ISDN

Integrated Services Digital Network

What is ISDN ?
1. End-to-end digital connectivity
2. Enhanced subscriber signaling

Original idea
in the 1980s

3. A wide variety of new services (due to 1 and 2)

4. Standardized access interfaces and terminals
ISDN is not a new network separated from the PSTN.
Interworking with normal PSTN equipment is very
important.
ISDN
terminal

interaction is
possible

PSTN
terminal

Evolution of the PSTN / ISDN

Step 1: all-analogue network (before 1960)

Evolution of the PSTN / ISDN

Step 2: digital transmission in the core network
(1960 - 1980)

PDH transmission systems

(2 - 140 Mbit/s)

Evolution of the PSTN / ISDN

Step 3: digital switching of 64 kbit/s channels
(1970 - 1990)

Time switching
technology

Evolution of the PSTN / ISDN

Step 4: common channel signalling in the core network
(1980 - 2000)

SS7

Evolution of the PSTN / ISDN

Step 5: PDH systems are being replaced by SDH
(1990 ...)

SDH transmission systems

(155, 620 Mb/s)

Evolution of the PSTN / ISDN

Step 6: digital access lines (ISDN, ADSL) installed
(1990 ...)
End-to-end
digital user data
End-to-end
digital signalling

Success of a new concept depends on:

Public network => standardization important (there
may be different equipment vendors, operators )
=> open interfaces
Critical mass of services, subscribers, and terminal
equipment is needed before concept can be made
comercially attractive (chicken and egg problem)

Problem-free evolution & concept integration

Does the user need this new concept?

Digital access: several alternatives

Bit rate (kb/s)

Connection
setup time
Popularity

ISDN

modem

ADSL

2 x 64

max. 50

much
larger

fast

slow

fast

little

great

increasing

However, large impact on signalling protocols

PSTN vs. ISDN user access

PSTN

300 3400 Hz analogue transmission band

poor-performance subscriber signaling

Basic
Rate
Access
ISDN

2 x 64 kbit/s digital channels (B channels)

16 kbit/s channel for signaling (D channel)

Primary
Rate
Access
ISDN

30 x 64 kbit/s digital channels (B channels)

64 kbit/s channel for signaling (D channel)
concatenation of B channels possible

Telecommunication services
Basic telecommunication services
Bearer services provide the capability of transmitting
signals between network access points. Higher-level
functionality of user terminals is not specified.
Teleservices provide the full communication capability
by means of network functions, terminals, dedicated
network elements, etc.

Supplementary services
A supplementary service modifies or supplements a
basic telecommunication service. It cannot be offered
to a customer as a stand-alone service.

Services examples
Some typical teleservices
Telephony (normal, high quality)
Telefax (Group 3, Group 4)
Video-telephony
Some typical bearer services
Speech (transparency not guaranteed)
64 kbit/s unrestricted
3.1 kHz audio (non-ISDN interworking)
Some typical supplementary services
CLIP / CLIR
Call forwarding / waiting / hold
Charging supplementary services

Basic rate access user interface

Terminal
Adaptor

R
Non-ISDN
terminal

S/T

Network
Termination

Bi-directional
192 kbit/s

Line
Interface
Circuit

160 kbit/s echo

canceling or
Exchange
time compression

ISDN
terminal

Subscriber (premises) network

Exchange

Primary rate access user interface

PBX
PBX
equipment
manufacturer
specific
solutions

Line
Termination
Standard 2 Mb/s
TDM connection
(PDH or SDH)
Exchange

64 kb/s D channel in one PCM time slot

ISDN Signalling Protocols

OSI reference model

7. Application
6. Presentation

A (protocol residing in a) lower

layer provides certain services
to a (protocol in a) higher layer
Protocol Data
Units (PDU)

5. Session
4. Transport

1. Physical

Rx end

2. Data Link

Headers

Tx end

3. Network

Relation between network connection

elements and OSI model
7. Application
6. Presentation

5. Session

Some examples:
Gateway (GW),
Interworking function
(IWF)

4. Transport
3. Network

Router, Switching function

2. Data Link

Bridge, Relaying function

1. Physical

SDH cross-connect

Tasks of OSI layers:

