Signalling Systems

• System which allows various network

components to exchange information
– In particular, it supports
• call / connection control
• network management
 Signalling Environments

– Subscriber Signalling
• Applied on Access Links
• Tends to be only Call Control
• Relatively Simple
• e.g. DSS1 in ISDN

– Network Signalling
• In the network
• Call Control and Network Control
• Complex
• e.g Signalling System 7 (SS7)
 Signalling

• Types of signalling
– in-band signalling
• signalling messages carried in same
channel as user information
• e.g.
– TCP/IP
– analogue access links in telephone
networks
– out-band signalling
• Separate signalling channel for signalling
messages
• e.g.
– ISDN access links (Frame Relay)
– SS7
 Signalling

• Within out-band signalling another

distinction can be made
– Channel Associated Signalling (CAS)
• Direct relationship between the signalling
channel and information channel
– Common channel signalling (CCS)
• Signalling channel is shared on a demand
basis
 Signalling

• Modern signalling systems use out-band

CCS
– More secure (main reason why out-band
signalling developed)
– Signalling can be carried out at the same time
as user information is exchanged
– More efficient use of resources - allocated on a
demand basis
– Separate signalling network means less
processing on messages - no need to separate
signalling from user information
– Signalling protocol can evolve independently,
without effecting user application
communication stack, can also be more
complex.
– At call set-up, signalling messages can be
transmitted in parallel with the establishment of
information channel (Not possible with CAS)
• set-up times tend to be shorter
 Signalling

• Signalling network is a separate network

– Two modes of operation are possible with CCS
• Associated mode
– Same topology as information network
– Signalling switches located with
information switches
• Non Associated mode
– Combined signalling / information
switches
– Also, separate signalling switches
called Signalling Transfer Points
(STPs)
– Result is a separate signalling network
topology, with links and interfaces into
underlying information network
 Signalling

• Two signalling standards which operate

– Subscriber signalling
• e.g. Digital subscriber system 1
– Network signalling
• Signalling System 7 (SS7)
 Signalling

O p e r a tio n s , M o b ile
T r a n s a c t io n C a ll c o n tr o l
m a in te n a n c e a n d a p p lic a t io n
s e r v ic e s a p p lic a t io n s e r v ic e s
a d m in is t r a t io n p a r t s e r v ic e s

A p p lic a t io n A p p lic a t io n O t h e r a p p lic a t io n IS D N T e le p h o n e

e n t ity e n tit y e n t ity u s e r p a rt u s e r p a rt
(L e ve l 4 ) (L e ve l 4 )
A p p lic a t io n M o b ile A p p lic a t io n
s e r v ic e a p p lic a t io n s e r v ic e
e le m e n t p a rt e le m e n ts

T r a n s a c t io n T r a n s a c tio n T r a n s a c t io n
c a p a b ilitie s c a p a b ilitie s c a p a b ilit ie s
a p p lic a t io n a p p lic a t io n a p p lic a t io n
p a rt p a rt p a rt

S ig n a llin g c o n n e c t io n c o n t r o l p a r t ( S C C P )
(L e ve l 4 )

M e s s a g e tra n s fe rl p a rt (M T P )
( L e v e ls 1 - 3 )

F ig u r e Q 5
S S 7 P r o to c o l A r c h ite c tu r e
 Signalling

• SS7
– Concerned with connection set-up and network
management
– Defined in Q700 series
– Network components are
• Signalling Points
– Process signalling messages
• Signalling Transfer Points
– SPs with switching facilities
• Signalling links
 Signalling

• SS7 Protocol architecture

– Message Transfer Part
• 3 layers, which provide a reliable, but
connectionless service
• similar in functionality to IP
• i.e. provides carrier for higher layers
– Signalling Data Link
• typical physical layer functionality
– Signalling Link Layer
• provides typical layer 2 functionality, i.e.
error free link
– Signalling Network Layer
• Signalling Message Functions
– Switching of signalling messages
across the network
• Signalling Network Management Functions
– traffic, link and route management
functions
 Signalling

– Signalling Connection Control Part (SCCP)

• Equivalent to upper layer 3
– (so concerned with routing)
– Augments the basic service provided
by MTP
– A range of services
• 2 connectionless services
• 2 connection-oriented services
 Signalling

– User Parts
• Equivalent to layer 4
• These typically relate to the control of
specific types of calls
– e.g. ISDN User Part
– Used to set-up ISDN calls
 Signalling

• Transaction Capabilities Part (TCAP)

• Used to
– execute remote processes
– provide means for transfer of data
between nodes
• Used extensively in Intelligent Networks
(INs)
• Essentially application layers
 Signalling

• Consider how SS7 supports setting up a

call
• Consider how SS7 supports the 0800
service