Digital switching systems - 10EC82 UNIT-6

UNIT – 6

SWITCHING SYSTEM SOFTWARE

INTRODUCTION

A modern digital switching system is quite complex. Software is more complex and harder to
manage than the hardware it controls.

SCOPE

This chapter covers the basic software architecture of a typical digital Switch, classifies
various types of software, describes a basic call model and software linkages that are required
during a call, and discusses some basic call features.

BASIC SOFTWARE ARCHITECTURE

 Most of today's digital switching systems employ quasi-distributed hardware and

software architectures.
 The control structure of a digital switching system can usually be divided into three
distinct levels.
 This chapter elaborates on the software employed in a hypothetical digital switching
system at different levels of control.
 It is essential to understand the high level software architecture of a digital switch before
attempting to analyze it.
 Low-level details are not essential.
 Objective is to analyze the digital switch, not to design it.

1. Operating Systems

An operating system (OS) may be defined as software that manages the resources of a
computer system or controls and tasks other programs. Sometimes these programs are:

i) Control programs
ii) Supervisory programs
iii) Executive programs
iv) Monitor programs.

In theory there are different types of operating systems, classified as

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i) Serial batch systems

ii) Multiprogramming systems
iii) Timesharing systems
iv) Real-time systems.
 The operating systems employed by digital switching systems are real-time operating
systems.
 This type of OS is required for digital switching systems since the very nature of
telephony processing demands execution of tasks in real time.
 RTOS for the digital switching system interacts with different layers of applications
necessary to support telephony features and functions.

Figure 5.1 Basic software architecture of a typical digital switching system

Kernel

The kernel or the nucleus of an operating system comprises those functions of an OS that are
most primitive to the environment. It usually supports the following functions.

i) Process control and scheduling

ii) Main memory management
iii) Input/output control of requests for terminals and buffers

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iv) Domain protection of main memory read/write operations etc.

 RTOS that control digital switching systems use priority interrupt systems.
 Most give highest priority to system maintenance interrupts.
 Most digital switching systems employ kernels that reside in the main memory.

2. Database Management
 The databases that are employed in digital switching systems are usually relational and
sometimes distributed.
 Distributed databases imply multiple databases requiring data synchronization.
 The relational database systems use the relational data model in which the relationships
between files are represented by data values in file records
 A record in a relational database is flat, i.e., a simple two dimensional arrangement of
data elements.
 The grouping of related data items is sometimes referred to as a tuple.
 A tuple containing two values is called a pair.
 A tuple containing N values is called an N-tuple.

Example: Cross-references of all directory numbers that are assigned to the line equipment
of subscribers.

 When a particular subscriber goes off-hook, the line equipment is identified by the
scanning program.
 The database is searched to find its associated directory number that identifies all
characteristics of the line.
 Each network control processor (NCP) is assigned a group of subscribers. Therefore, each
NCP has a replica of the subscriber database for all other NCPs.
 Depending on the type of call, a NCP may be required to route calls through other NCPs.
 The database information for all NCPs needs to be distributed and always kept
synchronized.

3. Concept of Generic Program

 The generic program contained all programs necessary for the switching system to
function. It included all switching software, maintenance software, and specialized office
data.
 The translation data were usually supplied by the telephone companies.

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 The performance of a generic program is tracked for software reliability.

 The components of a digital switching systems software that are kept common for a
specific market or a group of telephone companies can sometimes be used to identify the
generic program.
 Generic programs contain operating system(s), common switching software, system
maintenance software, and common database(s) software for office data and translation
data management.

4. Software Architecture for Level 1 Control

 The lowest level of control.
 This level is usually associated with lines, trunks, or other low-level functions.
 The interface controllers (ICs) are usually controlled by microprocessors and may have a
small kernel controlling the hardware of the 1C. The ICs may have a small OS, labeled
Operating System (Level 3) in Fig. 5.1.
 The function of OS is to control and schedule all programs that are resident in the 1C.
 The 1C can also conduct diagnostics of lines and trunks or other peripherals connected to
it.
 In either case the central processor can run the diagnostic program itself or request a
fault-free 1C to run it.
 The 1C will then run the diagnostics and forward the results to the central processor. The
ICs may also be capable of local recovery. This means that in case of an IC failure, the IC
could recover itself without affecting the entire digital switching system.
 The only effect will be on the lines and trunk or peripherals connected to the 1C
undergoing a recovery process.

