VoIP Server HW/SW Codesign for Multicore Computing

Abstract: Modern technologies are growing and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology is able to function in heterogeneous networks. VoIP gained wide popularity because it offers cheap calling rates compared to traditional telephone system and the number of VoIP subscribers has increased significantly in recent years. End users need reliable and acceptable call quality in real time communication with best Quality of Service (QoS). Server complexity is increasing to handle all client requests simultaneously and needs huge processing power. VoIP Servers will increase processing power but the engineering tradeoff needs to be considered e.g. increasing hardware will increase hardware complexity, energy consumption, network management, space requirement and overall system complexity. Modern System-on-Chip (SoC) uses multiple core technology to resolve the complexity of hardware computation. With enterprises needing to reduce overall costs while simultaneously improving call setup time, the amalgamation of VoIP with SoC can play a major role in the business market. The proposed VoIP Server model with multiple processing capabilities embedded in it is tailored for multicore hardware to achieve the required result. The model uses SystemC-2.2.0 and TLM-2.0 as a platform and consists of three main modules. TLM is built on top of SystemC in an overlay architectural fashion. SystemC provides a bridge between software and hardware co-design and increases HW & SW productivity, driven by fast concurrent programming in real time. The proposed multicore VoIP Server model implements a round robin algorithm to distribute transactions between cores and clients via Load Balancer. Primary focus of the multicore model is the processing of call setup time delays on a VoIP Server. Experiments were performed using OpenSIP Server to measure Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) messages and call setup time processing delays. Simulations were performed at the KTH Ferlin system and based on the theoretical measurements from the OpenSIP Server experiments. Results of the proposed multicore VoIP Server model shows improvement in the processing of call setup time delays.