Definition:
According to one end user, "The primary function of the SBC is to serve, basically, as a SIP aware NATing Firewall." Session Controllers or SBC are access devices operating at Layer 5 - Session Layer, where as routers operate at Layer 3 Network. Some of the key SC functions are: - Secure network peering - private and public to enhance performance - Topology hiding - using various types of inter-AS-Autonomous System features as well as separating media (voice) and hide signaling (IP addresses) data streams (traffic) - Border call routing - routing at AS level rather than with interior protocols - Interoperability - access/restrict to reduce voice spam - QoS & Call Admission Control - load/jitter correction - Billing systems interoperability - reduce billing errors