A telecommunications web services platform for third party network access and SOA-based service delivery

摘要

This paper describes a case study in the use of a network gatekeeper we developed to enable a telecommunications Services-Oriented Architecture for the purposes of exposing a service provider network to third parties. Service provider revenue growth will inevitably be software-centric, with the move to software-based systems in the Next Generation Network. Web Services and SOA are quickly becoming a critical component of software middleware to address this need. Initially proven in the IT enterprise space, service providers are adopting SOA and Web Services. For example, at the edge of their networks, service providers are adopting Telecom Web Services for third party access. In the core of their networks, they are adopting IMS Application Server-hosted services. In this paper, we discuss the specific requirements and architectural aspects for both scenarios and point to the applicable trends that impact this domain. We illustrate how Web Services and SOA serve as the foundation for reliable services that can be built more efficiently than with traditional approaches without compromising reliability and manageability.