SEMINAR REPORT

ON
Common channel
signaling (ccs)

SUBMITTED TO:- SUBMITTEDBY:-

MISS SHAKSHI BHATIA PARUL

[LECT. IN I.T DEPT.] ROLL NO.- 09IT004

I.T-3R D YEAR
COMMON CHANNEL SIGNALING
(CCS)
A signaling method used in telephone networks that separates signaling
information from user data. In CCS, one channel of a communications link is
exclusively used for the sole purpose of carrying signaling for establishment and
teardown of calls. The remaining channels are used entirely for the transmission of
voice or data. In most cases, a single 64kbit/s channel is sufficient to handle the
call setup and teardown traffic for numerous voice and data channels. The most
common CCS signalling methods in use today are (ISDN) and (SS7).CCS supports
signaling data rates from 56 kbps to many mbps.in first generation cellular
systems,the SS7 family of protocols ,as defined by the integrated system digital
network are used to provide CCS.

A network utilizing common-channel signalling is actually two networks in one: 

   1. First there is the circuit-switched "user" network which actually carries the
user voice and data traffic. It provides a physical path between the source and
destination. 
   2. The second is the signalling network which carries the call control traffic. It is
a packet-switched network using a common channel switching protocol.
In a multi-channel communications system, Common Channel Signaling (CCS) is
signaling method in which one channel in each link is used for signaling to control,
account for, and manage traffic on all channels of the link. The channel used for
common-channel signaling does not carry user information. With CCS, signals are
carried by a separate network consisting of Signaling Data Links (SDLs) and
Signaling Transfer Points (STPs) to transfer digital signaling messages between
exchanges. It is known as CCS because SDLs can carry messages for trunks in
many different trunk groups.

In telephony, Common Channel Signaling (CCS), in the US also Common

Channel Interoffice Signaling (CCIS), is
the transmission of signaling information (control information) on a separate
channel from the data, and, more specifically, where that signaling channel
controls multiple data channels.

For example, in the public switched telephone network (PSTN) one channel of a

communications link is typically used for the sole purpose of carrying signaling for
establishment and tear down of telephone calls. The remaining channels are used
entirely for the transmission of voice data. In most cases, a single
64kbit/s channel is sufficient to handle the call setup and call clear-down traffic for
numerous voice and data channels.[2]
The logical alternative to CCS is Channel Associated Signaling (CAS), in which
each bearer channel has a signaling channel dedicated to it.
CCS offers the following advantages over CAS, in the context of the PSTN:-

 Faster call setup.

 No falsing interference between signaling tones by network and speech
frequencies.
 Greater trunking efficiency due to the quicker set up and clear down, thereby
reducing traffic on the network.
 No security issues related to the use of in-band signaling with CAS.
 CCS allows the transfer of additional information along with the signaling
traffic providing features such as caller ID.
The most common CCS signaling methods in use today are Integrated Services
Digital Network (ISDN) and Signaling System 7 (SS7).
ISDN signaling is used primarily on trunks connecting end-user private branch
exchange (PBX) systems to a central office. SS7 is primarily used within the
PSTN. The two signaling methods are very similar since they share a common
heritage and in some cases, the same signaling messages are transmitted in both
ISDN and SS7.
CCS is distinct from in-band or out-of-band signaling, which are to the data band
what CCS and CAS are to the channel.
Common channel signaling (CCS) differs from CAS in that all channels use a
common channel and protocol for call setup. Using E1 as an example, a signaling
protocol, such as ISDN Q.931, would be deployed in time slot 17 to exchange call-
setup messages with its attached telephony equipment.

Examples of CCS signaling are as follows:

 Proprietary implementations Some PBX vendors choose to use CCS for T1

and E1 and implement a proprietary CCS protocol between their PBXs. In this
implementation, Cisco devices are configured for Transparent Common Channel
Signaling (T-CCS) because the Cisco devices do not understand proprietary
signaling information.
 Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) ISDN uses Q.931 in a common
channel to signal all other channels.
 Q Signaling (QSIG) Like ISDN, QSIG uses a common channel to signal all
other channels.
 Digital Private Network Signaling System (DPNSS) DPNSS is an open
standard developed by British Telecom for implementation by any vendor who
chooses to use it. DPNSS also uses a common channel to signal all other channels.
 Signaling System 7 (SS7) SS7 is an out-of-band network implemented and
maintained by various telephone companies and used for signaling and other
supplemental services.
The following discussions elaborate on various CCS implementations. Note that
proprietary implementations are not discussed because they vary widely among
vendors.
CCS refers to the situation in which the signaling capacity is provided in a
common pool, with the capacity being used as and when necessary. The signaling
channel can usually carry signaling information for thousands of traffic circuits.

