Structure of the PSTN

Transport or transmission (PDH, SDH) Switching (see previous lecture) Subscriber signalling (analog or digital) Network-internal signalling (SS7) Intelligent Network (IN) concept

Basic components also for circuit-switched core of mobile networks (PLMN)

Basic functional parts of the PSTN

PSTN Switching in exchanges Transmission (PDH, SDH)

Subscriber signalling (analog or ISDN=DSS1)

Networkinternal signalling (SS7)

Databases in the network (HLR)

PSTN Circuit-switched technology

Circuit-switched network
Based on 64 kbit/s channels (TDM time slots) Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) Connection-oriented operation (setup & release connection => call) Charging is based on time duration of connection Optimized for delaysensitive services (speech)

Packet-switched network
No fixed channel concept (bit rate is not constant) Statistical multiplexing (greater flexibility) Connectionless operation (independent routing of packets) as default More flexible charging solutions QoS solutions required for delay-sensitive services

IP network as alternative to PSTN

Voice traffic can naturally also be carried over Packetswitched (IP) networks. This topic is covered in a future lecture. PSTN

Switching in exchanges

Transmission (PDH, SDH)

Subscriber signalling (analog or ISDN=DSS1)

Networkinternal signalling (SS7)

Databases in the network (HLR)

IP network Quality-of-Service (QoS) support needed!

Transmission: PDH or SDH systems

PSTN Switching in exchanges Transmission (PDH, SDH)

Subscriber signalling (analog or ISDN=DSS1)

Networkinternal signalling (SS7)

Databases in the network (HLR)

64 kbit/s channel (or TDM time slot)

This is the basic transport unit in both PDH and SDH transport systems. Note that switching in exchanges in the PSTN is also based on 64 kbit/s TDM time slots. When used for voice transport, a 64 kbit/s channel contains PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) speech, generated according to ITU-T specification G.711. Analog speech signal (3003400 Hz) Sampling produces 8000 samples/s Each sample is encoded into an 8-bit PCM code word (e.g. 01100101)
time

=> 8000 x 8 bit/s

PDH and SDH transmission bit rates

PDH (Plesiochronous Digital Hierarchy)
Japan J1 J2 J3 J4 1.5 Mbit/s 6 32 98 USA T1 T2 T3 T4 1.5 Mbit/s 6 45 140 Europe E1 E2 E3 E4 2 Mbit/s 8 34 140

SONET (North Am.)

STS-1 STS-3 STS-12 STS-48 51.84 Mbit/s 155.52 622.08 2.488 Gbit/s

SDH
STM-1 STM-4 STM-16

Structure of E1 frame (2.048 Mbit/s)

012 16 31

32 TDM time slots (with 8 bits each / frame) Time slots 1-31 carry digital signals (usually PCM speech) with a bitrate of 64 kbit/s. Time slot 0 is used for frame synchronization:
received bit stream ... where does a new frame begin?

...

...

Time slot 16 usually contains SS7 signalling information.

Structure of STM-1 frame in SDH

9 3 1 5 SOH SOH 261 bytes STM-1 payload (contains the actual information) AU pointer indicates where the virtual container starts in the payload field
STM = Synchronous transport module SOH = Section overhead AU = Administrative unit

Higher-order STM-4 signal is generated using synchronous byte interleaving:

byte from first STM-1 signal

byte from second STM-1 signal byte from third STM-1 signal byte from fourth STM-1 signal

Bitrate of STM-1 signal

9 3 1 5 SOH SOH 261 bytes STM-1 payload Basic idea: bytes from a 64 kbit/s channel are carried in successive STM-1 frames (exactly one byte per frame).

STM-1 frame contains 9 x 270 bytes => bitrate of STM-1 signal: 9 x 270 x 64 kbit/s = 155.52 Mbit/s

Mapping into STM-1 frames

SOH AU-4 pointer points to first byte of VC SOH P O H VC-4 VC-4(Virtual (Virtualcontainer) container) 9
POH = Path overhead

Virtual container floats within the payload of STM-1 frames

260 bytes

Filling of STM-1 payload in practice

In reality, the STM-1 payload is filled like this:

STM-1 frame N

Beginning of virtual container

Path overhead bytes

STM-1 frame N+1

Beginning of next virtual container

SDH pointer adjustment (1)

When VC-4 clock rate is larger than STM-1 clock rate => pointer value is shifted forward three bytes SOH Pointer value updated SOH old new VC-4 VC-4(Virtual (Virtualcontainer) container)

Three empty bytes are inserted here

SDH pointer adjustment (2)

When VC-4 clock rate is smaller than STM-1 clock rate => pointer value is shifted back three bytes SOH Pointer value updated VC-4 VC-4(Virtual (Virtualcontainer) container) AU-4 pointer Three VC bytes are stored here STM-1 payload old new

Payload mapping
STM-1 can carry 63 E1 signals. SDH systems nowadays also carry ATM and IP traffic.

