• Next Generation Application Server – The application server provides a fully redundant and scalable execution environment for running SS8’s advanced application software. Multiple servers can be configured in a system depending on the capacity and redundancy needs of the application, combining to operate as a single integrated system.
• Media Server – The media server provides network connectivity for the platform and performs real-time IVR services for the applications. It supports both TDM and IP networks on a common hardware platform. T1, E1, and RTP connectivity is supported independently or simultaneously on a single media server. Applications can communicate with the media server using either industry standard VoiceXML protocol or an easy-to use SS8-developed protocol optimized for IVR and call control applications, allowing easy integration of third party applications. Multiple media servers can be deployed in a single platform allowing scalability from the very low end up to thousands of ports. The media server can record and play audio files in many formats and supports bi-directional ports and configurable hunt sequences for optimal use of media server resources.
• Call Control Gateway – The call control gateway provides platform support for SS7, SIP, and SMDI signaling protocols. The call control gateways allow an entire SC3100 platform to appear as a single network entity and provide full redundancy, ensuring that the system will continue to function correctly even in the event of processor failures. A wide variety of protocol variants are supported for SIP, SS7, and SMDI, providing easy integration with virtually any switches. Telcordia tested, the SC3100 SS7 implementation complies with the ANSI ISUP, TCAP, and MTP standards. A variety of MWI protocols are supported including the SIP SUBSCRIBE/NOTIFY protocol, industry standard TCAP and SMDI GR-866 protocols, and several other switch proprietary protocols.
• Database Server – The database server operates a standard SQL database that is used to store user account records, meta-data for subscriber messages, and call detail records. The data is stored on the RAID5 network attached storage (NAS) unit ensuring that the data is safe and secure. The database server is fully integrated with the management systems in the platform and does not require system operators to have any expertise in data base administration.
• Directory Server – Using the industry-standard LDAP protocol, this server stores information for unified communications, inter-system messaging via VPIM, and web access  to the platform. The directory server is highly scalable, offering multiple deployment options to meet carriers’ needs.   A master-slave architecture can be deployed where a directory server master can replicate data to many slaves. And a distributed directory server architecture can be  deployed with subscribers allocated across many directory servers. The SC3100 directory server can be shared with the SS8 Broadband Services 2.1 Platform, enabling easy integration and simultaneous support of the two platforms in the network.
• VPIM/Unified Communications Portal Gateway – The VPIM/Unified Communications Portal gateway provides the necessary transcoding capabilities for integrating the SC3100 with external voice messaging systems and e mail servers. Mail users can message subscribers on other VPIM compliant voice messaging platforms, allowing integration of the SC3100 with other vendors’ messaging solutions. In addition, the VPIM/UCP gateway allows the SC3100 to integrate with an external e-mail store. The UCP gateway sends voice messages to the subscriber’s chosen e-mail account as attachments to an e-mail message. The platform can be configured to automatically synchronize the subscriber’s e-mail server via IMAP4 if desired, ensuring that once a message is played or deleted in the e-mail server, that the corresponding changes are reflected on the SC3100. The UCP gateway supports a variety of different audio formats including 64kbps wav, mp3, and a highly compressed audio format developed by SS8.
• Native IMAP Server – This protocol allows e-mail clients to access the platform using a standard inter face, giving end users the ability to access voice messages just as they would e-mail messages. Use of the native IMAP inter face allows carriers a simple and cost-effective means of providing online access to the messaging capabilities of the SC3100.
• OMAP Server – The OMAP server provides a unified console interface for configuration and provisioning of the platform. It provides support for software installation and backup/restore functions. The OMAP server consolidates the SNMP traps on the system and is integrated with the alarm card on the platform to provide remote access via an integrated modem connection.
• Application Programming Interface Sets – The SC3100 UCP has two application programming interface (API) sets for provisioning operations on the platform. The C++ API set is optimized for integration with a carrier’s automated provisioning system, providing full capabilities for creation of accounts and COS management. It is supported on both Solaris and Windows platforms. The Java API is designed for use in development of web applications running in any standard Java Virtual Machine, allowing carriers to develop highly customized web inter faces for the platform.
• SS8 My I-Suite – Web Access – SS8 provides a fully functioning web inter face to the SC3100 as part of its Personalization module. Users can access their accounts for changing preferences, uploading new greetings, listening to their voice messages, and changing call routing preferences. The web access package is supported on the Tomcat, IBM Web Sphere, and BEA Weblogic web servers. It is highly customizable, utilizing Java, and allows the carrier to easily change the look and feel to meet their needs.
  

SC3100 UCP in the Network

The SC3100 unified communications platform offers significant network application flexibility for service providers. It connects to PSTN, mobile, or packet-switched networks through standard inter faces. The modular architecture separates the components of the SC3100 but shares their functionality across multiple applications via a high-speed IP Ethernet backbone.

The SC3100 UCP is designed to work most effectively within a network architecture comprised of distinct, well-defined layers communicating through standard protocols. Such an architecture offers numerous benefits to service providers:

• An access-independent service layer that can support a wide range of services and applications such as unified communications and conferencing
• Capital expenditure savings through the efficient sharing of network resources and the utilization of existing modules for newly deployed services
• Operational savings through the sharing of provisioned subscriber data and the avoidance of costly data duplication and associated errors
• Freedom from reliance on any one vendor for applications and services that drive new revenue
• The ability to control the distribution of resources on the network to minimize operational costs associated with administration, sparing, and support

Hardware Architecture

Built on a Compact PCI chassis with an H.110 bus, the SC3100 UCP is entirely standards-based and has been designed to meet the unique requirements of a Telco POP. The entire platform has been NEBS and TUV certified. The SC3100 revolutionizes the efficiency of expansion, thanks to its decoupled and redundant functional subsystems designed to provide independent, scalable growth. Using separate functional modules, the SC3100 maximizes availability and localizes faults. Also, the SC3100 UCP avoids expensive, error-prone duplication of data from shared modules. These factors add up to increased efficiency and manageability.

• Chassis – The PICMG-compliant chassis includes the standard functions of cPCI, including redundancy, clustering, hot swap capability, and fail-over. Alarm indicators are available on the chassis and individual cards. Minimizing cabling requirements, the chassis supports the new PICMG 2.16 standard. This allows dual gigabit Ethernet links to be routed across the backplane, allowing all of the CPU and line cards in the platform to communicate over IP through the backplane. IP cabling is only required for interconnects between the chassis and uplinks to the carrier’s network.
• NAS Unit – Operating as an NFS server, the NAS unit hosts all dynamic data. Communicating through Ethernet connections, it can scale to more than a terabyte of storage. Operating independently, the NAS unit provides more reliable, available, and scalable storage to network applications. Data is stored using RAID5 technology, ensuring the optimum in reliability and performance for data access.
• Alarm Card – On the large SC3100 platform, the PICMG 2.9-compliant alarm card monitors the temperature in several zones of the chassis, the fans, and the power levels for all voltages used in the system. This monitoring allows SNMP traps to be generated for these hardware conditions along with visual indications in the form of LEDS on the front the chassis. The alarm card also provides closed-contact relays that can be used for connecting to a remote alarm panel. Finally, the alarm card includes a built-in modem for remote connection via dial-up.

The SC3100 Unified Communications Platform Hardware and Software Architecture

More Info

• SC3100 Data Sheet
• SC3100 Technical Brief
• Why SS8 for UC