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12 Signalling System No 7
12 Signalling System No 7
Clark Copyright 1991, 1997 John Wiley & Sons Ltd ISBNs: 0-471-97346-7 (Hardback); 0-470-84158-3 (Electronic)
12
Signalling System Noe 7
TheITU-Tsignallingsystemnumber7, SS number7,SS7,CCITT7,C7 or numberseven signalling system is the most recently developed of telephone network signalling systems. It is already widely deployed in digital telephone networks and ISDNs across the world, and also will be a cornerstone of intelligent networks and broadband ISDNs (B-ISDN). It is a complex, commonchannelsignallingsystem,whichenablesthecontrollingprocessors of twodigital exchanges or databases to communicatedirectlyandinteractwithoneanotherinamanner optimized for digital transmission media.SS7 has also formed the basis of a number of furtherdevelopedregionalsignallingsystems. In theUnitedStates,forexample,ANSISS7isa derivative, while the UK national version is C7/BT. This chapter describes the overall structure and capabilities of SS7.
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In addition, its modular naturelends itself to the development of new user parts which may be designed to support almost any new service that can be conceived. The user parts of the system that have been developed so far are
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message transfer part signalling connection and control part telephone user part data user part ISDN services user part transaction capabilities (used by intelligent networks) transaction capabilities application part operation and maintenance application part intelligent network application part mobile application part
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0 0 0
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The MTP and SCCP form the foundations of the system, providing for carriage of messages. The TUP, DUP and ISUP use the MTP and/or SCCP to convey messages relating to call control,for telephone, data, and ISDN networks, respectively. The application parts for operation and maintenance OMAP, MAP and INAP are other interaction, mobile network control and intelligent network services, respectively. Initially the SS7 system was designed so that the MTP could be used in association with any or all of the telephone, data and ISDN user parts. However, following the emergence of the OS1 model, the SCCP was developed as an adjunct to the MTP; the two in combination provide the functions of the OS1 network service (layers 1-3). SS7 signalling can be installed between two exchanges, provided that the necessary signallingfunctions are availablein both exchanges.Thefunctionsresideinaunit termed a signalling point. This may be a separate piece of hardware to the exchange, but usually it is a software function in the exchange central processor.SS7 signalling points (SPs),basically exchanges, intercommunicate via signalling links and are said to share a signalling relation. A single SS7 signalling link enables information to be passed directly between two exchange processors, allowing the set-up, control, and release of not just one, but a large number of traffic-carrying circuits between the exchanges. Messages over the unit take the form connect circuit number 37 to the called customer number 01-234 5678. The term common channel signalling aptly describes method this of operation, distinguishingitfrom the channel-associated signalling method, whereincallset-up signals pertinent to a particular circuit are sent down that circuit. SS7 is not the first common channel signalling system to be developed; CCITT 6 (SS6) was also a common channel system, but CCITT 6 was less flexible than SS7 and not so suitable for digital network use. Having a common channel for conveyance of signalling messages saves equipment at both exchanges, because only one sender and one receiver is required at each end of the link, as against the one per circuit required with channel-associated systems. The
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Exchange A
Exchange B
ST =
signalling terminal
combination of a SS7 sender and receiver is normallyreferred toas a signalling terminal. In practice signalling terminals are a combination of a software function in the exchange central processor and some hardware to terminate the line and undertake the basic bit transfer function (OS1 layer 2, datalink). A label attached to each message as it passes over the signalling link enables the receiving signalling point to know which of the many circuits it relates to. Figure 12.1 illustratesthenetworkconfiguration of asimple SS7 signallinglink. It shows calls flowing overalargenumber of traffic-carrying circuits which are connected to the switch matrix part of the exchange. Meanwhile all these circuits are controlled according to the information passed directly between the exchangeprocessors. The signalling terminal ( S T ) function is shown residing within the exchange processor.
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I
r
I
Signalling links
I H,
ExchDange
Figure 12.2 shows traffic-carrying the networks and signalling networks interconnecting four exchanges, A, B, C and D. The traffic circuits directly connect A-C, A-B, B-C and B-D. All traffic to or from exchange D passes via exchange B and all traffic to or from exchange A passes either via B or C, and so on. The signalling network, however, is different. Signalling links only exist between A-B, B-C and B-D, so that signalling trafic has to be routed differently from the actual traffic. In the caseof theactual traffic from A to B, there exist both direct traffic circuits and adirect signalling link. In effect, this is the same as Figure 12.1, so that both signalling messages and traffic can bepasseddirectly between the two. Similarlyexchange B maypass signalling messages and traffic directly either to exchange C or exchange D, and may also act as a normaltransit exchange for two-link routing of traffic from exchange A to either of exchanges C or D. These are all examples of associated mode signalling, in which signalling links and traffic circuits have a similar configuration, and signalling messages and traffic both route in the same manner. In short, there is a signalling link associated with each link of direct traffic-carrying circuits. By contrast, although exchange A is directly connected to exchange C by trafficcarryingcircuits,there is no directsignallinglink.Signallinginformation for these circuits must be passed on another route via exchange B. This is known as the quasiassociated mode of signalling, and the signalling point (SP) in exchange B is said in this instance to perform the function of a signal transfer point ( S T P ) , as illustrated in Figure 12.3.
