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White Paper

Knowledge Management

nexGen SS7
An enabler of SMSC solutions

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Copyright Information
© 2005 Flextronics Software Systems Ltd. All rights reserved.

No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or otherwise, including photocopying, reprinting or
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Contents

1. Introduction .............................................................................................................................................................................. 4
1.1 Market trends ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
1.2 Challenges faced by operators ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4

2 A typical SMSC solution ........................................................................................................................................................ 5


2.1 SMSC Architecture.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 6

3. FSS nexGen SS7: An ideal platform for building short message service centers.............................................. 7
3.1 Components ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 7
3.2 Features ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 8
3.3 Reliability and scalability ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 8
3.4 High capacity ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8
3.5 Rich protocol features ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8
3.6 Comprehensive APIs .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8
3.7 Integrated management support ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 8
3.8 Diagnostics ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8

4. Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 9

Figures
Figure 2-1: Typical GSM network supporting SMS .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 5
Figure 2-2: SMSC architecture .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 6
Figure 3-1: Components of the nexGen SS7 solution ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 7

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Introduction

1. Introduction

This application note explores the role and positioning of SMSC server in These innovations and the evolution of SMSCs is the reason for the high
a network. It examines the architecture of an SMSC server and the demand for SMSC servers by operators. The coming demand is expected
components required to build the same. It further describes the FSS to be directed towards building high capacity solutions, innovative and
nexGen SS7 solution and outlines how it offers a useful and effective flexible solutions to reduce cost.
platform for building SMSC servers.

1.1 Market trends

Short message service (SMS) has been one of the most successful
service features of the mobile world. SMS was initially designed as a
peer-to-peer service for communicating short text messages. The basic
person-to-person short message service became one of the most
popular and oft-used media for fast communication. Though initially
meant for person-to-person text messaging, with its increasing
popularity, usage and opportunity for increased revenue, it evolved into
a bearer for value-added services. With increasing competition and
pressure to increase average revenue per customer in the face of falling
call tariffs, service providers have used SMS to provide innovative
services to increase customer usage. Some of the innovative SMS
services that are increasingly being introduced include ring-tones,
missed call information, quizzes, informational services and voting. This
has led to a demand for increase in SMS servers and introduction of new
servers

1.2 Challenges faced by operators

With increasing competition and falling prices, operators are looking for
new ways of increasing cost savings. This has led to the evolution of SMS
technology so as to achieve reduced opex and capex. Despite the wide
deployment of SMS server, a significant demand for new equipment is
expected primarily because of the following reasons:

1) To cope with the ever-increasing SMS traffic, service operators will


have to upgrade or scale up their existing SMS capabilities. This is
further fuelled by the introduction of new, innovative SMS based
services, which are becoming highly popular.
2) The trend towards offloading the increasing SMS traffic from the
SS7 to the IP domain for reduced operational expenses.
3) Introduction of direct routing message servers for directly routing
messages to end-users without the need to save them in the
SMSCs, in order to cost-effectively handle the increasing SMS
traffic without increasing the opex and capex.

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A typical SMSC solution

2. A typical SMSC solution

This section will examine in detail the architecture of typical short information over the air interface, to and from the mobile station. This
messages service centers and their function in the network. information is passed over the signaling channels so the mobile can
receive messages even if a voice or data call is going on.
The figure below shows a typical organization of network elements in a
GSM network supporting SMS. SS7 provides the transport mechanism for text messaging in wireless
networks. In wireless networks, SS7 components provide the
communication capabilities for distributed functional components to
locate and route messaging to roaming subscribers. Subscribers register
with the mobile network through the nearest radio transmission area
(cell) and are registered at a visitor location register (VLR) that can serve
a number of closely located cells. During the registration process, a
second database known as the home location register (HLR) is queried
to validate subscriber and equipment identity, resulting in the
subscriber current location being stored at the HLR. The communication
of subscriber data, location, and authentication during these processes
is provided by SS7.
Figure 2-1 : Typical GSM network supporting SMS
Messaging in a wireless network is a store and forward service, with
Short Message Center (SMC) is the entity that does the job of storing text messaging being first sent to a short message service center
and forwarding messages to and from the mobile station. The Short (SMSC) which attempts to either deliver the message to the destination,
Message Entity (SME), which can be located in the fixed network or a or store the message until the subscriber is available. Gateways provide
mobile station, receives and sends short messages. the routing functions between wireline and wireless networks, with
specially modified wireline telephones being able to send and receive
The SMS GWMS (SMS gateway MSC) is a gateway MSC that can also text messaging.
receive short messages. The gateway MSC is a mobile network's point of
contact with other networks. On receiving the short message from the The routing query and transport of SMS messages is done through the
short message center, GMSC uses the SS7 network to interrogate the mobile application protocol (MAP) that uses TCAP and underlying SS7
current position of the mobile station form the HLR, the home location layers as transport medium.
register.