STM-1

More about SDH

SDH pocket guide (there is a link to this material on the course home page) www.iec.org/online/tutorials/sdh Section 4.4.1 in Understanding Telecommunications 1 by Ericsson Telecom, Telia and Studentlitteratur 1998 (the corresponding online course is sometimes available at www.ericsson.com)

Subscriber signalling
PSTN Switching in exchanges Transmission (PDH, SDH)

Subscriber signalling (analog or ISDN=DSS1)

Networkinternal signalling (SS7)

Databases in the network (HLR)

Analog subscriber signalling

The calling party (user A) tells the local exchange to set up (disconnect) a call by generating a short (open) circuit in the terminal => off-hook (on-hook) operation. The dialled called party (user B) number is sent to the local exchange in form of Dual Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) signal bursts. Alerting (ringing) means that the local exchange sends a strong sinusoid to the terminal of user B. In-channel information in form of audio signals (dial tone, ringback tone, busy tone) is sent from local exchange to user. User can send DTMF information to network.

3 4

Analog subscriber signalling in action

User A Off-hook Dial tone B number LE A SS7 signalling (ISUP) LE B User B
LE = local exchange

Ringing signal Off-hook (user B answers)

Ringback tone (or busy tone) Connection established

ISDN subscriber signalling in action

User A Off-hook B number
Setup Call proc

LE A SS7 signalling (ISUP)

LE B

User B
DSS1 signalling messages Setup Alert

Ringing Off-hook (user B answers)

Tones generated in terminal

Alert Conn Conn

Connection established

What does ISDN originally mean?

1. End-to-end digital connectivity 2. Enhanced subscriber signaling
Idea originated in the 1980s

3. A wide variety of new services (due to 1 and 2) 4. Standardized access interfaces and terminals ISDN is not a new network separated from the PSTN. Interworking with normal PSTN equipment is very important. interaction is possible

ISDN ISDN terminal terminal

PSTN PSTN terminal terminal

PSTN vs. ISDN user access

PSTN 300 3400 Hz analog transmission band Poor-performance subscriber signaling 2 x 64 kbit/s digital channels (B channels) 16 kbit/s channel for signaling (D channel) => Digital Subscriber Signalling system nr. 1 (DSS1) 30 x 64 kbit/s digital channels (B channels) 64 kbit/s channel for signaling (D channel) Mainly used for connecting private branch exchanges (PBX) to the PSTN.

Basic Rate Access ISDN Primary Rate Access ISDN

End-to-end digital signalling

User interface Q.931 Q.931

DSS1

PSTN Network ISUP ISUP SS7 MTP MTP3 3 MTP MTP2 2 MTP MTP1 1 ISUP ISUP MTP MTP3 3 MTP MTP2 2 MTP MTP1 1

User interface Q.931 Q.931

DSS1

Q.931 Q.931 Q.921 Q.921 I.430 I.430

Q.931 Q.931 Q.921 Q.921 I.430 I.430

Q.921 Q.921 I.430 I.430

Q.921 Q.921 I.430 I.430

contains the signalling messages for call control

Signalling System nr. 7 (SS7)

PSTN Switching in exchanges Transmission (PDH, SDH)

Subscriber signalling (analog or ISDN=DSS1)

Networkinternal signalling (SS7)

Databases in the network (HLR)

History of inter-exchange signalling

CAS CAS
Before 1970, only channel-associated signalling (CAS) was used. In CAS systems, the signalling is carried inband along with the user traffic. SS6 = CCIS (common channel interoffice signaling) was deployed in North America as an interim solution, but not in Europe. CCIS is not the same thing as SS7. Starting from 1980 (mainly in Europe), CAS was being replaced by SS7. The use of stored program control (SPC) exchanges made this possible. Like CCIS, signalling messages are transmitted over separate signalling channels. Unlike CCIS, SS7 technology is not monolithic, but based on protocol stacks.