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n
sp
Exchange
Exchange SP SP
////U
Associated mode slgnalling link
sp
/ / / / / / / / / l
SP =
Signalling information is passed over SS7 signalling links in short bursts; indeed a SS7 signalling network is like a powerful packet-switched data network. To identify each of the signalling points for the purpose of signalling message delivery around the network, each is assigned a numerical identifier, called a signalling point code (SPC). This code enables an SP to determine whether received messages are intended for it, or whether they are tobe transferred (in STP mode) to another SP. The codes are allocated on a network by network basis. Thus the code is only unique within, say, national network A, national network B or the international network.
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Signalling level
l[
7
6
5
L
SCCP
Messagetransfer over signalling network MTP over single link data link
Ilj
DUP
User level
Network level
Figure 12.4 The structure of SS7 signalling. ASE, Application service element; TCAP, Transaction capability; ISP, Intermediate service part; ISUP, ISDN services user part; TUP, Telephone user part; DUP, Data user part; SCCP, Signalling connection and control part; MTP, Message
transfer part
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Level 3 (signalling network functions) This level defines thefunctionsandproceduresforconveyingsignalling messages around an entiresignalling network. It provides for the routing of messages around the signalling network. In this role it has a number of signalling network management capabilitiesincludingloadsharing of signalling traffic betweendifferentsignalling links and routes(illustrated in Figure 12.5) andre-routingaround signallinglink failures. Link sharing on the same route between signalling points (SPs) guards against lineplant failure (Figure 12.5(a)). Route sharing may additionally provide protection against failure of STPs. Thus in Figure 12.5 the signalling traffic from SP A to SPs B and C is shared over the two STPs, D and E. In the event of a failure of any of the routes shown, signalling messages could be re-routed. MTP is useless on its own for setting up telephone or other connections.To perform these functions MTP needs to be used in association with one of the SS7 user parts which are level 4 or user functions. Examples are the telephone user part (TUP) and the integratedservicesdigitalnetwork user part (ISDN-UP or I S U P ) . These define the content and interpretation of the message, and they provide for connection control. The structure of an MTP message is shown in Figure 12.6. It comprises four parts, transmitted in the following order. Flag
TheJag is the first pattern of bits sent. This is an unmistakeable pattern to distinguish the beginning each of message, and delimitfrom previous it the message. It is comparable to the synchronization (SYN) byte in data communications (Chapter 9).
M T P information
The flag is followed by a number o f j e l d s of information, which together ensure the correct message transfer. These fields include: the message sequence numbers that keep
SP SP
SP
STP
SP
STP
SP
Figure 12.5 Load sharing over signalling. A-B and A-C signalling messages evenly divided to route via both D and E
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Nextmessage
U
Check bits
r
Check bits Signalling information field (message substance 1 Messagesequence numbers, length and user part type information Flag (Inserted by appropriate level I user part)
the messages in the correct order on receipt, and allow lost messages to be resent; and information about the type and length of the information held in the main signalling information field; it might say which user part is in operation and record the length of the message.
Finally, each MTP message is concluded with a check bit field. This is the data (cyclic redundancy check code or C R C ) needed to perform the error detection and correction mechanism of the MTP level 2. The check bits are followed by the flag at the start of the next message.
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The telephone user part comprises all the signalling messages needed in a telephone network to set up telephone calls (we described the sequence of call set-up in Chapter 7). Thus anexchange using theSS7 signalling system carries out the normalprocess of digit analysis and route selection, seizes the outgoing circuit and sends the dialled digit train onto the next exchange in the connection by using the SS7 signalling link, conveying TUP encoded messages using the MTP. Crudely put, an example of a TUP message might be connect the call on circuit number 56 to the destination directory number 071-234 5678. Backward messages such as destination busy are also included in the telephone user part. The structure of TUP messages is shown in Figure 12.7. TUP messages occupy the signalling information Jield of the underlying MTP message. The messages comprise a TUP signalling information field which is used to convey dialled digits, line busy, answer signals, andother circuit-relatedinformation,together with fouradministrative fields as follows.
