Signaling System #7

(SS7)

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Introduction
 There are two essential components to all
telephone calls. The first, and most obvious, is
the actual content—our voices, faxes, data, etc.
 The second is the information that instructs
telephone exchanges to establish connections
and route the “content” to an appropriate
destination.
 Signaling is concerned with the creation of
standards for the latter to achieve the former.
 These standards are known as protocols.

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 SS7 or Signaling System Number 7 is a
set of protocols that describe a means
of communication between telephone
switches in public telephone networks.

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What is Signaling?
 Signaling refers to the exchange of
information between call components
required to provide and maintain service.
 Examples of signaling between a telephone
user and the telephone network include:
dialing digits, providing dial tone, accessing
a voice mailbox, sending a call-waiting tone
etc.,

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PSTN Signaling
 In order to route telephone traffic through
the Public Switched Telephone Network
(PSTN), it is necessary to communicate with
the switches that make up the PSTN.
 Signaling is a means for transferring
network-related information between
switching nodes, and also between the end
office switches and their subscribers.

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 Signaling is used to do the following:
 Request service from the central office switch
(via going off-hook).
 Provide central office switch with the information
necessary to route a telephone call (via DTMF
addressing digits in a specific format).
 Alert destination address of incoming call
(ringing).
 Provide status information and call supervision
for billing.
Manage network lines/trunks (set up and
teardown calls).

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Types of Signaling
Signaling in Telecommunications Network
 Channel Associated Signaling (CAS) or

 Common Channel Signaling (CCS)

Signaling System Number (SS7) is a form of

Common Channel Signaling.

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Channel Associated Signaling
(CAS)
 In-Band Signaling

 Signaling is transmitted in the same

frequency band as used by voice.

 Voice path is established when the call

setup is complete, using the same path
that the call setup signals used.

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Common Channel Signaling
 Out of Band signaling
 Employs separate, dedicated path for
signaling.
 Voice trunks are used only when a connection
is established, not before.
 Faster Call Setup.
 Enable a wide range of services:
 Caller ID, toll-free
Voice calling.
Trunks

Switch Switch
A B
Signaling Link 9
 Out-of-band signaling establishes a separate
digital channel for the exchange of signaling
information. This channel is called a signaling
link.
 Signaling links are used to carry all the
necessary signaling messages between nodes.
 Thus, when a call is placed, the dialed digits,
trunk selected, and other pertinent information
are sent between switches using their
signaling links, rather than the trunks which
will ultimately carry the conversation.

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CAS vs. CCS
Signaling and Speech
Switch 1 Switch 2

Channel Associated Signaling

Signaling

STP STP

Speech
Switch 1 Switch 2

Common Channel Signaling

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Advantage of CCS over CAS
 Faster call setup
 It allows for signaling at any time in the entire
duration of the call, not only at the beginning.
 Greater Trunking Efficiency:- CCS has shorter call set up
and tear down times that result in less call holding time,
thereby reducing the traffic on the network.
 Information Transfer:- CCS allows the transfer of
additional information along with the signaling traffic
providing facilities such as caller identification
 allows for signaling between any switches (not just
directly-connected )

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SS7
• Signaling System 7 (SS7) is an architecture for
performing out-of-band signaling in support of the
call-establishment, billing, routing, and
information-exchange functions of the public
switched telephone network (PSTN).

• They have been created and controlled by various

bodies around the world, but the principal
organization with responsibility for their
administration is the International
Telecommunications Union or ITU-T.

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SS7 History
 CCITT developed a digital signaling standard
called Signaling System 6
 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.
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SS7 Principle
 Out of band Signaling
 Higher Signaling data rates (56Kbps & 64 Kbps)
 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

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Components of SS7

SSP STP SCP

SSP – Signaling Switching Points

STP - Signaling Transfer Points

SCP – Signaling Control Points 16

Components of SS7
SSP’s:
 Telephone switches equipped with SS7 software
 Capable of originating, terminating or switch calls

STP’s:
 Packet switches of SS7 network
 Route incoming signaling messages to proper
destination
SCP’s:
 Databases providing information necessary for
advanced call-processing

