Signalling

Objectives
At the end of the module the student is able to:
Define the term signalling
Describe the SS7 protocol stack and its functions
Identify the SS7 protocol stacks implemented in
each GSM network element (BSC, MSC and HLR)

NOKIA

Introduction to SS7 Signalling/ 6-66868/ v 2-0

Signalling in the old days

%#!&?:^*
(%&#/=

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Introduction to SS7 Signalling/ 6-66868/ v 2-0

subscriber A /
telephone A

Signalling
operations
exchange 1
exchange 2

subscriber B /
Telephone B

1. service request
2. dial tone
3. provide telephone number
4. number
analysis &
resource
5. address information
reservation
6. number analysis
& resource
reservation
7. set-up message
8. set-up confirmation
9. ringing
10. alert message

11. address complete

message
12. ringing tone

14. connect message 13. connect message

15. Conversation
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Introduction to SS7 Signalling/ 6-66868/ v 2-0

Signalling system
implementation
Set of standard messages
Many ways of implementation
Evolution of multiple systems
Problems in compatibility
Development of Channel Associated
Signalling

Good for low traffic only

Bottleneck and waste of bandwidth

Development of SS7

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High capacity
Signalling in the absence of a call possible

Introduction to SS7 Signalling/ 6-66868/ v 2-0

Signalling Points and Signalling

Transfer Points
SS7
exchange 3

Independent,
packetoriented
signalling
network

SP

STP

SP
exchange 1
SP
Signalling Point
STP Signalling Transfer Point
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Introduction to SS7 Signalling/ 6-66868/ v 2-0

SP
exchange 1

Message bearers and managers

NOKIA

Introduction to SS7 Signalling/ 6-66868/ v 2-0

SS7 - MTP

Message
Transfer
Part (MTP)

NOKIA

Layer 3

Signalling Message Handling

Layer 2

Data Link Control

Layer 1

Physical Connections

Introduction to SS7 Signalling/ 6-66868/ v 2-0

SS7 - MTP / TUP / ISUP

MSC
SP

PSTN exchange
SP

TUP

TUP

Call Control
messages

NUP

NUP

ISUP

ISUP
Transport of signalling
messages within one network

Layer 2
Layer 1

Data link
control
Physical
connections

Layer 2 Layer 2
Layer 1 Layer 1

STP
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NOKIA

Introduction to SS7 Signalling/ 6-66868/ v 2-0

Layer 3
Data link
control
Physical
connections

Layer 2
Layer 1

MTP

MTP

Layer 3

Virtual connections
Virtual
Connection using
Connection
Oriented
SCCP

A
MTP
Originating
Signalling
Point

Signalling
Transfer
Point
Signalling
Transfer Point

MTP

MTP
Signalling
Transfer
Point

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Introduction to SS7 Signalling/ 6-66868/ v 2-0

B
Destination
Signalling Point

SS7 - SCCP
Offers following services to higher
layers:
non-call related signalling via
networks of different operators
connection-orientated network
service

Exchange
SP

Call Control
messages

e.g. ISUP

SCCP

Signalling Connection &

Control Part

SCCP

Layer 3

Transport of signalling
messages within one network

Layer 2
Layer 1

Data link
control
Physical
connections

Layer 2 Layer 2
Layer 1 Layer 1

STP
NOKIA

Introduction to SS7 Signalling/ 6-66868/ v 2-0

Layer 3
Data link
control
Physical
connections

Layer 2
Layer 1

MTP

MTP

e.g. ISUP

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Exchange
SP

Summary SS7 protocols - part 1

MTP is the message transfer part. It is responsible for

transferring messages from one network element to another

within the same network. It consists of three sublayers.

TUP is the user part of the messages brought by the MTP.

These messages deal with setting up, supervising and

clearing the call connections. It has two variations, NUP and
ISUP.

SCCP is the signalling connection control part. Its main

function is to provide virtual connections and connectionless

signalling.

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Introduction to SS7 Signalling/ 6-66868/ v 2-0

SS7 - BSSAP
Used to
exchange requests and responses
between BSC and MSC
encapsulate messages to be
exchanged transparently between
MS and MSC

BSC

Control
messages

BSSAP

SCCP

Transport of signalling
messages within one network

Layer 2
Layer 1

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BSSAP
NOKIA

Data link
control
Physical
connections

Base Station Subsystem Application part

Introduction to SS7 Signalling/ 6-66868/ v 2-0

BSSAP

SCCP

Layer 3
Layer 2
Layer 1

MTP

MTP

Layer 3

Signalling Connection &

Control Part

MSC

SS7 - MAP and TCAP

Secretary function for higher
layer, e.g. when the higher
layer transaction consists of a
set of messages, which have to
be exchanged between the peer
entities in an orderly way.

GMSC

Mobile
Application Part

MAP

TCAP

Transaction Capabilities
Application Part

TCAP

Signalling Connection &

Control Part
Transport of signalling
messages within one network

Layer 2
Layer 1

Introduction to SS7 Signalling/ 6-66868/ v 2-0

Data link
control
Physical
connections

SCCP
Layer 3
Layer 2
Layer 1

MTP

MTP

Layer 3

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HLR

MAP

SCCP

14

Non-call-related requests and

responses, e.g. GMSC
interrogation for the MSRN.

