Dar es Salaam institute of Technology

(DIT)
ETU 07420
Switching Systems
Ally, J
jumannea@gmail.com
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Signaling Network (SS7)

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Common Channel Signaling System No.7

An international standard for exchange of information on call setup,

call routing and control in the PSTN

Standardized by the ITU-T

North American variant standardized by ANSI and Bellcore

The SS7 network enables enhanced services such as:

Call setup, management and teardown

CallerID, call forwarding, 3-way calling, ...

Toll-free (800/888) and toll (900) services

Wireless roaming

Wireless subscriber authentication

SS7 information travels over a separate network

Message-based packet network

SS7 signaling links are dedicated channels, separate from voice

channels
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SS7 Signaling Between Exchange

The SS7 signalling system is described in the Q.700

series of ITU-T recommendations.
A common channel signaling system, optimized for
digital networks, it allows direct transfer of call
information transfer between exchange processors.
Comprising a number of layered and modular parts,
each with a different function, it is a powerful generalpurpose signaling system capable of supporting a range
of applications and administrative functions, including

ISDN (integrated services digital network)

Intelligent networks (INS)

Mobile services (e.g. cellular radio)

Network administration, operation and management

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SS7 Architecture

SS7 signaling is out-of-band, meaning that a signaling link is not in

a voice channel
Out-of-band signaling enables:
Faster call setup than would be possible with in-band signaling
using multifrequency tones
Support for intelligent network features such as database systems
Types of SS7 signaling points:

Service Switching Points (SSPs)

Signal Transfer Points (STPs)

Service Control Points (SCPs)

Addressing and routing

Signaling points are addressed by unique point codes

Message routing uses the source and destination point codes

and routing tables at each signaling point

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An Example of Signaling Network

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SS7 Signaling Points

Service Switching Points (SSPs)

SSPs are PSTN switches that originate or terminate calls, or route
calls to other switches (tandem switches)
SSPs exchange SS7 messages to set up, manage and release voice
circuits

Service Control Points (SCPs)

SCPs are database servers that respond to requests from SSPs for
call routing information

Signal Transfer Points (STPs)

STPs are packet switches that serve as routers in the SS7 network
Incoming SS7 messages are switched to outgoing links based on
routing
information contained in the messages (not just based on the
destination numbers)

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Signaling Point (SP)

A Signaling Point (SP) is a switching or, processing node in a

signaling network, with the functions of SS7 implemented.

All Signaling Points in a SS7 Signaling Network are identified by a

unique code (14 bits 0r 24 bits) known as a Signaling Point Code.

A signaling point, at which a signaling message is generated, is

called the Originating Point.

A signaling point, to which a signaling message is destined, is

called a Destination Point.

A signaling point, at which a message is received on one signaling

link and then transferred to another link, without processing the
contents of the message, is called a Signaling Transfer Point
(STP).

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SS7 Signaling Links

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Types of SS7 Signaling Links

A (access) link
Connects end nodes to STPs

B (bridge) link
Interconnects primary STPs from different networks

C (cross) link
Connects STPs performing identical functions into a mated pair

D (diagonal) link
Interconnects secondary STPs

E (extended) link
Connects an SSP to a secondary STP; alternate access link

F (fully associated) link

Interconnects two end nodes
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Evolution of SS7

Common Channel Signaling System No. 7 (i.e.,

SS7 or C7), which was specified in 1979/80, is
intended primarily for digital networks, both
national and international, where the high
transmission rate (64 kb/s) can be exploited. It
may also be used on analog lines.

SS7 signaling has not only been designed to

control the setting up and supervision of
telephone calls but of non -voice services also.

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Advantages of Using SS7

SS7 has several advantages compared with traditional signaling
systems. Some obvious advantages are the following:

FAST - the time for call set up is reduced to less than one
second in most cases.

HIGH CAPACITY - each signaling link can handle the signaling

for several thousand simultaneous calls.

ECONOMICAL - much less signaling equipment is required,

compared to traditional signaling systems.

RELIABLE - by using alternate signaling routes, the signaling

network can be made very secure.

FLEXIBLE - the system can contain many more signals, for

example, and can be used for other purposes than telephony.
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Fundamentals of SS7

Signaling System 7 (SS7) is an architecture for

performing out-of-band signaling in support of the
call-establishment, billing, routing and informationexchange functions of the public switched
telephone network (PSTN) or public land mobile
network (PLMN).

It identifies functions to be performed by a

signaling-system network and a protocol to enable
their performance.

