NO.

7 Signaling System
agenda
• NO.7 Signaling System overview

• The Protocol stack

• Message Transfer Part

• Call control protocol

• Network architecture and elements

 NO.7 Signaling System

overview :
Signaling System SS7 is the predominant signaling system
for the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and
also Public Land Mobile Networks (PLMNs). SS7 defines
the procedures for setting-up, managing and clearing down
calls between users, as well as non-circuit related signaling.
Channel associated signaling (CAS): In addition to
carrying the conversation or bearer content, all
telephone bearer trunks also carried the signaling
information necessary to control the call concerned.
Common channel signaling (CCS):
Messages are carried on a separate digital signaling
network, logically apart from the actual voice traffic.
 NO.7 Signaling System
Voice group

swit .. Swit
. ch
ch n
net
et
signaling
link
Sign Sign
alin alin
MP g DT DT g MP
term term
inal inal
 NO.7 Signaling System

Advantage and Disadvantage of no.7 signaling

Advantage :
•Speed is fast: Information can be switched between
processors much faster than in channel-associated
signaling.
•Signaling capacity is large: With a huge signal
capacity, it can hold dozens or even hundreds of
different kinds of signals, it is the basic of PLMN
network.
 NO.7 Signaling System
Disadvantage:
1) Its reliability must be much higher than the channel

associated signaling system. This is because once the

data link fails, all related calls between the two

related switches shall be affected.

2) The SS7 systems that every transnational
corporation produces are having some problems
in compatible.
signaling link:
SS7 messages are exchanged between network elements over 64
kilobit per second (kbps) bidirectional channels called signaling links.
Signaling occurs out-of-band on dedicated channels rather than in-band
on voice channels.
Signaling link set:
Links are usually organized into groups known as link sets. A link set is a
collection of links that share the same destination .
When links are collected in linksets, the total load of messages is typically
shared between the active links.
There can be up to 16 links in a link set.
route:
When one SP is in communication with another, there is said
to be a route between the two. A route is the path that exists
between any two SPs. The route may include a single link
set, or multiple link sets;

route set:
A collection of routes to the same destination is known as a
Route set.
 A B
SP A Signaling link
SP B

SP C

Three SPs (A, B and C) are connected to each other via signaling links. In
each case, we see two links, united in a link set. Each SP node can be said
to have a route to each other. However, the arrangement also allows for the
Possibility that any two points can be reached indirectly via a third, as well
as
directly.
ROUTE SET

ROUTE3
Link Set 2

ROUTE1

Link
Link Set 1

ROUTE2
In the signaling hierarchy, we can see that the most fundamental unit, is the
link. Links are grouped in link sets, which make up routes, which make up
Route sets.
In the same way that links within a link set can work together to ensure
secure transmission of information, the possibility of supporting alternative
routes to the same destination serves to promote network security.
agenda
• NO.7 Signaling System overview

• The Protocol stack

• Message Transfer Part

• call control protocol

• Network architecture and elements

 NO.7 Signaling System

The earliest structure of No.7 signaling protocol system

ISUP DUP TUP

MTP3(network
SCCP layer)

MTP2(Data link layer)

MTP1(Physical layer)

The earliest No.7 signaling technical specifications were based on the circuit related
phone control requirements
 NO.7 Signaling System

MAP INAP OAMP

OSI model
CCITT No.7 Signaling functional class

OSI 7 Application
TCAP
ISUP
layer TUP DUP

Intermediate
service part
Transport layer,
ISP
session layer and
OSI 4,5,6 presentation
layer
SCCP
Physical
layer, data
OSI 1,2,3 link layer and
network layer MTP1, MTP2, MTP3
agenda
• NO.7 Signaling System overview

• The Protocol stack

• Message Transfer Part

• call control protocol

• Network architecture and elements

MTP (message transfer part):
MTP is further divided into mtp1 ,mtp2 and mtp3,respectively
corresponding to layers 1,2 and 3 of the 7-layer protocal.

1. Function of MTP1:
MTP1 is at the data link level, corresponding to the physical
layer in OSI. The 1st level defines the physical, electrical, and
functional features of the signaling data link . Primarily serving
as a two-way data transmission channel, it contains digital
transmission channels with a basic rate of 64kb/s and signal
terminal equipment.
2. Function of MTP2:
MTP Level 2 ensures accurate end-to-end transmission of a
message cross a signaling link. Level 2 implements flow
control, message sequence validation, and error checking.
When an error occurs on a signaling link, the message is
retransmitted.
MTP Layer 2 is also responsible for the assembly of
outgoing messages into packets known as signaling units,
of which there are three types .
3. Function of MTP3:

MTP3 performs the functions of a signaling network. It is combined with the SCCP to form

the OSI L3 functional level. The major functions of this layer are signal message

processing and signal network management.

Signal message processing involves message routing, message identification and

message distribution.

Signal network management involves management of signal traffic, signal link and signal

routing.

MTP Level 3 routes messages based on the routing label in the signaling information field

(SIF) of message signal units.

4. Signal unit
An SS7 message is called a signal unit (SU).
There are three kinds of signal units:
Fill-In Signal Units (FISUs),
Link Status Signal Units (LSSUs)
Message Signal Units (MSU)
1) Fill-in signal unit (FISU)

FISUs are transmitted continuously on a signaling link in both directions.

When there are no other signal units (MSUs or LSSUs) to transmit. FISUs
carry basic level 2 information only (e.g., acknowledgment of signal unit
receipt by a remote signaling point).

FISU is used to keep the synchronization of signal links, so it is

also called the synchronization signal unit.