TUPsignalling information
\
\
CIC
OPC
DPC
/
] /[[
MTP message
bit sent
information field
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The TUP+ is an enhanced version of the TUP, though incompatible with it. It was developed by CEPT as recommendation TjSPS 43-02 for use as an interim ISDN-like signalling system supporting an early pan-European ISDN. It is used in Europe by France Telecom for international ISDN signalling, but is likely to be superseded by ISUP.
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11)
remote activation and control of services or exchanges data transfer between network management or network administration and control centres
The SCCP is a user part which in conjunction with the MTP allows a SS7 signalling networktoconformtothe OS1 network service (OS1 layers l-3), andtosupport protocols designed according to layers 4-7 of the OS1 model. Most importantly, this allows new user parts to conform with the OS1 model. SCCP controls the type of connection made available between the two signalling points in the exchange and the database. In effect it establishes the signalling relation in preparation for oneof the higher level application parts. Four classes of transjer service can be made available as defined by the OS1 model.Thesecan begroupedinto connectionless and connection-oriented types, as we learned in Chapters 1 and 7. These are shown in Table 12.1. In the context of the SCCP classes shown in Table 12.1, connection-oriented data transfer (classes 2 and 3) is that in which an association is established between sender and receiver before the data are sent. In reality this means the establishment of a virtual or packet-switched connection between the ends (aswe discussed in Chapter 9), and not a circuit-switched connection. Thus before the application part signalling commences operation over the SS7 signalling link, a virtual connection is created by the SCCP. In the alternative connectionless mode of data transfer (SCCP classes 0 and l), messages are despatched ontothe SS7 signalling network without first ensuring that the recipient is ready to receive them. Connection-oriented procedures are useful when a large amount of data needs to be transferred. The connectionless mode is better suited to small and short messages, because it avoids the burden of extra messages to establish the connection. By their nature, connectionless messages always include address information.
Table 12.1 The classes of SCCP
Class
Class 0 Class 1 Class 2 Class 3
Type
Connectionless Message sequence not guaranteed Connectionless Message sequence guaranteed Basic connection-oriented Message segmentation and reassembly Connection oriented Message segmentation and reassembly Flow control Detection of message loss and mis-sequence
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SCCP message SCCP user data SLS OPC
DPC
/
\
\
informationfield
M TP message
Figure 12.8 SCCP message structure and relation to MTP. SLS, signalling link selection; OPC, originating point code; DPC, destination point code
The structure of SCCP messages is similar to that of the TUP, as we can see from Figure 12.8, except that the SCCP includes no circuit identzjcation code ( C I C ) . The CIC is superfluous because no circuit will be established. Figure 12.9 shows an example of the use of SCCP and TC for a database query during the call set-up phase of a Freephone (800) call. The caller (who happens to be an ISDN subscriber) dials the 0800 number, which is conveyed to the ISDN exchange by the D-channel signalling protocol, DSSl(Q.931). Following analysis of the number, the ISDN exchange realizes that it must refer to the intelligent network databases for a number translation. It does so using the SCCP and TC.Meanwhile the circuit set-up is
@
Intelligent translationnetwork database
@I
I
D O _ _ -_. B
Dials 0800 12345
ISDN
-ISUP ( +- T P )- -- M- @
Traffic clrcuit
Y-*
/
exchange
lSDN exchange
@ )
- - - - signallingrelation
circuit establlshed
TRANSACTION
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suspended. When the database interaction is over and the ISDN exchangehasthe appropriate information, circuit the can be connected using the standard ISUP signalling. The SCCP is defined by ITU-T Recs Q.711-Q.714.
