OMA003001 GSM Signalling

System-MTP
ISSUE 2.0

Wireless Curriculum Development Section

 Course Objectives

Upon completion
of this course, the
trainees should be
able to
Understand the basic concepts in CCS7

Understand the important

composition of CCS7 signaling units

Understand the basic signaling

procedure of CCS7

2
 Course Arrangement

Section 1 Basic Concepts in CCS7

Part 1 Signaling

Part 2 CCS7 Signaling Network

Part 3 Hierarchy of CCS7 Signaling System

Section 2 Signaling Units

Section 3 Signaling Procedure

3
 Definition of signaling

All the control signals used within or

between communication equipment, whose
function are to set up communication;
Signals except bearer information (voice
information and non-voice information),
which are used to control the action of the
exchange.

4
 Classification of signaling: According to working location

? Subscriber line signaling: between

subscriber and the exchange;
? Interoffice signaling: between exchanges.

exchang exchang
subscriber line e interoffice e subscriber line
signaling signaling signaling
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Classification of signaling: According to signaling channels

switching switching
equipment signaling information carried by equipment
speech channel

signaling signaling
equipment equipment

a. CAS(Channel associated signaling):

CAS is composed of line signal and register signal. For
CAS, the signaling channel is combined with the bear
information channel (refers to register signal) or the two
have fixed correspondence (refers to line signal).
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 Classification of signaling: According to signaling channels

switching switching
equipment equipment
speech channel

signaling signaling
equipment dedicated channel for carrying signaling equipment

b. CCS(Common channel signaling):

the signaling of a group of voice channels are
transmitted on a common high speed data link in the form
of time multiplexing.
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 The comparison of CAS and CCS

1) CAS:
multi - frequency in - band signals, small information volume
mutual - control transmission and receiving, slow speed
no signaling channel during conversation

2) CCS:
packet data signal, large information volume
non - mutual - control mechanism, fast speed
independent data link for signaling, signaling could be
transmitted during conversation
wide application area, suitable for future development
? require low error - code - ratio

? require conduction check of the voice channels

Please press button to continue your study.

8
 Course Arrangement

Section 1 Basic Concepts in CCS7

part 1 Signaling

part 2 CCS7 Signaling Network

part 3 Hierarchy of CCS7 Signaling System

Section 2 Signaling Units

Section 3 Signaling Procedure

9
 Definition of CCS7 signaling network

In CCS7, signaling links are independent of voice

channels. These signaling links form a network
dedicated to the transmission of signaling, the so called
CCS7 signaling network.

It is a multifunctional supporting network, can be used

in telephone network, circuit-switch data network, ISDN
network, and intelligent network, etc.. Fundamentally,
CCS7 signaling network is a packet switching data
network used for dedicated purpose.

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 Existing CCS7 signaling networks

Three supporting networks (in contrast to service

networks):
CCS7 signaling network;
synchronization network;
telecommunication management network(TMN).

The existing CCS7 signaling networks

International network, International reserved network,
national network, national reserved network.
In CCS7, each message carries a field called NI (network indicator)
to indicate which of the four networks this message works in.

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 Three elements in a CCS7 signaling network

A CCS7 signaling network is composed of three elements:

Signaling Point (SP), Signaling Transfer Point (STP)
and Signaling Link.
As shown in the figure on
the right, in a CCS7
SP SP
signaling network, SP is
represented by a circle,
STP is represented by a
square, link is represented Link Link
by a dashed line, voice path
is represented by a solid STP
line.

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 Three elements in a CCS7 signaling network

1) SP (Signaling Point)

SP is the originating or destination point of a CCS7 message.

In each signaling network, a SP has an exclusive signaling
point code: SPC (14 bits). Since the four signaling networks
assign the SPCs independently, only NI+SPC can uniquely
locate a SP.
Notes: In data setting we usually describe SPC in Hex. Following
are some examples of SPC shown in binary and hex.
SPC (binary) SPC (Hex)
00 0000 1011 0101 00b5
10 0011 1101 0111 23d7
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 OPC and DPC (1)

DPC: Destination Point Code

OPC: Originating Point Code
A message going from one SP to another SP should
bearing the SPC of the originating SP and the terminating
SP, which are called OPC and DPC respectively.
If we compare sending a message to sending a letter,
OPC and DPC are similar to the sender's address and
receiver's address.

