Case Study | Access Gateway Deployment

Introduction

Continuous Computing recently demonstrated the power of combining its first-rate Trillium protocol software solutions with its Trillium Professional Services capabilities in a signaling functionality for a customer's advanced media gateway platform. Known as an Access Gateway, the Customer's product provides network operators with an optimal platform for evolving the public switched telephone network (PSTN) to the Next Generation Network (NGN). Capable of handling several thousand channels from a single hub, the Access Gateway provides demonstrable bottom-line benefits to network operators, including:

Lower operating and maintenance costs: remote configuration, control, and monitoring minimizes costly visits to end user sites and central offices
Lower replacement costs: circuit, cell, and packet-based traffic is consolidated in a single platform
Lower core transmission costs: consolidation of core transport delivers more efficient use of core network links

As part of a complex multi-vendor effort, Continuous Computing built an H.248 control plane application for the Access Gateway and provided key on-site integration services and testing, enabling the Customer to make the transition from hardware supplier to solutions provider, thereby enhancing its future business prospects.

Business Challenges, Technology Solutions

Network operators face a significant cost challenge as combined revenues from legacy and new services are predicted to fall below the operational cost of running the legacy PSTN network. In order to achieve the necessary reductions in support and maintenance costs, the access network solutions provided by operators must facilitate the phase-out of aging infrastructure. At the same time, legacy services must continue to be supported as new services are introduced, requiring a consolidated access infrastructure. The Customer's Access Gateway, highlighted in this case study, is designed to address the challenge of evolving from the old network architecture to the new-generation structure.

The Customer, a major broadband access equipment manufacturer based in Europe, secured the opportunity to develop an Access Gateway for a U.K.-based network operator. The Access Gateway solution incorporates the Customer's third-generation digital subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM) technology, which supports DSL and Ethernet from a single, scalable, modular solution. However, the Customer lacked the control plane and session expertise necessary to incorporate signaling functionality into the Access Gateway. After completing a proof of concept demonstration to validate the development of an Access Gateway, the Customer found deficiencies in their product offering and began looking for partners to create a more comprehensive Access Gateway (Figure 1). The Customer selected Continuous Computing for its industry-leading Trillium control plane solution expertise. While other companies could offer solutions but not the requisite services, or vice versa, only Continuous Computing could offer both solutions and services cost-effectively, combining its proven Trillium Fault-Tolerant / High Availability (FT/HA) protocol stacks with its experienced Trillium Professional Services team.

As the clear choice for the Customer's Access Gateway project, Continuous Computing's mission was to develop an H.248 control plane application. Facing formidable challenges caused by the project's scale, complexity, and aggressive timeframe, a dedicated team of experienced Continuous Computing engineers developed and delivered the Access Gateway Signaling Functionality (AGSF) in four phases over the required time period, enabling the Customer to meet the operator's demanding deployment schedule. For the operator, time-to-market, the management of rapidly evolving broadband requirements, and the fast-track migration of legacy services were tangible and immediate measures of success. Specifically, Continuous Computing aided the Customer's time-to-market and provided:

A conventional H.248 protocol stack along with the H.248 control plane application
Fault-tolerance / high availability for the H.248, ISDN-PRA, and ISDN-BA protocol
Interface support and signaling conversion for ISDN-PRA, ISDN-BA, V5.x, DASS2, DPNSS, and SS7 ports along with POTS
An option of using SCTP as transport for H.248
Capability to access C7 ports
A stack / layer manager, which easily integrated with the Customer's proprietary SNMP management system

The Trillium Professional Services Team successfully developed and implemented these deliverables utilizing its unique, unparalleled skill-set and positive "can-do" attitude.

Access Gateway Diagram

Figure 1: Media gateway functionality is incorporated with standards-based external control interfaces, providing an ideal platform for PSTN evolution to the NGN.

Customer Collaboration

As one of several vendors involved in development of the Customer's Access Gateway, Continuous Computing worked collaboratively with the Customer to refine and re-define deliverables to ensure cross-vendor interoperability and seamless integration. At numerous project intervals in response to the Customer's changing requirements, Continuous Computing added new features, made enhancements, and incorporated upgrades into the AGSF. As a result of the company's ability to adapt quickly and deploy more resources when needed to meet a new requirement, Continuous Computing completed the AGSF on time and in accordance with the project specifications.

Dedicated On-Site Support

As the Customer approached critical deadlines in its roll-out schedule, Continuous Computing sent a team of Trillium Professional Services engineers to the Customer's site in the U.K. to provide on-site system integration services and stability testing of the Access Gateway. Continuous Computing's highly-skilled team operated as an extension of the Customer's in-house resources, thereby expediting solution delivery and reducing project risk. Working seamlessly with the Customer's project engineers and with their own colleagues based in Bangalore and San Diego, the Continuous Computing team provided 24/7 support and coverage to the Customer's product verification group as well as target builds for the operator, allowing the Customer to outsource customization and optimization to Trillium Professional Services while focusing in-house resources on other top priorities.

Continuous Computing also provided vital project management services, designating a full-time technical manager and a program manager to coordinate efforts and facilitate timely resolution of issues. The Access Gateway project is currently in its initial deployment stage, and Continuous Computing provides ongoing dedicated engineering services to the Customer, developing new features and signaling conversion while aligning with evolving standards.

Success with Continuous Computing

As a result of Continuous Computing's significant contributions to the Access Gateway project, the Customer has secured its position with the network operator, evolving from a mere hardware supplier to a true solutions provider with less risk of displacement and greater revenue potential. Moreover, with the ability to offer its Access Gateway to other network operators, the Customer is well-positioned for an array of attractive business opportunities worldwide. For its part, the network operator enjoys robust and reliable signaling functionality and its roll-out plans are on track. Soon businesses and consumers served by the operator will enjoy a full range of advanced NGN services.