Technical Manual Signalling System

M900/M1800 MSC/SSP/IP 3 R2 Signalling System

3 R2 Signalling System
R2 signalling - Channel Associated Signalling (CAS), which transmits various signalling
via the trunk circuits seized by this call proceeding during proceeding process.
According to functions, R2 signalling can be classified into line signalling and register
signalling. Line signalling is mainly used to monitor the seizure, release and block
status of trunk lines. It comprises forward signalling and backward signalling.
Register signalling is mainly used to control the automatic connection of circuits. To
ensure high transmission speed and protection against interference, register signalling
adopts the multi-frequency compelled mode.

3.1 Line Signalling

Line signalling is of two types i.e. analog and digital. Line signalling of the PCM system
adopts the digital mode. Identification signals of 30 channel PCM digital line signalling
are sent as multi-frame via TS16. In both transmission directions of each channel, 4 bit
codes (a, b, c and d) can be used for identification signalling coding. System R2 line
signalling uses two signalling channels in each direction of transmission per speech
circuit. These signalling channels are referred to as a f and bf for the forward direction
(i.e. the direction of call set-up) and ab and bb for the backward direction..

 af identifies the operating condition of the outgoing switching equipment and reflects
the condition of the calling subscriber's line..

 bf provides a means for indicating a failure in the forward direction to the incoming
switching equipment.

 ab reflects the condition of the called subscriber's line (on hook or off hook).

 bb indicates the idle or seized state of the incoming switching equipment.

Forward line signals
Seizing signal: This is a signal sent at the beginning of the call to initiate transition of
the circuit at the incoming end from the idle state to seized state. At the incoming
exchange it causes the association of equipment capable of receiving register signals..
Clear-forward signal: This is a signal sent to terminate the call or call attempt and to
release in the incoming exchange and beyond it all switching units held on the call.
Calling party release or the release of outgoing exchange resources always lead to the
sending of clear-forward signal. Before receiving the clear-forward acknowledgement
signal, the outgoing exchange will not be restored to idle state.
Backward line signals
Seizing-acknowledgement signal: The signal is sent to the outgoing exchange as the
response of seizing signalling, indicating that the incoming exchange is changed from
the idle state to seized state. After the outgoing exchange recognizes the seizing-
acknowledgement signal, the circuit status is changed from seized to seizure
acknowledged.

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M900/M1800 MSC/SSP/IP 3 R2 Signalling System

Answer signal: This is a signal sent to the outgoing exchange, indicating that the called
subscriber has answered the call and charging is started on the calling subscriber,
unless the non-charging register signalling has been sent before.
Clear-back signal: The signal is sent to the outgoing exchange, indicating that the
called subscriber has cleared and communication network link is released.
Release-guard signal: The is a signal sent to the outgoing exchange in response to a
clear-forward signal to indicate that the latter has been fully effective in returning the
switching units at the incoming end of the circuit to idle condition. An international
circuit is protected against subsequent seizure as long as the release operations
initiated by the clear-forward signal have not been completed at the incoming end.
Upon recognizing the clear-forward signal, the incoming exchange starts to release the
subsequent links no matter whether the called subscriber answers or releases. After
the incoming exchange is completely released, RLG is sent on the circuit to restore the
circuit to the idle state so that the outgoing exchange can be used for another call.
Blocking signal: The is a signal sent on an idle circuit to the outgoing exchange to
cause engaged conditions (blocking) to be applied to this circuit, guarding it against
subsequent seizure.
Signalling codes of ITU-T standards are listed in Table 3-1.

Table 3-1 ITU-T standard line signalling code

Code
Connection status Forward Backward Direction
af Bf ab bb
Idle 1 0 1 0
Seizing 0 0 1 0 Forward
Seizure acknowledgement 0 0 1 1 Backward
Answered 0 0 0 1 Backward
Clear-back 0 0 1 1 Backward
0 1
Clear-forward 1 0 Forward
1 1
Blocked 1 0 1 1 Backward

3.2 Register Signalling

Register Signalling is sent from the register of one MSC to the register of another
MSC.
Register signalling adopts multi-frequency compelled mode. It is transmitted over
channels and occupies channel resources. Register signalling can not be transmitted
during the conversation process.
“Multiple frequency” means that multiple frequency bands form code signals, such as
selecting two types of frequency from 6 types to get 6×(6-1)/2=15 types of different
register signalling (or selecting 2 types from 5 types or selecting 2 types from 4 types).
”Compelled” means that in the signal transmission process, acknowledgement signals
from the peer end must coordinate in working. The receiving and sending of each
signal must have a compelled process.

