CCS 7 SIGNALLING AND ISDN

E4 – E5 (TECHNICAL)
Types of Signaling …..
In Band signaling {Channel Associated Signaling (CAS)}

Switch User & Signaling traffic Switch

A B

Out Band signaling {Common Channel Signaling (CCS)}

 Out-of–band signaling establishes a separate digital channel for the
exchange signaling information.
 This channel is called a signaling link
 Signaling link transmit signaling MSU’s between switch A &switch B
at rate of 64 Kbps or 56 kbps
 SS7 is best described as common channel signaling .CCS is digital
signaling

User Traffic
Switch Switch
A Signaling traffic B
 Advantage of CCS over CAS
• Faster call setup
• No interference between signaling tones by
network and frequency of human speech pattern.
• 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 and voice or data identification
 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
• Reliability and flexibility
 CCS Basic Architecture

Sw. A Sw. B

Signal
Transfer
Trunks Point (STP)
Sw. C
Disassociated
Associated
Jan. 2011 Signalling 5
SS7 Protocol Stack
OSI SS7
 Protocols

Message Transfer Part (MTP Level 1) Physical

• Provides an interface to the actual physical channel over

which communication takes place
• CCITT recommends 64Kbps transmission whereas ANSI
recommends 56 Kbps
 Protocols
MTP Level 2 (Data Link)

• Ensures accurate end-to-end transmission of a 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 outgoing messages
 Protocols

MTP Level 3 (Network)

• 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
 Protocols
Signaling Connection Control Part (SCCP)

• Provides connectionless and connection-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
 Protocols
Transaction Capabilities Applications Part (TCAP)

• 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
– Routing information
 Protocols
Telephone User Part (TUP)
• Basic call setup and tear down
• In many countries, ISUP has replaced TUP 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
identification code (CIC)
SS7 Networks

STP
STP

STP

STP

STP
 Service switching point (SSP)
– SSPs are switches that have SS7 software and
terminating signaling links
– SSPs create packets (signal units) and send
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
 Signaling transfer point (STP)
–STPs are packet switches, and act like routers in the
SS7 network.
–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
 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 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
– Used by STP to perform a function called global title
translation
 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 pair

(diagonal) 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 and SCPs)
(fully in the same local network
associated)
 ISDN
• WHAT IS ISDN ?

• INTEGRATED SERVICES DIGITAL NETWORK

• STATE-OF-THE-ART PUBLIC SWITCHED DIGITAL NETWORK

• ON ISDN LINE VOICE, DATA, VIDEO OR COMBINATION OF two CAN

BE SEND
 HOW ISDN SUPERIOR TO PSTN

• ON ISDN VOICE/DATA ARE SENT IN DIGITAL FORM

• CALL SET UP TIME IS EXTREMELY SHORT
• TWO SIMULTANEOUS INDEPENDENT CALLS POSSIBLE
• VIDEO CONFERENCING AT HIGHER BANDWIDTH
@ 128/256/384/512…. Kbps
• INTERNET ACCESS @ 64/128 Kbps
• DATA TRANSMISSION AT HIGHER SPEED
• MULTIPLE SUBSCRIBER NUMBER
 Access to ISDN
• Basic Rate Access (BRA)
– 2 x 64 kbit/s channels
– 1X 16 kbit/s control/signalling channel
– Uses existing copper cable to local exchange
Primary Rate Access (PRA)
– 30 x 64 kbit/s channels
– 1 x 64 kbit/s control/ signalling channel
– Also an additional 64 kbit/s synchronizing channel
– Requires special cabling to exchange (2-wire screened, coax or
fibre
 ‘B’ + ‘D’ Defined
Two Bearer Channels (‘B’)
– 64 kbit/s each (can be up to 250 kbit/s with data compression)
– Circuit switched voice or data
– Both channels can be aggregated into a 128 kbit/s channel
One Signalling Channel (‘D’)
– 16 kbit/s
– provides out-of-band signalling
– low packet switched data (can be up to a maximum of 9.6 kbit/s)
 Graphical Representation of Basic
Rate ISDN Channels

64 kbit/s Voice
‘B’ & Data

64 kbit/s Voice
‘B’ & Data

‘D’ 16 kbit/s Signalling & Data

48 bits in 250 microseconds

SEND

RECEIVE
 ISDN Equipment Termination

G- 4

ISDN Fax
Telephone

PC + ISDN card
Network
Termination

Exch

Terminal
PC Adapter PC + ISDN card

non -ISDN Telephone