5. Software Architecture for Level 2 Control

 The intermediate or level 2 controls are usually associated with network controllers that
may contain distributed databases, customer data, and service circuit routines.
 The NCPs are usually independent of the central processor. As shown in Fig. 5.1, the
NCPs usually have their own operating system, labeled Operating System (Level 2). This
OS has a kernel that controls the hardware and basic functionalities of the NCR
 At this level of control, usually a resident database system maintains the translation data
of subscribers and other software parameters required to control the telephony functions
of the NCP.

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 System recovery at this level of control is crucial, since a failure of a NCP may impact a
number of ICs (dependent on the design) and a large number of lines, trunks, and
peripherals.
 The NCPs should be capable of self-diagnosis, and since they are duplicated.
 A dedicated NCP to act as a control NCP for all other NCPs, or each NCP may be
designed to operate independently.
 The recovery strategy in each case will be different.
 In the first case, where one NCP acts as the control NCP, the control NCP is
responsible for system recovery for all other NCPs.
 In the second case, where there is no control NCP, the central processor is
responsible for the recovery process of all NCPs.
 There could be all kinds of recovery strategies involved in the system recovery process at
this level. The analyst needs to understand what type of recovery strategy is being used,
in order to better assess the reliability of a digital switching system.

6 Software Architecture for Level 3 Control

 The highest or level 3 control is usually associated with the central processor.
 The CP will provide all high level functions. These high-level functions include the
management of the database system for office data, high-level subscriber data, software
patch levels, feature control, and above all, system recovery in case of hardware or
software failures.
 The main operating system of a modern digital switching system resides at this level and
is labeled Operating System (Level 3) in Fig. 5.1. As mentioned earlier, this OS operates
in real time and is multitasking (i.e., it can support more than one task at a time).
 This OS controls the database management system, switching software, recovery
software, and all applications such as features, traffic management systems, and OS
interfaces.
 Most CPs work in an active/standby mode. In this mode, one CP is always available to go
into active mode if the active CP develops a fault.
 Other schemes are sometimes employed, such as hot standby, in which the standby
processor is powered up and ready to take over the operation of an active processor. In
this scheme, call processing can be impacted during the processor switchover.
 There is a third option, cold standby, in which the processor is not powered up, but can be
brought on line in case of failure.

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7. Digital Switching System Software Classification

A conceptual diagram of typical digital switching system software is shown in Fig. 5.2. The
basic software functionality of a digital switching system can be divided into five basic
elements, and other functions can be derived from these basic elements:

i) Switching software
ii) Maintenance software
iii) Office data
iv) Translation data
v) Feature software

Figure 5.2 Classification of digital switch software

Switching Software

The most important layer of software for a digital switching system usually comprises.

 Call processing software

 Switching fabric control software
 Network control software
 Periphery control software

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Switch maintenance software

 This set of programs is used to maintain digital switch software and hardware.
 Examples: digital switch diagnostics, automatic line tests, system recovery, patching, and
trunk tests.
 The recovery software of a modern digital switching system is usually distributed among
its subsystems, since most digital switches have a quasi distributed architecture. This
strategy allows the system to recover more efficiently.
 In earlier SPC systems, the recovery scheme required the entire switching system to go
down before it could be reinitialized to a working configuration.
 A digital switching system may employ a large number of programs that are external to
the operation of the digital switch, such as operational support systems (OSSs), operator
position support, and advanced features (e.g., ISDN/SCP AIN). These are not shown in
Fig. 5.2 as separate items/ since they can be external to a digital switching system or may
be implemented as a supported feature.
 The objective of Fig. 5.2 is to provide the analyst with a clear picture of the digital switch
software. The objective of this chapter is to help the analyst better understand the
software environment of a digital switch without getting distracted by functions that may
not directly impact the reliability assessment of a class 5 digital switch.
 The importance of software tools such as compilers, assemblers, computer-aided software
engineering tools, and methodologies that are needed to develop produce, and maintain
digital switching system software should not be ignored. They can impact the quality of
software.

