Signalling System 7 (SS7)

Email : enquiry@ngn­technologies.co.in
Website: www.ngn­technologies.co.in 
Contents
 SS7 Signaling
 SS7 Protocol Architecture

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 SS7 Network Architecture
 Basic Call Setup
 SS7 Applications
 SS7/IP Inter-working
 VoIP Network Configuration
 SIGTRAN Protocol Stack Model
 Network Evolution to an All-IP Network

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SS7 History
 CCITTdeveloped a digital signaling
standard called Signaling System 6

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 SS6 was based on Packet-Switched,
proprietary data network.
 Uses 2.4 Kbps data links to send packets of data
to distant switches to request service.
 SS7 began deployment in 1983, was
initially used for inter office network,
but now it is deployed in local central
offices.
 Provide a global standard for call setup,
routing, control and database access. 3
SS7 Principle
 Out of band Signaling
 Higher Signaling data rates (56Kbps & 64
Kbps)

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 Signaling traffic is bursty and of short
duration, hence operates in
connectionless mode using packet
switching
 Variable length signal units with
maximum size limitation
 Optimum use of bandwidth
 Reliability and flexibility

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SS7 Protocol Stack
OSI SS7

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Protocols
 Message Transfer Part (MTP Level 1)
Physical

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

 Provides an interface to the actual physical

channel over which communication takes
place
 CCITT recommends 64Kbps transmission
whereas ANSI recommends 56 Kbps

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Protocols
 MTP Level 2 (Data Link)

 Ensures accurate end-to-end transmission of a

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message across a signaling link
 Variable Length Packet Messages are defined
here
 Implements flow control, message sequence
validation, error checking and message
retransmission
 Monitor links and reports their status

 Test links before allowing their use

 Provides sequence numbers for outgoing7

messages
Protocols
 MTP Level 3 (Network)


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 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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Protocols
 Signaling Connection Control Part (SCCP)


 Provides connectionless and connection-

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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
(Transaction capabilities applications part)
based services
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Protocols
 Transaction Capabilities
Applications Part (TCAP)


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 Exchange of non-circuit related data
 Between applications across the SS#7
network
 Using the SCCP service
 Queries and responses sent between
Signaling Switching Point (SSPs) and
Signaling Control Point (SCPs)
 Sends and receives database information
 Credit card validation
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 Routing information
 Protocols
Telephone User Part (TUP)


 Basic call setup and tear down

 In many countries, ISUP has replaced TUP

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for call management


ISDN User Part (ISUP)



 Necessary messaging for setup and tear

down of all circuits (voice and digital)
 Messages are sent from a switch, to the
switch where the next circuit connection
is required
 Call circuits are identified using circuit 11

identification code (CIC)

SS7 Networks

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STP
STP

STP

STP

STP

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SS7 Components

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Service switching point (SSP)
 SSPs are switches that have SS7 software and
terminating signaling links
 SSPs create packets (signal units) and send

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those messages to other SSPs, as well as
queries to remote shared databases to find
out how to route calls
 SSPs communicate with the voice switch via
the use of primitives and have the ability to
send messages using ISUP (call setup and
teardown) and TCAP (database lookup)
protocols.
 The switch can originate, terminate, or switch
calls

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Service switching point (SSP)
 Local exchange in the telecommunication network
 SSP can be

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 a combined voice and SS7 switch
 an adjunct computer connected to a local
exchange’s voice switch
 SSP communicates with the voice switch via
primitives and creates signal units for
communication over SS7 network
 SSP converts signaling from voice switch into SS7
format
 SSP may send messages for data base queries
through SS7 network
 SS7 traffic has been mainly circuit-related but is
now becoming more non-circuit-related 15
Signaling transfer point (STP)

 STPs are packet switches, and act like routers

in the SS7 network.

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 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
 There are three levels of STPs.
 National Signal Transfer Point
 International Signal Transfer Point

 Gateway Signal Transfer Point

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STP Levels
SSP SSP
ITU-TS

INTERNATIONAL

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STP

GATEWAY
STP

NATIONAL
STP
ANSI 17
SSP SSP
National STP exists within the national network
 Protocol converters often interconnect a
National and an International STP by
converting from ANSI to ITU-TS.
International STP functions within an
international network.