The only CCS systems that have been implemented to date are Signaling Systems
No. 6 and No. 7 (SS6 and SS7). The ITU for the international network originally
standardized SS6, but they saw limited deployment. AT&T nationalized SS6 for
the North American network and called it Common Channel Interoffice Signaling
(CCIS) No. 6. SS6 saw a limited deployment after the mid-1970s because it had far
less bandwidth and a much smaller packet size than SS7. In addition, its
evolutionary potential was severely limited because it was not a layered protocol
architecture.
Signaling Points
SSP = Service Switching Point
STP = Signal Transfer Point: Usually deployed in pairs in case of failure
SCP = Service Control Point: Usually deployed in pairs in case of failures.

Common channel signaling (ccs) network architecture showing

STPs,SSPsembedded with a central switching office,based on ss7.

CCS systems are packet-based, transferring over 200 bytes in a single SS7
packet, as opposed to a few bits allocated to act as indicators in digital CAS.
The signaling information is transferred by means of messages, which is a block of
information that is divided into fields that define a certain parameter or further sub-
field. The signaling system's specifications (Recommendations and Standards)
define the structure of a message, including its fields and parameters.Because CCS
is packet-based and there is not a rigid tie between the signaling and the circuits it
controls, it can operate in two distinct ways. These two distinct ways are circuit-
related signaling and non-circuit-related signaling.

Circuit-Related Signaling
Circuit-related signaling refers to the original functionality of signaling, which is
to establish, supervise, and release trunks. In other words, it is used to set up,
manage, and clear down basic telephone service calls. Circuit-related signaling
remains the most common mode of signaling. As it is with CAS, signaling capacity
is not pre-allocated for each traffic circuit. Rather, it is allocated as it is required.
Each signaling message is related to a traffic circuit. Because no dedicated
relationship exists between the circuits and the signaling, it is necessary to identify
the traffic circuit to which a particular signal message refers. This is achieved by
including a circuit reference field in each signaling message.

Non-Circuit-Related Signaling
Non-circuit-related signaling refers to signaling that is not related to the
establishment, supervision, and release of trunks. Due to the advent of
supplementary services and the need for database communication in cellular
networks and Intelligent Networks, for example, signaling is no longer exclusively
for simply setting up, managing, and clearing down traffic circuits. Non-circuit-
related signaling allows the transfer of information that is not related to a particular
circuit, typically for the purpose of transmitting both the query and response to and
from telecommunication databases. Non-circuit-related signaling provides a means
for transferring data freely between network entities without the constraint of being
related to the control of traffic circuits.
Common Channel Signaling Modes
A signaling mode refers to the relationship between the traffic and the signaling
path. Because CCS does not employ a fixed, deterministic relationship between the
traffic circuits and the signaling, there is a great deal of scope for the two to have
differing relationships to each other. These differing relationships are known
as signaling modes.

There are three types of CCS signaling modes:

 Associated

 Quasi-associated

 Non-associated

SS7 runs in associated or quasi-associated mode, but not in non-associated mode.

Associated and quasi-associated signaling modes ensure sequential delivery, while
non-associated does not. SS7 does not run in non-associated mode because it does
not have procedures for reordering out-of-sequence messages.

Associated Signaling
In associated mode, both the signaling and the corresponding user traffic take the
same route through the network. Networks that employ only associated mode are
easier to design and maintain; however, they are less economic, except in small-
sized networks. Associated mode requires every network switch to have signaling
links to every other interconnected switch (this is known as a fully meshed network
design). Usually a minimum of two signaling links are employed for redundancy,
even though the switched traffic between two interconnected switches might not
justify such expensive provisioning. Associated signaling mode is the common
means of implementation outside of North America. Figure illustrates the
associated concept.

