Overview of the PSTN and

comparisons to Voice over IP

The Beginning of the PSTN
 Alexander Graham Bell (1876)
 Ring-down circuit
 Bi-directional voice transmission
 Carbon microphone
 battery
 Electromagnet
 Iron diaphragm
Basic Four-phone network

Location 1 Location 2

Location 3

Location 4
Physical Cable between all
telephone user
 Location 8 Location 7

Location 6
Location 1

Location 2
Location 5

Location 3 Location 4
Human Switch
Location 1 Location 2


Telephone Operator

Location 4 Location 3
Understanding PSTN basics
 Analog and Digital Signaling
Analog waveform

Amplitude

Time
Analog Line Distortion

Talker
Amplifier Amplifier

Original Line Noise Line Noise Cumulative

Signal Noise Amplified Noise Amplified Line Noise

Time
Digital Line Distortion
Talker
Repeater Repeater

010 010 010 010 010

Time
Original Repeater Repeater
Line Line
Digital “Clean” “Clean”
Noise Noise
Signal Signal Signal
Digital Voice Signals
 PCM (Pulse Code Modulation)
Voice Digitization

 Analog-to-Digital Conversion
 discrete samples of the waveform and represent each
sample by some number of bits
 A signal can be reconstructed if it is sampled at a
minimum of twice the maximum freq.
 Why? Send email to nyquist@graveyard.com

 Human speech
 0-4KHz (300-3400 Hz used in telephony)
 8000 samples per second
Digitizing Voice: PCM
Waveform Encoding

 Nyquist Theorem: sample at twice the

highest frequency
 Voice frequency range: 300-3400 Hz
 Sampling frequency = 8000/sec (every 125us)
 Bit rate: (2 x 4 KHz) x 8 bits per sample
 = 64,000 bits per second (DS-0)
 By far the most commonly used method
Digitizing Analog Voice

 Steps involved in digitizing voice

 Sampling
 Quantization
 Encoding
 Compression (optional)
Analog to PCM Conversion

Analog
Signal PAM PCM
Signal Signal
Sampler Quantizer Encoder

PCM Word
10110111

Analog PAM Quantizing Encoded

Signal Signal Signal Signal
Local Loops, Trunks, and
Interswitch Communication
 Circuit-switching Hierarchy
Higher-layer
Tandem
Switches

Local Tandem
Switches

Central Office
Switches
PSTN Signaling

 User-to-network signaling

 Network-to-network signaling
User-to-network signaling
 In-band signaling
 DTMF (Dual Tone Multi-Frequency)
 MF (Multi-Frequency)
 Out-band signaling
 ISDN
 BRI
 PRI
DTMF Dialing
Supported on Cisco routers

Dual Tone Multifrequency (DTMF)

1209 1336 1477 1633

697 1 2 3 A

770 4 5 6 B

852 7 8 9 C

941 * 0 # D
BRI
Out-of-band signaling benefits
 Signaling is multiplexed into common
channel.
 Glare is reduced.
 A lower post dialing.
 Call completion is greatly increased.
Network-to-Network signaling
 T1/E1 Carrier over Twisted pair.
 T1 is a 1.544-Mpbs digital transmission link (Use in North
America and Japan)
 E1 is a 2.048-Mpbs Digital link (Used in Europe)
 T3/E3, T4 carrier over coaxial cable
 T3 carrier 28T1 or 672 64-Kpbs connection and is 44.736
Mbps.
 E3 carrier 16T1 or 512 64-Kpbs connection and is 34.368
Mbps.
 T4 handles 168 T1 circuit or 4032 4-kbps connection and
is 274.176 Mbps.
Network-to-Network signaling
 T3, T4 carrier over the microwave
link
 SONET (Synchronous Optical Network)
across fiber media
 SONET is normally deployed
 OC-3 155.52 Mbps
 OC-12 622.08 Mbps
 OC-48 2.488 Gbps
Network-to-Network signaling
 MF (Multi Frequency) and RBS (Robbed
Bit Signaling) signaling
 These are in-band type of signaling.
 These signaling types can be used as user-to-
network signaling.
 MF is similar to DTMF but utilizes different
frequency.
Network-to-Network signaling
 DCS (Digital Carrier System)
 Use A and B bit to indicate on/off hook
 The A/B bits are set emulate Single Frequency
tone.
 SF (Single Frequency) use the presence and
absence of a signal A/B bit translation.
 SS7 (Signaling System 7)
 Network-to-network signaling also use out-of-
band signaling knows as SS7
SS7
 It also used to connect switches and
database for network base servers.
 Benefits of moving to an SS7 network
 Reduce post-dialing delay
 Initial setup message
 Each MF take 50 ms to transmit.
 0.5 second delay per PSTN hop.
 Increase call completion.
 Connected to the IN (Intelligent Network).
 PSTN Call Flow to Grandma’s
House
Switch SS7 Switch

