SS7 Protocol

Overview
 Table of Contents
 SS7 Protocol Stack 5
 MTP 1 7
 MTP 2 8
 MTP 3 14
 SCCP 16
 TCAP 17
 ISUP 18
 ISUP vs. ISDN vs. QSIG 19
 TUP 22
 TUP vs. ISUP 23
 Examples 24
 Summary 33
 Review Questions 34

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 SS7 Protocol Stack

 Protocol - set of rules for data transmission over a

network
 Independent “layers” or levels with different
responsibilities
 Physical - “bottom” layer; DS0 or v.35
 Data link - reliable communications between 2 nodes
 Network - message routing
 User parts/application parts - e.g. database transactions, call
setup and teardown

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 SS7 Protocol Stack

GSM
INAP MAP BSS
AP ISUP TUP
TCAP

SCCP

MTP Layer 3

MTP Layer 2

MTP Layer 1

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 MTP 1 (Physical Layer)

GSM
INAP MAP BSS
AP ISUP TUP
TCAP

SCCP

MTP Layer 3

MTP Layer 2

MTP Layer 1

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 MTP 2 (Data Link Layer)

GSM
INAP MAP BSS
AP ISUP TUP
TCAP

SCCP

MTP Layer 3

MTP Layer 2

MTP Layer 1

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 MTP 2 Messages: Signal Units

 An SS7 message is typically referred to as a Signal

Unit.
 There are three types of Signal Units:
 Fill In Signal Unit (FISU)
 Link Status Signal Unit (LSSU)
 Message Signal Unit (MSU)

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 Signal Unit Fields

Field # Bits Description FISU LSSU MSU

FLAG 8 Start/End Indicator   
BSN 7 Backward Sequence Number   
BIB 1 Backward Indictor Bit   
FSN 7 Forward Sequence Number   
FIB 1 Forward Indicator Bit   
LI 6 Length Indicator   
Spare 2 Spare field   
SF 8 Status Field 
SIO 8 Service Indicator Octet 
SIF 3-272 Service Information Field 
octets
FCS 16 Frame Check Sequence   

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 Fill In Signal Unit (FISU)

 FISUs are sent when there is no traffic from the MTP3

and upper layers (no payload to be delivered)
 FISUs are also used to acknowledge reception of a
Message Signal Unit (MSU)

FCS LI FIB FSN BIB BSN Flag

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 Link Status Signal Unit (LSSU)

 The LSSU describes the status of the signaling link

on which it is carried

FCS SF LI FIB FSN BIB BSN Flag

SF (8 or 16 bits) = Status Field

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 Message Signal Unit (MSU)

 The MSU provides the structure for transmitting

information messages coming from MTP3 and the
upper layers (ISUP, TUP, SCCP, TCAP…)

FCS SIF SIO LI FIB FSN BIB BSN Flag

SIF (3 to 272 octets) = Service Information Field

SIO (8 bits) = Service Indicator Octet SSF (4 bits) = SubService Field

SI (4 bits) = Service Indicator

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 MTP 3 (Network Layer)

GSM
INAP MAP BSS
AP ISUP TUP
TCAP

SCCP

MTP Layer 3

MTP Layer 2

MTP Layer 1

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 MTP 3 Routing Label

Signaling Information Field SIO

SS7 MSU

SIF Field User Specific Information Routing Label

Signaling Link Origination Destination

Routing Label Selector Point Code Point Code

Point Code ‘x’ ‘y’ ‘z’

Structure
See Notes view for Point Code Structure specifics

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 SCCP (Signaling Connection
Control Part)

GSM
INAP MAP BSS
AP ISUP TUP
TCAP

SCCP

MTP Layer 3

MTP Layer 2

MTP Layer 1

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 TCAP (Transaction Capabilities
Application Part)

GSM
INAP MAP BSS
AP ISUP TUP
TCAP

SCCP

MTP Layer 3

MTP Layer 2

MTP Layer 1

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 ISUP (ISDN User Part)