HLR is the main database in a mobile network. It holds information


related to the subscription profile of the mobile and also the routing
information for the subscriber, i.e. the area (covered by a MSC) where
the mobile is currently situated. The GMSC is thus able to pass on the
message to the correct MSC.

Mobile switching center (MSC) is the entity in a GSM network, which


does the job of switching connections between mobile stations or
between mobile stations and the fixed network.

A visitor location register (VLR) corresponds to each MSC and contains


temporary information about the mobile, including information such as
mobile identification and the cell (or a group of cells) where the mobile
is currently situated. Using information form the VLR the MSC is able to
switch the information (short message) to the corresponding BSS (Base
Station System, BSC + BTSs), which transmits the short message to the
mobile. The BSS consists of transceivers, which send and receive

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2.1 SMSC architecture

The following figure depicts the modular architectural breakup of a


typical SMS service center.

Figure 2-2 : SMSC Architecture

A typical SMSC consists of the following logical functional modules:


. Signaling functionality module
. SMSC application
. Database for storage of short messages

The signaling functionality module shall consist of the following stacks


. Layer 1 and MTP2 residing on the signaling board
. MTP3/M3UA
. SCCP
. TCAP
. F MAP

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An i deal platform for bui ldi ng
short message service centers

3. nexGen SS7: An ideal platform for building


short message service centers

FSS' 'nexGen SS7' is a pre-integrated binary solution that provides SS7 Benefits of 'nexGen SS7' are
signaling functionality over traditional E1/T1 or SIGTRAN. The 'nexGen . Pre-integrated binary solution which leads to time being saved in
SS7' solution provides all the SS7 protocol stacks in an integrated integrating various stacks and allows the user to concentrate only on
fashion, thereby saving the users precious time and effort in integrating the application part.
different protocol stacks. It has been observed that in case of individual . Excellent price-performance ratio
protocol stacks, a lot of users' time is spent in understanding the . Future proof investments by supporting easy migration to Next
protocol stack interfaces, integrating different protocol stacks, Generation Technologies like SIGTRAN
integrating with the hardware card and integrating the individual . Future proof investment in terms of introducing new services since
management interface of each of the protocol stacks. The 'nexGen SS7', it supports MAP/CAP/TCAP functionality for IN and mobility
therefore, provides a very time and cost effective approach in building a management related services
carier grade solution. . Pre-integrated single element management for all SS7 stacks
. Highly interoperable, stable and well proven
'nexGen SS7' integrated solution is ideally geared to meet the . Scalability: Increasing the number of front end and back end
requirements of the future SMSC solutions. It provides all the processors, high link capacity and high processing power can be
components from MTP3/M3UA to MAP required for building SMS achieved.
solutions. Its flexibility will ensure that it fits a wide range of possible . Flexible architecture: Flexibility to combine various stacks together in
architectures of messaging solutions. Moreover, its long track record various ways and flexibility to put on different cards or the same
and wide interoperability will ensure that it is easily able to integrate cards.
with the existing SMSC and other nodes in the network. . Reliability: Increasing the number of processor/cards, the system can
be made available even if one of the card goes down.
A high capacity, high performance and highly scalable solution, nexGen
SS7 enables the development of high capacity SMSC solutions. The 3.1 Components
solution can be scaled up to handle from 2 to several hundred links. It
fits well into all kinds of configurations - low end SMSCs, mid-end The 'nexGen SS7' resides on high performance SUN or Linux platforms
SMSCs and high-end SMSCs. SMSCs built over nexGen SS7 relieve the using FSS' distributed SS7 stack. It is a collection of telecommunications
operators from the worries of ever increasing SMS traffic. It also software building blocks as depicted in the figure below:
provides the advantage of
allowing the customer to start
with a lower CAPEX and
increase it over time to meet
the market requirements thus
providing a better return on
investment.