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M900/M1800 MSC/SSP/IP 3 R2 Signalling System

3.2.1 Functions Provided by Register Signalling

By using the combination of 15 forward and 15 backward multi-frequency codes,

register signalling can provide the following functions:

 Sending address information.

 Sending international call language bit and authentication bit.

 Sending echo cancellation information.

 Sending calling property and call property.

 Sending circuit property.

 Sending called status.

3.2.2 Signalling Types and Meanings

Register signalling include forward signals and backward signals. Forward signals
include group I and group II. Corresponding backward signals include group A and
group B.
Forward group I register signalling
Compelled signalling between registers must start from group I forward signals.
According to functions, the signals include:

Address signal: This is the signal containing an information unit (0～9 digits) about the
calling or called number.
Country code and EC identifier: signal I-11, I-12
Testing call identifier: signal I-13
Circuit type: signal I-14. It is only sent in correspondence to certain backward signal
requirement, indicating whether the satellite link is included in the connection or not.
Pulse terminating signal: signal I-15. It is an address signal indicating there is no
following address signals in the communication. In national communications, I-15 can
be used to indicate the completion of sequence transmission of identifying calling
subscriber line.
Forward group II register signalling
ITU-T standard group II forward signal is the calling subscriber type signal sent by the
outgoing R2 register. It is used to answer backward signal A-3 (address complete
forwarding group B) and A-5 (request for calling subscriber type) and to identify
national communications and international communications.
Backward group A signal
Backward group A signal is used to confirm the forward group I signal and in some
cases, forward group II signal (such as the confirmation for the calling subscriber type
signal). Backward group A signals mainly include:
Signals requiring to transmit address signals: A-1, A-2, A-7, A-8
Signal A-13 requiring to providing circuit type information: only used for the satellite link
after confirmed by both parties.

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M900/M1800 MSC/SSP/IP 3 R2 Signalling System

Signals required to provide call or calling party information includes A-5, A-11 and A-
14.

 A-5: sending the calling subscriber category request and requiring for a group II
signal. When the signal is already sent and the calling subscriber category is
received from the outgoing R2 register, A-5 can be repeatedly sent to request for
the calling number.

 A-11: identifier requesting to re-send the country code

 A-14: signal querying whether to insert the incoming one-way EC

Congestion signals includes A-4 and A-5.

 A-4: indicating national link congestion, international or national terminating

exchange option-level congestion, time-out or abnormal release of R2 system
register caused by any reasons.

 A-15: indicating international link congestion, international transit exchange or

international terminating exchange option-level and/or outgoing link congestion,
time-out or abnormal release of R2 system register caused by any reasons. After
receiving A-15, outgoing international R2 register can start call attempt or re-routing.
The international exchange with invalid call attempt and re-routing can return A-4
signal.
Address complete signal (ACS): indicating there is no need to send another address
signal, to direct transit to the communication position so that the subscriber can hear
the signal tone or record announcement of the national network; or to inform to send a
signal representing the calling subscriber line status.

 A-3: indicating that no address bit is to be added for the incoming R2 register and to
change to send group B signals.

 A-6: establishing communication status, indicating that no address bit is to be added

for the incoming R2 register and no group B signal is to be sent. The answer to the
call must be charged.
Backward group B signal
Backward group B signal is used to confirm a forward group II signal and is always
following the address complete signal A3. Signal A-3 indicates that the incoming R2
register has received all needed forward signals sent from the outgoing register. In
addition to the compelled process function, group B signal also sends the information
about incoming exchange equipment status or called subscriber line status to outgoing
R2 register.
Sending special information tone B-2: indicating to send the special information tone to
the calling subscriber to show that the called number can not be connected.
Subscriber line busy B-3: indicting that one or multiple lines between the subscriber
and the exchange are busy.
Congestion B-4: indicating group A signal encounters congestion after converted to
group B signal (congestion encountered after sending the address complete signal A-
3). Signal B-4 should be sent under the regulation of signal A-4 (national network
congestion).
Unallocated number B-5: indicating that the received number is not used (for example
the unused country code or toll area code or unallocated subscriber number).
Subscriber idle, charge B-6: indicating that the subscriber is idle and the call is charged
after the answer.
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M900/M1800 MSC/SSP/IP 3 R2 Signalling System