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 Three elements in a CCS7 signaling network

2) STP (Signaling Transfer Point)

STP is the network node which transfers CCS7 messages.

3) Link

Link is the data channel which connects the nodes (SPs

and STPs) in CCS7 signaling network.
Digital link, 64 kb/s
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 Working modes of CCS7 signaling network

Working mode refers to the relationship between the

signaling link and the voice channels the link serves.
Presently two modes are in use:
1) Associated mode
The messages between two adjacent points are conveyed
over a link-set directly interconnecting those signaling points,
i.e., the link is parallel to the voice path.

SP A SP B
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 Working modes of CCS7 signaling network

2) Quasi-associated mode
In the quasi-associated mode
the message which is going to
arrive at a SP goes through a
path which is predetermined and
STP
via one or more STPs.

SP A
SP B 17
When the links between any two offices are transferred by a
STP, how will be the link path?

STP

SP SP
A B

Tandem
C

Remember, the sole purpose of using

signaling is to serve the voice path.

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 When the links between any two offices are transferred
by a STP, how will be the link path?

STP

SP SP
A B

Tandem
C
Note: the arrows show the paths that
signaling messages go through.
Remember, a signaling path always
starts from one end of the voice path
it is going to serve, and ends up at
the other end of the voice path.
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 OPC and DPC (II)

In the following two figures, what's the DPC

and OPC of the messages?

Tandem Office
SPB STPB
: voice path
: signaling link MSU2
MSU1 MSU2 MSU1
OPC=?
OPC=? OPC=? OPC=?
DPC=?
DPC=? DPC=? DPC=?
SPA SPC SPA SPC
(a) (b)
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 OPC and DPC (II)

Answer:

Tandem Office
SPB STPB
: voice path
: signaling link MSU
MSU1 MSU2 MSU
OPC=A
OPC=A OPC=B OPC=A
DPC=C
DPC=B DPC=C DPC=C
SPA SPC SPA SPC
(a) (b)

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 Course Arrangement

Section 1 Basic Concepts in CCS7

part 1 Signaling

part 2 CCS7 Signaling Network

part 3 Hierarchy of CCS7 Signaling System

Section 2 Signaling Units

Section 3 Signaling Procedure

22
 Hierarchy of CCS7 signaling system

The hierarchy of CCS7 system can be functionally divided into

two parts, i.e. Message Transfer Part (MTP) and User Part (UP).

1) MTP (Message Transfer Part)

The Message Transfer Part (MTP) provides the functions that
enable User Part's significant information to be transferred
across the signaling network to the required destination. In
addition, functions are included in the MTP to overcome network
and system failures that would affect the transfer of signaling
information.

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 Hierarchy of CCS7 signaling system

2) UP (User Part)
The User Part (UP) is the "user" of
MTP. It includes TUP (Telephone
User Part), ISUP (ISDN User Part), UP T
U
etc. P

In the following, our explanation will

focus on TUP, which transmits and
receives interoffice control signals
to/from the MTP for telephone calls MTP
during call process.
The figure on the right describes the
relation between UP and MTP.
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 Three levels of MTP

MTP could be further divided into 3 levels, namely, level 1-- signaling
data link, level 2 -- signaling link, level 3 -- signaling network.These
three levels are similar to the first three levels of OSI model.

1) Level 1: Signaling Data Link

A signaling data link is a bi-directional transmission path for signaling,

comprising two data channels operating together in opposite
directions at the same data rate. It constitutes the lowest functional
level (level 1) in the Signaling System No. 7 functional hierarchy.

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 Three levels of MTP

2) Level 2: Signaling Link

The second level provides such functions as signal

unit delimitation, signal unit alignment, error detection,
error correction, initial alignment, signaling link error
monitoring and flow control. It, working together with
level 1, ensures the reliable transmission of
messages between two adjacent SPs.

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 Three levels of MTP

3) Level 3: Signaling Network

Functions on this level include signaling message handling and

signaling network management.
In the transmission of messages, the function of signaling
message handling sends the messages to the proper link or user
part; while when malfunctions come up, the network management
function realizes the reorganization of the signaling network, and
when congestion appears, the network management function
carries out flow control at the network level, so as to ensure the
reliable transmission of signaling under extreme conditions.

