SCP

SSP

STP

STP

SSP

INWK6113
Signaling System #7
Based on Autry Owen slides

Lesson 4

Many slides courtesy of

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Signaling System #7
History / Background / Why?
Signaling Taxonomy Services Network Architecture Signaling Protocol

Signaling System #7 (SS7)

SS7: First issued by CCITT in 1980, SS7 is designed to be an open-ended common-channel signaling standard that can be used over a variety of digital circuit-switched networks. SS7 is specifically designed to be used in IDNs.

So What?: SS7 is how the commercial world does subnetwork signaling and is the definition of advanced intelligent network. Current fixed station circuit switches interface SS7. Future tactical systems must interface SS7 if they are to interface the PSTN.
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Step 1: Obtain Traffic Data

Conceptually simple; difficult in practice

Sources of traffic information

Carrier bills Shows only chargeable calls

Carrier design studies or traffic reports

Traffic reports from PBX CDR (Call Detail Report) Reports specific to manufacturer Third party software and hardware available for analysis
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Sample CDR Report

tran_date ------------------08/01/97 - 00:05:00 08/01/97 - 00:07:00 08/01/97 - 00:31:00 08/29/97 - 23:35:00 08/30/97 - 04:29:00 08/30/97 - 20:50:36 --Total Calls: Total Minutes: Total Cost: durationckt dialing_no dialed_no charge extension facility_name pbx -------- ---- ------------- --------------------------------------- ----2 30 61445 1181352196009 0.68 0 IDDD_SJ1 SJ1 2 1 71820 1181352196009 0.68 0 IDDD_SJ1 SJ1 1 30 77456 1181352196028 0.34 0 IDDD_SJ1 SJ1 1 30 77458 1181352196028 0.34 0 IDDD_SJ1 SJ1 2 6 66151 1181352196028 0.68 0 IDDD_SJ1 SJ1 2 30 61035 1181352196009 1.02 0 IDDD_SJ1 SJ1 --------- ----- -----------Query Summ ary --------- ----- -----------595 2382.3 900.17

Signaling Networks Elements

I.451/Q.931 SS7 STP Control Plane STP SP STP SP SP SP STP SP SP
STP Signaling Transfer Point

User

User

SP

SP Signaling Point

Information Plane User

LE
TC TC

LE

User
LE Local exchange

TC Transit center

LE

TC

LE
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Signaling Network Structures...

Designation

Connection
SP to SP STP to STP at the same level of hierarchy STP to mated STP

Use
Provides access to the signaling network from the switching office Primary routing of messages from one SP to another via multiple STPs Communication between paired STPs; Also provides alternate rote around failed B links Routing of messages up or down in a hierarchy Provides direct connection to nonhome STP from a switching office Provides direct access between switching offices with a high community of interest
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A B C D E F

STP to STP at different levels of hierarchy SP to STP SP to SP

SS7
Bit Rate Link Capacity Max Msg Length 56/64 Kbps 20k - 30k Ckts 256 Bytes

Routing

Destination Layered (substantial flexibility)

Structure

Characterization of Signaling Mechanisms

Source of Signaling Channel Signaling Modes of Operations Number of Traffic Channels per Signal Channel Signaling End Points Out-of-band Two modes: Quasi-Associated and Associated Common Channel Signal Switching Points, Signal Transfer Points, Signal Control Points Digital, Packet-switched (S&F) Technology Spurt Multiple Messages Explicit or Implicit
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Nature of Signaling Signal Duration of Signal Form/Content of Signaling Information Acknowledgment of Control Signal

SS7 is Subnetwork Signaling

End-User Devices End-User Devices

Subnetwork Signaling

End-User/Subscriber Signaling
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Intelligent Network Concept

End-User Devices
STP

End-User Devices

STP
SCP

SP

Sub-network Signaling
SCP STP STP SP

SP

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AIN Services
Personal communication service (PCS)

800 Database Service Call-setup services Alternate Billing Services

Calling card verification 3d party billing

Voice-activated dialing (VAD)

Trunk Signaling

Network 9-1-1
Network-based ACD Area-wide Centrex
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Private Virtual Networks

AIN Services
Continued

Class Services
Customer Originating Trace

Automatic Recall
Automatic Callback Calling Name Delivery

Calling Number Delivery

Calling Number Delivery Blocking Distinctive Ringing / Call-waiting Tone

Selective Call Forwarding

Selective Call Rejection Selective Call Acceptance
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Signaling Network Elements

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SS7 Networks
M
L P

X B C

Z D

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Hierarchical Signaling Network