OFFICE DATA

 The generic program, as described earlier, requires information that is specific to a

particular digital switch to operate properly.
 Digital switching systems have suffered outages due to wrong or improperly defined
office data. The easiest way to visualize office data is by comparing them to your
personal computer (PC).
 The office data of a digital switching system describe the extent of a central office (CO)
to the generic program.
 Some common hardware parameters are:
 Number of NCP pairs in the CO
 Number of line controllers in the CO

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 Maximum number of lines for which the CO is engineered

 Total number of line equipment in the CO
 Maximum number of trunks and types of trunks for which the CO is engineered
 Total number of trunks of each type in the CO
 Total number and types of service circuits in the CO, such as ringing units,
multifrequency (MF) receivers and transmitters and dial-pulse (DP) receivers and
transmitters.

These are some examples of software parameters:

 Size of automatic message accounting (AMA) registers

 Number of AMA registers
 Number and types of traffic registers
 Size of buffers for various telephony functions
 Names and types of features supported

These types of parameters are digital switching system-specific and CO specific. The
parameters can literally number in the hundreds and are generated from engineering
specifications of a CO.

TRANSLATION DATA

 The translation data, also referred to as subscriber data, are subscriber-specific and are
required for each subscriber.
 This type of data is generally generated by the telephone companies and not by the
suppliers. In some cases, the suppliers may input translation data supplied by the
telephone companies. However, the database and entry system for the translation data is
supplied as part of the digital switching system software. Typical translation data may
consist of:
 Assignment of directory number to a line equipment number
 Features subscribed to by a particular customer, such as call waiting, three-way
calling, and call forwarding, etc.
 Restrictions for a particular customer, such as incoming calls only, no long-distance
calls, certain calls blocked
 Three-digit translators that route the call based on the first three digits dialed

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 Area-code translators that translate the call to a tandem office for 1+ call, which is
followed by 10 digits
 International call translators that route the call to international gateway offices based
on the country code dialed.

Again, literally hundreds of translation tables are built for a CO before it can become
functional. If the CO is a new installation, much of the information is provided by the traffic
department of a telephone company. The data tables are generated in conjunction with the
specification of a new CO. However, if the CO is a replacement for an earlier CQ then all
existing data may be required to be regenerated in a different format for the new CO.

FEATURE SOFTWARE

 The feature packages are put in a feature group and are offered in a certain market or to a
group of telephone companies.
 These features may be included in the base package of a generic release or, offered as an
optional package. Some examples of feature packages are
 Operator services
 Centrex feature
 ISDN basic rate
 STP extensions
 SCP database

Depending on the digital switching system, these feature packages can be extensive and
large. The analyst of digital switch software should assess the extent of the feature package
and its compliance with the requirements of telephone companies.

SOFTWARE DEPENDENCIES

 Most telephony features of digital switching systems require specific office data and
translation data for their operation.
 They depend on the generation of feature specific office data and/or translation data.
These dependencies are design-specific.
 Similarly, the maintenance programs may require a set of specialized office data and/or
translation data for testing various functionalities of a digital switching system.

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CALL MODELS

 The concept of call models is an important one in the design of telephony systems.
 The call model describes hardware and software actions that are necessary for connecting
and disconnecting a call.
 Once a basic model for a particular type of call is established, features can then be
designed to conform to a particular call model.
 A complex telephony system may invoke different call models for various types of calls.
Some elements of a basic call model is shown in Fig. 5.3.
 This model shows two basic states: connect and disconnect.

1. Connect Sequence
 The connect sequence consists of software routines that scan the line and detect request
for originations.
 Once the line equipment informs the line scanning program that a line has gone off-hook
and that this is a request for a dial tone, not a hit on the line, the off-hook detection
program passes on the control to the test line program.

Figure 5.3 A basic call model

 The function of the test line program is to test for the presence of false ground, high-
voltage, line cross, and other conditions that could be detrimental to the switching
equipment.

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 After successful completion of these tests, a dial tone is returned to the subscriber,
signaling the customer to commence dialing.
 The slow dial tone is used if a switch takes more than 3 seconds to provide the dial tone
due to heavy traffic conditions or hardware or software problems.
 Once the switch detects the start of dialing, the dial tone is removed, and the digit receiver
is attached to the line equipment to receive the dialed digits.
 After the correct number of digits is received by the digit receiver, the switching fabric
map is consulted, which tracks the status of all calls and available paths through the
switching fabric.
 Network connect orders are then issued to establish a talking path through the switching
fabric. After the completion of the path, the ringing service circuit is connected to the
called party, and ringing is initiated.
 When the called party answers the call, the switching network map is updated and the
automatic message accounting timing for billing the call is started.