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 The 4-level structure of CCS7 system

SP A SP B
Logical
L4 User Part User Part
channel
Message
Distribution
Logical
L3 Signaling Network channel Signaling Network
Message Message
Discrimination Routing
Logical
L2 Signaling Link channel Signaling Link

Physical
L1 Signaling Data Link Signaling Data Link
channel

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 The distribution of CCS7 system in C&C08

AM/CM
SM
SM
OPT
OPT

MPU LEVEL 4
LEVEL 3 MPU LEVEL 4

LPN7 LEVEL 2

BNET

DT
LEVEL 1

LINKS
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 Course Arrangement

Section 1 Basic Concepts in CCS7

part 1 Signaling

part 2 CCS7 Signaling Network

part 3 Hierarchy of CCS7 Signaling System

Section 2 Signaling Units

Section 3 Signaling Procedure

30
 Definition of CCS7 signaling unit

Signaling unit (SU) is the

minimum unit used to carry the
various signaling messages in
CCS7 signaling system.

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 The classification of signaling units--According to the sources

1. MSU (Message Signaling Unit)

Used to transfer the signaling message from the 4th level or the
signaling network management message from the 3rd level.
2. LSSU (Link Status Signaling Unit)
Originating and terminating at the 3rd level, it carries no detailed
signaling message, used to indicate the link status when the link is
put into use or malfunctions, so as to set up or recover the signaling
links.
3. FISU (Fill-in Signaling Unit)
Originating and terminating at the 2nd level, it is used to fill in the
vacant locations when the link is free or congested, so as to keep the
link in the status of communication, and sometimes it is also used to
confirm the receive of message from the opposite side.

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 The structure of MSU, LSSU and FISU

F CK SIF SIO LI FIB FSN BIB BSN F

8 16 8n(n≥2) 8 2 6 1 7 1 7 8 Sending
Structure of MSU Direction

F CK SF LI FIB FSN BIB BSN F

8 16 8 2 6 1 7 1 7 8 Sending
Direction
Structure of LSSU

F CK LI FIB FSN BIB BSN F

8 16 2 6 1 7 1 7 8 Sending
Structure of FISU Direction

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 Important fields in TUP MSU-- CIC, SLC

CIC: Circuit Identification Code (12 bits)

SLC: Signaling Link Code (4 bits)

switching switching
equipment equipment
speech channel

signaling signaling
equipment link equipment

As shown in the above figure, there are multiple circuits (e.g.. one time slot
is one circuit) connecting two adjacent SPs. To distinguish them, we should
assign each of them a code, CIC. So CIC is unique in each direction, and is
coded in 12 bits. Therefore, in each direction we can have as many as
212=4096 circuits, and the value range of CIC is [0~4095].
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 Important fields in TUP MSU-- CIC, SLC

7 bits 5 bits CIC

PCM system number PCM time slot number

Correspondence of CIC CIC E1#1 E1#0 CIC

0000001 00000 TS0 TS0 0000000 00000

and E1: 0000001 00001 TS1 TS1 0000000 00001

For E1, the lowest 5 bits of

CIC represent PCM time slot
number, and the higher 7 bits
represent PCM system
number. 0000001 11111 TS31 TS31 0000000 11111

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 Important fields in TUP MSU-- CIC, SLC

Similarly, if there are multiple links connecting two adjacent SPs, to

distinguish them, we should assign each of them a code, SLC. So
SLC is unique in each direction, and is coded in 4 bits. Therefore, in
each direction we can have as many as 24=16 links, and the value
range of SLC is [0~15].

one local SP another

CIC=0,
direction CIC=1,
CIC=0, direction
CIC=1,

.. CIC=m1 CIC=m2
...
SLC=0, SLC=0,

..
SLC=1, SLC=1,
..
SLC=n1 SLC=n2

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 Dual seizure

Different from CAS, in CCS7 we usually use bi-directional trunk

circuits. This induces the possibility of selecting the same circuit from
the two offices at the same time, which is called "dual seizure".
To prevent this, for each circuit, we assign its "master" control right to
one office, and the "non-master" or "slave" control right over this
circuit to the office at the other end.
Usually we assign the master control rights according to the circuit's
CIC number : if the CIC number is even then its master control right is
given to the office which has larger SPC (Signaling point code), and if
the CIC number is odd then its master control right is given to the
office which has smaller SPC.
Following is an example of CIC and master right distribution.

