Kapsch CarrierCom has successfully executed the first Functional Addressing call utilizing SIP signaling based on the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) in its Vienna lab. The Functional Addressing Service (also called ‘Follow Me’) represents one of the key operational features in railway communication networks and enables the calling party to reach a ‘function’ or role, for example the ‘train driver’, rather than dialing the explicit directory number for the relevant user equipment. The achievement combines softphone based user equipment, IMS capabilities and the service logic hosted within the SCP5 application server. Kapsch’s brand new SCP5 (Service Control Point Release 5) is a convergent Service Delivery Platform (SDP) and enables service centralization, functional transparency against the underlying network architecture and a smooth transition between current networks and the future Full-IP System. With SCP5 Kapsch is launching its second Next Generation product. It is using standard COTS (Commercial off-the-shelf)* hardware and is fully enabled for virtualization, allowing also the flexible and cost-efficient deployment in railway data centers.
Overall the system used for the demonstration of functional calls is aligned with the concepts discussed in the ETSI TC RT working group NG2R and the vision outlined in the user requirements and system architecture defined by the UIC project, Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS). It acts as a building block for the additional activities planned within the European SHIFT²RAIL project. The aimed transition of the GSM-R (Global System for Mobile Communications – Railway) core systems to IP-based systems, also reflected in Kapsch’s Next Generation Strategy, offers a number of benefits. It is primarily targeted to be radio technology independent and offers multi-bearer support. Furthermore, it will increase reliability and availability, improve safety and reduce costs. Within the next years, European railway operators will start to migrate to IP-infrastructure by adopting new technologies and prepare for the migration towards the future railway communication system.
Accelerating the development of new technologies for railways
“The successful execution of the first call is an outcome of the fruitful collaboration among the experts of Kapsch CarrierCom’s nine R&D sites. We have set a strong focus on research for the evolution of Kapsch’s railway portfolio, and challenged ourselves to provide a convergent solution for today and tomorrow,” says Jochen Nowotny, Vice President Product Line Management and Research & Development at Kapsch CarrierCom. ”With our approach we are combining IT and telecommunication excellence for the benefit of our customers.”
In December 2015, Kapsch became associated member of SHIFT²RAIL and undertook the responsibility of carrying out the analysis, specification and implementation of a prototype for a future communication system emergency call under the Innovation Programme 2 (IP2). The joint European initiative is designed to seek market-driven solutions to enhance the capacity of the European rail system, bringing forward the reliability of next-generation products and solutions while reducing their life cycle costs.
The implementation of SCP5 will also be part of the recently won tender of the Luxembourgian railway to design a countrywide railway communication network based on GSM-R. The project is currently in realization and will cover 271 track kilometers in Luxembourg.
At the InnoTrans 2016 to take place in Berlin from September 20-23, Kapsch will present additional demos of its innovative achievements towards the future of IP-based railway communication, including the SIP-based Functional Addressing functionality executed in the Vienna lab.
Original source: Kapsch