STP
Upper STP level

STP

STP SP

STP

STP

STP

Lower STP level

STP

STP

STP SP

STP

SP

SP

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SS7 Link Types

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SS7 Protocol Architecture

Application
Presentatio n INAP MAP TCAP OMAP

ISUP
Transparent DUP TUP

Session
Transport Network Data Link Physical

SCCP Signaling Network Signaling Link Control Signaling Data Link (Message Transfer Part Level 3) (Message Transfer Part Level 2) (Message Transfer Part Level 1)
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SS7 Data Link Layer

Application
Presentatio n INAP MAP TCAP OMAP

ISUP Transparent
DUP TUP

Session
Transport

SCCP Network Data Link Signaling Network Signaling Link Control (Message Transfer Part Level 3) (Message Transfer Part Level 2) (Message Transfer Part Level 1)
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Physical

Signaling Data Link

SS7 Signaling Link Layer

Application
Presentatio n Session Transport SCCP Network Data Link Physical Signaling Network Signaling Link Control Signaling Data Link (Message Transfer Part Level 3) (Message Transfer Part Level 2) (Message Transfer Part Level 1)
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INAP MAP TCAP

OMAP

ISUP Transparent

DUP

TUP

SS7 Messages: Signal Units

FISU
Flag

LSSU

Flag

MSU

Flag

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Signal Unit Formats

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SU Field Codes
Field
Flag Length Indicator (LI) (6-bits) Fill-In Signal Unit (FISU)

# of Bits
8 6 6 6 6 7 1 7 1 8 4 4 0 12 01111110

Value

Link Status Signal Unit (LSSU)

Message Signal Unit (MSU)

363 (63 = 63<x<273)

Backward Sequence Number (BSN)

Backward Indicator Bit (BIB)

Forward Sequence Number (FSN)

Forward Indicator Bit (FIB) Service Information Octet (SIO) Service Indicator Subservice Field

0100 = TUP, 0101 = ISUP

2 spare bits, nat or intl ind

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SS7 Signaling Network Layer

Application
Presentatio n Session Transport SCCP Network Data Link Physical Signaling Network Signaling Link Control Signaling Data Link (Message Transfer Part Level 3) (Message Transfer Part Level 2) (Message Transfer Part Level 1)
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INAP MAP TCAP

OMAP

ISUP Transparent

DUP

TUP

Connection Control Part

Application
Presentatio n Session Transport SCCP Network Data Link Physical Signaling Network Signaling Link Control Signaling Data Link (Message Transfer Part Level 3) (Message Transfer Part Level 2) (Message Transfer Part Level 1)
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INAP MAP TCAP

OMAP

ISUP Transparent

DUP

TUP

Global Title Translation

STP SSP

STP

SCP

SSP
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SS7 Protocol Architecture

ET
SSP

STP

STP

Enhanced User Services

MAP VLR VLR MAP

SCCP Q.931 LAPD I.43X MTP3 MTP2 MTP1 MTP3 MTP 2 MTP 1

SCCP MTP3 MTP 2 MTP 1

SCCP MTP3 MTP2 MTP1

MTP3

MTP3

MTP2 MTP1

MTP2 MTP1

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User / Application Parts

Application
Presentatio n Session Transport SCCP Network Data Link Physical Signaling Network Signaling Link Control Signaling Data Link (Message Transfer Part Level 3) (Message Transfer Part Level 2) (Message Transfer Part Level 1)
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INAP MAP TCAP

OMAP

ISUP Transparent

DUP

TUP

SS7 Protocol Architecture

D

ET

SSP

STP

STP

SSP

ET

Signaling and Call Control

ISUP

ISUP

Q.931 LAPD I.43X

MTP3 MTP2 MTP1

MTP3 MTP2 MTP1

MTP3 MTP2 MTP1

MTP3 MTP 2 MTP 1

MTP3 MTP 2 MTP 1

MTP3 MTP2 MTP1

Q.931 LAPD I.43X

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SS7 Call Setup

W X

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Protocol Architecture
OSI Model
Application Presentation Session OMAP SS7 Model ASEs OMAP Operation, Maintenance,
and Administration

ASE Application service element TCAP Transaction capabilities

application part

TCAP ISUP

ISUP ISDN user part SCCP Signaling Connection

Control Part

Transport
SCCP Signaling network

MTP Message Transfer Part NSP Network Service Part

Network

NSP Data Link Physical Signaling link Signaling data link

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MTP

Message Transfer Part

SIGNALING-DATA-LINK Level
full duplex physical link at <=64 kbps

SIGNALING-LINK LEVEL
All transmitted blocks of data are delivered with no losses or duplications. Blocks of data are delivered in the same order in which they were transmitted. Highly related to LAPD and LAPB
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Message Transfer Part - Level 3