Summary of SS7 protocols - part

2
BSSAP
Base Station Subsystem Application Part
Protocol layer responsible for communicating GSM
specific messages between the MSC and the BSC, and
the MSC and the MS.
MAP
Mobile Application Part
A GSM specific protocol for non call related applications
between NSS elements.
TCAP
Transaction Capabilities and Application Part
Protocol layer responsible for providing service to MAP
by handling the MAP transaction messages between
multiple elements.
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Introduction to SS7 Signalling/ 6-66868/ v 2-0

Protocol stack in the MSC

MAP

BSSAP

TCAP

SCCP

MTP

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Introduction to SS7 Signalling/ 6-66868/ v 2-0

TUP
NUP
ISUP

Signalling in
GSM
BTS
BSC

MS
CM

MSC

HLR

CM
MAP

MM

MM

RR

BSSAPP

BSSAP

RR

TCAP

LAPDm
TDMA
FDMA
CM
MM
RR
LAPDm
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Um

RR

BTSM

BTSM

LAPDm

LAPD

LAPD
MTP

Abis
TDMA
FDMA

L1

Connection Management
Mobility Management
Radio Resource Management
Link Protocol

SCCP

SCCP

MTP

L1
BTSM
BSSAP
SCCP
MTP

Introduction to SS7 Signalling/ 6-66868/ v 2-0

TUP
NUP
ISUS

Base Transceiver Station Management

BSS Application Part
Signalling Connection Control Part
Message Transfer Part

External
exchange

Summary of SS7 - part 1

Signalling is the transfer of information between

subscriber interface points and the network, and between

different network elements to help establish a call.

Signalling information is interchanged as standard sets of

messages, and was developed and standardised into the
present SS7 system.

GSM networks need non call related signalling, which is

possible with SS7.

The SS7 used in PSTN networks is not sufficient to fulfil

the signalling requirements of GSM networks, thus new

GSM protocols specific were developed.

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Introduction to SS7 Signalling/ 6-66868/ v 2-0

Summary of SS7 - part 2

MTP is the basis of SS7, and it is responsible for transferring

signalling messages from one element to another within the

same signalling network.

TUP/ISUP are the user parts of MTP that handle call control.
SCCP is needed for virtual connections and connectionless
signalling

BSSAP is used for signalling between MSC - BSC and MSC MS.

MAP is needed for signalling between NSS elements.

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Introduction to SS7 Signalling/ 6-66868/ v 2-0

Review Questions to
Introduction to SS7 Signalling

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Introduction to SS7 Signalling/ 6-66868/ v 2-0

Review
1. Which of the following is not a signalling
a) To analyse the dialled digits.
function?
b) To digitise the user's speech before
transmission.
c) To make speech path connections.
d) To inform the user of the progress of the call.

2. Which
of the following
wasrelated
a drawback
of CAS
a) It supported
only call
signalling.

signalling?
b) It required one signalling channel for every
PCM line.
c) It was not possible to have many different
signalling messages.
d) All of the above.

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Introduction to SS7 Signalling/ 6-66868/ v 2-0

Review
3. Which of the following are advantages of SS7
over CAS signalling?
a) It can send call set-up messages.
b) One signalling channel can support 10 000
traffic channels.
c) It can support non-call-related signalling.
d) All of the above.

4. Which of the following is not a need for SS7 signalling?

a) The need to
b) The need to
c) The need to
over.
d) The need to

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supervise a call.
make circuit reservations.
clear connections when the call is
transfer charging information.

Introduction to SS7 Signalling/ 6-66868/ v 2-0

Review
5. Which of the following signalling requirements is specific
to GSM networks only?
a) The ability to reserve circuits in the outgoing
direction.
b) The ability of one signalling channel to handle calls GSM
in
and
intellig
other physically different cables.
ent
c) The ability to transport service dependent messages
networ
k
across switching exchanges.
solutio
The of
ability
to perform
non-call-related
signalling
6. d)
Which
the following
is not
a need for SS7
signalling?ns (IN)
procedures. .
a) MTP, SCCP.
b) MTP, ISUP.
c) MTP, TUP.
d) MTP, SCCP, TCAP, MAP.
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Introduction to SS7 Signalling/ 6-66868/ v 2-0

Review
7. Which of the following SS7 protocols is specific to
GSM networks only?
a)
b)
c)
d)

MAP.
ISUP.
SCCP.
MTP.

8. Which pair of network elements in the GSM

network does not both have SS7?
a)
b)
c)
d)

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MSC, HLR.
BSC, HLR.
MSC, BSC.
BTS, HLR.

Introduction to SS7 Signalling/ 6-66868/ v 2-0

Review
9. Which of the following pictures is correct?
a)
b)
c)
d)

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Introduction to SS7 Signalling/ 6-66868/ v 2-0