 Associated Mode

Quasi-Associated Signaling
In quasi-associated mode, signaling follows a different route than the switched
traffic to which it refers, requiring the signaling to traverse at least one
intermediate node. Quasi-associated networks tend to make better use of the
signaling links; however, it also tends to create a more complex network in which
failures have more potential to be catastrophic.Quasi-associated signaling can be
the most economical way of signaling for lightly loaded routes because it avoids
the need for direct links. The signaling is routed through one or more intermediate
nodes. Signaling packets arrive in sequence using quasi-associated signaling
because the path is fixed for a given call (or database transaction) at the start of a
call (or transaction).Figure shows the quasi-associated signaling mode, which is
the common means of implementation within North America.

 Quasi-Associated Mode

Non-Associated Signaling
Because the path is not fixed at a given point in time in non-associated mode, the
signaling has many possible routes through the network for a given call or
transaction. Therefore, the packets might arrive out of sequence because different
routes might have been traversed.SS7 does not run in non-associated mode because
no procedures exist for reordering out-of-sequence messages. Associated and
quasi-associated signaling modes assure sequential delivery, while non-associated
signaling does not. Quasi-associated mode is a limited case of non-associated
mode, in which the relative path is fixed.
Common Channel Signaling

Purpose

In a multi-channel communications system, Common Channel Signaling (CCS) is

signaling in which one channel in each link is used for signaling to control, account
for, and manage traffic on all channels of the link. The channel used for common-
channel signaling does not carry user information. With CCS, signals are carried
by a separate network consisting of Signaling Data Links (SDLs) and Signaling
Transfer Points (STPs) to transfer digital signaling messages between exchanges. It
is known as CCS because SDLs can carry messages for trunks in many different
trunk groups.

Supported Protocols

The CSP supports the following CCS protocols:

• Signaling System 7

• Integrated Services Digital Network

• Q Signaling (QSIG)

• V5.2 (Local Exchange side)

SS7

A telecommunications network served by common channel signaling is composed

of a number of switching and processing nodes interconnected by transmission
links. To communicate using SS7, each of these nodes must implement the
necessary "within node" features of SS7 making that node a signaling point within
the SS7 network. In addition, there is a need to interconnect these signaling points
such that SS7 signaling data may be conveyed between them. These data links are
the signaling links of the SS7 signaling network.

The combination of signaling points and their interconnecting signaling links form
the SS7 signaling network.
Signalling System #7 (SS7)
There are two essential components to all telephone calls. The first, and most
obvious, is the actual content—our voices, faxes, modem data, etc. The second is the
information that instructs telephone exchanges to establish connections and route the
“content” to an appropriate destination. Telephony signaling is concerned with the
creation of standards for the latter to achieve the former. These standards are known
as protocols. SS7 or Signaling System Number 7 is simply another set of protocols
that describe a means of communication between telephone switches in public
telephone networks. They have been created and controlled by various bodies
around the world, which leads to some specific local variations, but the principal
organization with responsibility for their administration is the International
Telecommunications Union or ITU-T. 

Signalling System Number 7 (SS#7 or C7) is the protocol used by the telephone
companies for interoffice signalling. In the past, in-band signalling techniques were
used on interoffice trunks. This method of signalling used the same physical path for
both the call-control signalling and the actual connected call. This method of
signalling is inefficient and is rapidly being replaced by out-of-band or common-
channel signalling techniques. 

To understand SS7 we must first understand something of the basic inefficiency of

previous signaling methods utilized in the Public Switched Telephone Network
(PSTN). Until relatively recently, all telephone connections were managed by a
variety of techniques centered on “in band” signaling. 

The original common channel interoffice signalling protocols were based on

Signalling System Number 6 (SS#6). Today SS#7 is being used in new installations
worldwide. SS#7 is the defined interoffice signalling protocol for ISDN. It is also in
common use today outside of the ISDN environment. 

The primary function of SS#7 is to provide call control, remote network

management, and maintenance capabilities for the inter- office telephone network.
SS#7 performs these functions by exchanging control messages between SS#7
telephone exchanges (signalling points or SPs) and SS#7 signalling transfer points
(STPs).
The switching offices (SPs) handle the SS#7 control network as well as the user
circuit-switched network. Basically, the SS#7 control network tells the switching
office which paths to establish over the circuit-switched network. The STPs route
SS#7 control packets across the signalling network. A switching office may or may
not be an STP.

SS7 Protocol layers:

The SS7 network is an interconnected set of network elements that is used to

exchange messages in support of telecommunications functions. The SS7 protocol
is designed to both facilitate these functions and to maintain the network over
which they are provided. Like most modern protocols, the SS7 protocol is layered.

