DebreBirhan University – College of Engineering

Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering

Instructor: Tesfai Gebrekiristos
E-mail: tesfayonemail@gmail.com
Cell Phone: 0914794475
Switching and Intelligent Networks [ECEg5284]
Contact Hour: Wednesday 2:30-4:30 AM [Local Time].
06/09/2023 1
CH-3: Signaling Techniques
 Introduction
 Signaling Basics:-
In-channel
Common-channel
 SS7:-
 Purpose and features of SS7 network
 Network and protocol architecture of SS7
 Basic call setup with ISUP in SS7
 Applications of SS7 networks.

06/09/2023 2
Introduction:
 A subscriber can be able to talk with or send data to someone in any part of the
world.
 And an exchange is able to set path and clear it after the conversation instantly
by an effective signaling system.
 A signaling system, link the variety of switching system, transmission systems
and subscriber equipments in a telecommunication network to enable the
network to function as a whole.
 Communication networks generally connect equipments such as telephones
and fax machines via several line sections, switches and transmission media for
exchange of speech, text and data…

06/09/2023 3
Introduction…
 To achieve this, control information has to be transferred between exchanges for
call control and call control is the process of establishing and releasing a call
(signaling).
 In general, signaling is generation, transmission, reception and exchanging of
information among components of a telecommunication system to establish, monitor
or release connections and to control related network and system operations.
 The main purpose of using signaling in modern telecommunication networks, is to
cooperate and communicate different network nodes with each other and to enable
transfer of control information between them.
 And provide supplementary functions such as charging, routing, error detection
and correction, transmission facilities (speed of present data session such as
modulation, encoding…).

06/09/2023 4
More on Signaling:
 Signaling has always played a very important role in the field of communication,
since it provides the means for the information interchange between two or more
nodes within a network.
 The way of performing signaling has evolved together with the evolution of the
transmission equipment and of the used switching systems and both of them were
originally analog evolved into digital and now it is optical.
 Definition of signaling according to ITU-T is:- “The exchange of information (other
than by speech) specifically concerned with the establishment, release and other
control of calls, and network management, in automatic telecommunications
operations”.
 The term signaling , when used in telephony, refers to the exchange of control
information associated with the establishment of a telephone call on a
telecommunications circuit.
06/09/2023 5
Signaling Techniques:
 In-band signaling:- in this signaling, the control information and user
information are sent on a single line.
 Characterized by slower call setup due to channel sharing.
 Out –of -band signaling:- in this signaling, the control information and user
information are sent separately into logically or physically separate paths.
Signaling path done on a separate channel
 Voice path dedicated only to voice
 Much faster call setup and knockdown and led to SS7 and AIN.
 CCS network is basically a store and forward network where signaling
information travels on a link by link basis along the route.

06/09/2023 6
Signaling Techniques…
Channel Associated Signaling (CAS):-
 Also known as per-trunk signaling (PTS), is a form of digital communication
signaling.
 As with most telecommunication signaling methods, it uses routing information to
direct the payload of voice or data to its destination.
 With CAS signaling, this routing information is encoded and transmitted in the
same channel as the payload itself.
Common Channel Signaling (CCS):-
 In telephony, common channel signaling (CCS), in the US also common channel
interoffice signaling (CCIS), is the transmission of signaling information (control
information) on a separate channel from the data, and, more specifically, where that
signaling channel controls multiple data channels.
06/09/2023 7
In-Band Signaling:
Advantages:-
 In-band signaling can be used on any transmission medium.
 The control signals can be sent to every part where a speech signal can reach.
 Owing to the flexibility of operation, it is the most widely used signaling
system for long distance telephone networks and it’s operations are simpler.
Disadvantages:-
 Interference between voice and control signals may occur
 Separate signaling equipment is required for each trunk and hence is expensive
 It is difficult to handle signaling during speech period and to change or add
signals.
06/09/2023 8
CCS:
Advantages of CCS:
 BER is very low
 Faster and simpler to transfer information between control processors
 No chance of mutual interference as the two channels are physically separate.
 Enables more services to the subscriber and provides signaling up to 1000 or
2000 speech circuits.

06/09/2023 9
 CCS…
 ….Only one set of signaling equipment is required for a whole group of trunk
circuits and therefore CCS is economical.
 There is freedom to handle signals during speech period and flexible to add or
change signals.
Disadvantage:-
 CCS links can be a single point of failure.
 Store and forward network and hence, additional overhead.