Off hook

Dial tone

digits IAM IAM setup

IAM (Initial Address Message)

Ring tone ACM ACM alerting ACM (Address Complete Message)

CONNECT ANM ANM

Off hook ANM (ANswer Message)

CONN ACK

DISCONN REL REL DISCONN

REL (Release)

RELEASE
RLC (Release Conform)
RELEASE RLC RLC

REL ACK
PSTN Services and Network
 Popular custom calling features.
 Call waiting
 Call Forwarding
 Three-way calling
PSTN Services and Network
 With the deployment of SS7
 Display calling parity calling number.
 Call blocking.
 Calling line ID blocking.
 Auto call back.
 Circuit switched long distance.
 Per-paid and post-paid calling cards.
 Private leased lines.
Signaling System 7
Signaling System 7
 Signaling system 7 (SS7) is a common-channel
signaling standard developed in late 1970s by the
ITU-T, formerly know as CCITT (Consultative
Committee for International Telegraph and
Telephone).

 SS7 was derived from SS6.

 SS7 functionally include
 Data base queries.
 Transaction.
 Network Operation.
 ISDN
Signaling System 7
 SS7 Network Elements and Links.

 SS7 Protocols Suite and Messages.

 SS7 Examples and Call flow.

SS7 Network Architecture
 SS7 contain three signaling elements.

 Service Switching Point (SSP)

 Signal Transfer Point (STP)

 Service Control Point (SCP)

 SS7 Network Architecture

STP STP

SCP SCP

STP STP

SSP SSP
Service Switching Point

 SSPs are end office or tandem switches

that connect voice circuits and perform
the necessary signaling function to
originate and terminate calls.
Service Switching Point
 The SSP uses the dialed number to
complete the call.
 It is an 800,888,900 or local number
portability exchange (or is ported NXX).
 In the latter case, a query is send to an
SCP requesting the routing information
(number) necessary to complete the
call.
Service Switching Point
 The following steps explain SSP uses to complete call
 The SSP uses the called number from the calling party to
routing number from the database query to begin circuit
connection signaling message.
 Then the SSP user its routing table to determine the trunk
group and circuit needed to connect the call.
 At this point, a signaling setup message is send to the
destination SSP requesting a connection on the circuit
specified by the originating SSP.
 The destination SSP responds with an acknowledgement.
Signal Transfer Protocol
 The STP routes all the signaling message in
the SS7 network based on.
 Routing information
 Destination point code address
 The STP looks at the global title dialed digits
and through its own translator table to
resolve the following
 The point code address of the appropriate SCP for
database.
 The subsystem number of the database
Signal Transfer Protocol
 It also perform an intermediate global
title translation by using its translation
table to find another STP
 The intermediate STP then route the
message to the other STP to perform
the final global title translation.
STP Hierarchy
 STP implementation can occur in
multiple levels, such as
 Local Signal Transfer Point
 Regional Signal Transfer Point
 National Signaling Transfer Point
 International Signaling Transfer Point
 Gateway Signaling Transfer Point
STP Hierarchy
 Local, Regional, and national STPs transfer
standards-based SS7 message within the
same network
 There STPs usually are not capable of converting
or handling messages in different format or
version.
 International STPs provide international
connectivity where the same ITU-T standards
are deployed in both networks.
STP Hierarchy
 Gateway STPs can provide the following
 Protocol conversion from the national
version to the ITU-T standard
 Network to network interconnection points
 Net work security features.
Service Control Protocol
 The SCP provide access to the database
for additional routing information used
in call processing.
 SCP is the key element for delivering IN
applications on the telephony network.
 The SCP provide the conversion
between SS7 and X.25 protocols.
Service Control Protocol
 The following databases are most
common in the SS7 network
 800 Database
 Line Information Database (LIDB)
 Home Location Register (HLR)
 Visitor Location Register (VLR)
Signaling Links

 All signaling points in the SS7 network

are connected by signaling links.