c3
Application
Signalling level
T C User
(Application entity, A E )
TC
s u b l a y eirc a t i o n Appl part (TCAP)
H
Component Transaction sublayer
I
Transaction capabilities ( T C )
I
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I
Message transfer part (MTP)
---
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carries the out functions of OS1 layers 4-6, while the component sublayer and transaction sublayer exist within OS1 layer 7 and together the form transaction capabilities application part ( T C A P ) . Transaction capabilities exist to serve a TC-user, normally called an application entity ( A E ) . An AE contains the necessary functions to serve a particular application. In addition, every application entity also contains the transaction capabilities application part (TCAP). TCAP in essence, a copy of the rules which enable the messages to be is, interpreted. (For example an AE may support VPN service. Another might support freephone.) Figure 12.10 illustrates the architecture of TC. The ISP is required only when large amountsof data are tobe transferred, using one of the SCCP connection-oriented classes. The TCAP controls the dialogue between the exchange and the database, overseeing requests (questions or instructions) and making sure that corresponding responses are generated. The content of the request (the question itself) is prepared by the TC user (i.e. the application entity ( A E ) ) . An application entity is the logical set of questions, responses and instructions which constitute the dialogue necessary to support an application. An AE comprises one or a number of simple functions, called application service elements (ASEs). The idea is that a small set of multi-purpose ASEs can be combined together in different permutations to serve different applications. The intelligent network (IN) architecture, for example, defines a set of primitive network actions which it calls functional components or service independent building blocks. These are examples of ASEs. Figure 12.11 illustrates the concept of application service elements. Three well known application entities defined by ITU-T are the mobile application part ( M A P ) , used to support roaming mobile telephone networks, theoperationand maintenance application part ( O M A P ) , used for control and maintenance of remote equipment and exchanges and the intelligent network application p a r t ( I N A P ) , used in intelligent networks. MAP comprises one complex ASE,OMAP comprises two: MRVT and SRVT (the MTP and SCCP Routing Verification Tests). Returning to the TCAP itself, let us briefly describe the functions of the transaction and component sublayers. The transaction sublayer is responsible initiating, for
Application 1
= ASE 1 + ASE 2
Application 2 = A S E 2 + A S 3
Application 3
= ASE L
= Application entity
PART (MAP)
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maintaining and closing the dialogue between the signalling points. Classification of messages into one of the four types listed below helps the two end signalling point devices to relate each message back to the previous dialogue and to check that the communication is occurring in an orderlyfashion.Thuseach message alsohasa transaction identity code.
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The component sublayer provides machine discipline to the dialogue, controlling the invocation of requests and making sure that they receive proper responses. The ASE information within the requests and responses is thus classified into one of five types
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invoke an action return the final response (to a sequence) return an intermediate (but not return a message to signal an error reject a message (if a request is not understood, or is out of sequence) final) response
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Although the information content of the requests and responses is not known by the component layer (itis understood only by the ASE or ASEs), the component sublayeris able to make sure that commands are undertaken and responses are given. The transaction capabilities are defined in ITU-T Recs Q.771-4.775.
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( M V R T ) and the SCCP routing verijication test ( S R V T ) . These are procedures designed to enable the network operator to test the integrity of the signalling networks and identify faults.
12.15 THE
OF CCITT7 SIGNALLING
SS7 is an adaptable and continuously evolving signalling systemthat has been designed to meet the challenging and ever-changing service needs of public and major private networkexchangesmaking up the ISDN, the B-ISDN and the intelligentnetwork. Network operators may choose to implement the subset of user parts whichmost matches their needs, adopting new user parts as they become available. Depending on their particular circumstances, some network operators may choose to implement an adapted version of some of the SS7 standards, taking up some of the permitted signalling options. The options allow the operator to tailor the system to particular national requirements (e.g. C7/BT is the UK national version of TUP/ISUP and T1-ISUPis the version of ISUP used between public networksin the United States. Because of the considerable capital investment already committed to SS7, there is a pressure for use of a common system, and there is pressure also from established SS7 users to ensure that new developments are backward compatible with previous versions of the system. One of the ways in which backward compatibility is ensured is by building into all SS7 implementationsmechanism handling a for unrecognized information. Such information is bound to be sent occasionally from a more advanced exchange to an exchange with an older version of SS7. The common methods for dealing with this information are
0
to discardit to ignoreit to assume that some other expected response (or default) was actually received to reply with a message
0
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0 0 0
of confusion
AND TESTING
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Such a backward compatibility mechanism obviates any need to stop the development of SS7, or the extension of its services. If backward compatibility is not built into any new signalling standard joint then discussions between the operators interconnected networksusingdifferentversions will be necessary to agreeamendmentsallowing compatible operation.
TESTING
The signalling links of a SS7 signalling network need careful planning and implementation just like any other data network. The links need to be sufficient in number to handle the overall signalling traffic demand, and tobe oriented in a topology that gives good resilience to network failures. Twopossibletopologies are illustrated in Figure 12.12. Figure 12.12(a) showsa meshed network in which exchanges are capable both SP and STP functions and of rely on one another for the resilience of their signalling relations.In contrast, Figure 12.12(b) shows a topology commonly used in North America, where dedicated and duplicated computers perform the STP function alone; the exchanges are not capable of the STP function. Because of the very complex nature of SS7 signalling, and because of the heavy network reliance on it, it is normal to undertake a comprehensive validation testing programme prior to the introduction of each new link and exchange. Exchanges built
SP
0 -
SP
0 -
Normal exchange
SP only
( b ) Use of
STPs
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by different manufacturerscan sometimes incompatible be at first, and a testing programme is invaluable in ensuring that their problems are ironed-out before being brought into service.