Signaling

CCITT Signaling System #7 ISUP

Signaling Networks
Two types of signaling networks:
CAS Channel Associated Signaling
The signaling data for the voice circuits in a PCM is transmitted in Time Slot 16 of the same PCM The allocation is fixed

CCS Common Channel Signaling

A common channel is used for signaling in voice/data circuits that is dynamically allocated on-demand (to the circuits that need it, when they need it) CCITT #7 (SS7) uses this signaling method

CCS Signaling Modes

The signaling mode refers to the relationship between the voice/data traffic and the signaling path; there are three types of CCS signaling modes:
Associated Quasi-associated Non-associated

Associated Mode
The signaling and the corresponding voice/data traffic take the same route through the network Networks using this mode exclusively are easy to design and maintain but are not cost-effective since every exchange has a separate signaling line to every other exchange it is connected to Used in Europe

Quasi-associated Mode
Signaling follows a different route than the voice/data traffic to which it refers Signaling must traverse at least one intermediate node Packets arrive in sequence because the path is fixed for a
given call at the start of the call Better use of signaling links Networks are more complex; failures have the potential to be catastrophic Used in North America

Non-associated Mode
The path is not fixed; the signaling has many possible routes through the network The packets might arrive out of sequence because different routes might have been traversed Not indicated for telephony Not used by SS7 (SS7 has no system to order the packets)

Signaling System #7
The most widely-used CCS system The standard inter-exchange signaling system used by ISDN but also used in voice and data, fixed and mobile networks Can be transmitted on separate, dedicated signaling networks

Signaling System #7
A SS7 network is composed of signaling links and nodes (SP Signaling Points); there are 3 types of SPs:
SSP (Service Switching Point) SS7 compatible exchange STP (Signaling Transfer Point) message router, can be implemented in an exchange or dedicated equipment SCP (Service Control Point) interfaces the SS7 to a communications providers database, offering the information required to handle calls

Every SP is identified by a unique code (Point Code) inside a network; every signaling message contains an Originating Point Code (OPC) and a Destination Point Code (DPC)

The SS7 Network

The SS7 Structure

SS7 is divided in four functional layers:
Layer 1: Data link Layer 2: Link MTP (Message Transfer Part) Layer 3: Network Layer 4: MTP User and Applications Part

The SS7 Layers

Layer 1 defines the physical, electrical and functional characteristics of signaling the data link and how it can be accessed Layer 2 defines the functions and procedures for transmitting across a signaling link; the layer 2 and 1 functions ensure the reliable transfer of signaling messages between two points Layer 3 defines the functions and procedures for controlling the transfer of messages between the nodes of the signaling network; it ensures a reliable transfer, even in the event of a node failure Layer 4 implements the User Part; examples: SCCP (Signaling Connection Control Part), ISUP (ISDN User Part), TUP (Telephone User Part) etc

The SS7 Layers

The SS7 Layers and the OSI Model

Layer 3 Functions
Independent of the signaling link used Two main categories:
Signaling Message Handling (SMH) - delivers incoming messages to their intended User Part and routes outgoing messages toward their destination Signaling Network Management (SNM) controls routing and configures the signaling networks facilities; provides procedures to take corrective action when failures occur

The SS7 Signaling Units

Messages are transported across the signaling data links in Signaling Units (SU); there are 3 kinds of SUs:
FISU (Fill-In Signal Unit)
elementary SU transports Layer 2 information exclusively transmitted as padding, to ensure the 100% use of the link contains a CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check) that is calculated at each end to verify the quality of the signaling link

LSSU (Link Status Signal Unit)

transports 1 or 2 bytes of link status information controls the signalling link alignment provides the destination SP with information regarding the signaling links and the origin SPs status indicates a problem on the link if present outside the synchronization period

The SS7 Signaling Units (continued)

...there are 3 kinds of SUs (continued):
MSU (Message Signal Unit)
contains all the fields of a FISU plus a SIO (Service Information Octet) and a SIF (Signaling Information Field) the SIO indicates the type of information present in the SIF, whether the message is intended for use inside a national or international network and the message priority the SIF transports messages from the Layer 3 MTP and Layer 4

The SS7 Signaling Units Structure

The SS7 Signaling Units Structure

The FIB (Forward Indicator Bit), BIB (Backward Indicator Bit), FSN (Forward Sequence Number) and BSN (Backward Sequence Number) are indicators used to control basic errors and check the MSU The LI (Length Indicator) is used to indicate the number of bytes that follow, not including the control bits; it also defines the SU type as follows:
LI = 0 for a FISU LI = 1 or 2 for a LSSU LI > 2 for a MSU Because only 6 of the 8 bits in the LI are used, its value is a code in the range 0 63; if the number of bytes in a MSU exceeds 63 (up to 272), LI is set to 63

