Research On Next Generation Network Based On Softswitch Technology

The development of next generation network (NGN) ,which is based on the Softswitch technology and packet-switched technology, has drawn a lot of attention of communication companies. The convergence of PSTN, Cable TV Network and IP network is inevitable and NGN will be a hotspot in the near future. Therefore, the research on NGN and Softswitch technology has become very popular among academe and communication companies.NGN is a network architecture in essence which is different from the previous and the current one. It is a data-centered convergence network architecture in general. The emergence and development of the NGN are based on the evolution of current network architecture. It is expected to provide audio, data, video and multimedia service, and should be an open packet network architecture based on uniform protocols. Softswitch is a function entity. It provides call control and access control of real time service. It is the kernel of NGN's call and control.Many companies have provided the solution of Softswitch and many communication carries have performed many experiments on Softswitch. However, it will take a long time for a new technology to be improved. New communication carries are studying the possibility for the new architecture to provide traditional audio service, while traditional communication carries are thinking about the feasibility for the new architecture to provide new services. Currently main problems are as follows: lack of experience to build a large scale network; lack of compatibility among protocols, the standards are still work in progress; lack of mature product with standard API to provide open platform for new service; uncertainty of the new services; lack of good solution to network QoS and security; commercial model of the Softswitch application is still under consideration.This article provides corresponding solutions of the above problems. The main work is as follows:(1) Analyzing various useable protocols on Softswitch, giving a NGN architecture based on Softswitch.