SIGNALING

TOPIC OBJECTIVE
To know the concept, function & different types of signaling. To differentiate the levels of CCS7 signaling
To know the different Protocol Stack of CCS7 Signaling

SIGNALING
Signaling is .. all kinds of information exchange that enables speech or data connection between two or more subscribers.

SIGNALING CONCEPT
When subscriber wants to make a call and dials the digits in his phone, lots of things happen before the actual connection can be established. The dialed number is to be transmitted and analyzed Decisions have to be made about which way to take a network. Resources have to be selected, reserved and provided before actual call begin.

FUNCTION OF SIGNALING
Call establishment Call maintenance Call release Control of services Charging control Location updates Hand over Subscriber administration Transmission of short messages

SIGNALING SYSTEM
A time slot in a trunk is dedicated to the transmission of signaling information for the time slots in the same trunk. Signaling is done continuously during the whole time of a call. This is called Channel Associated Signaling (CAS). A time slot in a trunk is assigned to transmit signaling information for time slot in several trunks. The signaling channel is a channel on demand for all of them. This method is called Common Channel Signaling (CCS7).

SIGNALING TYPES
Call-Related Signaling is exchange of information in order to establish, maintain or release one specific call. A call attempt must be started or a call must be ongoing. Non-call Related Signaling is exchange of information that modifies the condition under which future calls take place. It happens without any call going on. Circuit-related Signaling is exchange of information that refers explicitly to the circuit through which call is transmitted by identifying this circuit with an identification code (CIC). Non-circuit Related Signaling is exchange of information that does not refer to a circuit but to other properties such as identification of subscriber, mobile station etc.

CCS7 SIGNALING LEVEL

CCS7 in circuit-related has two levels: MTP (Level 1 3) User Part (Level 4) MTP is called the network delivery services and is responsible for delivering signaling messages safely from point A to point B through the signaling network. MTP is only transport tool for signaling messages. The User Part contains standard messages and procedure sets so they are the one that sent, received and interpret the signaling messages.

MTP - MESSAGE TRANSFER PART

Level 1 is called signaling data link level, it defines the physical, electrical and functional characteristics of a transmission channel and the physical interface towards the transmission media. It is 64kbps time slot of a digital 2 Mbps PCM line. Level 2 is the signaling link level. It defines the functions and procedure regarding secure messages transfer between two adjacent network nodes via a signaling link. It defines the message structure, framing, error detection and correction, alignment procedure etc. Level 3 is the signaling network level. Its function is divided in two parts: - Message Handling, which includes routing of outgoing and transfer of messages to a neighboring node and distribution of incoming messages to the respective user part of the own node .

-Network management, which provides all necessary procedures using the signaling network in an optimized and fault tolerant way. Control of message routing and reconfigurations of the signaling network are performed in order to preserve or restore the normal message transfer capability. MTP also sends Signaling Network Testing and Maintenance (SNT) and Signaling Network Management (SNM) to the other MTPs of other network without passing them on to any User Part.

USER PART
The User Part are responsible for circuit-related signaling. They are the one that hold the signaling repertoire needed, e.g. for call set-up and release. Type of User Part: Telephone User Part (TUP) Data User Part (DUP) ISDN User Part (ISUP)

SCCP - Signaling Connection Control Part

It provides additional functions to the MTP, it provides connectionoriented and connectionless network services for message transfer of both types, circuit-related and non-circuit related.
Connection-oriented network service (CONS) is used for virtual connections between two network elements, and it provides the procedures for establishment, control and release of these shared point-to point connection. Connectionless network service (CLNS) enables non-circuit related communication between network elements, which have to exchange information only for a short periods.

Global Title Translation (GTT), which performs conversion from the Global title (e.g. dialed numbers or the so called E.214 (hybrid number) into a signaling point code and Sub-System Number (SSN). The SSN is the address of an SCCP user within the protocol stack. In GSM, this routing done by SCCP like in International or National roaming, where the visited location area resides in a different signaling network than the HLR of the home PLMN.

SCCP uses the services of MTP and provides function similarly offered by OSI layer 3 and 4, the routing part (GTT) belongs to layer 3 and the provision of network services to layer 4. Within the CCS7 architecture, SCCP is placed on level 4.
SCCP is to be present in every signaling point that has at least one sub-system, these are all network elements that host TC user or an application part: MSC, HLR and BSC.

TCAP - Transaction Capability Application Part

It was design to create a common function for establishing connectionless and connection-oriented non-circuit related communication between network elements. TCAP is the application part that performs transaction and component handling, a transaction that consist of an invoke message and corresponding response message.

CCS7 PROTOCOL STACK

MAP TUP/ISUP INAP/CAP TCAP BSSAP Level 4
CLNS

SCCP

CONS

MTP

Level 1-3

CCS7 PROTOCOL STACK

Mobile Application Part, MAP Is a group of protocol which were develop for taking care of the functions dealing with the mobile telephony: Location update, short message services, subscriber administration, equipment security etc.MAP is needed only in GSM network sub-system elements, MSC/VLR, HLR/AUC/EIR and SCCPs connectionless services through TCAP. MAP signaling is always non-circuit related signaling. MAP-M - MSC MAP-V - VLR MAP-H - HLR/AUC MAP-E - EIR MAP-S - CAMEL

Intelligent Network Application Part, INAP IN concept is ensured by implementing the interface between Service Switching Point (SSP) and Service Control point (SCP). Base Station Sub-system Application Part, BSSAP The BSSAP is used for signaling between the BSC and MSC, It build the communication tool between NSS and BSS. In BSC two signaling systems are supported: CCS7 towards MSC and LAPD towards BTS.

CCS7 SIGNALING UNITS

SIGNALING UNIT USED BETWEEN NETWORK ELEMENTS:
FROM MSC TO MSC SIG UNIT CCSU

MSC
MSC MSC MSC BSC MSC MSC MSC MSC HLR

BSC
HLR SCP NMS BTS SMS C TSC WAP PSTN MSC

BSU
CCSU CCSU BDCU BCSU BDCU CCSU PAU CCSU CCSU

CCS7 PROTOCOL APPLICATION

NE

MSC
HLR BSC PST N

MT P a a a a

TUP

a
x x a

DU P a x x a

ISU P a x x a

SCC P a a a Poss ible

TC

a
a x Poss ible

MA P a a x x

INA P a a x a

BSS AP a Possi ble a x

BSC
BSSAP SCCP MTP BSSAP

MSC
MAP TCAP SCCP MTP TUP/ ISUP

PSTN
TUP/ ISUP

HLR
MAP TCAP SCCP

MTP

MTP