The ISDN User Part (ISUP)

Protocol in SS7 that provides the signaling functions for ISDN support and complementary services (both voice and non-voice) Adequate for digital telephony, circuit-switched data applications analog and mixed networks Because the majority of signaling procedures and message types used in international traffic are used in national networks, ISUP can be used in both national and international applications Uses MTP and sometimes SCCP services

ISUP Messages
A basic call can be divided into three phases:
setup conversation release

Signaling links are used between exchanges to set up and release calls The caller is informed of the calls progress using standardized tones or prerecorded messages For calls originating from ISDN terminals, additional call progress information can be provided

SS7 Network Entities

Common ISUP Messages

ACM (Address Complete Message) Sent in the backward direction, indicating that all address signals have been received ANM (ANswer Message) Sent in the backward direction to indicate that the called party has answered the call; triggers billing and call duration measurements IAM (Initial Address Message) Sent in the forward direction to initiate seizure of an outgoing circuit and to transmit number and other information related to the routing and the handling of a call

Common ISUP Messages (continued)

REL (RELease message) Sent in either direction, indicating that the circuit is being released ( for a reason indicated within the message) and is ready to become idle RLC (ReLease Complete) Sent in either direction as a response to a REL message to indicate that the circuit has been brought into the idle state RES (RESume message) Sent in either direction to indicate reconnection after being suspended

Common ISUP Messages (continued)

SAM (Subsequent Address Message) Sent in the forward direction following an IAM to convey additional digits of the called party number SUS (SUSpend message) Sent in either direction to indicate that the calling or called party has been temporarily disconnected

A Normal Call
The caller:
puts the phone off-hook receives a dial tone inputs the called partys number receives a ring-back tone

When the called party answers, the conversation begins When the conversation is over, both parties put their phones on-hook (usually, the caller first)

A Normal Call (continued)

The callers exchange sends a IAM to the called partys exchange when it has received sufficient digits from the caller to establish a route If the number is incomplete, the callers exchange will send SAMs as more digits become available When the entire called number is received, the called partys exchange sends an ACM back When the called party answers, his exchange sends an ANM back When the caller ends the conversation, his exchange sends a REL message and the called partys exchange replies with a RLC message, confirming that the resources have been released

A Normal Call (continued)

If the called party does not answer within a predefined amount of time (commonly 1 minute), the exchange sends back a REL message with the cause No answer from If the called party puts the phone on-hook first:
If the subscriber is allowed to suspend calls, the exchange sends a SUS message and if the subscriber answers again, the exchange sends a RES message; taxation continues when the call is suspended If the subscriber is not allowed to suspend calls, the call is released using the REL and RLC messages

If the call has been suspended longer than a predefined amount of time, it is released using the REL and RLC messages

A Normal Call (continued)

If the called party puts the phone on-hook first (continued):
If the subscriber is not allowed to suspend calls, the call is released using the REL and RLC messages

If the call has been suspended longer than a predefined amount of time, it is released using the REL and RLC messages

Call Messages

Protocol Analyzers
Portable instruments Easy to use Designed for:
Testing networks Analyzing network performance Network maintenance Troubleshooting

Can be used to study SS7 messages; in order to do this, it is connected to a 2048 Kbit/s PCM link that connects two exchanges

Connecting a Protocol Analyzer

The PCM Loop

In order to work with a single exchange, a protocol analyzer requires a PCM loop a signal is transmitted over a PCM link from the exchange and enters the exchange on another incoming PCM link The local subscribers of the exchange are used In order to use the PCM loop, the calls made to the local subscribers must use a prefix

Creating a PCM Loop

Practical Applications
1.

Trace ISUP message diagrams for the following situations:

a normal conversation (the caller ends the conversation) the called party is busy the called party does not answer the called party (analog terminal) hangs up for 5 seconds, then answers again and finally the caller hangs up the called party (ISDN terminal) hangs up for 5 seconds, then answers again and finally the caller hangs up

Observe and explain the order of ISUP messages transmitted; draw a chart.

Practical Applications (continued)

Determine, using the ISUP messages, how long the exchange waits after sending a ringing message before it releases the resources if the called party does not answer. 3. Determine, using the ISUP messages, the maximum duration over which a call can be suspended.
2.