Signaling Connection Control Part (SCCP)

Chapter 9

This chapter is designed to provide the student with an overview

of the protocol Signaling Connection Control Part (SCCP).

2%-(&7,9(6
Upon completion of this chapter the student will be able to
describe:

• the protocol Signaling Connection Control Part used in a

signaling network.
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 9 Signaling Connection Control Part (SCCP)

9 Signaling Connection Control Part

(SCCP)
Table of Contents

Topic Page

SIGNALING CONNECTION CONTROL PART (SCCP)....................205

CONNECTION - ORIENTED SIGNALING ................................................................ 207
CONNECTIONLESS SIGNALING ............................................................................. 210
SCCP ADDRESSING AND ROUTING ...................................................................... 211

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 9 Signaling Connection Control Part (SCCP)

SIGNALING CONNECTION CONTROL PART (SCCP)

A software packet called Signaling Connection Control Part
(SCCP) has been introduced to meet future demands. SCCP
provides additional functions to MTP to cater for both
connection oriented signaling to transfer circuit-related signaling
information, and connectionless signaling to transfer non-circuit
related signaling messages via a No. 7 network.

MAP

BSSAP ISUP

TCAP

CL CO
SCCP

MTP

Figure 9-1 SCCP Signal Connection Control Part.

The SCCP with the MTP forms the network service part which
keeps No. 7 in line with layer 1-3 of the OSI model.

SCCP consists of the following main subfunctions, all

implemented in central software:

• 6&&3 FRQQHFWLRQ RULHQWHG &2 FRQWURO  which handles

establishment, data transfer and supervision of logical
signaling connections.
• 6&&3 FRQQHFWLRQOHVV &/ FRQWURO  which handles the
connectionless transfer of data units.
• 6&&3PDQDJHPHQW which handles the status information
of the SCCP network. This information, regarding the
availability of other SPs and users of the network, is used to
update the message routing tables.
• 6&&3 URXWLQJ  which handles the routing of SCCP
messages within the C7 network. This may include the
translation of a global title to get a specific network address.
The SCCP routing function also provides message
distribution based on the SCCP SubSystem Number (SSN).
The SSN identifies either an SCCP user or the SCCP
management subfunction. A message whose called party

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address is a local user is passed to the SCCP CO or CL

control while a message for a remote user is forwarded to the
MTP for transfer to a distant SCCP user. The addressing
duty of SCCP and MTP are illustrated in Figure 9-2.

MTP SCCP TCAP MAP

Routing Calling Called

label address address

OPC DPC

Global title SSN

AI NA NP TT

Figure 9-2 SCCP addressing.

The SCCP messages are carried on the signaling data link by

means of signal units. The service indicator in the SIO is coded
0011 for the SCCP. The SIF of each MSU containing an SCCP
message consists of an integer number of octets. A message
consists of the routing label, message type code, mandatory
fixed part, mandatory variable part, and the optional part of
fixed or variable length. The message format is shown in
Figure 9-3.

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 9 Signaling Connection Control Part (SCCP)

F B First bit
MTP F CK SIF SIO LI I FSN I BSN F transmitted
B B

OPTIONAL MANDATORY VARIABLE MANDATORY FIXED MESSAGE ROUTING

SCCP PART PART PART TYPE LABEL

SLS, OPC, DPC

CALLING PARTY CALLED PARTY POINTER POINTER POINTER

DATA
ADDRESS ADDRESS DATA CALLING CALLED

ADDRESS
ADDRESS LENGTH
TYPE

nth 1st NA NP ES TT SSN

ADDRESS ----- ADDRESS

8 1 8 1 8 1 8 1 8 1 8 1
NA (Nature of Address) NP (Numbering Plan) TT (Translation Type)
0000 0011 National 0001 = E.164 (GT) Always Coded as
0000 0100 International 0111 = E.214 (MGT) 0000 0000 for GSM
ES (Encoding Schema) Address Type
0000 BCD odd number 000x 00x1 DPC Included
0000 BCD even number 000x 001x SSN Included
0001 00xx GT Included

