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Signaling System #7

What PSTN needs

Challenges facing circuit switched networks


Rapid convergence of voice and data
Growth of VoD, especially VoIP
Critical needs of PSTN
High volume
Next generation network (NGN) service support

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SS#7 signaling meets these needs

Efficiency
Out-of-band links at 64 Kbps
Shorter information transfer time
Ability to fall back to the originating end of the call (e.g., busy)
Service enabling
Free phone (0-800) services
Automatic call back & calling number delivery
Automatic calling card services
Wireless services such as roaming
Network reliability
Carries extensive network management messages
Network architecture
Security

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SS#7 definition

Common channel signaling system number 7


(SS#7)
Out-of-band signaling system
Facilitates exchange of call control information
between network switching offices
Voice and non-voice services

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SS#7 basics

Voice and signaling are separated


Control messages (packets) are routed through
the network for call management
Network elements are connected via signaling
links
Each element capable of SS#7 control
messages, is called a signaling point (SP)
All SPs in an SS7 network are identified by a
unique code known as point code (PC)

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SS#7 networks

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SS#7 signaling points (1)

Service switching point (SSP)


Capable of controlling voice circuits via a voice switch
The switch can originate, terminate, or tandem calls
An SSP sends signaling messages to other SSPs to
set up, manage, and release voice circuits required to
complete a call
An SSP can also send a query message to a
centralized database (SCP) to determine how to route
a call (e.g., toll free 1-800 number)

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SS#7 signaling points (2)

Signaling transfer point (STP)


Routes each incoming message to an outgoing
signaling link, based on routing information contained
in the SS#7 message and a pre-defined route table
Does not offer termination services
STPs are paired to ensure redundancy

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SS#7 signaling points (3)

Service control point (SCP)


Provides access to databases
Accepts a query for information from a subsystem at
another node
Used by STP to perform a function called global title
translation
The database may not reside in the same location as
the SCP

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Common channel signaling (1)

2 separate signaling links


using 2 time slots

Switch Switch
SP SP

E1 31 voice channels
using 31 time slots

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Common channel signaling (2)

1 signaling link and 30


voice channels

Switch Switch
SP SP

E1 31 voice channels
using 31 time slots

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Signaling network terms

Voice trunks
Signaling Links

SP SP SP

STP
Associate Mode Quasi-Associate Mode

Associate mode: signaling links follow the same path as


the voice trunks
Quasi-associate mode: signaling links follows a different
route than the voice trunks

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Quad configurations

STP STP
1 2

STP STP
3 4

STP networks employ quad configuration


Geographic diversification
Increase link capacity, especially in densely populated
areas
Redundancy
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Link types (1)

MTPs SSP

Link access (A links)


Provide network access for signaling end points or
SSPs

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Link types (2)

SSP

Bridge links (B links)


Connect a local STP pair to another STP pair in the
network, in order to reach remote SSP
For redundancy reasons, the connection creates quad
configuration
The distinction between B and D links is arbitrary

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Link types (3)

SSP

Cross links (C links)


For redundancy, STPs are paired
Cross links connect STPs performing identical
functions
Links connect the pair and allow messages to “cross
over” from one to the other

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Link types (4)

Diagonal links (D links)


Sometimes SSPs needs to communicate with numerous
locations
Some STP pairs in the network only route messages from one
local network to another
Links from local STP pairs to STPs on a different level are called
D links
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Link types (5)

SSP
SSP

Extended links (E links)


In addition to the local STP pair connection, signaling
end points have an additional set of redundant links to
a redundant STP pair
In most of the cases, the STP pair is not so “local”
The links extend network access for the signaling end
point

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Link types (6)

Fully associate links (F links)


In several SS7 networks, nodes (signaling end points)
provide additional, special data processing to other
nodes in the same network
Direct connection links between nodes in the same
network are defined as fully associate links

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SS#7 link type summary (1)

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SS#7 link type summary (2)
Connects signaling end point (SCP or SSP) to STP A link (access)

Connects an STP to another STP; typically, a quad B link (bridge)


of B links interconnect peer (or primary) STPs
(STPs from a network connect to STPs of another
network)
Connects STPs performing identical functions, C link (cross)
forming a mated pair (for greater reliability)

Connects a secondary (local or regional) STP pair D link (diagonal)


to a primary (inter-network gateway) STP pair in a
quad-link configuration; the distinction between B
and D links is arbitrary
Connects an SSP to an alternate STP E link
(extended)
Connects two signaling end points (SSPs and F link
SCPs) in the same local network (fully
associated)
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SS#7 protocol stack

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MTP

Message transfer part:


Reliably transfers messages over links or
linksets
For correct routing, the signaling point needs the
signaling point code (SPC) of the node at the
end of its links
Receives the SPC by destination point code
(DPC) in the messages it routes
Needs information about other locations in the
network, to select the best link set for routing the
message to its destination
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MTP level 1 (physical)

Defines physical, electrical hardware


Deals with physical issues at the level of links,
interface cards and multiplexors
Defined for E1, DS1, V.35 and DS0A

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MTP level 2 (date link)