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 Dual seizure

SP A SP B
SPC=0002 SPC=0001
0 master slave 0
1 slave master 1
2 master slave 2

2n master slave 2n
2n+1 slave master 2n+ 1

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 Dual seizure

The principle to avoid dual seizure:

When the local office wants to make an outgoing call, it first tries
those circuits on which it has master control right; only when all
these circuits are busy, will the local SP try the circuits it has slave
control right.
So when the slave circuits are to be selected, the possibility of
"dual seizure" rises again. Hence different "circuit selection modes"
are used: for the circuits on which the local office has master
control right, "FIFO" mode is adopted, which means the circuit
bearing the longest idle period will be selected; while for the
circuits on which the local office has slave control right, "LIFO"
mode is adopted, which means the circuit bearing the shortest idle
period will be selected. In this way, most of the danger of "Dual
seizure" can be avoided.
To be continued...

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 Dual seizure

The principle to avoid dual seizure:

But still there is an extreme occasion when there is only one
idle circuit left for selection from both sides. Then if both sides
try to use this circuit at the same time, the possibility of dual
seizure rises again. In this case, the principle is the "slave"
side should give way to the "master" side.

Please press button to continue your study.

40
 Course Arrangement

Section 1 Basic Concepts in CCS7

part 1 Signaling

part 2 CCS7 Signaling Network

part 3 Hierarchy of CCS7 Signaling System

Section 2 Signaling Units

Section 3 Signaling Procedure

41
 Basic signaling procedure

SPA SPB
IAM (6660008)

IAM: initial address

the caller listen to ACM the called
message, the part or all of
the ring back tone phone rings
the called number are sent
in this message ANC the called party
pick up the phone
ACM: address complete
message communication
ANC: answer signal, charge
CLF: clear forward message
the caller CLF
RLG: release guard signal
hooks on
first
RLG After hearing the
busy tone, the called
party hooks on.
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 Call connection through tandem office

LE TM LE
IAM* (66) SAM: Subsequent address message,
following IAM, used to send the
. SAO ) (60)
SAM ( or
.
subsequent digits of the called
number which haven't been sent
SAO (8)
by IAM.
IAM** (6660008) SAO: Subsequent address message
ACM with one signal. Similar to SAM,
ACM but can send only one digit.
ring back tone CBK: Clear backward signal
ANC
ANC
conversation
CBK the called party
CBK hooks on first
CLF
CLF
RLG
RLG
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 Send caller number initiatively

the called party

the called
the originating the destination pick up the phone
phone rings
LE toll office toll office
IAI(66, 8880003)
SAM( or SAO) (60) IAI : Initial address
.. message with add-
SAO (8) tional information. If the
IAM**(6660008) caller number is to be
ACM
sent initiatively, IAI is
ACM used.
ring back tone
ANC
ANC A
conversation f
t
CLF e
r
CLF
RLG h
e
RLG a
r
44
i
n
g
 The opposite office ask for caller number (e.g.,Malicious
call tracing, CLID)
the called
the called party phone rings
pick up the phone

LE TM LE
GRQ: General request
message. It is used to ask
IAM(6660008) for caller number and some
IAM(6660008) other information.
GRQ GSM: General forward
GRQ
setup information
GSM(8880003)
message. It is used to send
GSM(8880003)
ACM
caller number and some
ACM other information.
ring back tone
ANC
ANC A
f
conversation t
CLF e
CLF
r
RLG
h
e
a
r
45
i
n
g
The cooperation of CCS7 and R2

LE CCS7 TM R2 LE
IAM (666)
.. (0)
SAO
SEIZE
SAO (8) 6 (the 1st
A1digit)
the called
6 (the 2nd digit)
.. phone rings

A1
8 (the last digit) the called party
A3 pick up the phone
II-1
B6
ACM
ring back tone
ANSWER
ANC A
conversation f
t
CBK e
CBK r
CLF
CLF h
RLG e
a
RLG r
46
i
n
g
 Summary

This course describes the following

important aspects of CCS7:
Basic concepts of CCS7: signaling, CCS7
signaling network, CCS7 hierarchy
 Signaling Units, in which CIC, SLC, etc.
are the most important concepts.
 Signaling procedure

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