06/09/2023 10
Comparison of In-band and CCS:

Figure 3.1: Common channel and in-band signaling techniques.

06/09/2023 11
Milestones of SS7:

 Replaces SS6 and SS5 in the United States.

 SS6 was introduced in the mid 1960s.

 And it was the first widely used, high speed (2400 bps), digital,
packet switched network.
Many people consider this to be the first packet switched network.

06/09/2023 12
PreSS7:

 Control signals were passed in band and the tones were used at the beginning
and end of a conversation.

 The primary reason SS7 is used is to make call setup/teardown much quicker.
Without SS7, call setup/teardown would take around 12 – 24 seconds.

 With SS7, call setup/teardown takes 1 – 4 seconds.

Packet switching concept, accurate and reliable, efficient, secure and

takes support of remote databases.

06/09/2023 13
PreSS7…
 In band signaling passes all control tones with the actual voice traffic.
 Equipment must continually check for the control tones because it doesn’t
know when they will appear on the line.
 And each device must do this.
 Before SS7, the switches are the intelligent devices and they don’t use or
connect to remote databases.
Out of band signaling allows:
 Faster transport of the signaling data.
 Signaling at any time during the entire duration of the call.
 Allows signaling to other network elements, such as databases.

06/09/2023 14
More on SS7:
CCS#7 is a set of protocols which are used to set up, monitor, and tear down telephone
calls very quickly for most of the world’s telephone calls; with high performance,
It is message (packet) based, multi-layer network to network signaling system designed
for fully digital exchanges and standardized by ITU-TS in the 1980’s.
Features of SS7:-
 It is totally out-of-band and message-oriented
 Support common channel signaling technique
 It is easy to understand and implement because of it’s layered approach
 And is very futuristic because of any new feature or services can be added very
easily.
 Database access, fault detection and correction, ...

06/09/2023 15
More on SS7…
 Further, signaling system No. 7 (SS7) is one of the most widely used network
architecture and a protocol used in telephony world.
 It is also known by the name C7 outside North America.
 This standard articulates specific set of protocols about information exchange
over a digital signaling network in the public switched telephone network
(PSTN) systems.
 SS7 is widely used in cellular (wireless) and fixed-line (wire line) for
performing out-of-band signaling in support of the call establishment, billing,
routing, information exchange functions,… of the PSTN.

06/09/2023 16
More on SS7…

 It identifies functions to be performed by a signaling system network and a

protocol to enable their performance.

 Basically, a protocol is a set of rules for communicating between the elements.

 A call must make many “hops” traveling across the SS7 network.

 Each switch must know where the call is coming from and where it is going to in
order to maintain service and takes a lot of coordination.

 This is what the SS7 architecture addresses.

06/09/2023 17
More on SS7…
These set of telephony protocols and devices are used to manage phone calls
very quickly.
Tells the network when to start and stop a call, who to bill, who dialed,
etc…
Travels on a separate network than the actual voice/data traffic.
The network is a digital packet switched network as opposed to the
circuit switched voice.
The packets have a definite format, but they can be variable length.
 SS7 is suitable for operation over both landline and satellite/wireless links.

06/09/2023 18
More on SS7…
 SS7 was originally designed to support the PSTN in call set up, management and
release between telephone offices and customer premises equipment to simply
transport voice traffic.
 But now it has been further developed to transport not only voice but also data/video
traffic.
 In the original SS7, the in-band signaling mechanism was used.
 Nowadays, many new applications of SS7 have emerged such as SS7 intelligent
network.
 Because these applications require a high quality transfer of the signaling
information and the signaling in the SS7 has changed to the out-of-band signaling; in
which, the signaling information is carried in a separate and dedicated physical
channel and the user data is carried in other channels.
06/09/2023 19
More on SS7…
 SS7 is in effect a robust, high-performance packet switched network, intended
for secure transmission of signaling messages.
 And is presently, the dominant inter-exchange signaling system in digital
networks (PSTN, ISDN, …).
 Allows signaling at any phase of the call and up to 56kbps of signaling
information.
 A separate timeslot is used to transfer signaling messages such as call set up,
teardown, …
 All nodes in the SS7 signaling networks are signaling points.

