CSE-342

B.Eng. (Electrical Engineering)

Communication System II
Lecture 9
Introduction to Signaling
Signaling
In telecommunication, signaling has the following
meanings:
The use of signals for controlling communications.
The exchange of information between call components
required to provide and maintain service
(examples) Dialing digits, providing dial tone,
accessing voice mail, sending a call waiting tone,
*69, etc.
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Functions of Signaling
The signaling system has three main functions:

To tell the system what to do next
To tell the users the progress of the call
To initiate and terminate billing


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Types of Signaling
Two basic types:
Subscriber Signaling i.e. signaling between a subscriber
terminal (telephone) and the local exchange.
Trunk Signaling i.e. signaling between exchanges.

On the basis of operation:
Supervisory Signaling
Address Signaling
Call Progress Signaling
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Local
Exchange
Local
Exchange
Trunk
Signalling
Subscriber
Signalling
Subscriber
Signalling

c
c
s
c
a
s
c
c
s
c
a
s
Supervisory Signaling
Provides information on line or circuit condition

It [signaling] informs a switch whether a circuit
(internal to switch) or a trunk (external to switch) is
busy or idle; a called party is off-hook or on-hook
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Supervisory Signals (contd)
Some supervisory signals:

Request for service - off-hook
Ready to receive address - dial tone
Call alerting - ringing
Call termination - on-hook
Request for operator - hook-switch flash
Called party station ringing - ring back
Network/Called station busy - busy tone
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Address Signaling
Directs and routes a telephone call to the called
subscriber

If there is more than one switch involved in the call
setup, signaling is required between switches (inter-
register switching)
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Address Signaling:
DTMF Signaling (dual tone multi frequency)
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1 2 3 A
4 5 6 B
7 8 9 C
* 0 # D
1209 1366 1477 1633
697
770
852
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Call-Progress Signaling
(Audible - Visible)
Categorized by audio/visual signals sent in a forward
and backward direction
Forward Direction: A signal sent to your phone
which tells it to ring
Backward Signaling:
Ring back - the distant telephone you are
calling is ringing
Busy back - the called line is busy
ATB - All trunks are busy (sometimes a voice
announcement is used)
Loud Warble - Telephone is off hook

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Signaling Techniques
In band signaling
Out-of-band signaling
CCS signaling
E&M signaling
MF signaling
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In - Band Signaling
Signaling path = voice path
Voice path clogged with signaling
Busy calls, congestion, and ring-no-answers result
in 20-35% of incomplete calls
Slower call setup due to channel sharing
Examples of this kind of in-band signalling system
are SS5 and R2
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Signaling Techniques
In-channel signaling
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SF Signaling (2600 Hz)
MF Signaling
DTMF Signaling
In-band
DC Current (on-/off-hook)
Dial pulses (10 pps)
20 Hz Ringing voltage
Out-of-band
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Out-of-Band Signaling
Signaling path done on a separate channel
Voice path dedicated only to voice
Much faster call setup and knockdown
Led to SS7 and AIN
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Signaling Techniques
Common Channel Signaling (CCS)
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Signaling
Network
Dedicated data link between systems
Trunk group associated
Trunk group disassociated
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Trunk Group Disassociated CCS
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Speech Paths
CCS Data Link
Signaling Switching Center
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Trunk Group Associated CCS
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TR-303
Trunk Group
TR-303
Control
Link
CO Switch DLC
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E&M Signaling
Used mostly for trunk supervision on an analog
network
E-lead: carries signals to the switching equipment
M-lead: carries signals away from the switching
equipment
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E&M Example
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Condition at Condition at
Direction A B
Signal Signal
A to B B to A M - Lead E - Lead M - Lead E - Lead
On - Hook On - Hook Ground Open Ground Open
Off - Hook On - Hook Battery Open Ground Ground
On - Hook Off - Hook Ground Ground Battery Open
Off - Hook Off - Hook Battery Ground Battery Ground
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MF Signaling
Used primarily for inter-register signaling
R 1 System
CCITT No. 5 Signaling Code
R 2 System Code
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PSTN Signaling
The PSTN Signaling methods are generally broken into
following groups

