Service management enhancements to IMS architecture

Originally defined by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) as part of its standardization work for 3G mobile phone systems, the IMS model has been adopted as a baseline technology for network and service convergence by network (wireless, wireline and cable), service and content operators. Dealing with the same business actors, the ENTHRONE project (FP6‐IP‐507637) builds an MPEG‐21‐based service management system that enables distribution of audio‐visual content with dynamic end‐to‐end QoS guarantees over heterogeneous networks to various types of terminal devices. This system controls the access of users to the content and supervises the delivery of the content to ensure the level of QoS. The paper examines how the IMS model could be extended to include service management features offered by the ENTHRONE management system. These features could constitute a potential vehicle for the IMS entrance to the audio‐visual market chain. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.