06/09/2023 20
More on SS7…
…Faster call setup/teardown times compared to in-band signaling using multi-
frequency (MF) signaling tones.
 More efficient use of voice circuits.
 Support for intelligent network (IN) services which require signaling to
network elements (e.g., database systems) without the use of circuit switched
connections.
 Support for ISDN-type supplementary services which require end-to-end
signaling between terminals (or local exchanges).
 Improved control over fraudulent network usage (more secure).

06/09/2023 21
Advantages of SS7:
 Compared with channel associated signaling, common channel signaling has
many important advantages.
 Control information can be switched between processors much faster than
channel-associated signaling.
 With a great flexibility, it can provide more new services simply by modifying
software to increase signals.
 Line signaling device is not needed any more at any trunk station, which shall
greatly reduce investment costs.

06/09/2023 22
Advantages of SS7…
 When a call is being set up, signals related to this call can be sent immediately.
 In this way, the subscriber can change the already setup connections.
 For example, the subscriber can transfer one call to another place, or request a
third party to join the present connections.
 Signals can be switched between processors so as to be used for maintenance
or network management.
 The SS7 line signaling can provide powerful support for ISDN, IN, TMN
(telecommunication management network) and cellular mobile communication
systems, as this signaling is their basis.

06/09/2023 23
SS7 Network Architecture:

Figure 3.2: SS7 signaling link architecture.

06/09/2023 24
SS7 Network Architecture…
 In accordance with the usage in the network, the links between SS7 signaling
points are logically divided into six types.
 Although all these links are either 56Kbps or 64 Kbps bidirectional data links
supporting the lower layers of the protocol, they differ by their usage in
connecting the signaling points.
 Figure 3.2, shows the signaling link architecture and the different types of links
are defined as follows:
 A links:- ‘A’ (access) links interconnects the signaling points (STP to SSP or
SCP) which are collectively referred to as signaling end points.
 This type of link is used to transmit the messages that are originated or
destined to signaling end points.
06/09/2023 25
SS7 Network Architecture…
 B links:- ‘B’ stands for bridge and connects one STP to another STP.
 Bridge describes the quad of links interconnecting peer pairs of STPs.
 ‘B’ or ‘D’ links interconnecting two mated pairs of STPs are referred as B/D
links.
 C links:- ‘C’ stands for cross and connects STPs performing identical
functions into a mated pair.
 ‘C’ link is used only when an STP has no other route available to a destination
signaling point due to link failure.
Thus the ‘C’ links are used to enhance the reliability of the signaling network.

06/09/2023 26
SS7 Network Architecture…
 D links:- The link ‘D’ denotes diagonal and describes the quad of links
interconnecting mated pairs of STPs at different hierarchical levels.
 E links:- ‘E’ link stands for extended and connects an SSP to an alternate STP.
‘E’ link provide an alternate signaling path if an SSP’s home STP can not be
reached via an A link.
 Hence ‘E’ links provide backup connectivity to the SS7 network.
 But E links may or may not be deployed at the discretion of the network
provider.
 The decision of whether or not to deploy “E” links can be made by comparing
the cost of deployment with the improvement in reliability.

06/09/2023 27
SS7 Network Architecture…

 F links:- “F” stands for fully associated and directly connect two signaling end
points (SSP’s and SCPs).
 “F” links allow associated signaling only and are not usually used in networks
with STPs.
 Because they bypass the security features provided by an STP, F links are not
generally deployed between networks.
 Their use within an individual network is at the discretion of the network provider.
 Basically, “signaling link” is the link interconnecting the signaling points of SS7
network and is made up of digital transmission channels.
 In each channel, the standard bit rate on a bearer service is 56 or 64kbps but these
channels may be multiplexed into a transmission rate of 1.544, 2.048 or 8.448Mbps.
06/09/2023 28
SS7 Signaling Architecture:
There are three signaling points in SS7 network namely:-
 Signal Switching Point (SSP)

Signal Transfer Point (STP)

Signal Control Point (SCP).
 When we have a deeper look into SS7 architecture, it uses bi-directional
channels (signaling links) where it transfers the messages.
 Signaling links connect the building blocks of the network (signaling points).
 And each of these signaling points is identified by a unique code and this code
identifies the source and destination address.