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User-to-Network Signaling
Network-to-Network Signaling
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USER-TO-NETWORK
SIGNALING
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User-to-Network Signaling
User-to-Network Signaling
Analog Communication
Analog Local Loop
Digital Communication
Digital Local Loop
DTMF ISDN ADSL
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Other Tones & Events on the
Subscriber Line
In addition to the tones to represent dialed digits, the
ITU-T defines other tones and events that can appear
on a subscriber line
Off-Hook
On-Hook
Busy Tone
Ringing Tone
Call Waiting Tone
Congestion Tone
Many more
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Other Tones & Events on the
Subscriber Line
On-hook Voltage 48 V dc
Off-hook voltage 5-10 V dc,
depending on loop resistance
Dial Tone 350 & 440 Hz
Ringing Voltage (at phone) Approximately 80 V ac,
superimposed on 48 V dc
Ringback Voltage 440 and 480 Hz
pulsed 2s on,4s off
Many more
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NETWORK-TO-NETWORK
SIGNALING
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Network-to-Network Signaling
Network-to-Network Signaling

C7 (SS7)
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C7 (SS7)
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C7 (SS7)
The full name is
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Common Channel Signaling
System # 7 (CCS7)
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Switch A

Switch B


Switch C


Switch D

Signal
Transfer Point
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CAS for E1
In
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CAS for E1
In
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CAS for E1
In
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CCS for E1
In
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Advantages of CCS
CCS offers the following advantages :-
Faster and simpler to transfer information between control
processors
Allows signaling at any time during entire duration of call
Allows signaling to elements to whom there is no direct
trunk connection
Additional speech or data channel is available
No possibility of interference with speech path
No security issues related to the use of with CAS
Allow Value-added services e.g.
Caller ID (Caller Party Number message)
Call waiting
Conference call
Voice mail
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SS7
SS7 is most widely used Common Channel Signaling (CCS) signaling
protocol between exchanges
SS7 or Signaling System Number 7 is defined by ITU recommendation
Q.700
SS7 is a set of protocols organized as layered architecture
SS7 is used for :-
Basic Call Setup & Tear down
Database Access
Wireless Roaming Applications (IMSI Vs IMEI, can be found by
typing *#06# on a handset )
Intelligent Network (IN) Services (intelligence taken from switch and
placed in nodes)
Local Number portability (USA, Land Line-1996/ Wireless-
1998),(Pakistan, 2007 / 500Rs)
Prepaid calling, 0800
Location Based Services, GPS, naqsha.net
Call forwarding
Hot Line
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SS7
Our Focus is on the following aspects
of SS7 :-
SS7 Network Architecture
SS7 Call Flow Examples
SS7 Protocol Suite and Messages

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Modes of Signaling
Associated Signaling
Dedicated Signaling Link between exchanges to carry
signaling information as being done in most of
Europe/Pakistan
Non Associated Signaling
Signaling Network is established which allows any node to
exchange information with any other SS7 compliant node,
North American model
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SSP SSP
Signaling Path
Voice Trunk
Associated Signaling
Signaling Path
STP STP
SSP
SSP
Voice Trunk
Non -Associated Signaling
Signaling Path
STP
SSP
SSP
Signaling Path
Voice Trunk
Quasi-Associated Signaling
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Architecture of SS7
In SS7, voice & signaling network are separate from each other
SS7 is a packet-switched data network
Information is carried in form of messages e.g.