Ensures accurate end-to-end transmission of a


message across a signaling link
Implements flow control, message sequence
validation, error checking and message
retransmission
Monitor links and reports their status
Places links in service; restores service links that
were taken out of service
Test links before allowing their use
Provides sequence numbers for outgoing
messages

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Message types (1)

Message signal layer (MSU)


Contains a service information field that carries data
Related to ISUP and TCAP applications
Includes SIO field
• Sub service field (SSF): national and international networks
• Service indicator (SI): associates a message with the upper
layer, e.g., ISDN
• Message priorities (0 - 3) used in ANSI only

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Message types (2)

Link status signaling units (LSSU)


Inform the far end of changes in status
Message length can be 1 or 2 bytes
Fill in signal units (FISU)
Fill the gaps between MSU and LSSU messages
Sent only when the buffer is empty, to keep the
signaling link active

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MTP level 3 (network)

Message routing between signaling points in the


SS7 network
Signaling network management that provides
traffic, links and routing management, as well as
congestion (flow) control
Re-routes traffic away from failed links and
signaling points; controls traffic when congestion
occurs

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Linksets

Groups of links that connect two adjacent nodes


Ensure traffic load sharing
Combined linksets between STPs ensures load sharing
Consist of up to 16 links in ANSI protocol and up to 8 in
ITU protocol
Signaling link code (SLC) is uniquely assigned to each link

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Routes

Virtual path that a message takes to a


destination node
Comprised of one or more linksets

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MTP level 3 management services (1)

MTP level 3 provides signaling link selection


(SLS)
Rotates in each session
A mechanism to assign traffic to a link in the linkset
Results in load sharing of the links in the linkset
SLC rotation stops for duration of message transfer

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MTP level 3 management services (2)

MTP restart
Before returning to the network, a node can send
TRW (traffic restart wait) to an adjacent node,
indicating not to send traffic
When restarting, if the node is satisfied that enough
links are available, it is sends a TRA (traffic restart
allowed)
Optional signaling link test message (SLTM) and
signaling test acknowledge (SLTA)
Exchanged when a link is in service; ensures
agreement on signaling link code

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SCCP

Signaling connection control part:


Provides connectionless and connection-
oriented network services
Provides global title translation (GTT)
capabilities above MTP level 3; translates
numbers to DPCs and subsystem numbers
Provides more detailed addressing information
than MTPs
Used as transport layer for TCAP-based
services

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TCAP

Transaction capabilities applications part:


Exchange of non-circuit related data
Between applications across the SS#7 network
Using the SCCP connectionless service
Queries and responses sent between SSPs and
SCPs
Sends and receives database information
Credit card validation
Routing information

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TUP

Telephone user part:


Basic call setup and tear down
Analog circuits only
In many countries, ISUP has replaced TUP for
call management

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ISUP

ISDN user part:


Necessary messaging for setup and tear down
of all circuits (voice and digital)
Messages follow the paths of voice circuits
Messages are sent from a switch, to the switch
where the next circuit connection is required
Call circuits are identified using circuit
identification code (CIC)
Must be compatible on both sides
Followed by each ISUP message

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ISUP messages (1)

Initial address message (IAM): contains all


necessary information for a switch to establish a
connection
Address complete message (ACM):
acknowledge to IAM; the required circuit is
reserved and the “phone is ringing” (ringback
tone)
Answer message (ANM): occurs when the called
party picks up the phone

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ISUP messages (2)

Release (REL): sent by the switch sensing that


the phone hung up
Release complete (RLC): each exchange that
receives REL, sends an RLC message back
(this acknowledges receipt of REL)

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ISUP normal call scenario

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General SS7  VoIP conversion

SG
Voice Stream
Signaling SIP Server
STP ISUP/MTP
ISUP/IP
SIP

SIP
MGC
IP
network
SS7 MGCP SIP
MG SIP Client
DSS 1

E1/T1 RTP

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RADCOM’s
Signaling System #7
call generator
SS7 QPro (1)

Simulates Service Switch Point (SSP)


Connects to
Service Switch Points (SSPs)
Signaling Transfer Points (STPs)
Signaling gateways + Media Gateway

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SS7 QPro (2)

Initiates and terminates ISUP voice calls


Measures voice quality and loads SS7 network
Hides SS7 complexity with intuitive GUI
Mandatory for signaling GW/soft switch testing

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SS7 QPro (3)

Supports up to 8 E1/T1 voice ports + 2 signaling


only ports per server
Provides 4 / 16 SS#7 links per server
Enables the user to distribute SS#7 links in all
existing E1/T1 trunks
ISUP variants: ITU, ITUWHITE, ITUBLUE,
ITU97, ETSIV2, ETSIV3, Q767, ANSI88,
ANSI92, ANSI95 and JNTT
Timer control: MTP layer 2, MTP layer 3 and
ISUP

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SS7 QPro (4)

If you need a modern and state of the art SS#7


call generator, the SS#7 Qpro is the tool for
you.
It has the most comprehensive and advanced
features list.
The Qpro is the only SS#7 call generator that
can also test call voice quality using PESQ,
PAMS and PSQM algorithms.

For more details: www.radcom.com

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