06/09/2023 29
SS7 Network Protocol Stack:

Figure 3.3: SS7 Protocol System Structure

06/09/2023 30
Functions of Signaling Link Level:
The first level defines the physical, electrical, and functional features of the
signaling link, and is thus similar to the OSI physical layer.
 It determines the connection method with the data link, and provides an
information carrier for the signaling link.
 In digital transmission, signaling data links are usually digital channels at
64kbit/s.
 The second level defines the signaling message transmission functions and
procedure related to its transfer on a signaling data link.
 The second level and the first signaling link used as a whole as an information
carrier, provide a signaling link between two signaling points for the reliable
transfer of messages.
06/09/2023 31
SSP:
SSPs are switches, create packet (signal units) and send those packets to other SSPs.
Further, they are telephone switches which initiate, switch or terminate calls.
They communicate with other SSPs to establish, manage and release voice circuits.
 They are capable of communicating with SCP's database to check the routing
information in case of a toll-free number.
Send query messages to remote databases and communicate with voice switch.
Basically, the SS7 signaling information is produced at the sending SSP and is handled at
the receiving SSP and converts voice signaling into the SS7 signal units and vice versa.
During the processing of a circuit switched call, an SSP in an exchange may be triggered
to retrieve various switching related information (number analysis, time, location, security,
charging...) from an SCP.
The usage of SSP and SCP depends on IN (Intelligent Network) features.

06/09/2023 32
STP:
 STPs are the packet switches which perform routing of incoming signaling
message from the source towards the destination based on the information
contained in the SS7 message.
They receive and route incoming signaling messages to the proper location.
 And is usually paired to provide redundancy for a reliable message transfer.
 The signal transfer (packet switch) and control points (databases) always come
in pairs to provide redundancy.
They are exact copies of each other.
This redundancy was put in place so that the telephone network could
have a high level quality of service (QOS).
 Since the devices come in pairs, they actually have 4-lines among them.

06/09/2023 33
SCP:
 SCPs are databases which aid the services that are supplementary to normal
calling.
 Usually SCPs are deployed in pairs with the STPs for reliability.
 SCP acts as an interface between telecommunication databases and SS7
networks and provides access to databases.
 The protocols used to access and interface a database application is TCAP.
 Databases are distributed along the network and allow advanced call
processing capabilities.
The intelligence in the SS7 network is now distributed among 3 types of
equipment (SSP, STP and SCP) !.

06/09/2023 34
MTP1:
 MTP (transport System) responsible for reliable transfer of signal unit
(message), error detection and correction and node-to-node communication.
MTP level 1:-
 Is physical transmission in a 64 kbit/s PCM time slot.
 Pure transmission of bits and represents the physical, electrical and functional
characteristics.
 And is responsible for the connection of SS7 signaling points into the
transmission network.

06/09/2023 35
MTP 2:
 MTP2 is the data link layer and provides the functions and procedures to transfer
signaling messages over an individual signaling data link.
 For example, in case of signaling link failure , link detection and recovery.
 Facilitates flow control, sequence validation and error checking, signaling
network supervision and maintenance functions, link flow control, error monitoring
and reporting, signaling link detection and correction by retransmission.
MTP2 is primarily responsible for error free transmission of data for some basic
communication functions and ensures exact end-to-end transmission of a message.
 Once the information enters the network, it must be transferred in the proper
sequence and without error between network nodes over each segment of the
transmission path.

06/09/2023 36
MTP3:
 MTP3 provides routing functionality to transport messages to the destination
and signaling message handling (message discrimination, distribution and
routing) and network management (traffic, link and routing management
functions).
 Used for routing in the signaling network between SPs.
 MTP3 facilitates such as routing, congestion control and node addressing.
 When there is a link failure, this level re-routes the network traffic away from
the failed parts of the network.
 In the digital environment, 56 or 64kbps digital paths are used for the signaling
data link.