CCIS CCIS

SS7 SS7

Channel-associated signalling (CAS)

CAS means in-band signalling over the same physical channels as the circuit-switched user traffic (e.g. voice).
Signalling is possible

Exchange Exchange
Signalling is not possible before previous circuitswitched link is established

Exchange
Circuit switched connection

CAS has two serious draw-backs: Setting up a circuit switched connection is very slow. Signalling to/from databases is not feasible in practice (setting up a circuit switched connection to the database and then releasing it would be extremely inconvenient).

Common channel signalling (CCS)

In practice, CCS = SS7.
Signalling is possible anywhere anytime

Exchange

Exchange

Database

The packet-switched signalling network is totally separated from the circuit-switched connections. Consequently: Signalling to/from databases is possible anytime. End-to-end signalling is possible before call setup and also during the conversation phase of a call. There is one drawback: It is difficult to check if the circuit-switched connections are really working (= continuity check).

Signalling example
Tokyo User UserA A (calling (calling user) user) Exch Exch London Database Database A typical scenario: User A calls mobile user B. The call is routed to a specific gateway exchange (GMSC) that must contact a database (HLR) to find out under which exchange (MSC) the mobile user is located. The call is then routed to this exchange. Exch Exch Exch Exch Oulu User UserB B (called (called user) user)

Protocol layers (levels) of SS7

ISDN ISDNUser UserPart Part (ISUP) (ISUP)

SS7 application protocol for managing circuit-switched connections

Application protocols (e.g. Mobile Application Part, MAP) Transaction Capabilities Application Part (TCAP) Signalling Connection Control Part (SCCP)

MTP user

MTP MTPlevel level3 3(routing (routingin inthe thesignalling signallingnetwork) network) MTP MTP MTPlevel level2 2(link-layer (link-layerprotocol) protocol) MTP MTPlevel level1 1(64 (64kbit/s kbit/sPCM PCMtime timeslot) slot)

SS7 protocols vs. OSI model

SS7 protocol stack MAP MAP TCAP TCAP ISUP ISUP OSI protocol layer model Application Application Presentation Presentation Session Session Transport Transport SCCP SCCP MTP MTPlevel level3 3 MTP MTPlevel level2 2 MTP MTPlevel level1 1 Network Network Data Datalink link Physical Physical

OSI protocol layer model

Application layer Presentation layer Session layer Transport layer Network layer Data link layer Physical layer

User application (in this case, the actual signalling messages) Data compression & coding Dialogue control End-to-end flow & error control Switching & routing through the communications network Link-layer flow & error control Multiplexing & transport of bits, time slots in PDH or SDH systems

Message Trasfer Part (MTP) functions

MTP level 1 (signalling data link level):
Digital transmission channel (64 kbit/s TDM time slot)

MTP level 2 (signalling link level):

Frame-based protocol for flow control, error control (using Automatic Repeat reQuest, ARQ), and signalling network supervision and maintenance functions.

MTP level 3 (signalling network level):

Routing in the signalling network between signalling points (using signalling point codes). MTP level 3 users are ISUP and SCCP (other users such as TUP or DUP are not widely used any more).

MTP level 2 frame formats

MSU (Message Signal Unit) F F CK CK SIF SIF
Level 3 user information

SIO SIO

LI LI Control Control
Network: National International User part: ISUP SCCP Signalling network management

F F

LSSU (Link Status Signal Unit) F F CK CK SF SF LI LI Control Control F F

FISU (Fill-In Signal Unit) F F

LSB

CK CK

LI LI Control Control

F F
MSB

MTP level 2 frames

MSU (Message Signal Unit): Contains actual SS7 signalling messages The received frame is MSU if LI > 2 (LI = number of octets) LSSU (Link Status Signal Unit): Contains signalling messages for MTP level 2 (signalling link) supervision The received frame is LSSU if LI = 1 or 2 FISU (Fill-In Signal Unit): Can be used to monitor quality of signalling link at receiving end The received frame is FISU if LI = 0

Signalling points (SP) in SS7

Network elements (relevant from signalling point of view) contain signalling points identified by unique signalling point codes. STP STP
Signalling Transfer Points only relay signalling messages

STP STP
MAP

SP SP

Signalling Point (in a database, such as HLR in mobile network)

STP STP SP SP
ISUP Signalling Point (signalling termination in an exchange)

Exchange Exchange

Signalling point code (SPC)

SS7 signalling messages contain MTP level 3 routing information in the form of a routing label:
MSB SIO octet DPC DPC OPC OPC OPC SLS LSB