GSM
INAP MAP BSS
AP ISUP TUP
TCAP

SCCP

MTP Layer 3

MTP Layer 2

MTP Layer 1

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 ISUP Messages

 All ISUP messages contain

 A standard MTP-3 routing label
 Originating Point Code (OPC)
 Destination Point Code (DPC)
 Signaling Link Selector (SLS)
 A Circuit Identification Code (CIC) which identifies the voice
circuit (unique between two SSPs) affected by the message
 A message type code that identifies the function and the
format of the rest of the message

Routing Message
CIC Information Elements
Label Type

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 Example - ISUP Call
Establishment
SS7
DPC = 1.1.2 STP Network
OPC = 1.1.1 STP STP
MTP
SLS = 0
SCP
INITIAL STP STP
ADDRESS ISUP
508 555-
1333
Calling NBR
CIC = 22

SSP 1 Transit SSP 2

Circuit 22 SSP

1.1.1 1.1.2 1.1.3 555-1333

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 Example - ISUP Call
Establishment
SS7
STP Network
STP STP

SCP
STP STP

DPC = 1.1.2
OPC = 1.1.1
MTP
SLS = 0
INITIAL
ADDRESS ISUP
508 555-1333
Calling NBR
CIC = 22
SSP 1 Transit SSP 2
Circuit 22 SSP

1.1.1 1.1.2 1.1.3 555-1333

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 Example - ISUP Call
Establishment
SS7
STP Network
STP STP

SCP
STP STP

DPC = 1.1.3
OPC = 1.1.2 MTP
SLS = 0
INITIAL
ADDRESS ISUP
508 555-1333
Calling NBR
CIC = 7
SSP 1 Transit SSP 2
Circuit 22 SSP Circuit 7

1.1.1 1.1.2 1.1.3 555-1333

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 Example - ISUP Call
Establishment
SS7
STP Network DPC = 1.1.3
STP STP OPC = 1.1.2 MTP
SLS = 0
SCP
STP STP INITIAL ISUP
ADDRESS
508 555-1333
Calling NBR
CIC = 7

SSP 1 Transit SSP 2

Circuit 22 SSP Circuit 7

1.1.1 1.1.2 1.1.3 555-1333

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 Example - ISUP Call
Establishment
SS7
DPC = 1.1.1 STP Network DPC = 1.1.2
OPC = 1.1.2 STP STP OPC = 1.1.3 MTP
MTP
SLS = 0 SLS = 0
SCP
STP STP ISUP
ADDRESS ADDRESS
COMPLETE ISUP COMPLETE
CIC = 22 CIC = 7
DPC = 1.1.1 DPC = 1.1.2
OPC = 1.1.2 MTP MTP
OPC = 1.1.3
SLS = 0 SLS = 0
ADDRESS ISUP
ADDRESS ISUP
COMPLETE
COMPLETE CIC = 7
CIC = 22

SSP 1 Transit SSP 2

Circuit 22 SSP Circuit 7

1.1.1 1.1.2 1.1.3 555-1333

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 Example - ISUP Call
Establishment
SS7
DPC = 1.1.1 STP Network DPC = 1.1.2
OPC = 1.1.2 STP STP OPC = 1.1.3 MTP
MTP
SLS = 0 SLS = 0
SCP
STP STP ANSWER ISUP
ANSWER
CIC = 22 ISUP CIC = 7

DPC = 1.1.1 DPC = 1.1.2

OPC = 1.1.2 MTP OPC = 1.1.3 MTP
SLS = 0 SLS = 0

ISUP ISUP
ANSWER ANSWER
CIC = 22 CIC = 7

SSP 1 Transit SSP 2

Circuit 22 SSP Circuit 7

1.1.1 1.1.2 1.1.3 555-1333

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 Example - TCAP 800# Routing
Global Title Translation
Global Title Point Code SubSys #
: :
800 1.1.3 6 SCP

STP 1.1.3

: MTP

: SCCP
1.1.2
Begin
Trans ID = A TCAP
Invoke
Invoke ID = 1
SSP
APPL
Number Transl.
800 555-6120
1.1.1

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 Example - TCAP 800# Routing
Global Title Translation
Global Title Point Code SubSys #
: :
800 1.1.3 6 SCP

STP 1.1.3
: MTP
: SCCP
1.1.2
End
Trans ID = A TCAP
Return Result
Respons: Inv. ID 1
SSP
APPL
508 555-1333

1.1.1

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