Common Channel Signaling System #7 (SS7) separates the information required to

set up and manage telephone calls in the Public Switched Telephone Network
(PSTN) onto a separate packet switched network (The Signaling Network) rather
than use the same circuit switched network that the telephone call is made on (The
Voice Network). This technique is commonly called out-of-band signaling and
constrasts with earlier in-band techniques (Channel Associated Signaling - CAS)
which used MF tones. The SS7 network consists of signaling points.

ISDN

The main feature of Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) is the support of a
wide range of service capabilities, including voice and non-voice applications, in
the same network by offering end-to-end digital connectivity. A key element of
service integration for an ISDN is the provision of a limited set of standard multi-
purpose user-network interfaces. These interfaces represent a focal point both for
the development of ISDN network components and configurations and for the
development of ISDN terminal equipment and applications.

QSIG

The CSP supports the QSIG/PSS1 global signaling and control standard for Private
Integrated Network Exchange (PINX) applications, intended for use in private
corporate ISDN networks. QSIG is a Euro-ISDN based protocol for digital
Common Channel Signaling (CCS) and is used to build private networks using
Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) or leased lines.

Q Signaling (QSIG), an ISDN based protocol, enables signaling between different

voice communications platforms and equipment (nodes) in a multi-user
environment. It is often referred to as an inter-PBX signaling system. It can also be
deployed in a single-user environment.

Internationally, QSIG is also known as Private Signaling System No. 1 (PSS1).

V5.2

V5.2 is a concentration protocol for digital Common Channel Signaling (CCS). It

is called a concentration protocol because it can accommodate more subscribers
than existing physical ports. The V5.2 protocol is comprised of the LE (Local
Exchange) side of the protocol. The V5.2 protocol is used to establish, maintain,
and release calls between an LE and an AN.

Dialogic’s V5.2 products include the hardware and software required to run and
manage V5.2 on the Converged Services Platform (CSP). This implementation
supports only the Local Exchange (LE) side of V5.2.

Service Switching Point (SSP)

Can be End Offices, Tandems, or Operator Services Switches that have CCS and
SS7

capability. SSP's serve as "control points" for data base query services by
suspending

call processing while accessing SCP data bases to obtain information required to

complete the call. 800 and Calling Card calls must be routed to an SSP office for
access

to the appropriate data base.

Signaling Link Codes (SLC)

A field of information in certain signaling network management messages, which

indicates the identity of the affected signaling link to which the message refers.

Signaling Point (SP)

A node in a signaling network which either originates and receives signaling

messages, or transfers signaling messages from one signaling link to another, or
both.

Signaling Point of Interface (SPOI)

An interface in a signaling network which either originates and receives signaling

messages, or transfers signaling messages from one signaling link to another, or

both.

Signaling Transfer Point (STP)

A signaling point with the function of transferring signaling messages from one

signaling link to another and considered exclusively from the viewpoint of the

transfer. STPs are stored program control packet switches that are inter-connected

with other nodes in the signaling network by digital datalinks. The STPs perform
a

switching function to route signaling traffic within the signaling network.

Subsystem Number (SSN)

A number to identify a user of the Signaling Connection Control Part (SCCP). The

SSN is used in SCCP addressing to route an SS7 message to the appropriate

subsystem

at the destination node, such as 800 service at an SCP or CLASS SM

services application

at an end office SP

Service Control Point (SCP)

Serves as signaling nodes for access to data base information. Signaling messages

usually consist of a query from any switch (End Office, Access Tandem, or
Operator
Services System, all of which can be SSP's) to a database. The message is routed
first to

the STP, which then forwards it to the SCP for access to the data base. The reply
is

passed from the SCP back to the STP, which routes it back to the originating
switching

office

Common Channel Signaling (CCS)

A signaling method in which a single channel conveys, by means of labeled

messages,signaling information relating to a multiplicity of circuits or calls and
other information, such as that used for network management. CCS is defined as a

dedicated network for transporting signaling messages. The primary components

of the network are STPs, signaling end points (including service control points and

service switching points) and data links.

The two basic types of CCS signaling are:

1)circuit-associated signaling to support trunk signaling for call control;

2) and noncircuit associated signaling to handle the exchange of queries and

responses between

CCS Switching Offices and data bases (SCP's) or between two CCS Switching
Offices.

This is also known as TCAP message routing

More Information About CCS

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