37
The User part:
The user part is the fourth functional level of the SS7 and its main function is to
control the setup and release of various basic calls.
 The major user parts include:- the telephone user part (TUP), the ISDN user
part (ISUP), the signaling connection control part (SCCP), DUP and TCAP.
 ISUP (ISDN User Part) supports basic telephone call connect/disconnect
between end offices.
 ISUP was derived from TUP, but supports ISDN and intelligent networking
functions.
 DUP (Data User part) defines the necessary call control, and facility
registration and cancellation related elements for international common channel
signaling by use of SS7 for circuit-switched data transmission services.
06/09/2023 38
ISUP:
 Integrated Services User Part is essential for circuit-switching related signaling.
 This layer defines the protocol for voice trunk call establishment, management
and termination in which they carry voice and data between the calling and called
party.
 The only calls which do not use ISUP protocol are the calls that originate and
terminate in the same switch.
Features:
 Establishment / release of circuit switched connections
 End-to-end signaling between two exchanges (for this purpose SCCP +
ISUP is used)
 General (non-user-related) circuit management.
06/09/2023 39
ISUP…
 ISUP-defines the protocols and procedures used to set up, manage and release
trunk circuits that carry voice and data calls.
 Used for both ISDN and non-ISDN calls, messages are exchanged between
originating and terminating exchanges (SSPs), calls that originate and terminate
at the same switch do not use ISDN signaling and circuits are identified using
circuit identification code (CIC).
TUP:-
 TUP (Telephone User Part): TUP is an analog protocol that performs basic
telephone call connect and disconnect.
 It supports the basic call establishment and release and deals only with the
analog circuits.
06/09/2023 40
TCAP:
This layer contains the messages and protocols that serves as the
communication between applications within the signaling points.
 This is mainly used in services which need database support such as advanced
intelligent network (AIN) and toll-free numbers.
 To be more specific, the messages such as queries and responses which are
exchanged between SSP and SCP are carried through TCAP messages.
 This layer also takes care of equipment identification and roaming in mobile
networks.

06/09/2023 41
SCCP:
 SCCP is essential for non-circuit-switching related signaling.
Features: Layer 4 functionality
 Essential for end-to-end signaling and database access
 Global Title Translation (GTT) for enhanced routing
 SubSystem Number (SSN) analysis at destination
 4 Transport Service Classes
 In summary, routing capability of MTP + SCCP is much better than that of
MTP alone.

06/09/2023 42
Basic Call Setup with ISUP:

Figure 3.4: Call setup with ISUP.

 Charging of a call starts at connection phase!
06/09/2023 43
Basic Call Setup with ISUP…
Figure 3.4, shows an example where a subscriber on switch A places a call to a
subscriber on switch B.
1. When calling subscriber calls a subscriber, the originating SSP transmits an
ISUP initial address message (IAM) to reserve an idle trunk from switch A to B.
2. The IAM includes the originating point code, destination point code, calling
and called numbers and is routed via the home STP of the originating switch to
the destination switch.
Same signaling links are used for the full duration of a call unless a link failure
forces to change link
3. On reception of IAM by called subscriber (if idle), the destination switch
transmits an ISUP address complete message (ACM) to its home STP.
06/09/2023 44
Basic Call Setup with ISUP…
4. The destination switch rings the called subscriber and send a ringing tone over
the trunk to the originating switch.
5. When the called panty picks the phone, the destination switch terminates the
ringing tone and transmits an ISUP answer message (ANM) to the originating
switch via its home STP.
6. The STP routes the ANM to the originating switch and initiates billing.
7. If the calling subscriber hangs up first, SSP (A) sends an ISUP release
message (REL) to release the trunk circuit between the switches.

06/09/2023 45
Basic Call Setup with ISUP…
8. The STP routes REL to the destination switch.
9. If the called subscriber hangs up first, the destination switch sends REL to the
originating switch (not shown).
10. Upon receiving REL, the destination switch disconnects the trunk from the
called party’s line.
Then, it transmits an ISUP release complete message (RLC) to the originating
switch to acknowledge the release of the trunk circuit.
11. When originating switch receives RLC, it terminates billing cycle and sets
the trunk state to idle.

06/09/2023 46
Applications of SS7:
 Much quicker call establishment, management and release.
 Prepaid calling, global roaming and call forwarding.
 Credit card approval and short message service (SMS)
 Toll-free numbers for telemarketing and tele-voting
 Location based services and enhanced messaging services (EMS) such as logos
and ringtone delivery.
 Call tracing and blocking.
 Supplementary services by the mobile operators such as Call Number Display
(CND) and Line Information Database (LIDB) which has information related to
subscriber's identification such as name and address along with billing information.

06/09/2023 47
Applications of SS7…
 Besides its applications in telecommunication networks, it also acts as a
connection to the data communication world by providing features like:-
 Internet call-waiting

 Games based on locations

 Services which uses browser based telecommunication
 Hotspot billing, …

06/09/2023 48