Mandatory Fixed Part Message Type (SCCP) SSN (Subsystem Number)

(Protocol Class) CR Connection Request 0000 0110 HLR
Basic CL class CC Connection Confirm 0000 0111 VLR
Sequenced (MTP) CL class CREF Connection Refusal 0000 1000 GMSC, MSC
MAP
Basic CO class RLSD Released 0000 1001 EIR
Flow control CO class RLC Released Complete 0000 1010 AUC
DT1 Data Form 1 0000 1100 SC
UDT Unit Data 1111 1110 MSC-BSC BSSAP
IT Inactivity Test

Figure 9-3 Signaling Connection Control Part Messages.

CONNECTION - ORIENTED SIGNALING

SCCP allows the SCCP user to set up a logical signaling
connection to another SCCP user. See Figure 9-4. This means
that all exchanged messages follow the same path. The calling
SCCP user sends a Connection Request (CR) message. Within a
CR, there is a local reference number to the calling exchange
(A), the protocol class and the address to the called exchange
(B). The CR may also include the SCCP address for exchange A
and user data. When exchange B receives the CR, it answers by
sending a Connection Confirm (CC) message including the local
reference number set up by SCCP-A, a local reference number
selected by SCCP-B and the selected protocol class. User data
may also be included. In case SCCP-B for any reason cannot set
up the connection it returns a Connection REFused (CREF)
message to SCCP-A.

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The logical connection is established when the CC message is

received by exchange A. In the subsequent exchange of
information, SCCP-A uses the reference given by SCCP-B in
the CC message, while SCCP-B uses the reference given by
SCCP-A in the CR message. The user data is sent in Data Form
1 (DT1) or 2 (DT2) message depending on the protocol class.
DT1 is used for signaling data only while DT2 also can be used
for acknowledgment. The connection is cleared by sending a
clearing message and an acknowledgment of that message.

Exchange Exchange
A B

SCCP-A SCCP-B
CR
source local reference
protocol class
called address
calling address
user data
CC

source local reference

destination local reference
protocol class
user data
DT 1
destination local reference
DT 1
source local reference

Figure 9-4 Establishment of a logical connection between

SCCP in exchange A and B.

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 9 Signaling Connection Control Part (SCCP)

A signaling connection, that is, a communication path between

two SCCP users, may consist of one or more sections. Figure 9-
5 shows the setup of a logical connection between exchange A
and exchange F. One reason for dividing a connection in several
sections (logical connections in a tandem arrangement) is that it
may pass through several national networks.

(LRNC2,
(LRNA1, F-addr)
F-addr) (LRNB2, D
CR
CR B CR F-addr)
CREF (LRNE2,
A CC CC C F-addr)
(LRNC3,
(LRNB1, (LRNC1,
F-addr) CR F
LRNA1) LRNB2) CC CR
(LRNE1,
LRNC3) CC
E (LRNF1,
LRNE2)

DT1 (LRNB1) B DT1 (LRNC1)

A C
DT1 (LRNE1) F

E DT1 (LRNF1)

Figure 9-5 CO tandem arrangement: establishment of a logical

connection and subsequent message transfer.

Figure 9-6 shows logical connection establishment using CR

and CC and the use of DT1 for subsequent message transfer
during the location updating procedure. See also Figure 9-3 for
message types.

Figure 9-6 shows the SCCP messages used during location

updating.

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MSC/VLR BSC MS

SCCP SCCP Locating Updating

Request
old LAI + IMSI/TMSI +
CR Locating Updating Request
CKSN...
old LAI + IMSI/TMSI + CGI + CKSN...
CC

DT1 Authentication Request

RAND, new CKSN

DT1 Authentication Response

SRES
DT1 Ciphering Mode Command

Kc
DT1 Ciphering Mode Command

DT1 TMSI Reallocation Command

TMSI
DT1 TMSI Reallocation Command

DT1 Location Updating Accepted

DT1 Clear Command

DT1 Clear Complete

RLSD

RLC

Figure 9-6 SCCP Messages at location updating.

