Signaling

Lecture 6

Signaling
SIGNALING can be defined as the exchange of information specifically concerned with the establishment and control of connections and the transfer of user-to-user and management information in a telecommunication network.

SIGNALING is broken down in three functional areas: Supervisory Address Call progress: audible-visual

Supervisory Signaling
Supervisory signaling provides information on line or circuit condition. On- & Off-hook status of subscriber implies to start & stop billing, establishment and release of voice channel, status of line busy or idle

Address Signaling
Address signaling directs and routes a telephone call to the called subscriber. It originates as dialed digits or activated pushbuttons from a calling subscriber. The local switch accepts these digits and, by using the information contained in the digits, directs the call to the called subscriber. Address signaling between switches is called interregister signaling.

Call Progress: Audible-Visual

This type of signaling is categorized in forward direction and backward direction. In the forward direction, it is utilized to alert the called party that there is a telephone call waiting. This is often done by ringing a telephones bell. A buzzer, chime, or light may also be used for alerting.

Call Progress: Audible-Visual

The backward direction includes audible tones or voice announcements that will inform the calling subscriber the following: 1. Ringback. This tells the calling subscriber that the distant telephone is ringing. 2. Busyback. This tells the calling subscriber that the called line is busy. 3. ATBAll Trunks Busy. There is congestion on the routing. Sometimes a recorded voice announcement is used here. 4. Loud Warble on Telephone InstrumentTimeout. This occurs when a telephone instrument has been left offhook unintentionally.

Another signaling breakdown is Subscriber signaling Inter-switch (inter-register) signaling Intra-switch (register) signaling

Signaling information can be transmitted by means such as

Duration of pulses (pulse duration bears a specific meaning) Combination of pulses Frequency of signal Combination of frequencies Presence or absence of a signal Binary code For dc systems, the direction and/or level of transmitted current

Pulse Dialing

Signaling Tones

Signaling
Signaling In-channel Common Channel

DC

Associated

Low frequency

Non-associated

Voice frequency

Inband

Outband

PCM

Signaling

Channel Associated Signaling

Common Channel Signaling

Inband VF signaling
In-band signaling refers to signaling systems using an audio tone, or tones, inside the conventional voice channel to convey signaling information. Single Frequency (SF) 2600 Hz Two-Frequency (2VF) 2400 & 2600 Hz These signaling systems used one or two tones in the 2000- to 3000-Hz portion of the band, where less speech energy is concentrated.

SF signaling (inband)

10

Drawback of Inband signaling

A major problem with in-band signaling is the possibility of talk-down, which refers to the premature activation or deactivation of supervisory equipment by an inadvertent sequence of voice tones through the normal use of the channel. Such tones could simulate the SF tone, forcing a channel dropout (i.e., the supervisory equipment would return the channel to the idle state).

Chances of simulating a 2VF tone set are much less likely. It becomes apparent why some administrations and telephone companies have turned to the use of 2VF supervision, or out-of-band signaling.

11

Outband Signaling
The major advantage of out-of-band signaling is that continuous supervision is provided, whether tone on or tone off, during the entire telephone conversation or may be used when idle. Talk-down cannot occur because all supervisory information is passed out of band, away from the speech-information portion of the channel. The preferred CCITT out-of-band frequency is 3825 Hz, whereas 3700 Hz is commonly used in the United States.

SF signaling (outband)

12

Compared to in-band signaling, out-of-band signaling provides:

1. Faster call setup times (compared to in-band signaling using multi-frequency (MF) signaling tones) 2. More efficient use of voice circuits 3. Support for Intelligent Network (IN) services, which require signaling to network elements without voice trunks (e.g., database systems) 4. Improved control over fraudulent network usage

Drawback(outband sign.)
In the long run, the signaling equipment required may indeed make out-of-band signaling even more costly because of the extra supervisory signaling equipment and signaling lead extensions required at each end, and at each time that the carrier (FDM) equipment demodulates to voice.