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An Introduction to Signaling

In a telephony context, signaling means the passing of information

and instructions from one point to another relevant to the setting up
and supervision of a telephone call.
By tradition, Signaling has been divided into two types:
Subscriber Signaling i.e. signaling between a subscriber terminal
(telephone) and the local exchange
Trunk Signaling i.e. signaling between exchanges
Local
Exchange

Subscriber

Local
Exchange

Trunk
Signalling

Signalling

c
c
s

c
a
s

Subscriber
Signalling

c
c
s

c
a
s
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Subscriber Signaling

Calling Party
A_Number

HOOK OFF

Called Party
B_Number

DIAL TONE

NUMBER
RINGING TONE

RINGING SIGNAL
B ANSWER

CONVERSATION

HOOK

ON

HOOK

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ON

Trunk Signaling
The Trunk Signaling has further been divided into:

Channel Associated Signaling (CAS) i.e. signaling in

the speech channel (in-band) or in a channel closely
associated with the speech channel (out-of-band), and

Common Channel Signaling (CCS) i.e. signaling in a

channel totally separated from the speech channels
(out-of-band) and where this Signaling Channel is
common for a large number of speech channels.

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Channel Associated Signaling (CAS)

Characteristic for CAS is that for each speech channel there
is one unambiguously defined signaling path, either Onspeech-path, i.e. the signals are transferred in the speech
channel (in-band signaling) or Channel-associated, i.e. the
signals are transferred in a separate signaling channel, for
example the line signals are transferred in time slot 16 in
PCM system.
All of these signaling systems have a number of limitations
like: Relatively slow, Limited information capacity, etc.
Switch
1

Switch
2

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Voice Trunk
Signaling
Link

Common Channel Signaling (CCS)

In type of CCS, signaling for numerous circuits can be handled by a few
fast signaling data links. The signaling is performed in both directions, with
one signaling channel in each direction.
The signaling information that will be transferred is grouped into signal
units (data packets). Besides the signaling information itself, there is also
need for speech circuit identification and address information (label) and
information for error control.
SS7 is a kind of CCS signaling system.
Voice Trunk

SP

STP

SP

STP

Signaling Link

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Signaling Link & Signaling Link Set

The common channel signaling system uses

Signaling Links (SLs) to convey the signaling
messages between two signaling points.

Physically, a Signaling Link consists of a Signaling

Terminal at each end of the link and some kind of
transmission media (normally a time slot in a PCM
-link) interconnecting the two Signaling Terminals.

A number of parallel signaling links that directly

interconnect two signaling points constitute a
Signaling Link Set.

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Signaling Modes
The term Signaling Mode refers to the association between
the path taken by a signaling message and the speech path
(or data path) to which the message refers.
In the Associated mode of signaling, the messages related
to a call follow the same path as the speech between two
adjacent signaling points.
In the Quasi-associated mode of signaling, the signaling
messages are following another path other than the speech.
SP

Associated

SP

Signaling Link
Set
Signaling

SP

Quasi-Associated

STP

Relation

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STP

SP

Signaling Route & Signaling Route Set

The pre-determined path, that a message takes

through the signaling network between the origination
point and the destination point is called a Signaling
Route. It may consist of a succession of SP/STPs
and the interconnecting SLs.

All the Signaling Routes that may be used between

an origination point and a destination point by a
message traversing the signaling network is the
Signaling Route Set for that signaling relation.

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SS7 Protocol Stack

The OSI Reference Model and the SS7 Protocol Stack

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Message Transfer Part (MTP)

The Message Transfer Part (MTP) is divided into three levels.

MTP Level 1

Physical and electrical interfaces of SS7 digital signaling links

E-1 (2048kb/s), DS-1 (1544 kb/s), DS-0 (64 kb/s), V.35 (64 kb/s),

DS-0A (56 kb/s)

MTP Level 2

Handles message transmission over a physical link

Includes flow control, packet sequencing, error detection, retransmission

MTP Level 3

Handles message routing between SSPs

Provides congestion control
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SS7 Transport and Higher Layers

Telephone User Part (TUP)

Analog call circuit setup/teardown

ISDN User Part (ISUP)

Setup, management & release of trunk circuits

Signaling Connection Control Part (SCCP)

Transport layer for TCAP-based services such as 800/888 numbers, wireless

roaming, etc.