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Typical SS7 Network

SCP’s

SSP’s STP’s 18
 SS7
signaling transfer point (STP):
• packet-switches of SS7 network
• send/receive/route signaling messages

signaling control point (SCP):

•“services” go here
• e.g., database functions

signaling switching
point (SSP):
• attach directly to end
user
• endpoints of SS7
network

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SS7 Network Architecture

STP
STP

STP

STP

STP

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SS7 Link Types

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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)
C link (cross) Connects STPs performing identical
functions, forming a mated pair (for greater
reliability)
D link Connects a secondary (local or regional) STP
(diagonal) 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 Connects an SSP to an alternate STP
(extended)
F link Connects two signaling end points (SSPs 22
(fully and SCPs) in the same local network
SS7 Protocol Suite
OSI Layers

Applicatio OMAP MAP

n
Presentatio
n TCAP ISUP
Session
Transport SCCP

Network MTP Level 3

Data Link MTP Level 2
Physical MTP Level 1
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The Message Transfer Part
 The function of MTP is to ensure the
signaling traffic can be transferred and
delivered reliably between the end-
users and the network.
 MTP is provided at three levels
 Signaling data link functions (MTP
Level 1) provide an interface to the
actual physical channel over which
communication takes place.
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MTP Level 1 contd..,
 Physical channels may include
copper wire, twisted pair, fiber,
mobile radio or satellite links.
 CCITT recommends 64 kbps
transmissions, while ANSI
recommends 56 kbps.

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MTP Level 2
 Signaling link functions (MTP Level 2)
correspond to the second layer in the OSI
reference model.
 Provides a reliable link for the transfer of
traffic between two directly connected
signaling points.
 Variable Length packet messages (called
message signal units MSUs) are defined in
MTP Level 2.
 Implements flow control, error detection and
correction.

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MTP Level 3
 Signaling network functions (MTP Level 3)
provide procedures that transfer messages
between signaling nodes.
 Level 3 have two major functions as Signaling
Message Handling and Signaling Network
Management.
 Signaling message handling is used to provide
routing, distribution and traffic discrimination.
 Traffic discrimination is the process by which a
signaling point determines whether or not a
packet data messages in intended for its use or
not.

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MTP Level 3 contd..,
Signaling network management allows
 Determine the outgoing link
 Rerouting in case of link failure
 Allocate alternate routing facilities in case of congestion or
blockage in parts of the network.
 Provides a number of services to the protocol layer

above it
o The transfer of messages indicating availability of resources
o MTP-Transfer request, MTP-Transfer indication, MTP-Pause
indication, MTP-Resume indication, and MTP-Status indication

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SCCP (Signaling
Connection Control Part)
 SCCP provides connectionless and
connection-oriented network services
 It also provides enhanced addressing
mechanism known as GTT-global title
translation.
 A global title is an address (e.g., a dialed 800
number, calling card number) which is
translated by SCCP into a destination point
code.

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Telephone User Part (TUP)
 Telephony User Part (TUP) provides
conventional PSTN telephony services across
the SS7 network.
 TUP was the first layer 4 protocol defined by
the standards bodies and as such did not
provision for ISDN services.
 Prior to the introduction of ISUP, national
variants of TUP have evolved which provide
varying degrees of support for ISDN.

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ISUP (Integrated Services User
Part)
 The ISDN User Part (ISUP) provides the services required by
the Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN).
 ISDN supports basic telephony in a manner similar to TUP, but
with a greater variety of messages and parameters in order to
implement ISDN type services within the network.
 Many telephony networks worldwide are migrating to ISUP.
 ISUP messages
 IAM, initiate a call
 ANM, a call has been accepted
 REL, a call disconnect
 A connection-oriented protocol
 Related to the establishment of connections between users

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ISUP (Integrated Services User
Part) Contd…..

Telephone User Part (TUP):

 Basic call setup and tear down.

 In many countries, ISUP has

replaced TUP for call management.

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ISUP Messages
 Initial address message (IAM): contains all necessary information
for a switch to establish a connection.