Signaling link carry information at rate of 64kbps
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SS7 Network Architecture
SS7 Network Architecture
Signaling Elements Signaling Links
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Architecture of SS7
Each Entity in a SS7 Network is called Signaling Point
All SPs are identified by a unique address called a
Signaling Point Code (SPC)
Each signaling message contains the source &
destination point code addresses
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Architecture of SS7
In
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SS7 Network Architecture
SS7 Signaling Elements
Signal Switching Point (SSP) Signal Transfer Point (STP) Signal Control Point (SCP)
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SS7 Signaling Elements
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SCP
SCP
STP
STP
STP
STP
SSP SSP
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SS7 Signaling Links
SS7 establishes dedicated signaling channels
between SPs
These channels are known as Signaling Links
Collection of all Signaling links between two
exchanges is called link set
The switching equipment will alternate
transmission across all the links in a link set to
ensure equal usage of all facilities
The different types of links between SPs are
shown on next slide
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SS7 Network Architecture
SS7 Signaling Links
A links B links C links D links E links F links
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Architecture of SS7
In
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Signaling Switching Point (SSP)
SSPs are telephone switches with SS7 capabilities and
can be classified as :-
End office SSP
Tandem SSP
End office SSP are used to originate and terminate calls
Tandem SSP are used to switch calls
Subscribers are directly connected to end office SSP
SSP translate subscribers requests into SS7 messages
to establish calls
SSP sends messages to other SSP for the purpose of
connecting, disconnecting, and managing voice calls
SSP can also send query to SCP (databases) when the
dialed number is insufficient to complete the call
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Signaling Switching Point (SSP)
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Signaling Transfer Point (STP)
STPs serves as a Router in the SS7 network
STPs provides the logical connectivity between
SSPs without requiring direct SSP-to-SSP links
STPs route signaling messages on basis of the
routing information and destination point code
address contained in the message
An STP may perform global title translation, a
procedure by which the destination signaling point
is determined from digits present in the signaling
message
STPs are normally configured in pairs to provide
redundancy and higher availability
Each SSP and SCP have connection to two different
STPs
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Signaling Transfer Point (STP)
STP implementation can occur in multiple levels,
such :
Local STP
Regional STP
National STP
International/Gateway STP
The local, regional, and national STPs transfer SS7
messages within the same network using the
same national standard of SS7 protocol
International STP provide international
connectivity where the same International ITU-T
standard SS7 are deployed in both networks
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Signaling Control Point (SCP)
SCP are databases that provide
information for call processing
The following databases are the most common in the
SS7 network :-
800 Database
900 Database
Local Number Portability Database
Home Location Register (HLR)
Visitor Location Register (VLR)
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Sample Network
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Sample Network
W & X perform identical functions and form
duplicate/mated pair
Y & Z perform identical functions and form
duplicate/mated pair
Each SSP has two links, one to each STP of mated
pair
All SS7 signaling to rest of the world is sent out over
these links
STPs of mated pair are joined by link or set of links
Two mated pair STPs are interconnected by four
links
SCPs are usually deployed in pairs but not
interconnected
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Signaling Data Links Types
Signaling links are logically organized by link type (
"A" through "F" ) according to their use in the SS7
signaling network
Access links ( A )
Bridge links ( B )
Cross links ( C )
Diagonal links ( D )
Extended links ( E )
Fully associated Links ( F )
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Links Types

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Access Links ( A )
An "A" (access) link connects a signaling end point to an
STP
The signaling endpoints are SSPs or SCPs
Each has at least two A-links that connect to the home
STP pair
It is possible to have only one A-link to an STP, however,
this is not common practice
Only messages originating from or destined to the
signaling end point are transmitted on an "A" link
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Bridge Links ( B )
Bridge links are used to connect paired STP to the other
paired STP but at same hierarchal level
The distinction between a "B" link and a "D" link is rather
arbitrary
For this reason, such links may be referred to as "B/D"
links.

