The vision of the IMS ARCS project is an environment where end-users can be immersed in a world of diverse IP-based media, voice or data services that can be received off any number of network types. The IMS ARCS platform will allow services to be selected and personalised based on the everyday needs of the end-user and on their current context. Every user’s experience of the network and its services will be differentiated by the user’s defined requirements, their past usage and their current context. These services will be supported by the provisioning of both existing and next generation network technology including both scalable and seamless integration of multiple heterogeneous networks, and ad-hoc and sensor networks. This will encourage and empower network and service operators to create new business opportunities and profitable services in an integrated mobile world.

Addressing the possibility that such a wealth of services would prove overwhelming to customers, the services offered as a result of this venture will provide function as well as value to an ever-demanding consumer domain. Facilitating services with both personalisation and context information will help to turn generic service offerings into a unique, tailored experience for each end-user. The nature of the IMS paradigm is to allow end-users to engage with an always available, always on network through multiple devices without location dependency. The acquisition of context and personalisation data will however, be kept completely transparent to the end-users and will present no more complexity than is necessary to interact with the service’s multiple media interface.

IMS ARCS will undertake research and development in the domain of IMS service conceptualisation, creation and validation. The ultimate goal of the activity is to provide an open source foundation for the stakeholder companies within IMS ARCS to use as a platform for building consumer services in live networks and also for adding additional functionality to their network infrastructure. In addition, IMS ARCS will also create an IMS network testbed capable of acting as a centre for IMS compatibility testing, similar to that of FhG Fokus research group in Germany, creating the first of its kind in Ireland and one of few within Europe. To initiate the work programme the IMS ARCS team will work closely with the stakeholder companies to gather a formal list of requirements, a list that will accurately reflect and signal the need for specific component and technology development in the IMS space. These requirements will then be morphed into a roadmap for development and further collaboration with the stakeholders will be conducted as per agreed levels of interaction.

The IMS ARCS work programme has 6 key objectives:

To conduct in-depth market research on the global market and to establish a critical mass of Centrally Administered Market Intelligence. To identify, prototype and develop business models and value propositions for new types of IMS communications services. To develop the IMS ARCS’s IMS service control framework for service creation, aggregation, orchestration, discovery, retirement and delivery. To provide complete user involvement throughout all phases of the programme, from service requirements, to conceptualisation, to trials, and market/consumer behaviour analysis. To work with all participants in the programme to build a recognised Irish centre of commercial and academic excellence in the area of IMS ARCS services. To use the programme as a catalyst for the establishment of the National Centre for IMS ARCS services.

The key factor in achieving all of these objectives will be in achieving the required level of engagement with the participant companies. The early establishment of fruitful working relationships between all members of the consortium is critical to the success of the work programme. The IMS ARCS coordinator has a clear and proven track record in working with companies to achieve such goals.

TSSG is the coordinating partner for this project. It hold the following major roles within the project:

o       Project Manager (Kevin Doolin)

o       Product and Business Manager (Robert Mullins)

o       Technical Coordinator (Jonathan Brazil)

o       Marketing and Dissemination Manager (Fiona Mahon)

o       Test Leader (Phelim Dowling)

 

Additionally, TSSG has a leads each of the work packages of the project:

o       WP1: Requirements, Scenarios, Architecture (Jonathan Brazil)

o       WP2: Business and Market Analysis (Robert Mullins)

o       WP3: Service Component Enabler Development (unassigned)

o       WP4: Service Prototype Development (Fiona Mahon)

o       WP5: Test and Verification (Phelim Dowling)

o       WP6: Dissemination and Exploitation (Fiona Mahon)