SS7

Signaling System 7

Signaling
Signaling refers to
the exchange of information

between Call Components

required to provide and maintain service

PSTN Signaling

The PSTN Signaling methods are generally

broken into following groups

1. User-to-Network Signaling
2. Network-to-Network Signaling

User-to-Network Signaling

User-to-Network Signaling

User-to-Network Signaling

alog Communication
Digital Communication
Analog Local Digital
Loop Local Loop
DTMF

ISDN

ADSL

DTMF Signaling
DTMF stands for Dual-Tone Multi-Frequency
In DTMF a combination of two tones is
transmitted for each number

Frequencies (Hz) 1209

697
770
852
941

1
4
7
*

1336
2
5
8
0

1477
3
6
9
#

1633
A
B
C
D

Network-to-Network
Signaling

Network-to-Network Signaling
Network-to-Network Signaling

C7 (SS7)

SS7
Architecture for performing out of band
signaling using common channel.
To
Establish Call
Billing
Routing
Info exchange function of PSTN

 Signaling is divorced from the Voice

Signaling information for many voice
channels is combined onto one
signaling channel which is effectively a
data channel.

Associated Signaling

SS7 Network Architecture

SS7 Network
Architecture
SS7 Network Architecture

Signaling Elements

Signaling Links

SS7 Network Architecture

SS7 Signaling Elements

Signal Switching Point

(SSP)

Signal Transfer Point

(STP)

Signal Control Point

(SCP)

SS7 Network Architecture

SS7 Signaling Links
A links

B links

C links

D links

E links

F links

Signaling Network Elements

Signaling Architecture

SS7 Link Types

Call Setup

SS7: Telephone Signaling Network

Note: redundancy in SS7 elements

Example: signaling a PSTN call

4. STP X forwards IAM
SSP B
2. SSP A formulates
Initial Address
Message (IAM),
forwards to STP W

3. STP W forwards IAM

to STP X

1. caller goes offhook,

dials callee. SSP A
decides to route call
via SSP B. Assigns
idle trunk A-B

X
A

Example: signaling a PSTN call

5. B determines it serves callee, creates
address completion message
(ACM[A,B,trunk]), rings callee phone, sends
ringing sound on trunk to A
6. ACM routed to Z to Y to A
7. SSP A receives
ACM, connects subscriber
line to allocated A-B trunk
(caller hears ringing)

X
B

Example: signaling a PSTN call

8. Callee goes off hook, B
creates, sends answer
message to A
(ANM[A,B,trunk])
9. ANM routed to A
10. SSP A receives
ANM, checks caller is
connected in both
directions to trunk. Call
is connected!

X
B

Example: signaling a 800 ca11

800 number: logical phone number
translation to physical phone number needed, e.g., 0800-geo-tv
translates to 021-5861943
3. M performs lookup,
sends reply to A
2. STP W forwards
request to M

1. Caller dials 800 number, A

recognizes 800 number,
formulates translation query,
send to STP W

A
A

Y
B

Example: signaling a 800 ca11

800 number: logical phone number
translation to physical phone number needed

1. A begins signaling
to set up call to
number associated
with 800 number

X
A
A

Database Query

ISUP Message Types

Message Type

Binary
Contents

Hex
Contents

IAM (Initial Address Message )

0000 0001

01 H

SAM(Subsequent Address Message)

0000 0010

02 H

ACM (Address Complete Message)

0000 0110

06 H

ANM ( Answer Message)

0000 1001

09 H

REL ( Release Message)

0000 1100

0C H

RLC ( Release Complete )

0001 0000

10 H

Many More

SS7 Protocol Overview

SS7 Protocol Stack Vs. OSI Model

SS7 protocol stack

TCAP: application layer
protocols: 800 service,
calling card, call
return, cellular
roaming

SCCP:
demultiplexing
to multiple upper
layer
applications

SS7-specific network, link,

physical layer protocols

ISDN end-user
signaling

SS7 Protocol Stack

MTP

Message Transfer Part

TUP

Telephone User Part

ISUP

ISDN User Part

SCCP

Signaling Connection Control Part

TCAP

Transaction Capabilities

GTT

Global Title Translation

Signal Units
There are three types of signal units

Message Signal Unit ( MSU )

Link Status Signal Units ( LSSU )

Fill-In Signal Units ( FISU )

Signaling Unit Structure

Common Fields
Flag
Delimits SUs.(01111110)

Checksum
8 bit sum to verify the error free transmission of SUs.

Length Indicator
Indicate number of octets between itself and checksum.

BSN/BIB FSN/FIB
Used to confirm the receipt of SUs

Fill-in Signal Unit (FISU)

Fill-in Signal Unit (FISU)

FISUs do not carry any information from upper layers

FISUs are transmitted on the signaling links when the MSUs and
LSSUs are not present
FISUs are sent to provide constant error checking on the link
using CRC checksum.
To acknowledge the reciept of message using BSN & BIB

Link Status Signal Unit (LSSU)

Link Status Signal Unit (LSSU)

LSSUs are sent between two signaling points to indicate the

status of the signaling link in the Status field (SF) between two
adjacent signaling points.
Status Field is used for the purpose

Message Signal Unit ( MSU )

Message Signal Unit ( MSU )

MSUs are Work Horses of SS7

Functionality lies in
Service Information Octet (SIO)
Signaling Information Field (SIF)

Service Information Octet ( SIO )

Service Information Octet (SIO )

SIO (8 bits)

Service Indicator (4bits)

Subservice Indicator (4bits)

Service Indicator

Sub-Service Indicator of SIO

00XX
10XX

International Network
National Network

XX two bits indicate Priority

4 possible values 3 Highest Priority, then 2 and so

Signaling Information Field ( SIF )

Signaling Information Field ( SIF )

SIF field in MSU contains
Routing Label ( OPC , DPC, SLS )

Information from Upper level protcols

(TUP,
ISUP, SCCP or Network Management data)

Routing Labels route the MSU through

the network to its final destination