7. Application

User application

6. Presentation

Compression & coding

5. Session

Dialogue control

4. Transport

End-to-end flow & error control

3. Network

Switching & routing

2. Data Link

Link-layer flow & error control

1. Physical

Multiplexing & transport of bits

Typical protocol interaction

App
:
Tran

Switch, router

Net

Net

Net

Link

Link

Link

Phy

Phy

Phy

End
node

Relay, bridge

App
:
Tran

Link
Phy

Intermediate nodes

Phy

Link
Phy

End
node

Signalling protocols for end-to-end

connection
User interface

Q.931

Q.931
DSS1

PSTN Network

ISUP SS7 ISUP

MTP 3

MTP 3

User interface

Q.931

Q.931
DSS1

Q.921

Q.921

MTP 2

MTP 2

Q.921

Q.921

I.430

I.430

MTP 1

MTP 1

I.430

I.430

contains the signalling messages for call control

Layered DSS1 signaling structure

DSS1 = Digital Subscriber Signalling system no.1

I.430
Layer 1:
Bit sequence structure, framing & multiplexing
Q.921
Layer 2:
Link control (HDLC-type protocol called LAPD)

Layer 3:
Q.931
Signaling messages (application layer)

LAPD (Q.921) is used for

Establishing data link connections identified by the
Data Link Connection Identifier (DLCI = SAPI + TEI)
Frame delimiting, alignment and transparency,
allowing recognition of frames transmitted over the
D-channel
Flow control: (a) to maintain the sequential order of
frames across a data link connection, (b) temporarily
stopping transmission
Error Control: detection of errors on a data link
connection, recovery from errors, and notification to
the management entity of unrecoverable errors

Q.931 Call-related messages

Call establishment messages:
ALERTING
CALL PROCEEDING
Similar
CONNECT
functions as
CONNECT ACKNOWLEDGE
ISUP in SS7
PROGRESS
SETUP
SETUP ACKNOWLEDGE
Call clearing messages:
DISCONNECT
RELEASE
RELEASE COMPLETE

Typical content of ISDN Set-up message

Called party (user B) number & numbering plan
Calling party (user A) number (+ CLIP/CLIR)

Show to B?

Bearer capability (64 kbit/s unrestricted, speech, 3.1

kHz audio, packet mode B-channel, packet mode Dchannel)
Channel identification (B1, B2, or D channel request)
Low-layer compatibility (type of bit rate adaptation,
type of modem )
High-layer compatibility (teleservice-related issues)

Keypad facility

Structure of Q.931 message (Release)

Message type: RELEASE
Significance: Local
Direction: Both

Info Element

Protocol
discriminator
Call reference
Message type
Cause
Display
Signal

Direction
Both

Both
Both
Both
nu
nu

Type

Length

M
M
O
O
O

21
2-32

Cause description may require many bytes

2-3

Setup of a PSTN call

User A

Exchange A

off-hook
dial tone
B number
ringing
tone

connection ok

Exchange B

User B

SS7
ISUP
ringing
tone
user B
answers

Setup of an ISDN call using Q.931

User A

offhook

Exchange A

Exchange B

User B

Setup
Call proceed

Setup

SS7
ISUP

Alert

ring

Alert
Connect
Connect

connection ok

user B
answers

SS7
Common Channel
Signalling System Nr. 7

IN
Intelligent Network concept

History of inter-exchange signalling

CAS

Before 1970, only channel-associated signalling

(CAS) was used. In CAS systems, signalling always
occurs in-band (i.e. over voice channels).

CCIS

SS6 = CCIS (common channel interoffice signaling)

was widely deployed in North America, but not in
Europe (=> concentrating on SS7 instead).

SS7

Starting from 1980 (mainly in Europe), CAS was

being replaced by SS7. The use of stored program
control (SPC) exchanges made this possible. Like
CCIS, signalling messages are transmitted over
separate signalling channels. Unlike CCIS, SS7
technology is based on protocol stacks.

Channel-associated signalling (CAS)

CAS means in-band signalling over voice channels.
signalling possible
Exchange

signalling not possible (yet)

Exchange

Exchange

circuit switched connection

CAS has two serious draw-backs:

1) Setting up a circuit switched connection is very slow.
2) Signalling to/from databases is not possible (setting
up a circuit switched connection to the database would
be extremely inconvenient).

Common channel signalling (CCS)

In practice, CCS = SS7 (except maybe North America).
In Finnish: CCS = yhteiskanavamerkinanto (YKM)
signalling possible anywhere anytime
Exchange

Exchange

Database

The packet-switched signalling network is separated from

circuit switched connections. Consequently:
1) Signalling to/from databases is possible anytime.
2) End-to-end signalling is possible before call setup and
also during the conversation phase of a call.