 The signaling links are typically 56- and

64-Kbps data network.
Signaling Modes
 The SS7 has three mode of signaling

 Associated Signaling

 Nonassociated Signaling

 Quasi-Associated Signaling
Associated Signaling
 Signaling and voice path are directly
connected between to signaling end
points.
 Associated Signaling is common in
Europe, where the signaling path is
actually derived within the E1 trunk
facilities.
Associated Signaling

Signaling Path
SSP SSP

Voice Path
Nonassociated Signaling
 It uses a separate logical path for
signaling and voice.
 The signaling message travel through
multiple endpoints before reaching the
final destination
 It is the most common form of signaling
in SS7 network
NonAssociated Signaling

Signaling Path
STP STP

SSP SSP
Voice Path
Quasi-Associated Signaling
 Uses a separate logical path for
signaling through the minimal number
of transfer point to reach the final
destination.
 Network delay is minimum.
 It is more costly them the
Nonassociated method.
Quasi-Associated Signaling

STP
Si

h
gn
t
Pa al
in
g
g
in

Pa
al
gn

t h
Si

SSP SSP
Voice Path
Signaling Links and Linksets

STP B-Links STP

B-Links
C-Links

C-Links
SCP SCP

B-Links
STP STP

F-Links
SSP SSP
Signaling Links and Linksets
 A Links
 Interaction between signaling end points (SSPs or SCPs) and
STPs.
 The STP routes the A-link message received from the
originating SCP Or SSP towards the destination.
 Bridge Links (B-links)
 Interaction between the mated pair of STPs
 There mated STPs are peers operating at the same time
hierarchical level and are interconnected through a quad of B-
links.
 B-links carry signaling message from the original to the
intended destination
Signaling Links and Linksets
 Cross Links (C-Links)
 Interconnects a STP with its mate.
 C-links are use only when failure or congestion
occurs.
 Under normal conditions, these links carry only
management traffic.
 Diagonal Links (D-links)
 Interconnects mated STP pairs of one hierarchical
level to meted STP pairs of another hierarchical
level.
 Diagonal Links

STP STP D-Links STP

SCP SCP

STP STP D-Links STP

Other Network
SSP SSP
Signaling Links and Linksets
 Extended Links (E-links)
 Interconnects SSP to an alternate STP
 More reliable
 F-links
 Used to directly interconnect two signaling
end point.
 There links are used when STPs are not
available or high traffic volume exits.
SS7 Protocol Stack
OSI Model Signaling Point Function SS7 Level
Layer 7