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Cross Links ( C )
The STP pairs perform identical functions and are mated
to provide redundancy in the network
Cross links connect an STP to its mate STP
C-links are used only when failure or congestion occurs
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Diagonal Links ( D )
Diagonal links connect mated STP pairs of one
hierarchical level to mated STP pairs of another
hierarchical level.
These links provide the same function as B-links
The distinction between B and D links is arbitrary
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Extended Links ( E )
Extended links are used to interconnect an
SSP to remote STP pair
The SSP is connected to the home STP pair
through A-links, however, if more reliability is
required, E links can be implemented
This is not common practice, because the
SSPs have dual A-links to redundant mated
STP pairs
These links are used only if failure or
congestion occurs in the home STPs
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Fully Associated Links ( F )
Fully associated links are used to directly
interconnect two signaling endpoints
These links are used when STPs are not available or
when high traffic volumes exist between the signaling
endpoints
This method is not commonly used in North America
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Example
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Call Setup Scenarios
There are 3 call setup scenarios an SSP will
encounter:-
A call originates and terminates at the same switch
(same SSP) :-
No signaling messages are sent through the SS7 network.
The SSP knows exactly where the destination is.
A call originates at an SSP and is destined for a
known SSP:-
In this case the originating SSP looks at its routing table to
determine how to route the call then sends a message to the
destination SSP
This will only happen with Fully associated (F) links
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Basic Call Set Up
Switch A analyzes the dialed digits and determines that it
needs to send the call to switch B
Switch A selects an idle trunk between itself and switch B
and formulates an initial address message (IAM), the basic
message necessary to initiate a call
Switch A picks one of its A links and transmits the
message over the link for routing to switch B
STP receives message, inspects its routing label, and
transmits the message on A link to switch B
Switch B analyzes message, it determines that it serves
the called number and that the called number is idle
Switch B formulates an address complete message (ACM),
which indicates that the IAM has reached its proper
destination
Switch B transmits the ACM over the A link to STP
STP receives the message, inspects its routing label, and
transmits the message on A link to SSP.

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Basic Call Set Up
On receiving ACM, switch A connects the calling subscriber
line to the selected trunk in the backwards direction
When the called subscriber picks up the phone, switch B
formulates an answer message (ANM)
Switch B selects the same A link it used to transmit the ACM
(link BX) and sends the ANM.
STP forwards ANM to Switch A
Switch A ensures that the calling subscriber is connected to the
outgoing trunk and that conversation can take place.
If the calling subscriber hangs up first (following the
conversation), switch A will generate a release message (REL)
addressed to switch B, identifying the trunk and sends message
to STP
STP receives the REL, determines that it is addressed to switch
B, and forwards it to switch B
Switch B receives the REL, disconnects the trunk from the
subscriber line, returns the trunk to idle status, generates a
release complete message (RLC) addressed back to switch A,
and transmits it to STP
STP receives the RLC, determines that it is addressed to switch
A, and forwards it over link A
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Call Setup Scenarios
a
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Database Query
A subscriber served by switch A wants to reserve a
rental car at a company's nearest location and dials the
company's advertised 800 number
When the subscriber has finished dialing, switch A
recognizes that this is an 800 call and that it requires
assistance to handle it properly
Switch A formulates an 800 query message including
the calling and called number and forwards it to either
of its STPs (e.g. X) over its A link
STP X determines that the received query is an 800
query and selects a database suitable to respond to the
query (e.g. M)
STP X forwards the query to SCP M over the
appropriate A link .
SCP M receives the query, extracts the passed
information, and (based on its stored records) selects
either a real telephone number or a network (or both) to
which the call should be routed
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Database Query
SCP M formulates a response message with the
information necessary to properly process the call,
addresses it to switch A, picks an STP (e.g. W) and
an A link to use and routes the response
STP W receives the response message, recognizes
that it is addressed to switch A, and routes it to A
over A Link
Switch A receives the response and uses the
information to determine where the call should be
routed
It then picks a trunk to that destination, generates
an IAM, and proceeds (as it did in the previous
example) to set up the call. On receiving the RLC,
switch A idles the identified trunk
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Database Query
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