CAS vs. CCS

Tokyo

User A
(calling
user)

Exch

Exch
Exch

Oulu

Exch

User B
(called
user)
Database

1) Accessing database

Espoo

2) Signalling before call setup

3) Signalling during conversation phase

(user-to-user => digital access technology required)

Signalling points (SP) in SS7

Every SP is identified by a unique signalling point code
Signalling Transfer Point (only related to SS7 network)

STP

STP

STP

SP
MAP
INAP
CAP

SP
ISUP

Exchange

Signalling Point (in a database,

such as HLR in GSM)
Application protocols used in SS7

Signalling Point (signalling

termination in an exchange)

Intelligent Network (IN) Concept

Intelligence => access to various databases
Operator implements service logic (IN Service)

STP

SCP
MAP
INAP
CAP

SSP
ISUP

Exchange

Service Control Point

(a network element containing
the service logic, is often also
called database or register)

Service Switching Point

(enables service triggering in an
exchange)

Typical call-related IN procedure (1)

1.

2.
SSP
Exchange

3.

SCP
4.
5.

Exchange

1. Call routing proceeds up to Exchange

2. Trigger activated in Basic Call State Model at SSP
3. SSP requests information from SCP (database)
4. SCP provides information
5. Call routing continues (routing to next exchange)

Typical call-related IN procedure (2)

1.

2.
SSP
Exchange

3.

SCP
4.
5.

Exchange

2. Trigger activated in Basic Call State Model at SSP

Typical triggers:
Called number (or part of number)
Access code or ID information
Time (hour, day) or location (mobile system)
Calling number (or part of number)

Typical call-related IN procedure (3)

1.

2.
SSP
Exchange

3.

SCP

4.
5.

Exchange

4. SCP provides information

Example: Number translation in SCP
SSP sends 800 number (0800 1234)
SCP translates into real number which
can be used for routing the call
(+358 9 4512343)

translation
may be
based on
several
variables

IN service examples
Traditional IN services:
-

Freephone / customised charging schemes

Virtual Privat Network (VPN)
Number portability
Televoting

IN in mobile networks:
- Mobility management (HLR, VLR = databases)
- Security management (Authentication ...)
- CAMEL IN in mobile networks (Customised
Applications for Mobile networks Enhanced Logic)

Protocol layers (levels) of SS7

Application protocols
TUP

ISUP

MAP

CAP

INAP

TCAP

SCCP
MTP level 3

routing

MTP level 2 (link-layer protocol)

MTP level 1 (64 kbit/s PCM time slot)
MTP - Message Transfer Part
SCCP - Signalling Connection Control Part
UP - User Part
AP - Application Part

Application protocols in SS7

TUP (Telephone User Part) is being replaced by ISUP
ISUP (ISDN User Part) for all signalling related to
setting up, maintaining, and releasing circuit switched
connections
MAP (Mobile User Part) for transactions between
exchanges (MSC, GMSC) and databases (HLR, EIR, AuC)
in mobile networks
INAP (Intelligent Network Application Part) for IN
applications in fixed networks
CAP (CAMEL Application Part) for extended IN
functionality in mobile networks (where MAP is not
sufficient ...)

MTP functions
MTP level 1 (signalling data link level):
Physical transmission (e.g. 64 kbit/s PCM time slot)
MTP level 2 (signalling link level):
HDLC-type frame-based protocol for flow control,
error control (using ARQ), and signalling network
supervision and maintenance functions.
MTP level 3 (signalling network level):
Routing in the signalling network (using OPC, DPC)
between SPs with level 4 users (see SIO at level 2).

MTP level 2 frame formats

Level 3 signalling message

MSU (Message Signal Unit)

CK

SIF

SIO

LSSU (Link Status Signal Unit)

CK

SF

LI

Control

FISU (Fill-In Signal Unit)

CK

LI

Control

LI

Control

Network:
National
International
User part:
TUP
ISUP
SCCP
Network
management

MTP level 2 frames

MSU (Message Signal Unit):
Contains signalling messages (User Part
SIO)
The received frame is MSU if LI > 2 (number of
octets)
LSSU (Link Status Signal Unit):
Contains signalling messages for link supervision
The received frame is LSSU if LI = 1 or 2
FISU (Fill-In Signal Unit):
Can be used to monitor quality of signalling link
The received frame is FISU if LI = 0

Routing information in SS7 message

Level 3 signalling message in SIF (Signalling Information Field)

Routing label
MTP management message:
SLC 4 bit signalling link code

SLC

OPC

DPC

MTP SCCP message:

SLS 4 bit signalling link selection

SLS

OPC

DPC

OPC

DPC

MTP TUP message:

CIC 12 bit circuit ID code

CIC

Structure of SS7 ISUP message

Level 3 signalling message in SIF (Signalling Information Field)

Routing label

MTP ISUP message:

SLS 4 bit
CIC 12 bit

CIC

Max 256 + 1 octets

OpP

MaVP

MaFP

MTC

SLS

OPC

DPC

ITU-T structure
ANSI => different

MTC: Message Type Code (name of ISUP message)

MaFP: Mandatory Fixed Part (no LI, no parameter names required)
MaVP: Mandatory Variable Part (LI, no parameter names required)
OpP: Optional Part (LI and parameter names required)

Difference between SLS and CIC

SLS defines the signalling link which is used for transfer
of signalling information.
CIC defines the circuit (used for a certain circuit switched
connection) with which the ISUP message is associated.

signalling link
STP
SSP
Exchange

SSP
circuit

Exchange

Role of DPC and OPC in SS7

DPC Destination Point Code (14 bit 16384 SPs)
Termination point of application transaction
Key information for routing within SS7 network
DPC is inserted by the originating MTP user.
OPC Originating Point Code (14 bit)
Originating point of application transaction
The network indicator in the SIO octet determines
whether the DPC or OPC is an international, national, or
network dependent SP identifier.
F

CK

SIF

SIO

LI

Control

Same signalling point codes can be

reused at different network levels
International

SPC = 277

SPC = 277

National
Network specific

SPC = 277

SPC = 277 means different SPs at different network levels

Functions at signalling network level

MTP
user

Message
distribution

Message
discrimination

Signalling
link

Message
routing
ISUP
SCCP

Signalling message handling

Signalling network management

MTP level 2

ISUP (Integrated Services User Part)

Essential for circuit-switching related signalling
Not only ISDN (can be generally used in PSTN)
Features:

Establishment / release of circuit switched connections

(basic call control) using link-by-link signalling
End-to-end signalling between two exchanges (for this
purpose SCCP + ISUP is used)
see Bhatnagar, p.77
General (non-user-related) circuit management

Example: link-by-link routing

Using MTP-level routing table, STP routes message to DPC = 22
STP

SL 4

STP
SL 2

SPC = 15

SPC = 18

Outgoing MTP MSU:

OPC = 22 CIC = 20
DPC = 60 SLS = 2

SL 7
SPC = 82

SPC = 22
Circuit
14

Exchange

Outgoing message:
OPC = 82 CIC = 14
DPC = 22 SLS = 4

Exchange

Circuit
20

SPC = 60

Exchange

Processing in (transit) exchange(s):

Received message is sent to user (ISUP) that gives
B-number to exchange. Exchange performs number
analysis and selects new DPC (60) and CIC (20)

MTP + ISUP in SS7

The routing capability of MTP is rather limited (routing
tables are entirely based on signalling point codes).
Exchanges perform the routing through the network(s)
during the establishment of circuit switched connections
on an exchange-to-exchange basis, using the dialed digits
and routing tables.
+358

Country code

4512343

National region

exchange ID

Subscriber number

Example: link-by-link signalling

Using MTP-level routing table, STP routes message to DPC = 22
STP

Otherwise like link-by-link

SL 2
SPC = 15
routing,
SL 4

STP
SPC = 18

Outgoing MTP MSU:

OPC = 22 CIC = 20
DPC = 60 SLS = 2

SL 7
only difference is
here
SPC = 82

SPC = 22
Circuit
14

Exchange

Outgoing message:
OPC = 82 CIC = 14
DPC = 22 SLS = 4

Exchange

Circuit
20

SPC = 60

Exchange

Processing in (transit) exchange(s):

Using routing table and incoming routing label,
exchange inserts DPC (60) and CIC (20) into
outgoing routing label (no number analysis )

Setup of a call using ISUP

User A

Exchange A

Setup

Q.931
Alert

Connect

Transit exchange

IAM

Exchange B

IAM

Link-by-link routing (number analysis)

ACM

ANM

Charging of call starts now

ACM

ANM

User B

Setup
Alert

Connect

Link-by-link signalling
(no number analysis)

Some basic ISUP messages

user A

IAM Initial Address Message

ACM Address Complete Message
ANM Answer Message
REL Release Message
RLC Release Complete

user B

Signalling sequence 1 (call setup)

User A
Off hook
Dial tone
B number

LE A

TE

LE B

User B

Local exchange detects setup

request and returns dial tone
Local exchange:
analyzes B number
determines that call
should be routed via
transit exchange (TE)

Signalling sequence 2 (call setup)

User A

LE A

TE

LE B

User B

Initial address message (IAM)

ISUP message IAM is sent to transit exchange.

