SIGNALLING

Prepared by
Engr. Joseph O. Manalang, ECE
October 22, 2021
What is SIGNALLING?
● Method used for the switching
offices and the CPE to control the
switching of calls over the
transmission facilities in the PSTN

● The generation, transmission, and

reception of information needed to
direct and control the setup and
disconnect of a call
There are many kinds of signals which need to be transmitted
between offices for an interoffice call, some of which include:

• Addressing – Outpulsing of dialed digits

• Information signals – Dial tone, audible ring, busy back tone, reorder, etc.
• Supervision – Off-hook, on-hook, seizure
Signaling Stages

Two methods of inter-office signaling

● Inband signaling - was used in the call

example as the signaling was sent on the
same transmission path that was used for
the call

● When sending the signals, out-of-band

signaling uses a dedicated data link
transmission path that is separate from
the transmission path used for the call
Common Channel Signaling (CCS)
● A signaling method that uses a separate dedicated channel to
send and receive signaling information for a group of trunks or
facilities by means of labeled messages
● A form of data communications specialized for the transfer of
information between the nodes in a telecommunications
network
● System Signaling 7 (SS7) is the protocol used for CCS on an
overlay network of the PSTN
● Common-channel interoffice signaling (CCIS), is the
transmission of control information (signaling) via a separate
channel than that used for the messages, The signaling channel
usually controls multiple message channels
Signaling System 7 (SS7)
● An international telecommunication protocol standard that
defines how the network elements in a public switched telephone
network (PSTN) exchange information and control signals
● Set of telephony signaling protocols developed in 1975, which is
used to set up and tear down telephone calls in most parts of the
world-wide public switched telephone network (PSTN). The
protocol also performs number translation, local number
portability, prepaid billing, Short Message Service (SMS), and
other services.
● Once compromised, hackers are privy to subscriber's personal
information. They can access text messages, phone calls, track
device location, and all without your or the subscriber's
knowledge.
Examples of SS7 messages
• Initial Address Message (IAM) – Sent in the forward direction to indicate seizure
of an outgoing circuit and to transmit called number and other information related to
the routing of a call.

• Address Complete Message (ACM) – Sent in the backward direction to indicate

that all address signals required to route a call have been received.

• Answer Message (ANM) – Sent in the backward direction to indicate a call has
been answered.

• Release Message (REL) – Sent in either direction indicating a circuit has been
released and is ready to be placed in an idle state pending the reception of a Release
Complete Message.

• Release Complete Message (RLC) – Sent in either direction in response to a

Release Message after a related circuit has been placed in the idle state.
Reference
For more information on SS7, see the GWEC module TT-SS7

Videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tahfluke6cU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1PLfYNwnGk