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Signalling System #7 (SS7)

SS7 or Signaling System Number 7 is a set of protocols that describe communication between telephone switches to establish connections and route calls. It includes two networks - a circuit-switched user network that carries voice and data traffic, and a packet-switched signalling network that carries call control traffic using a common channel switching protocol. The SS7 protocol has several layers including the physical layer, message transfer parts, signaling connection control part, ISDN user part, transaction capabilities application part, and operations, maintenance and administration part.

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32 views

Signalling System #7 (SS7)

SS7 or Signaling System Number 7 is a set of protocols that describe communication between telephone switches to establish connections and route calls. It includes two networks - a circuit-switched user network that carries voice and data traffic, and a packet-switched signalling network that carries call control traffic using a common channel switching protocol. The SS7 protocol has several layers including the physical layer, message transfer parts, signaling connection control part, ISDN user part, transaction capabilities application part, and operations, maintenance and administration part.

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litece1
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Signalling System #7 (SS7)

There are two essential components to all telephone calls. The first, and most obvious, is the
actual content—our voices, faxes, modem data, etc. The second is the information that instructs
telephone exchanges to establish connections and route the “content” to an appropriate
destination. Telephony signaling is concerned with the creation of standards for the latter to
achieve the former. These standards are known as protocols. SS7 or Signaling System Number 7
is simply another set of protocols that describe a means of communication between telephone
switches in public telephone networks. They have been created and controlled by various bodies
around the world, which leads to some specific local variations, but the principal organization
with responsibility for their administration is the International Telecommunications Union or
ITU-T.

Signalling System Number 7 (SS#7 or C7) is the protocol used by the telephone companies for
interoffice signalling. In the past, in-band signalling techniques were used on interoffice trunks.
This method of signalling used the same physical path for both the call-control signalling and the
actual connected call. This method of signalling is inefficient and is rapidly being replaced by
out-of-band or common-channel signalling techniques.

To understand SS7 we must first understand something of the basic inefficiency of previous
signaling methods utilized in the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). Until relatively
recently, all telephone connections were managed by a variety of techniques centered on “in
band” signaling.

A network utilizing common-channel signalling is actually two networks in one:

   1. First there is the circuit-switched "user" network which actually carries the user voice and
data traffic. It provides a physical path between the source and destination.
   2. The second is the signalling network which carries the call control traffic. It is a packet-
switched network using a common channel switching protocol.

The original common channel inte


roffice signalling protocols were based on Signalling System Number 6
(SS#6). Today SS#7 is being used in new installations worldwide. SS#7 is
the defined interoffice signalling protocol for ISDN. It is also in common
use today outside of the ISDN environment.

The primary function of SS#7 is to provide call control, remote network


management, and maintenance capabilities for the inter- office telephone
network. SS#7 performs these functions by exchanging control messages
between SS#7 telephone exchanges (signalling points or SPs) and SS#7
signalling transfer points (STPs).

The switching offices (SPs) handle the SS#7 control network as well as the user circuit-switched
network. Basically, the SS#7 control network tells the switching office which paths to establish
over the circuit-switched network. The STPs route SS#7 control packets across the signalling
network. A switching office may or may not be an STP.

SS7 Protocol layers:

The SS7 network is an interconnected set of network elements that is used to exchange messages
in support of telecommunications functions. The SS7 protocol is designed to both facilitate these
functions and to maintain the network over which they are provided. Like most modern
protocols, the SS7 protocol is layered.
 

Physical Layer (MTP-1)

This defines the physical and electrical characteristics of the signaling links of
the SS7 network. Signaling links utilize DS–0 channels and carry raw
signaling data at a rate of 56 kbps or 64 kbps (56 kbps is the more common
implementation).

Message Transfer Part—Level 2 (MTP-2)

The level 2 portion of the message transfer part (MTP Level 2) provides link-
layer functionality. It ensures that the two end points of a signaling link can
reliably exchange signaling messages. It incorporates such capabilities as
error checking, flow control, and sequence checking.

Message Transfer Part—Level 3 (MTP-3)

The level 3 portion of the message transfer part (MTP Level 3) extends the
functionality provided by MTP level 2 to provide network layer functionality.
It ensures that messages can be delivered between signaling points across the
SS7 network regardless of whether they are directly connected. It includes
such capabilities as node addressing, routing, alternate routing, and
congestion control.

Signaling Connection Control Part (SCCP)

The signaling connection control part (SCCP) provides two major functions that are lacking in
the MTP. The first of these is the capability to address applications within a signaling point. The
MTP can only receive and deliver messages from a node as a whole; it does not deal with
software applications within a node.

While MTP network-management messages and basic call-setup messages are addressed to a
node as a whole, other messages are used by separate applications (referred to as subsystems)
within a node. Examples of subsystems are 800 call processing, calling-card processing,
advanced intelligent network (AIN), and custom local-area signaling services (CLASS) services
(e.g., repeat dialing and call return). The SCCP allows these subsystems to be addressed
explicitly.

ISDN User Part (ISUP)

ISUP user part defines the messages and protocol used in the establishment and tear down of
voice and data calls over the public switched network (PSN), and to manage the trunk network
on which they rely. Despite its name, ISUP is used for both ISDN and non–ISDN calls. In the
North American version of SS7, ISUP messages rely exclusively on MTP to transport messages
between concerned nodes.

Transaction Capabilities Application Part (TCAP)

TCAP defines the messages and protocol used to communicate between applications (deployed
as subsystems) in nodes. It is used for database services such as calling card, 800, and AIN as
well as switch-to-switch services including repeat dialing and call return. Because TCAP
messages must be delivered to individual applications within the nodes they address, they use the
SCCP for transport.

Operations, Maintenance, and Administration Part (OMAP)

OMAP defines messages and protocol designed to assist administrators of the SS7 network. To
date, the most fully developed and deployed of these capabilities are procedures for validating
network routing tables and for diagnosing link troubles. OMAP includes messages that use both
the MTP and SCCP for routing.

 Read more on the individual SS7 protocol layers:  MTP  --  SCCP  --  ISUP  --   TCAP  -- 
MAP  --  INAP         

SS7 Resources:
SS7 Discussion Forum

IEC: SS7 Tutorial

SS7 History (pdf)

www.pt.com SS7 Tutorial (html) (pdf)

Cisco SS7 Fundamentals(html) (pdf)

SS7 Suite

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