INTRODUCTION TO GSM

Thus, there is a need for a generic system that is able to support a

wide variety of applications in telecommunication.

The variety of applications is increasing as new types of telephony

systems and a wider use of databases in the network become
necessary (mobile telephony networks, ISDN, IN, etc.).

Even though the standardization of SS7 is now the responsibility of

ITU-T, for traditional and historical reasons, the system is often
called CCITT No. 7 signaling system.

The signaling system

recommendations.

The modular layer structure allows flexible usage of the

specifications.

used

in

GSM

follows

the

CCITT

USER PARTS
The User Parts (UPs) contain functions dealing with the processing of
signal information before and after it is transmitted through the
signaling network.
The MTP provides the means of reliable transport and delivery of UP
information across the SS7 network.
It also has the ability to react to system and network failures that
affect the information from the UPs and take necessary action to
ensure that the information is safely conveyed.
The User does not mean the subscriber involved in the call, but the
user of the MTP.
The MTP is a common transport system developed to serve one or
more User Parts in the same node.
Every Signaling Point(SP) consists of MTP & a number of its users.
Only UPs of the same type can communicate with each other.
To forward signaling messages between UPs, located in different
nodes, the MTP is used.

USERS OF SIGNALING SYSTEM CCITT NO 7

MAP

CAP

BSSAP

ISUP

TCAP

SCCP
MTP

CCITT SS NO. 7 PROTOCOLS IN GSM

TUP

MTP user parts

ISUP (ISDN User Part)
It provides control-functions and signaling, needed in an ISDN, to
deal with ISDN subscriber calls and related functions.
TUP (Telephony User Part)
It provides all necessary functions and signaling for dealing with a
telephony user.
TUP is being replaced by ISUP in telecommunication networks.
DUP (Digital User Part)
This UP is used for purposes such as file transfer and related
signaling.

SCCP
The MTP was designed for the real-time applications of telephony.
The connectionless nature of the MTP provides a low-overhead facility
suiting the requirements of telephony.
Regarding GSM, other applications such as network management
need services such as expanded addressing capability and reliable
message transfer.
The SCCP was developed to meet these requirements.
The SCCP also sends its messages through the MTP.
The SCCP provides functions for completely new services, for
example, non-circuit-related signaling.
Some functions, not directly related to users, but necessary for
network control, are used.
The main reason is that they are necessary for serving applications in
higher layers and for maintenance purposes.

SCCP
These functions use SCCP services:
Transaction Capabilities (TC)
First introduced in 1984, TC provides the mechanisms for
transaction-oriented applications and functions.
Operation and Maintenance Application Part (OMAP)
Specifies network management functions and messages related
to operation and maintenance.

OSI Model
APPLICATION

CCITT SS NO 7 Model
ASE
USER PARTS
TCAP

PRESENTATION
SESSION
TRANSPORT
SCCP
NETWORK

SIGNALLING LINK

PHYSICAL

SIGNALLING DATA LINK

NSP

LINK

MTP

SIGNALLING NETWORK

CALL FLOW

Mobile originated call

BSS

MS

MSC

Channel Request (RACH)

Immediate Assignment [ Reject ] (AGCH)

SDCCH Seizure
CM Service Request

+ Connection Request < CMSREQ >

Connection [ Confirmed / Refused ]

Link Establishment
Authentication Request
Authentication Response

S
D
C
C
H

Ciphering Mode Command

Ciphering Mode Complete

DT1 <CICMD>
DT1 <CICMP>

Identity Request
Identity Response
Setup
Call Proceeding

Connection Management
Assignment Request
Assignment Request [ Failed ]
Assignment Command
Assignment [ Complete / Failure ]

T
C
H

Assignment [ Complete / Failure ]

TCH Seizure