Layer 6 TCAP
Layer 5
ISUP TUP Layer 4

Layer 4 SCCP
Layer 3 MTP L3 Layer 3

Layer 2 MTP L2 Layer 2

Layer 1 MTP L1 Layer 1

SS7 Protocol Stack
 MTP
 Message Transfer Part
 ISUP
 ISDN User Part
 TUP
 Telephone User Part
 TCAP
 Transaction Capabilities Application Part
 SCCP
 Signaling Connection and Control Part
ISUP (ISDN User Part)
 This user part is used to setup and tear
down circuits for calls in PSTN.
 ISUP has replaced TUP (Telephone User
Part).
 ISUP was designed to be compatible
with ISDN signaling.
SCCP
 SCCP is the Signaling Connection and
Control Part
 SCCP is used primarily to access databases
in the entire network
 Segmentation & Reassembly of TCAP
messages. (TCAP provides transport
capabilities to application entities)
 End to end addressing
SCCP
 SCCP provides services on the top of
MTP3
 The combination of those two layers are
the network service part.
 Topically uses SCCP to access database
 SCCP routing services enable the STP to
perform global title translation using
OPC subsection number
CIC (Circuit identification code)
 Identifies the circuit being setup or
reject for example.
 IAM
 ACM
 ANM
TCAP
 TCAP is the Transaction Capabilities
Application Part
 TCAP provides a protocol to enable
transactions with a database and to invoke
remote operations on a switch e.g. Call
Back on Busy.
 All IN server access relies on TCAP.
Example 800/900 call.
 Access database
TCAP
 TCAP uses SCCP and MTP protocols to
route message end to end
 Different from ISUP, which pass
message switch to switch.
 Two portions
 Transaction (begin or query)
 Component portions (error or reject)
Physical Layer – MTP L1
 The physical layer (L1) of the MTP
defines the physical and electrical
characteristics of the signaling link.
 Also called MTP1, this SS7 protocol
layer is virtually identical to OSI L1.
 Some possible MTP1 networks are.
 T1, DS-0, E1, 56/64 Kbps and V.35
Data Layer – MTP L2
 The data layer (L2) of the SS7 protocol
is MTP L2, also called MTP2.
 The MTP2 protocol is used to create
reliable point-to-point links between
endpoint in the network
 MTP2 does not run across the network,
therefore it is not connected with the
final destination of the message.
Data Layer – MTP L2
 MTP2 has the following mechanisms
 Error detection and correction.
 Sequence of packet
 Link status indicator
Data Layer – MTP L2
 Three type signal units provide MTP2 data
layer function
 Fill-in Signal Unit (FISU)
 Provide link error detection in SS7 network
 Link Status Signal Unit (LSSU)
 Provides link status on the link between two directly
connected signaling element.
 Message Signal Unit (MSU)
• Provides the structure to carry the information massage
in the SS7 network
Network Layer – MTP3
 The MTP3 protocol routes SS7 messages
and relies on the delivery of the
message from MTP2.
 The MTP# protocol is divided in to two
main function
 Signaling message handling (SMH)
 Route SS7 message during normal condition.
 SNM – reroute link traffic duration network
failure condition.
Application Services Elements

ASE Application Service Element

TCAP

SCCP

MTP
Basic Call Setup and
Teardown Example
STP1 STP2

1 IAM 2 ACM 2 ACM

1 IAM

4 REL 3 ANM
4 REL 3 ANM

5 RLC 5 RLC

SSP1 Voice Trunk SSP2

Example
 Organizing call

 Collecting info

 Analyzing info

 Selecting route state

800 Database Query Example
800
STP2
SCP

3 Response (End)

2 Query (Begin)

3 Response (End)

1 Query (Begin)
SSP1 STP1
 Call Simulation (1)
SS7 Network

STP

STP
STP
STP

IAM3
IAM2
IAM1 SP
SP
SP

SP

PSTN Switches Network

 Call Simulation (2)
SS7 Network

STP

STP
STP
STP

ACM1

ACM2
SP
ACM3
SP
SP

SP

PSTN Switches Network

 Call Simulation (3)
SS7 Network

STP

STP
STP
STP
ANM1
ANM2
ANM3
SP
SP
SP

SP

PSTN Switches Network

 Call Simulation (4)
SS7 Network

STP

STP
STP
STP

REL2
REL2
REL1 SP
SP
SP

SP

PSTN Switches Network

 Call Simulation (5)
SS7 Network

STP

STP
STP
STP

REL2
REL2
REL1 SP
SP
SP

SP

PSTN Switches Network

 Call Simulation (6)
SS7 Network

STP

STP
STP
STP

RLC1

SP
SP
SP

SP

PSTN Switches Network

 Call Simulation (7)
SS7 Network

STP

STP
STP
STP

RLC2
SP
SP
SP

SP

PSTN Switches Network

 Call Simulation (8)
SS7 Network

STP

STP
STP
STP

RLC3
SP
SP
SP

SP

PSTN Switches Network

 Call Simulation (9)
SS7 Network

STP

STP
STP
STP

SP
SP
SP

SP

PSTN Switches Network