GL Communications, Inc. MAPS™ Diameter Protocol Emulator PKS139

The Diameter protocol is intended to provide a framework for Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (AAA) applications such as network access, roaming, and IP mobility. The AAA protocols are used to determine whether the user is allowed to connect to the network (Authentication) and use a particular service (Authorization). It is also used to track network resources used by end-user for accurate billing (Accounting). AAA protocols such as TACACS and RADIUS were initially deployed to provide dial-up PPP and terminal server access. Over time, with the growth of the Internet and the introduction of new access technologies, including wireless, DSL, Mobile IP and Ethernet, routers and network access servers (NAS) have increased in complexity and density, putting new demands on AAA protocols. As a result, the Diameter protocol has been chosen as the AAA protocol in all next generation fixed and mobile IP- based networks (IMS, LTE). The Diameter protocol is a considerably more sophisticated protocol for mobility management, policy and charging (online and offline) control. It is designed to support data, services, and applications with extreme flexibility and is expected to replace all legacy protocols such as MAP, LDAP, Radius, and others. LTE Diameter network also includes LCS (LoCation Services) specific elements and entities, their functionalities, interfaces, as well as communication messages, necessary to implement the positioning functionality in a cellular network. LoCation Services (LCS) architecture follows a client/server model with the gateway mobile location centre (GMLC) acting as the server providing information to External LCS Clients. MAPS™ Diameter can simulate S6a, , S13, s13’, Cx/Dx, Gx, Gy,Rx, SLg, SLh and Gy interfaces and LTE IMS network elements such as the MME (Mobility Management Entity), HSS (Home Subscriber Server), AF (Application Function), PCRF (Policy and Charging Rules Function), CSCF (Call Session Control Function), SGSN (Serving GPRS Support Node), PCEF (Policy and Charging Enforcement Function), EIR (Equipment Identity Register), PDN GW (Packet Data Network Gateway), AS (Application Server), CTF (Charging Trigger Function), and OCS (Online Charging System). MAPS™ Diameter is enhanced to simulate Location Service (LCS) based SLh and SLg interfaces between the GMLC <-> HSS and GMLC <->MME defined for the Control Plane as per 3GPP TS 23.271 specifications. The application is available as - MAPS™ Diameter (Item # PKS139) for S6a, S13, S13', Cx/Dx, Gx, Rx, Sh, Gy, SLh, and SLg interfaces Other interfaces such as Rf, Dh, Gq, Zh, Zn, Wa, Wd, Wx, Wm, Wg, Pr will also be supported by the application in near future. The application supports both SCTP (Stream Control Transmission) and TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) transport protocol layers for PSTN signalling messages over IP networks. MAPS™ Diameter also supports TCP/TLS (Transport Layer Security) for the secured information transfer. MAPS™ Diameter Emulator includes powerful utilities like Message Editor, Script Editor, and Profile Editor which allow new scenarios to be created or existing scenarios to be modified using Diameter messages and parameters. "Message sequences" are generated through scripts. "Messages" are created using message templates. These features give the users the unlimited ability to edit messages on supported interfaces to support various procedures listed below. MAPS™ also supports an End-to-End 4G LTE Communications Network Lab with all components to simulate E-UTRAN, EPC (Evolved Packet Core) and IMS, allowing complete testing of the LTE-IMS network. Possible applications include: Simulate up to thousands of Smartphones (UEs) powering up and down Authenticate and confirm security procedures Temporary addressing management for mobility and security Real-time applications of location-based services such as up-to-date information for vehicle tracking, stolen assets tracking, temperature, traffic services, emergency services, etc. GL also provides a GUI based All-IP PacketScan Analyzer for on-line capture and decode of the Diameter signaling in real-time both during tests and as a stand-alone tracer for live systems. Main Features Supports simulation of real-time LTE network using “MAPS 4G Wireless Lab Suite”. Emulator can be configured as MME, HSS, PCRF, PCEF, CSCF, SGSN, PDN GW, EIR, AF, AS, CTF and OCS entities to emulate S6a, S13, S13’, Cx/Dx, Gx, Rx, SLg, SLh, and Gy interfaces. Supports simulation of Location Services (LCS) based SLh and SLg interfaces between the GMLC <-> HSS and GMLC <->MME entities. User-friendly GUI for generating hundreds of UE Signaling (Load Testing) over SCTP/TCP Layers. Support for TCP/TLS for secured information transfer Ready scripts for procedures over interfaces such as - Procedures over S6a interface Location Management, Subscriber Data Handling, Authentication, Fault Recovery, and Notification Procedures over Rx interface AA-Request/Answer, Re-Auth-Request/Answ er, Abort-Session-Reques t/Answer, and Session-Termination- Request/Answer, Subscription to Notification of Signalling Path Status, Access Network Charging Information Notification, Reporting Access Network Information, and Provisioning of AF Signalling Flow Information Procedure over Gx interface IPCAN Session Establishment and Modification Procedure over S13, and S13' interface ME (Mobile Equipment) Identity Check procedure Procedure over Gy interface Immediate Event Charging (IEC), Event Charging with Unit Reservation (ECUR), Session Charging with Unit Reservation (SCUR) CC-Request/Answer, Re-Auth-Request/Answ er Procedures Procedure over SLh, SLg interfaces Location Request/Response Emergency Location Request/Response Repeated Location Report