13

International Standard
CCITT #7 or ITU-T 7 CCS standard CCS7 SS7 Signaling System #7

Quasi-associated signaling
This type of signaling employs a minimal number of nodes, thus minimizing delays. Quasi-associated signaling is the preferred signaling mode for SS7.

14

 Common Channel Signaling System No. 7 (CCS7 or SS7) is a global standard for telecommunications defined by ITU-T. The standard defines the procedures and protocol by which network elements in the public switched telephone network (PSTN) exchange information over a digital signaling network to effect wireless (cellular) and wireline call setup, routing and control.

The SS7 network and protocol are used for: 1. Basic call setup, management and tear down 2. Local number portability (LNP) 3. Toll-free and toll wireline services 4. Enhanced call features such as call forwarding, calling party name/number display and three-way calling 5. Efficient and secure worldwide telecommunications

15

 SS7 messages are exchanged between network elements over 56 or 64 kilobit per second (kbps) bidirectional channels called signaling links. Signaling occurs out-of-band on dedicated channels rather than in-band on voice channels.

Signaling Points
Each signaling point in the SS7 network is uniquely identified by a numeric point code. Point codes are carried in signaling messages exchanged between signaling points to identify the source and destination of each message. Each signaling point uses a routing table to select the appropriate signaling path for each message.

16

There are three kinds of signaling points in the SS7 network: 1. SSP (Service Switching Point) 2. STP (Signal Transfer Point) 3. SCP (Service Control Point)

SS7 architecture

17

SSP
SSPs are the telephone switches (end offices and tandems) equipped with SS7capable software and terminating signaling links. SSPs are switches that originate, terminate or tandem calls. An SSP sends signaling messages to other SSPs to setup, manage and release voice circuits required to complete a call.

STP
STPs are the packet switches of the SS7 network. They receive and route incoming signaling messages toward the proper destination. They also perform specialized routing functions. An STP can also act as a "firewall" to screen SS7 messages exchanged with other networks.

18

SCP
SCPs are the databases that provide information necessary for advanced call processing capabilities.

SCPs and STPs are usually deployed in mated pair configurations in separate physical locations to ensure network-wide service in the event of an isolated failure. Links between signaling points are also provisioned in pairs. Traffic is shared across all links in the linkset. If one of the links fails, the signaling traffic is rerouted over another link in the linkset. The SS7 protocol provides both error correction and retransmission capabilities to allow continued service in the event of signaling point or link failures.

19

SS7 Signaling Link Types

A
An "A" (access) link connects a signaling end point (e.g., an SCP or SSP) to an STP. Only messages originating from or destined to the signaling end point are transmitted on an "A" link.

20

B
A "B" (bridge) link connects one STP to another. Typically, a quad (set of four links) of "B" links interconnect peer (or primary) STPs (e.g., the STPs from one network to the STPs of another network).

C
A "C" (cross) link connects STPs performing identical functions into a mated pair. A "C" link is used only when an STP has no other route available to a destination signaling point due to link failure(s). Note that SCPs may also be deployed in pairs to improve reliability; unlike STPs however, mated SCPs are not interconnected by signaling links.

21

D
A "D" (diagonal) link connects a secondary (e.g., local or regional) STP pair to a primary (e.g., inter-network gateway) STP pair in a quad-link configuration. The distinction between a "B" link and a "D" link is rather arbitrary. For this reason, such links may be referred to as "B/D" links.

E
An "E" (extended) link connects an SSP to an alternate STP. "E" links provide an alternate signaling path if an SSPs "home" STP cannot be reached via an "A" link. "E" links are not usually provisioned unless the benefit of a marginally higher degree of reliability justifies the added expense.

22

F
An "F" (fully associated) link connects two signaling end points (i.e., SSPs and SCPs). "F links are not usually used in networks with STPs. In networks without STPs, "F" links directly connect signaling points.

23