2. Disconnect Sequence
 The disconnect sequence is also shown in Fig. 5.3. The lines are constantly scanned for
connects and disconnects.
 Once an on-hook or a disconnect is detected, the line is again tested for hazards and a
disconnect switching network order is issued to "tear down" the call.
 Once this is accomplished, the switching network map is updated and the AMA or billing
timer is stopped.

The call connect and disconnect scenarios mentioned are only two of the numerous sequence
models that could be employed in processing a call through a digital switching system.

SOFTWARE LINKAGES DURING A CALL

An example of possible software linkages required during a typical call is shown in Fig. 5.4.

 Line control programs: Scans the status of lines via the line modules and report the
status to the network status program, which in turn works with the network control
programs. Also works with the line service circuit programs in providing dial tone, digit
receivers, ringing circuits, etc.,.

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 Network control program: Orders a network connection through the switching fabric
when a subscriber goes off- hook and completes the dialing of all digits for a call.

 Call processing programs: Are responsible for call processing functions and interface
with the feature programs, translation and office data, and automatic message accounting
and maintenance programs.
 Maintenance program: Responsible for system recovery, system diagnostics, backup,
and other maintenance-related functions.

Figure 5.4 Software linkages required during a typical call

All these functions are available during call processing.

 Once the call processing program determines for the subscriber line the allowed features
and attributes, it allows a call to be established through the switching fabric.
 The called subscriber may reside in the calling subscriber's digital switch or may be in
another digital switch.
 If the called subscriber is not in the same digital switch, then an outgoing trunk is used to
establish a connection to the other digital switch or tandem office.

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 When the called subscriber answers the phone, a talking path is established through the
switching network while the line and the trunks are constantly scanned for disconnect
from either side.

Intra-office call: The called subscriber resides in the same digital switch.

Inter office call: The called subscriber resides outside the digital switch.

CALL FEATURES

 The basic function of an end office digital switching system is to provide telephony
services to its customers.
 In today's competitive environment a feature-rich digital switching system has a
competitive edge.
 These requirements are currently divided into the following categories:
 Residence and business customer features
 Private facility access and services X Attendant features
 Customer switching system features » Customer interfaces
 Coin and charge-a-call features
 Public safety features
 Miscellaneous local system features
 Interoffice features
 Call processing features
 Database services
 Data services
 System maintenance features
 Trunk, line, and special service circuit test features
 Administrative features
 Cut-over and growth features
 Billing and comptrollers features

A digital switching system supports a large number of features.

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1. FEATURE FLOW DIAGRAMS

 The features employed in a digital switching system are usually very complex, and flow
diagrams can help one to understand their functionalities.
 A simplified flow diagram for one of the most commonly used subscriber features, call
forwarding (CF), is shown in Fig. 5.5.
 This feature has three modes of operation:
 Feature Activation
 Feature Operation
 Feature de-activation

Figure 5.5 Simplified flow diagram for call-forwarding (CF) feature

1. Feature Activation
 The feature is activated when the customer goes hook and dials an activation code.
 The software checks for the correct validation code.
 If the activation code is wrong, the subscriber does not get the second dial tone.
 If the activation code is correct, the subscriber gets a second dial tone and is allowed to
dial the call-forwarding telephone number.
 The call-forwarded subscriber line is rung once, and the number is recorded in the system
memory for future use.
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2. Feature Operation.
 Suppose the subscriber receives a call on the line that has the CF feature activated.
 The system rings the called subscriber once and then forwards the call to a number
previously recorded by the subscriber during feature activation.

3. Feature Deactivation.
 This feature can be deactivated when the subscriber goes off-hook and dials the
deactivation code.
 If the code is valid, the CF number is removed; otherwise, the deactivation request is
ignored.
 Note that this was a very simplified flow diagram for a feature. The actual flow diagrams
for some of the features are far more complex.

2. FEATURE INTERACTION
 One of the obvious problems that can arise owing to the existence of so many features on
a single digital switching system is feature interaction.
 This can happen even in the most advanced and best-designed digital switches.
 One way to minimize this problem is to conduct regression tests on the software and
related hardware.

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