Application Servers turn out to be a highly important element for application provisioning nowadays as well as for upcoming next generation networks. Most of existing application servers do not meet the demanding and sophisticated requirements of telecommunication networks, e.g. concerning performance, support for mobile applications and multiple pluggable protocols, as today's products are designed for low or medium scaled services for the Internet world. 

The results of this study are highly important to the shareholders and members of Eurescom, because a carrier-grade application server, that meets a broad set of telecommunication-specific requirements, is not yet available on the market, but is highly required to create, deploy and operate applications in next generation networks in an efficient cost-effective manner. Projects using the component technology (which will be based on application servers) are just starting on larger scale.

What are the main objectives of this Project?

The forming question for this Study is: Will it be possible to realize a modular carrier-grade Telecommunication Application Sever by means of plug-and-play components covered by existing products?

The main objective of this Study is to provide answers to the following questions:

• Establish necessary terminology for the definition of a telecommunications application server

• What are the requirements by telecommunications industry on an application server?

• Which standards and solutions are available in the market to realize this vision?

• What are the main components that comprise a Telco application server? Develop a reference architecture of a telecommunications application server.

• Which is the borderline between competitive vs. non-competitive components?

• Where are the areas the Telco industry has to invest in concerted efforts to complement the system with not existing blocks? Conduct a maturity analysis of existing solutions.

• Where is the border between non-competitive and competitive features?

What are the key results for this Project?

• The provision of a generic modular Telco reference architecture for one of the most crucial elements in next generation networks (kernel and additive part) in order to built a low-priced non-competition solution by use of generic components

• Giving the prerequisites for fast and cheap service provisioning in a variety of networks on a next generation service platform (NGSP) by using state-of-the-art component technologies

• The use of all other advantages related to the generic structure: independence from vendors, shorter innovation cycles, better support and higher feasibility

• The possibility to tailor an application server solution to the specific needs of a dedicated network by a flexible component system

• The forming of the basis for the development of collaborative projects in order to implement the proposed architecture as a part of a NGSP

What relationship exists to other organisations or bodies?

As source of information serve the OMG, 3GPP, W3C, all Java related Commnities and Fora. More organisations and fora are considered as needed.

Project Results