Subscriber idle, no charge B-7: indicating that the subscriber is idle and the call is not
charged after the answer. The signal is only used for calls to special destinations.
Subscriber line fault B-8: indicating that the subscriber line is stopped for usage or is
failed.

3.3 Typical Call Process of R2 Signalling

The typical call process of ITU-T standard R2 signalling is shown in Figure 3-1.
1) When the calling subscribe originates a call, the outgoing trunk sends the line signal
“seizing” signal to the incoming trunk.
2) The incoming trunk returns the “seizing-acknowledgement” signal to the outgoing
trunk.
3) The outgoing trunk sends the first digit of the called number by forward group I
register signal.
4) After receiving the first digit of the called number, the incoming trunk requests for the
next digit of the called number by sending backward group A register signalling A-1.
5) The outgoing trunk continues to send the next digit of the called number until the
incoming trunk reaches the calling number request position. The incoming trunk sends
the A-5 signal requesting for the calling subscriber type.
6) The outgoing trunk responds to the calling subscriber type request of the incoming
trunk by sending the forward group II signal.
7) The incoming trunk continues to send the A-5 signal to request for the calling
number.
8) The outgoing trunk sends the calling number. The incoming trunk mutually control
the whole process with the outgoing trunk via the A-5 signal until the outgoing trunk
sends the forward group I signal I-15 to complete the sending of the calling number.
9) After receiving I-15, the incoming trunk continues to request for the called number
by sending the A1 signal. The outgoing trunk continues to send the called number by
sending the forward group I signal. When the incoming trunk receives the complete
called number, it will send the address complete signal A-3 to the outgoing trunk and
enter the status of waiting for group II signal.
10) After receiving the A-3 signal, the outgoing trunk sends the calling subscriber type
via group II signal. The incoming trunk sends the called subscriber status via group B
signal.
11) The called subscriber answers and sends the line signalling “answer” signal. The
calling and called subscribers set up communications.
12) The communication is finished. If the calling subscriber hooks on first, the outgoing
trunk sends the “clear-forward” signal and the incoming trunk sends the “release-
guard” signal. If the called subscriber hooks on first, the incoming trunk sends the
“clear-back” signal. Then the outgoing trunk sends the “clear-forward” signal and the
incoming trunk sends the “release-guard” signal.

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M900/M1800 MSC/SSP/IP 3 R2 Signalling System

TKO TKI

Seize

Seize_ACK
Send_CLD_Num (Ix)
Req_Next_Num (A1)

Send_CLD_Num (Ix)
REQ_CAT (A5)
Send_CAT (IIx)
REQ_CLI (A5)

Send_CLI_Num (Ix)

REQ_CLI (A5)

Send_CLI_Num (Ix)
REQ_CLI (A5)
NUM_END (I15)
Req_Next_Num (A1)
Send_CLD_Num (Ix)
Req_Next_Num (A1)

Send_CLD_Num (Ix)
Asde_Adr_Complete (A3)
Send_CAT (IIx)
Sub_Called_Idle (B6)
TKC_Answer
Connected
Caller Release
TKC_Caller_Onhook

TKC_Release_Guard

Called Release
TKC_Called_Onhook
TKC_Caller_Onhook
TKC_Release_Guard

Figure 3-1 ITU-T R2 typical call process

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3.4 Introduction about Multi-Country Adapter for R2 Signalling

By configuring tables, multi-country adapter for R2 (Version: V330R002) can support
many R2 signalling standards, such as ITU-T R2 signalling, Thailand R2 signalling,
Indian R2 signalling, Uzbekistan R2 signalling, etc.
The Adapter comprises syntax adapter function and flow adapter function. Syntax
adapter function can convert different R2 signalling into ITU-T R2 signalling in signal
signification. And flow adapter function can control different R2 signalling flow by some
flags.

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