Transit exchange analyzes B number and

determines that call should be routed to local
exchange of user B (LE B).
IAM message is sent to LE B.
Within all exchanges, the path is cut through
(circuit switched path between user A and LE B).

Signalling sequence 3 (call setup)

User A

LE A

Ringing
tone

TE

Address complete
message (ACM)

LE B

User B

Ringing signal

or
Ringing signal is sent to user B (user B is alerted).
Ringing tone is sent to user A.
(Ringing tone is generated locally at LE A or is
sent from LE B through circuit switched path)

Signalling sequence 4 (call setup)

User A
Charging
starts now

LE A

TE

Answer message
(ANM)

LE B

User B

User B answers

Conversation over this pipe

User B answers, connection is cut through at LE B.
Charging of the call starts when ANM message is
received at LE A.
Conversation can take place over the bi-directional
circuit switched connection.

E.164 numbering scheme

00

358

1234567

International number

1234567

National number

1234567

User number

Prefix
Country code

358

Area code

or mobile network code

40

In each exchange, the B number is analyzed at call

setup and a routing program (algorithm) selects the
next exchange to which the call is routed.

Signalling sequence (call release)

User A

LE A

TE

LE B

User B

Conversation over this pipe

On hook
Charging
stops

Release (REL)
Release complete (RLC)

The connection links are released one by one.

(Hanging links are blocked from further use)

SCCP (Signalling Connection Control Part)

Essential for non-circuit-switching related signalling

Features:

OSI Layer 3 functionality

Essential for end-to-end signalling & database access

Global Title Translation (GTT) for enhanced routing
SubSystem Number (SSN) analysis at destination

4 Transport Service Classes

OSI Layer 4 functionality

SS7 connection setup using SCCP

Signalling connection, not circuit switched connection (= call)

User
(AP)

User
applications

User
(AP)

User
(AP)

User
(AP)

SCCP

SCCP
GT translation

SCCP
SSN analysis

MTP

MTP

MTP

SSP

STP

SCP

Global title translation (GTT)

Global title translation (GTT) is required when the
originating exchange (SSP) knows a global title
but does not know the DPC of the database (SCP).
SSP

STP

Global title (GT)

examples:
0800 number => SCP
IMSI => HLR

SCP
Translation
in STP
GT => DPC + SSN

Why GTT in STP network node?

Global title translation (GTT) is usually done in an STP.

Advantage: Advanced routing functionality (= GTT)

needed only in a few STPs with large packet handling
capacity, instead of many SSPs (exchanges).
SSP

SSP
SSP
SSP

SCP
SCP

STP
SCP

SSP

Example: SCCP connection with GTT

No SCCP functionality
STP

STP
SCCP functionality

STP
SCCP
MSC/VLR located in Espoo
SPC = 82

Outgoing message:
OPC = 82 DPC = 32
SCCP: IMSI global title

SPC = 32

SCCP
HLR located in Oslo
SPC = 99

Processing in STP:
Received message is given to SCCP for GTT.
SCCP finds the DPC of the HLR: DPC = 99

Four classes of service in SCCP

Class 0: Basic connectionless class. Each information
block (SCCP message) is transmitted from one SCCP
user to another SCCP user independently.
Class 1: Sequenced (MTP) connectionless class. All
messages use the same SLS code.
Class 2: Basic connection-oriented class. Virtual
connections are set-up and released + using same SLS
code + segmentation & reassembly (SAR)

Class 3: Flow-control connection-oriented class. VC

control + same SLS codes + SAR + flow control

Signalling in GSM core network

ISUP for signalling between exchanges (MSC, GMSC)
MAP for signalling to/from databases (VLR, HLR, AuC, EIR)
MM / CM
RR
BSSMAP / DTAP
BSSAP

BSSAP

SCCP

SCCP

MTP
BSC

MAP
TCAP
MAP
TCAP
SCCP
MTP

A
interface

MSC / VLR

ISUP

SCCP
MTP
HLR

to GMSC

Further information on SS7

Tutorials:
Modarressi, Skoog: SS7: a tutorial, IEEE Comm. Magazine,
July 1990
Jabbari: CCSS7 for ISDN and IN, Proc. IEEE, Feb. 1991
Books:
Bhatnagar: Engineering networks for synchronization, CCS7,
and ISDN, IEEE Press, 1997
Van Bosse: Signaling in telecommunication networks, Wiley,
1998
Web material:
www.iec.org/online/tutorials/ss7
www.ericsson.com/about/telecom (the course book)