Acme Packet® has defined the role of session border controllers within the next-generation, converged fixed-mobile IMS architecture defined by 3GPP and extended by ETSI TISPAN. Within this architecture, session border controllers provide service providers with critical support for real-time interactive IP-based voice, video and multimedia sessions in five areas - security, service reach maximization, SLA assurance, revenue and profit protection, and regulatory and law enforcement.

Within the extended IMS architecture, two different types of session border controllers integrating signaling and media control play very important roles. The Access Session Border Controller satisfies the requirements at the border where subscribers access the IMS core. Itincorporates two functional elements from the IMS architecture - the Proxy-Call Session Control Function and the Access Border Gateway Function. The Interconnect Session Border Controller addresses the requirements at the boundary where different service provider networks interconnect or “peer.” It incorporates three functional elements from the architecture - the Interconnect Border Control Function, Interworking Function and Interconnect Border Gateway Function. Both session border controllers support external interfaces to policy servers for admission control as defined by the IMS Policy Decision Function and the ETSI Resource and Admission Control Subsystem. Both of these session border controller product definitions tightly integrate signaling and media control in a single platform.