Level 3 MTP
Upper levels Level 4 TUP ISUP SCCP DUP Signaling Message Handling Message Distribution Message Routing Signaling Network Management Signaling Route Management Signaling Route Management Signaling Link Management
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Level 2 MTP

Message Discrimination

Signaling Message Flow

Indications and Controls

Testing and Maintenance

E&M Example
Condition at A Signal B to A M - Lead E - Lead On - Hook Ground Open On - Hook Battery Open Off - Hook Ground Ground Off - Hook Battery Ground Condition at B M - Lead E - Lead Ground Open Ground Ground Battery Open Battery Ground
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Direction Signal A to B On - Hook Off - Hook On - Hook Off - Hook

Signaling Architecture Components

Function SSP's are telephone switches (end offices or tandems) equipped Signal Switching Points with SS7-capable software and terminating signaling links. They (SSP's) generally originate, terminate, or switch calls. STP's are the packet switches of the SS7 network. The receive Signal Transfer Points (STP's) and route incoming signaling messages towards the proper destination. They also perform specialized routing functions. SCP's are databases that provide information necessary for Signal Control Points (SCP's) advanced call-processing capabilities Component

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SS7 Link Types connects a SSP or A Link: An access link

SCP to an STP.
B Link: A bridge link connects an STP to another STP. C Link: A cross link connects two mated pair STP. This is done to improve reliability D Link: A diagonal links similarly to a B link

E Link: An extended link connects an SSP to an extra STP in the event that the A link cannot reach one. F Link: A fully associated link connects SSPs
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SS7 Relationship to OSI

OSI Model 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Application Presentation Session Transport Network Data Link Physical SS7

SCCP (signaling connection control) Signaling Network Functions Signaling Link Control Signaling Data Link
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SS7 Data-Link Layer (Layer 1)

Physical layer in OSI
Two bi-directional transmission paths for signaling Two data channels running in opposite directions at same date rate (usually 56-64K)

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SS7 Signal Link Layer (Layer 2)

Signal unit alignment and delimitation
Error detection

Error correction (preventive cyclic retransmission method) Flow Control

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SS7 Signal Units

Signaling units come in three types
1) MSU (message signal unit) - carries
signaling information 2) LSSU (link station signal unit) carries the link status information 3) FISU (Fill-in signal unit) - fills in idle

time

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SS7 Network Functions (Layer 3)

Message-handling functions
* message routing: used at each signaling point to determine the outgoing link * message discrimination: determines if a received message is destined for it, or another point * message distribution: delivers received message to correct user part

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SS7 Network Functions (Layer 3)

Traffic Management Functions
* To control message routing. This includes modification of message routing to destination points, or to continue normal routing. * Control signaling traffic by avoiding irregularities in message flow

* Flow control

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SS7 Network Functions (Layer 3)

Link Management
* Can restore the availability of a link set
* Monitors status of signaling link * Corrects out-of-service links * Can provision new signaling links * Automatically configures/reconfigures

signaling links

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SS7 Connection Control Part

Services:
- connection oriented
- connection-less - peer-to-peer communication * Connection established * Data transfer starts

* Connection releases

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Introduction of IN
Generic SCP Application Software SCP Service Management System Calling card services 800-/900-services

STP

SP

Generic Call Processing Triggers Service independent

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Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN)

Service-independent telecommunications Intelligence moved out of switches
Signaling Switching Center STP STP

SP

SP
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Signaling Connection Control Part

the addressing capabilities of SCCP extend those found in MTP, which is limited to delivering a message to a specified node and using a 4-bit service indicator

Classic circuit-switched telephone call related signaling does not use SCCP.
Another enhancement is the ability to address messages such as dialed digits, that are not in a form usable by MTP for routing.

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 SCCP also provides enhanced message transfer services Class 0 Basic connectionless. Class 1 Sequenced (MTP) connectionless class Class 2 Basic connection-oriented.

Class 3 Flow-control connection-oriented.

Numbering plan for International Signaling a 14 bit binary code is used for id of SP

is geographically based
is administered by ITU-T has no direct relation with telephone #

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SCCP services
Connection-oriented control:
Controls the establishment and release of signaling connections and provides for data transfer on signaling connections.

2. Management:
Provides capabilities beyond those of MTP to handle the congestion or failure of either the SCCP user or the signaling route to the SCCP user. With this capability, SCCP can route messages to backup systems in the event failures prevent routing to the primary system.

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