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 All nodes connecting to an International STP
must use the ITU-TS protocol standard.
Gateway STP converts signaling data from one

protocol to another.
 Gateway STPs are often used as an access
point to the international network.
 Depending on its location, the Gateway STP
must be able to use both the International
and National protocol standards.
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Signaling transfer point (STP)

 Other tasks of the STP include

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 traffic
measurements
 usage measurements
 Traffic measurements are used for
performance monitoring of the SS7 and
telecommunication network
 Usage measurements are used for billing
purposes

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Service control point (SCP)
 An SCP is usually a computer used as a
front end to a database system.
 It is an interface to application-specific

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databases.
 The address of an SCP is a point code, and
the address of the database it interfaces
with is a subsystem number.
 The database is an application entity
which is accessed via the TCAP protocol.
 Databases that provides information
necessary for advanced call processing
capabilities
 Accepts a query for information from a
subsystem at another node
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 Used by STP to perform a function called
global title translation
 Databases Accessible via SCP
Home Location Used in cellular networks to store
HLR Register subscriber information.

Local Number Allows people to change service

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LNP Portability providers but keep their same telephone
number

Operation Support Associated with remote maintenance

OSS System center for monitoring and managing SS7
and voice networks.

Visitor Location Used when a cell phone is not

VLR Register recognized by the mobile switching 21
center (MSC).
Operations Support Systems

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Operations Support Systems

 OSS are remote maintenance centers for

monitoring and management of SS7

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networks
 Monitoring takes place through digital
interfaces, on-site personnel is no longer
required.
 OSS provides maintenance personnel with an
interface into the network and allows to view
the status of network elements, e.g. SSPs,
STPs, etc, on larger screens.
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 SS7 Link Types

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STP

STP
STP STP STP

STP STP STP

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SS7 Link Types
A link (access) Connects signaling end point (SCP or SSP) to STP

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

of B links interconnect peer (or primary) STPs (STPs
from a network connect to STPs of another network)

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C link (cross) Connects STPs performing identical functions,
forming a mated pair (for greater reliability)

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

a primary (inter-network gateway) STP pair in a
quad-link configuration; the distinction between B
and D links is arbitrary
E link (extended) Connects an SSP to an alternate STP

F link Connects two signaling end points (SSPs and SCPs)

(fully associated) in the same local network
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 Addressing in SS7 Network
Point Codes are carried in signaling messages
and exchanged between signaling points to
identify the source and destination of each

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message (24 bit address).

1 1 1

NETWORK CLUSTER MEMBER 26

IDENTITY IDENTITY IDENTITY
 What goes over Signaling Link
Signaling information is passed over the signaling link
in form of messages, which are called signaling units
(SUs)

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

 Signal Units are the data packets that are sent in an

SS7 network.
 SS7 uses three types of signal units
 SS7 network management uses all three types of
signal units whereas information is sent using only
one type of signal unit
 SS7 is different to other types of data networks as it
does not provide user-to-user data transmission
but machine-to-machine data transmission
 Signal Units rely on the services of the MTP for 27
routing, link control, and error control
Message Signal Unit

 MSU carries SS7 information

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 MSU consists of MTP protocol fields and two
additional fields
 Service indicator octet (SIO)
 indicates type of protocol at level 4, e.g. TUP,
ISUP, and type of standard, e.g. national,
international.
 Service information field (SIF)
 used to carry control information as well as level 3
routing label. SIF can be up to 272 octets and is
used by all level 4 protocols

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Link Status Signal Unit (LSSU)

 Used to carry link status information

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 Used by level 3 at one node to transmit link
status information to its adjacent node
 LSSU only used on single point-to-point links,
never through the network
 No information traffic is carried on a link when
LSSU are sent

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Fill-In Signal Unit (FISU)

 FISU is used when no information needs be

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sent and the network is idle
 FISU is used to monitor error rates on links.
This allows SS7 to be highly reliable as it can
detect link quality even when idle
 In addition to FISU transmission the MTP
protocol is constantly monitoring the link
status