International (and most national) signalling networks (ITU-T): 14-bit Destination Point Code (DPC) 14-bit Originating Point Code (OPC) 4-bit Signalling Link Selection (SLS) North American national signalling network (ANSI): 24-bit DPC and OPC, 5-bit SLS code

Signalling message payload

Format for international SPC:

Zone 3 bits Area/Network 8 bits SP 3 bits For examples, see: www.numberingplans.com

Same SPCs can be reused at different network levels

International SPC SPC= =277 277

National

SPC SPC= =277 277

SPC = 277 means different signalling points (network elements) at different network levels. The Service Information Octet (SIO) indicates whether the DPC and OPC are international or national signalling point codes.
FF CK CK SIF SIF SIO SIO LI LI Control Control FF

ISDN User Part (ISUP)

ISUP is a signalling application protocol that is used for establishing and releasing circuit-switched connections (calls). Only for signalling between exchanges (ISUP can never be used between an exchange and a stand-alone database) Not only for ISDN (=> ISUP is generally used in the PSTN) Structure of ISUP message:
SIO (one octet) Routing label (four octets) CIC (two octets) Message type (one octet) Mandatory fixed part Mandatory variable part Optional part

Must always be included in ISUP message E.g., IAM message E.g., contains called (user B) number in IAM message

ISUP signalling messages

Basic ISUP signalling messages: Call setup: IAM (Initial address message) ACM (Address complete message) ANM (Answer message) From LE A to LE B From LE B to LE A

Call release: REL (Release message) RLC (Release complete message) Direction depends on releasing party (user A or user B)

Difference between SLS and CIC

The four-bit signalling link selection (SLS) field in the routing label defines the signalling link which is used for transfer of the signalling information. The 16-bit circuit identification code (CIC) contained in the ISUP message defines the TDM time slot or circuit with which the ISUP message is associated. Signalling link STP STP Exchange Exchange Circuit Exchange Exchange

Signalling using IAM message

STP STP SL 4 SL 7 SPC = 82 Circuit 14 Exchange Exchange Outgoing message: OPC = 82 CIC = 14 DPC = 22 SLS = 4 Exchange Exchange SPC = 22 Circuit 20 SPC = 60

STP STP

Exchange Exchange

Processing in (transit) exchange(s): Received IAM message contains B-number. Exchange performs number analysis (not part of ISUP) and selects new DPC (60) and CIC (20).

Setup of a call using ISUP

User A LE A Transit exchange LE B User B

Setup
DSS1 signalling assumed

IAM
Number analysis

IAM

Setup Alert

Alert

ACM

ACM

Connect

ANM
Charging of call starts now

ANM

Connect

Call setup: Signalling sequence 1

User A Off hook Dial tone B number LE A TE LE B User B

Local exchange detects setup request and returns dial tone

Local exchange:
analyzes B number determines that call

should be routed via transit exchange (TE)

Call setup: Signalling sequence 2

User A LE A TE LE B User B

Initial address message (IAM) ISUP message IAM is sent to transit exchange (TE). TE analyzes B number and determines that call should be routed to local exchange of user B (LE B). IAM message is sent to LE B. There now exists a circuit-switched path (the path is cut through) between user A and LE B.

Call setup: Signalling sequence 3

User A Ringback tone or Ringing signal is sent to user B (=> user B is alerted). Ringback tone (or busy tone) is sent to user A. (Ringback/busy tone is generated locally at LE A or is sent from LE B through circuit switched path.) LE A TE LE B User B

Address complete message (ACM)

Ringing signal

Call setup: Signalling sequence 4

User A Charging starts now LE A TE LE B User B User B answers

Answer message (ANM)

Conversation over this pipe User B answers, connection is cut through at LE B. Charging of the call starts when ISUP message ANM is received at LE A (the normal case). The 64 kbit/s bi-directional circuit switched connection is now established.

E.164 numbering scheme

In each exchange, the B number is analyzed at call setup (after the IAM message containing the number has been received) and a routing program (not part of ISUP) selects the next exchange to which the call is routed. 00 358 0 Prefix Country code Area code 9 358 or mobile network code, e.g. 40 9 9 1234567 1234567 1234567 International number National number User number

E.164 number structure

Max. 15 digits 00 Prefix Country code (1-3 digits) 358 9 1234567 Subscriber number National destination code (1-3 digits) Area code, e.g. 9 Mobile network code, e.g. 40
For examples, see: www.numberingplans.com

MSISDN number

Signalling sequence for call release

User A LE A TE LE B User B

Conversation over this pipe On hook Charging stops Release message (REL) Release complete message (RLC)

The circuits between exchanges are released one by one. (The generation of hanging circuits should be avoided, since these are blocked from further use.)