The 'nexGen SS7' provides


seamless migration to IP by
supporting both SS7 and
SIGTRAN transport. The
overlying application can be
easily migrated to IP networks
without any changes. Initially
the SMSC might be built for an
SS7 market and later on can be
transformed to handle either
or both of SS7 and IP networks.
This offers a direct advantage
to SMSC applications by
providing deep savings in the
capex and opex requirements.
7
Figure 3-1 : Components of the nexGen SS7 solution

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3.5 Rich protocol features

The various components of 'nexGen SS7' are: The 'nexGen SS7' provides support for
. SS7 stack layers including MTP3, SCCP and TCAP -TCAP and MTP3 . Multiple self point codes
services can be accessed through the API interfaces provided for the . Combined linksets for load sharing on links across linksets
same. . Multiple network appearance (MNA) based on multiple network
. SIGTRAN - M2UA, M3UA and SCTP indicators (NI) (national/international) and variants (ITU, CHINESE,
. Application layer protocols including ISUP, MAP, CAP etc required for and ANSI). MNA is the ability to serve multiple networks by a single
various applications pertaining to call control, mobility and node.
intelligent networks . Multiple SS7 variants (ANSI, ITU, and Chinese) simultaneously
. Element manager- this entity provides management interface to the . Hybrid stack combinations, comprising ANSI TCAP over Chinese
nexGen SS7 platform for provisioning/configuration of the protocol SCCP/MTP, and Chinese TCAP over ANSI SCCP/MTP
layers. The platform can be provisioned in any of the following . Support for high speed links (HSL)
manner: . SIGTRAN (M2UA/SCTP) connectivity (ASP or IPSP) with its network
. Configuration file based management peers
. Command line interface
. A client library interface for development of third party element 3.6 Comprehensive APIs
manager
FSS' 'nexGen SS7' provides an easy-to-use set of APIs
3.2 Features . APIs are available at MTP3, SCCP and TCAP levels of SS7 protocol
stack. These APIs provide SS7 services to service user.
'nexGen SS7' offers a rich set of basic protocol features as well as . APIs are available at application level for MAP and ISUP
advanced value added features. Some of the features are described . Function-based management APIs (client library) are available that
below: can be integrated with client applications such as CLI, client
database or SNMP agent. The client library provides easy-to-use 'C'
3.3 Reliability and scalability structure-based interface.

'nexGen SS7' provides a reliable and scalable solution 3.7 Integrated management support
. Innovative distribution mechanism to provide high scalability and
reliability for node failures The 'nexGen SS7' includes:
. Designed to run multiple copies of SS7-Sigtran solution software and . Extensive support for configuration, provisioning and management
handling signaling traffic sharing the same point code. The multiple information to all the stack instances
copies present a unified network view to the peer SS7 nodes. This . Support to be configured/provisioned in the following ways:
unique architectural approach provides a unique advantage to . Configuration/provisioning file
achieve load distribution, scalability and reliability. . Command Line Interface (provided with nexGen SS7)
. High power back-end servers run user applications whereas . Open APIs to dispatch alarm/events to the user management
front-end servers carry all the SS7 signaling traffic application.
. Both the front-end and back-end servers can be furtherdistributed to . Centralized system-wide configuration manager for configuring all
achieve scalability, high-availability and increased capacity and the subsystems of the distributed system. This provides a simpler
performance. The SS7-Sigtran Solution is able to distribute traffic and faster system configuration to the user.
over several instances of the application running on back-end . Open management interface to enable users to develop their own
nodes. customized management front-end

3.4 High Capacity 3.8 Diagnostics

FSS' 'nexGen SS7' can be used to build high capacity signaling nodes. It FSS' 'nexGen SS7' supports extensive diagnostics in the form of traces,
provides support for alarms, events and logger entity that makes it an ideal environment for
. 128 self-point codes application programming.
. 1024 destination point-codes
. 2048 links
. 256 link-sets
. 4096 route sets

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Conclusion

4. Conclusion

SMSCs have a promising future. The kind of growth seen in recent years
clearly shows the potential of this market. The fact that a large number
of operators are still to participate in this revolution, especially in the
APAC region, emphasizes the strong business case for SMSCs. However,
this market does face a lot of challenges, specially related to the
ever-increasing user traffic as well as a strong need to shift to IP to
reduce costs. FSS' 'nexGen SS7' provides the right kind of functionality to
meet these challenges and offers a future-proof investment as well as a
reduction in the total ownership costs.

www.flextronicssoftware.com
Flextronics Software Systems (formerly Hughes Software
Systems-HSS ) is a global end-to-end communications
solutions provider with over 250 customers worldwide, in
the Telecom infrastructure and handsets, Communication
service providers, Systems integrators and Independent
software vendors space. It is a part of Flextronics, which
has engineering, manufacturing and logistics operations
in 32 countries spread over five continents. Flextronics
Software Systems has development centers across India
and Germany and associate companies in the Ukraine
and South Africa. It also has sales offices in more than 10
locations worldwide.

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