UE sends the successful
Resource Reservationmessage to the terminating endpoint, via the signalling path established by the
INVITEmessage.

• The destination UE may optionally perform alerting.If so, it signals this to the originating party by a provisional
response indicating Ringing.When the destination party answers, the terminating endpoint sends a SIP 200 OKFinal
response along the signalling path to the originating end
  Procedure for making MO Volte call through DUT

Pre requisite: Volte enabled sim card

Set DUT to Triple Mode LTE preferred AT+XACT=6,2,1

 Set the following configuration
 at+xicfg=0,2,150,2,156,1
150- AUTH_TYPE = 150, a numeric parameter. Authentication type to be used for IMS Authentication. Values permitted are 0(EARLY), 1(DIGEST) and 2(IMS_AKA
).Default is IMS_AKA.
156- IMSAKA_IPSEC_ENABLED, a numeric parameter. Enable IP-Sec for IMS Signalling. Values permitted are 0(False) and 1(true). Valid only if IMS

Authentication is IMS_AKA.Default is TRUE.

 at+xicfg=0,1,253,1
253- SIP_URI_FORMAT, a numeric parameter. The uri format to be used for converting MSISDN numbers into URI's.Supported values are 0(URI_NONE) ,
1(URI_SIP), and2(URI_TEL). Default by IR.92 standard is URI_SIP

 at+xicfg=0,1,258,3
258- SIP_SIGNALING_ERROR_HANDLING, a numeric parameter. Algorithm to be used for the IMS Signaling errors. Supported values are
0(SIP_SIGNALING_ERROR_HANDLING_DEFAULT), 1(SIP_SIGNALING_ERROR_HANDLING_THROTTLING), 2(SIP_SIGNALING_ERROR_HANDLING_RETRY) and
3(SIP_SIGNALING_ERROR_HANDLING_RESELECT). Default is SIP_SIGNALING_ERROR_HANDLING_DEFAULT,
 at+xicfg=0,1,200,"internet“
200- XCAP_APN, a string parameter. APN name to be used for supplementary service
provisioning

 at+xicfg=0,1,201,http://xcap.ims.mnc007.mcc262.pub.3gppnetwork.org:80
201- XCAP_ROOT_URI, a string parameter. Root URI of the XCAP server.

 at+xicfg=0,1,202," utPAssociatedURI“
202- XCAP_AUTH_USER_NAME, a string parameter. User name to be used for HTTP Authentication of XCAP Requests.

 at+xicfg=0,2,256,0,257,1
257- SIP_USE_IETF_SESSION_SETUP, a numeric parameter. use IETF Session setup or not, if set to TRUE IMS would use IETF mode of session
setup i.e without precontions else 3GPP mode of session setup. Supported values are 0(False) and 1(True). Default if FALSE.

 Attach to LTE network.

 Register to IMS NW
 at+xireg=1  
 IMS registration status query
 at+cireg?
 Make a MO call from DUT ,it should successfully make MO call while operating in LTE all time registered to
IMS.
 SRVCC
 

• SRVCC stands for Single Radio Voice Call Continuity. Putting it simple, it is a Handover technology between "VoIP over IMS in
LTE" and Voice Call (CS) in a legacy system (e.g, WCDMA). It means it is for Handover between a Packet call in LTE and a Circuit
Call in a legacy system (WCDMA).

• In the first phase of voice evolution, all native voice calls are handled in the CS network. The LTE (PS data) connection falls back
to the legacy 2G/3G CS voice network connection prior to initiation of a voice call.

• In sharp contrast, a VoLTE call must be transferred from the LTE PS network to the legacy CS voice network while the call is in
progress, while satisfying existing user experience expectations for minimal call interruption and low call drop rates.

• SRVCC—Single Radio Voice Call Continuity—is the solution to this requirement for voice call continuity, and uses a single radio
in the user’s device along with upgrades to the supporting network infrastructure. This solution transfers VoLTE calls in
progress from LTE to legacy voice networks, while meeting the rigorous QoS standards. Additionally, SRVCC—by ensuring voice
call continuity—satisfies critical requirements for emergency calls.
 SRVCC voice handover process
• When a user on an active voice call using VoLTE moves into an area without LTE coverage, the handover of the call
to the CS network is accomplished with two steps: IRAT handover and session transfer. IRAT handover is the
traditional handover of the user’s device from LTE radio access to WCDMA/GSM radio access. Session transfer is a
new mechanism to move access control and voice media anchoring from the LTE Evolved
• During the entire voice handover process from LTE to 2G/3G, the IMS/MMTel retains control of the user.
The handover process is initiated by a session transfer request to the IMS/MMTel.
• The IMS/MMTel responds simultaneously with two commands, one to the LTE network and one to the 2G/3G
network. The LTE network—on which the user’s voice call is in progress—receives an IRAT handover execution
command through the MME and the LTE RAN to the instruct the user’s device to prepare to move to the CS
network for the voice call. The CS network—where the user’s voice call is being sent— receives a session
transfer response, preparing it to accept the call in progress.

• With acknowledgements that the commands have been executed, the user’s device and the IMS/MMTel
—still in control of the user’s voice call in progress—switch to the CS network to continue the call
Following is Information Elements of showing SRVCC supportability in UE Capability Information message.
 Test steps for SRVCC handover to 3G during VoLTE call   
 

 Set DUT to Dual Mode LTE preferred AT+XACT=4,2

 Give AT Command to configure DUT to operate in CS/PS Mode 2 of operations:
 AT+CEMODE=2
 Establish connection from the DUT to IMS NW using Connection Manager.
 Verify whether DUT registered to IMS NW using “at+xireginfo?” AT Command.
 Drive to the drive route start point.
 Initiate a 1st MO VoLTE Call from the DUT to a refrence number.
 Start driving to perform SRVCC down to UMTS from LTE.
 Make sure the VoLTE call is maintained over SRVCC while in UMTS.
 Verify UE reselects to LTE if LTE NW is available.