 Address complete message (ACM): 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 (this acknowledges receipt of REL)

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TCAP (Transaction
capabilities applications part)
 TCAP in SS7 refers to the application layer
which invokes the services of SCCP and the
MTP in a hierarchical format
 One application at a node is thus able to
execute an application at another node and
use these results.
 For connectionless signaling
 Thus, TCAP is concerned with management
of transactions and procedures between
remote applications.

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OMAP (Operation Maintenance
and Administration Part)
 The OMAP functions include
monitoring, coordination and
control functions to ensure that
trouble free communications are
possible

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 Example: signaling a POTS
call
4. STP X forwards IAM
3. STP W forwards IAM SSP B
to STP X
2. SSP A formulates
Initial Address
Message (IAM),
forwards to STP W
W
Y
1. caller goes
offhook, dials
callee. SSP A
decides to route X
call via SSP B.
Assigns idle trunk
A-B
A B

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 Example: signaling a POTS
call
5. B determines it serves callee, creates address
completion message (ACM[A,B,trunk]), rings
callee phone, sends ringing sound on trunk
to A

6. ACM routed to Z to Y to A

W Z
7. SSP A receives ACM,
connects subscriber
line to allocated A-B
trunk (caller hears
ringing) Y X

A B

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 Example: signaling a POTS
call
8. Callee goes off hook, B
creates, sends answer
message to A
(ANM[A,B,trunk])

9. ANM routed to A

W Z

10. SSP A receives ANM,

checks caller is
connected in both
directions to trunk. Y X
Call is connected!

A B

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 Example: signaling a 800
ca11
800 number: logical phone number
• Translation to physical phone number needed, e.g., 1-800-CALL_ATT translates to 162-962-1943

3. M performs lookup,
sends reply to A
M
2. STP W forwards W
request to M

1. Caller dials 800 Y

number, A recognizes
800 number,
formulates translation A
A B
query, send to STP W
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 Example: signaling a 800
ca11

M
W Z

1. A begins signaling to
set up call to number X
associated with 800
number
A
A B

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Applications
 Prepaid Calling
 Local Number Portability (LNP)
 Global Roaming
 International Callback
 Internet Call Waiting/ Caller ID
 Least Cost Routing
 800 / Free Phone Services
 Tele-voting
 Location-based Services
 Caller Ring Back Tone (CRBT)

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 Limitations of SS7
 SS7 was not designed for Data Applications

 Voice was the only consideration

 Limited or no Intelligence

 Doesn’t provide any information about

Session Capabilities

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 Today's Demands
 Presence Management
 Media Negotiation
 Convergence
 Enhanced Telecom Service
 Digital whiteboard Conferencing
 Intelligent Call Routing
 Enhanced Telecom Services
 Find – Me
 Follow – Me
 Do – Not – Disturb

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 Features of VoIP
 Packet Switched (Better utilization of Bandwidth)

 Voice can be compressed up to 4 to 8 kbps

compared to 64kbps of Uncompressed speech

 Silence periods can be removed

 Call setup (signaling) is out-of-Band

 Billing can be made independent of Distance

 Advanced telephony features are possible with VOIP

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 Some Applications of VoIP
 Click to talk web sites for e-commerce

 Digital whiteboard conferencing

 Broadcast audio and video

 Unified Messaging

 Fax over IP

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Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)

 IETF Standard Signaling Protocol

 Establishes multimedia Sessions

Features of SIP

 User Location

 User Availability

 Call Setup

 User Capabilities

 Session Management

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Sip Components

User Agents (phones, gateways)

 UserAgentClient
 UserAgentServer
Servers

 Proxy Server
 Registrar Server
 Redirect Server
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SIP Requests
 INVITE

 MESSAGE

 ACK

 BYE

 CANCEL

 REGISTER

 OPTIONS

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SIP Responses
Provisional Responses (Indicate Progress)

 1XX(ringing, queuing): 100 Trying

180 Ringing

Final Responses (Terminate SIP Transactions)

 2XX(success): 200 OK
 3XX(redirection): 301 Moved permanently
 4XX(client failure): 401 Unauthorized
 5XX(server failure): 500 Server Error
 6XX(global failure): 600 Busy

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