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Primitives

 Primitives are used to provide standard

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interfaces between the 4 levels of the SS7
protocol architecture
 Primitives are commonly used to define
interfaces. However, primitives are not seen
in the network and are typically software
functions at each signalling point
 Primitive are not unique to SS7, but types
used are unique

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SS7 Primitive Structure

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Primitive Fields

 X - indicates originator of primitive

 “MTP” if the MTP is passing information to ISUP

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 Generic name - indicates the type of
information being provided
 When information regarding address of
originator (calling party address) is sent from
ISUP to MTP, generic name is “unitdata”
 generic name will different between levels
 Specific name - describes the action to be
taken
 request, indication, response, confirmation
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Basic Call Setup Example

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15

2 6,10

1 5
13
9

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 ISUP Messages
 Initialaddress message (IAM): contains all
necessary information for a switch to
establish a connection
 Address complete message (ACM):

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acknowledge to IAM; the required circuit is
reserved and the “phone is ringing” (ring
back tone)
 Answer message (ANM): occurs when the
called party picks up the phone
 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 35

(this acknowledges receipt of REL)

SS7 Applications
 Prepaid Calling  Unified Messaging
 Local Number  800 / Free Phone
Portability (LNP) Services

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 Global Roaming  Short Message Service
 International Callback (SMS)
 Virtual Office  Tele-voting

 Internet Call Waiting/  Location-based

Caller ID Services
 Least Cost Routing  Caller Ring Back Tone

 Toll Bypass
(CRBT)

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Implementation of SS7 in GSM
radio network and switching
Fixed partner networks
subsystem subsystem

MS MS

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ISDN
PSTN
Um MSC

BTS Abis
BSC EIR
BTS

SS7
HLR

BTS VLR
BSC ISDN
BTS MSC PSTN
A 37
BSS IWF
PDN
Features of SS7 over IP
 Flow Control
 In-Sequence Delivery of Signaling
Messages within a single control stream

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 Identification of the originating and
terminating signaling points
 Identification of voice circuits
 Error detection, re-transmission and other
error correcting procedures.
 Controls to avoid congestion on the
internet.
 Detection of status of peer entities. 38

 Support for security mechanism.

SIGTRAN Protocol Stack Model
The SIGTRAN’s protocol


specify the means by

which SS7 messages can
be reliably transported
over IP network.

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

The architecture identifies



three component
 A standard IP
A common signaling
transport protocol for
SS7 protocol layer being
carried.
 An adaptation module to
emulate lower layers of
the protocol. 39
Stream Control Transmission
Protocol(SCTP) Allows the reliable
transfer of signaling
messages between
signaling end points in
an IP network

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 Allows signaling
messages to be
independently ordered
with in multiple streams
to ensure in sequence
delivery between
associated end points.
 SIGTRAN recommends
SCTP rather than TCP/IP
for transmission of
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signaling messages
over IP networks.
ITU-T SS7 Specifications

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BRAINSTORMING
 What is the full form of SS7
 Signalling System 7

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 What is the signalling type used in SS7
 Common Channel Signalling

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 What are the functions of MTP Layer
 MTP1 (Physical)

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 MTP2 (Data Link)
 MTP3 (Netwok)

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 What are the Components in SS7 Architecture
 Service Switching Point (SSP)

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 Signal Transfer Point (STP)
 Service Control Point (SCP)

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 Name the Call Handling Layers in SS7
Stack

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 Telephone User Part (TUP)
 ISDN User Part (ISUP)

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 Name the Database Handling Layers in
SS7 Stack

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 Transaction and Capabilities Application Part
(TCAP)

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 What are the types of Signalling Units
 Message Signal Unit

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 Link Status Signal Unit
 Fill In Signal Unit

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 What protocol specifies reliable
transport of SS7 over IP

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 Sigtran

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 What is the addressing schema in SS7
Networks

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 PointCode
 Sub System Number

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 Name an important application of SS7
 GSM Networks

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THANK YOU