Provides subsystem numbers (like port numbers in TCP/UDP), which

enable addressing to specific applications at destination signaling

points

Transaction Capabilities Application Part (TCAP)

Used for SCP-SSP communications concerning routing of 800/888/900
calls, to encapsulate Mobile Application Part (MAP) messages
containing customer profile information for roving mobile subscribers,
and for calling card calls
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Telephone User Part (TUP)

Overview of Telephone User Part (TUP)

The Telephone User Part defines the necessary

telephone signaling functions in SS7 for
international as well as national telephone traffic. It
provides the same features for telephone signaling
as other ITU-T signaling systems.

The telephone signals are transferred in the

signaling network as the form of signaling
messages, which are the contents in the SIF field in
the Message Signal Units (MSUs).
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ISDN User Part (ISUP)

Overview of ISUP

The ISDN User Part (ISUP) defines the protocol and

procedures used to set-up, manage, and release
trunk circuits that carry voice and data calls over the
public switched telephone network (PSTN) or ISDN
network. ISUP is capable of processing ISDN specific
information which is more complex than telephony
signaling.

ISUP is used for both ISDN and non-ISDN calls.

Calls that originate and terminate at the same switch
do not use ISUP signaling.
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Commonly Used ISUP Signals

Initial Address Message (IAM)

An IAM is sent in the "forward" direction by each switch needed to
complete the circuit between the calling party and called party until
the circuit connects to the destination switch. An IAM contains the
called party number in the mandatory variable part and may contain
the calling party name and number in the optional part.

Address Complete Message (ACM)

An ACM is sent in the "backward" direction to indicate that the
remote end of a trunk circuit has been reserved. The originating
switch responds to an ACM message by connecting the calling
party's line to the trunk to complete the voice circuit from the calling
party to the called party. The originating switch also sends a ringing
tone to the calling party's line.

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Commonly Used ISUP Signals (2)

Answer Message (ANM)

When the called party answers, the destination switch terminates
the ringing tone and sends an ANM to the originating switch. The
originating switch initiates billing after verifying that the calling
party's line is connected to the reserved trunk.

Release Message (REL)

A REL is sent in either direction indicating that the circuit is being
released due to the cause indicator specified. An REL is sent
when either the calling or called party "hangs up" the call (cause
= 16). An REL is also sent in the backward direction if the called
party line is busy (cause = 17).

Release Complete Message (RLC)

A RLC is sent in the opposite direction of the REL to acknowledge
the release of the remote end of a trunk circuit and end the billing
cycle as appropriate.
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Basic ISUP Call Control

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Signaling Connection Control Part (SCCP)

Where is SCCP?
INAP
TUP

ISUP

CAP

MAP

TCAP
SCCP
MTP

INAP: IN Application Protocol

CAP: CAMEL Application Part
TUP: Telephone User Part
MTP: Message Transfer Part
Part

MAP: Mobile Application Part

TCAP: Transaction Capability
Application Part
ISUP: ISDN User Part
SCCP: Signaling Connection Control

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What is SCCP?

In SS7 signaling system, SCCP and MTP layer three

together are responsible for signaling network layer
function. SCCP expands the MTP functions in the
following points:
Enable to convey various non-circuit-related signaling
message.
Provide enhanced addressing and routing function, and
enable to achieve the direct global transmission between
different SS7 networks by using GT (Global Title)
addressing.
Expand the user part of MTP. SCCP supports up to 256
kinds of sub systems in stead of 16 in MTP.
Enable to provide connectionless service and
connection-oriented service.
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Service Functions of SCCP Network

According to the various service requirements, SCCP
provides four classes of service:
two connectionless services and two connection-oriented
services.
The four classes are:
Class 0: Basic connectionless class.

Class 1: In-sequence delivery connectionless class.

Class 2: Basic connection-oriented class.

Class 3: Flow control connection-oriented class.

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Transaction Capabilities Application Part

(TCAP)

The main purpose of TCAP is to provide support

for interactive applications in a distributed
environment.

TCAP is a general protocol which makes it easy

to introduce new features in telecommunication
networks. It reduces the need for development of
new protocols whenever new features are
introduced.
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Applications of TCAP
Applications of TCAP:
Data Exchange between switching systems
Switching systems access network database center
Network databases establish remote operation
dialogue
Examples of TCAP applications:
Mobile service applications
Free phone service (800-service)
Credit Card calling
Operation & Maintenance applications
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Intelligent Network Application Part

(INAP)
The functions of INAP

INAP defines operation criterion among the IN

functional entities SSF, SCF, SRF and SDF.

INAP is transmitted by SCCP UDT data, using

connectionless services.
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Thanks!

Technology changes but communication lasts.

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