CONNECTIONLESS SIGNALING
The SCCP allows the SCCP user to send signaling messages
without establishing a logical connection. User data is sent in a
Unit Data (UDT) message. Each message includes the called
and calling address which identifies the destination and
origination of the message. See Figure 9-7. This means that the
messages may arrive at the destination point following different
signaling paths. See Figure 9-8. If the SCCP user wishes to be
informed that a message has been discarded instead of being
delivered, a return option parameter must be set to “return
message on error”. When the destination node finds out that a
packet in a message has disappeared it requests re-transmission
from the originating node. Sequence control is for further study.

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 9 Signaling Connection Control Part (SCCP)

Exchange Exchange

A B

SCCP-A SCCP-B

UDT
calling address
called address
UDT
calling address
called address

Figure 9-7 SCCP using connectionless signaling.

Exchange 1 C

A
2

Exchange
E
B

Figure 9-8 CL messages, unit data messages, may take

different paths through the network.

SCCP ADDRESSING AND ROUTING

The called and calling party addresses contain the information
necessary for the SCCP to determine an originating and a
destination node. In the case of CO procedures, the addresses are
the originating and destination points of the signaling
connection, while in the case of CL procedures the addresses are
the originating and destination points of the message.

When transferring CO or CL messages, two basic addresses are

distinguished by SCCP routing:

1. *OREDO 7LWOH *7 A GT is an address which does not

explicitly contain information that would allow routing in
the signaling network. This means that the SCCP translation
function is required.

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2. '3&661 A DPC and an SSN allows direct routing by the

SCCP and MTP. That is, the translation function of the
SCCP is not required.

The called party address may contain:

• 661 RQO\  which indicates that the receiving SCCP is the

termination point of the message. The SSN is used to
determine the local subsystem.
• *7 RQO\  which indicates that translation is required. The
translation results in a new DPC for routing the message and
possibly a new SSN or GT, or both in the called party
address.
• 661 DQG *7  An address indicator is used to determine
whether the SSN or the GT should be used for routing.

An example of how SCCP GT translation works in an

intermediate exchange and in a terminating exchange is shown
in Figure 9-9.

The GT translation results in a Global Title Routing Case

(GTRC) or in an indication that the message terminates. A
parameter could be set if no GT translation is needed. SCCP
then includes the subsystem number (SSN).

Incoming Incoming
Exchange Exchange
Global Title Global Title
(MSC) DPC=2-1 (HLR)
and data and data
GT=123456
Message is forwarded
by SCCP to SSN=6
and terminated
Analysis Analysis

Global GT GTRC Global GT

Series Series
123xxx = 1 123xxx = TE, SSN=6

189xxx = 2 189xxx =

174xxx = 3 174xxx =

Routing Case Instead of GTRC translation,

analysis results in TE SSN=6
Translation
GT: Global Title
GTRC DPC
GT: Global Title
GTRC: Global Title
1 2-1
Routing Case SSN: Subsystem
2 2-2 Number (User)
DPC: Destination
Point Code 3 2-3 TERM: Terminating

Figure 9-9 SCCP global title translation will either result in a GT

routing case or in an indication that the message terminates in
this node.

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 9 Signaling Connection Control Part (SCCP)

SCCP in the MSC analyses the GT and determines that all GTs
that start with 123 should be sent to GTRC=1. To find out the
DPC for GTRC=1, SCCP looks in a routing case translation
table. The information about the DPC is then sent to MTP which
sends the message to the appropriate SP. At the destination
DPC=2-1, the GT analysis shows that the message terminates in
this node. The subsystem is HLR and SCCP routes the message
to HLR.

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