Signaling System No. 7 (SS7/C7) : protocol, architecture, and services

A complete, practical guide to the world's most popular signaling system, including SIGTRAN, GSM-MAP, and Intelligent Networks. Provides in-depth coverage of the SS7 protocols, including implementation details Covers SS7 over IP (SIGTRAN) using real-world examples Covers SS7/C7 from both a North American and European perspective, providing a broad international understanding of the technology and associated standards Explains mobile wireless concepts and signaling, including mobile application part (MAP) Provides a thorough explanation of the Intelligent Network (IN) and associated protocols (INAP/AIN) Signaling System No. 7 (SS7) is a signaling network and protocol that is used globally to bring telecommunications networks, both fixed-line and cellular, to life. SS7 has numerous applications and is at the very heart of telecommunications. Setting up phone calls, providing cellular roaming and messaging, and supplying converged voice and data services are only a few of the ways that SS7 is used in the communications network. SS7 also provides the point of interconnection between converging voice and data networks. This transition, which affects everyone who works with the data network, has bolstered the need for practical and applied information on SS7. In short, anyone who is interested in telecommunications should have a solid understanding of SS7. Signaling System No. 7 (SS7/C7): Protocol, Architecture, and Services will help you understand SS7 from several perspectives. It examines the framework and architecture of SS7, as well as how it is used to provide today's telecommunications services. It also examines each level of the SS7 protocol-all the way down to the bit level of messages. In addition, the SIGTRAN standards are discussed in detail, showing the migration from SS7 to IP and explaining how SS7 information is transported over IP.

Author Notes

Lee Dryburgh, BSc MIEE, MIEEE, AMBCS, is an SS7/C7 specialist
Jeff Hewett is a technical leader at Cisco Systems

Introduction

I Introductions and Overviews

1 The Evolution of Signaling

The History of Signaling

Subscriber Signaling

Channel Associated Signaling

Common Channel Signaling (CCS)

Summary

2 Standards

History of International Telephony Standards

Regional Standards

National and Industry Standards

3 The Role of SS7

Signaling System No. 7-Based Services

Signaling System No. 7: The Key to Convergence

Summary

4 SS7 Network Architecture and Protocols Introduction. Pre-SS7 Systems

History of SS7

SS7 Network Architecture

SS7 Protocol Overview

Summary

5 The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)

Network Topology

PSTN Hierarchy

Access and Transmission Facilities

Network Timing

The Central Office

Integration of SS7 into the PSTN

Evolving the PSTN to the Next Generation

Summary

II Protocols Found in the Traditional SS7/C7 Stack

6 Message Transfer

Part 2 (MTP2)

7 Message Transfer

Part 3 (MTP3)

Point Codes

Message Format

Signaling Message Handling

Signaling Network Management

Summary

8 ISDN User Part (ISUP). Bearers and Signaling

ISUP and the SS7 Protocol Stack

ISUP Message Flow

Message Timers

Circuit Identification Codes

Enbloc and Overlap Address Signaling

Circuit Glare (Dual-Seizure)

Continuity Test

ISUP Message Format

Detailed Call Walk-Through

Circuit Suspend and Resume

ISUP and Local Number Portability

ISUP-ISUP Tandem Calls

Interworking with ISDN

Supplementary Services

Additional Call Processing Messages

Maintenance Messages and Procedures

Summary

9 Signaling Connection Control Part (SCCP)

SCCP Architecture

SCCP Message Transfer Services

SCCP Messages and Parameters

SCCP Routing Control (SCRC)

SCCP Management (SCMG)

Summary

10 Transaction Capabilities Application Part (TCAP)

Overview

Message Types

Transactions

Components

Dialogue Portion

Message Encoding

Element Structure

Error Handling

ITU Protocol Message Contents

ANSI Protocol Message Contents

ANSI National Operations

ANSI Parameters

Summary

III Service-Oriented Protocols

11 Intelligent Networks (IN)

The Intelligent Network

Service Logic and Data

IN Services

IN and the SS7 Protocol

Evolution of the Network

IN/1

The Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN 0.X, IN CS-X)

Additional IN Service Examples

Intelligent Network Application Protocol (INAP)

Summary

12 Cellular Networks

Network Architecture

Interfaces and Protocols

Mobility Management and Call Processing

Summary

13 GSM and ANSI-41 Mobile Application Part (MAP)

MAP Operations

Mobility Management

Operation and Maintenance

Call Handling

Supplementary Services

Short Message Service (SMS)

Summary

IV SS7/C7 Over IP

14 SS7 in the Converged World

Next Generation Architecture

SigTran

User Adaptation (UA) Layers

MTP Level 3 UA (M3UA)

SCCP User Adaptation (SUA)

MTP Level 2 User Adaptation (M2UA)

ISDN User Adaptation (IUA)

Transport Adaptation Layer Interface (TALI)

Early Cisco SS7/IP Solution

SS7 and SIP/H.323 Interworking

Summary

V Supplementary Topics

15 SS7 Security and Monitoring

Traffic Screening

MTP3: Management Messages

SCCP

Parameters

Traffic Monitoring

Summary

16 SS7 Testing

Test Equipment

Test Specification Creation

MTP 2 Testing

MTP 3 Testing

ISUP Testing

ISUP Supplementary Services Testing

SCCP Testing

TCAP Testing

Summary

VI Appendixes

Appendix A MTP Messages (ANSI/ETSI/ITU)

Appendix B ISUP Messages (ANSI/UK/ETSI/ITU-T)

Appendix C SCCP Messages (ANSI/ETSI/ITU-T)

Appendix D TCAP Messages and Components

Appendix E ITU-T Q.931 Messages

Appendix F GSM and ANSI MAP Operations

Appendix G MTP Timers in ITU-T/ETSI/ANSI Applications

Appendix H ISUP Timers for ANSI/ETSI/ITU-T Applications

Appendix I GSM Mobile Country Codes (MCC) and Mobile Network Codes (MNC)

Appendix J ITU and ANSI Protocol Comparison

Appendix K SS7 Standards

Appendix L Tektronix Supporting Traffic

Appendix M Cause Values

Acronyms

References

Index

Available:*

On Order

Summary

Summary

Author Notes

Table of Contents