Signalling Connection Control Part (SCCP)

SCCP is required when signalling information is carried between exchanges and databases in the network. An important task of SCCP is global title translation (GTT):
STP with GTT capability

Exchange Exchange

STP STP

Database Database

1. Exchange knows the global title (e.g. 0800 number or IMSI number in a mobile network) but does not know the DPC of the database related to this global title. 2. SCCP performs global title translation in the STP (0800 or IMSI number => DPC) and the SCCP message can now be routed to the database.

Why GTT in STP network node?

Global title translation (GTT) is usually done in an STP. Advantage: Advanced routing functionality (= GTT) needed only in a few STPs with large packet handling capacity, instead of many exchanges. Exchange Exchange Exchange Exchange Database Database

Database Database

STP STP

Exchange Exchange

Exchange Exchange

Exchange Exchange

Exchange Exchange

Example: SCCP usage in mobile call

Mobile switching center (MSC) needs to contact the home location register (HLR) of a mobile user identified by his/her International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) number.
SCCP/GTT functionality STP STP SCCP MSC MSClocated locatedin inEspoo Espoo SPC = 82 Outgoing message: OPC = 82 DPC = 32 SCCP: IMSI global title SPC = 32 SCCP HLR HLRlocated locatedin inOslo Oslo SPC = 99 Processing in STP: Received message is given to SCCP for GTT. SCCP finds the DPC of the HLR: DPC = 99

More about SS7

Chapter 4 in Engineering Networks for Synchronization, CCS7, and ISDN by P.K.Bhatnagar 1997 (this belongs to the distributed course material) www.iec.org/online/tutorials/ss7 Part E in Understanding Telecommunications 2 by Ericsson Telecom, Telia and Studentlitteratur 1998 (the corresponding online course is sometimes available at www.ericsson.com)

To sum it up with an example

Part B, Section 3.3 in Understanding Telecommunications 2 Typical operation of a local exchange PSTN Transmission (PDH, SDH)

Subscriber signalling (analog or ISDN=DSS1)

Networkinternal signalling (SS7)

Databases in the network (HLR)

Basic local exchange (LE) architecture

Modern trend: Switching and control functions are separated into different network elements (separation of user and control plane).
Subscriber stage LIC LIC Time switch Tone Rx

Switching system
Group switch ETC ETC Sign. TDM links to other network elements Exchange terminal circuit SS7 Signalling equipment

Tone generator Line interface circuit

Switch control E.164 number analysis Charging User databases O&M functions

Control system

Setup of a call (1)

Phase 1. User A lifts handset and receives dial tone.
Local exchange of user A 4. Tone Rx is connected 1. Off hook LIC LIC 5. Dial tone is sent (indicating network is alive) Time switch Tone Rx

Switching system
Group switch ETC ETC Sign.

Tone generator

2. Check user database. For instance, is user A barred for outgoing calls? 3. Reserve memory for user B number

Control system

Setup of a call (2)

Phase 2. Exchange receives and analyzes user B number.
Local exchange of user A

Switching system
LIC LIC 1. User A dials user B number Time switch Tone Rx Group switch ETC ETC Sign.

2. Number (DTMF signal) received

3. Number analysis 4. IN triggering actions? Should an external database (e.g. SCP, HLR) be contacted?

Control system

Setup of a call (3)

Phase 3. Outgoing circuit is reserved. ISUP Initial address message (IAM) is sent to next exchange.
Local exchange of user A

Switching system
LIC LIC 1. Tone receiver is disconnected Time switch Tone Rx Group switch ETC ETC Sign.

E.g., CIC = 24

2. Outgoing circuit is reserved 3. Outgoing signalling message (ISUP IAM) contains user B number

IAM (contains information CIC = 24)

Control system

Setup of a call (4)

Phase 4. ACM received => ringback or busy tone generated. ANM received => charging starts.
Local exchange of user A

Switching system
LIC LIC 2. Ringback or busy tone is locally generated 4. Call continues Tone generator Time switch Group switch ETC ETC Sign. ACM, ANM

1. ISUP ACM message indicates free or busy user B 3. Charging starts when ISUP ANM message is received

Control system