F CK LI FIB FSN BIB BSN F

The first transmitted bit

LI=0
 2) Link status signal unit (LSSU)
Link Status Signal Units (LSSUs) carry one or two octets (8-
bit bytes) of link status information between signaling points at
either end of a link. The link status is used to control link
alignment and to indicate the status of a signaling point (e.g.,
local processor outage) to the remote signaling point.

F CK SF LI FIB FSN BIB BSN F

Note: SF---- Status Field LSSU The first transmitted bit

LI=1~2
3) Message signal unit (MSU)
The fill-in signaling unit and the link status signaling unit are sent
from the link control terminal (the second level), but the message
signaling unit is generated by the user part, and used to send the
user part messages. The length of MSU is variable, with a
maximum length of 272 bytes.

F CK SIF SIO LI FIB FSN BIB BSN F

The first transmitted bit

LI>2 MSU
The meanings of the various fields are as follows:
1) Flag (F):
the starting flag indicates the start of a signal unit. The start
flag of a signal unit is usually the ending flag of the preceding
signal unit. The ending flag indicates the end of a signal unit,
and has a flag code type of 01111110.
delimitation
01111110
start end

F F F F F

signal units signal units signal units signal units start

 01111110 False flag 01111110
F?

F F 01111110 F

F F 010111110 F

In order to ensure that “01111110” code do not appear in other parts

of the unit, after fifth “1” (with more than 6 continuous 1s) we
appended a “0” in outgoing end, and remove it in receiving end.
2) Length indication code (LI):
The 6-bit LI can store values between zero and 63. If the number of octets
which follow the LI and precede the CRC is less than 63, the LI contains
this number. Otherwise, the LI is set to 63. An LI of 63 indicates that the
message length is equal to or more than 63 octets (up to a maximum of
273 octets). The maximum length of a signal unit is 279 octets: 273 octets
(data) + 1 octet (flag) + 1 octet (BSN + BIB) + 1 octet (FSN + FIB) + 1
octet (LI + 2 bits spare) + 2 octets (CRC).
LI Value Signal unit type
0 Fill-in signal unit
1-2 Link Status signal unit
3-63 Message signal unit
3) Sequence number (FSN, BSN):
the forward sequence number (FSN) is the No. of the signal unit
itself.
F CK LI FIB FSN BIB BSN F

The first transmitted bit

the backward sequence number (BSN) contains the sequence

number of the signal unit being acknowledged.
Both forward sequence number and backward sequence number
are binary numbers with a length of 7 bits, in the circular
sequence from 0 to 127.
4) The indication bits (FIB, BIB):
Together with FSN and BSN, the forward indication bit (FIB) and
the backward indication bit (BIB) are used for basic error control,
with a length of 1 bit, so as to perform the signal unit sequence
number control and acknowledgment.

F CK LI FIB FSN BIB BSN F

The first transmitted bit

5) The check code (CK): Each signal unit has the 16-bit check
code. The CRC value is used to detect and correct data transmission
errors.
 F CK LI FIB FSN BIB BSN F

SPA F BSN BIB FSN FIB LI CK F SPB

FIB0
FSN0
BIB?
BSN?

BSN?
BIB?
FSN0
FIB0
1
0100 0010
1
2 1020
0200
2
3 1 030
CK
0301
error
4 0402
BIB
5 0503 2140 reverse

1304
。 3
。
。
6) The service information octet (SIO): In the message signal unit,
the service information octet includes the Service Indicator and sub-
service field.
SSF SI

F CK SIF SIO LI FIB FSN BIB BSN F

8 16 8n(n≥2) 8 2 6 1 7 1 7 8
The first transmitted bit
DCBA DCBA
Sub-service Service
indication
field code

The service indicator specifies the MTP’s users.

service indicator: MTP User
0000 signaling network management message
0001 signaling network test and maintenance message
0010 reserved
0011 SCCP
0100 the telephone user part (TUP)
0101 the ISDN user part (ISUP)
0110 the data user part (messages related to call and circuit)
0111 the DUT (performance registration and canceling
message)
1000 reserved for MTP to test the user part
1001
1010
1011
1100 reserved
1101
1110
The sub-service field includes the indication code (bits C
and D) and two reserved bits (bits A and B). The network
indication codes are distributed as follows:
DC
00 international network
01 reserved (for international use only)
10 domestic network
11 reserved for domestic use
7) The signaling information field (SIF):
the signaling information field consists of an integral number of

[2, 272] octets. The SIF in an MSU contains the routing label
and signaling information (e.g., SCCP, TCAP, and ISUP
message data)

F CK SIF SIO LI FIB FSN BIB BSN F

The first transmitted bit

 the routing label:
The routing label is comprised of the destination point code
(DPC), originating point code (OPC), and signaling link

selection (SLS) field.

The first transmitted bit

SLS OPC DPC

4 14/24 14/24

DPC is the destination signaling point code, indicating the signaling

point the message shall reach.
OPC is the original signaling point code showing the original message
signaling point.
SLS is used for:
•Ensure message sequencing. Any two messages sent with the same
SLS will always arrive at the destination in the same order in which
they were originally sent.
 
•Allow equal load sharing of traffic among all available links. In
theory, if a user part sends messages at regular intervals and assigns
the SLS values in a round-robin mode, the traffic level should be
equal among all links (within the combined link set) to that
destination.
5. Processing of signaling messages
Message routing:
To select a signaling link for each signaling message to be sent
out.
Message distribution:
The process in which the destination point decides, after receiving
messages, to send messages to which user part or to the third level.
The decision shall be made by the service analysis indication code.
Message identification:
The process in which the signaling point determines whether this point
is the destination point of that message after receiving the message.
Such decisions are based on analyzing the destination point codes in
message channeling.
If the signaling point is the destination point, the message is then
sent to the message distribution function part.
If it is not, and if the signaling point has the signaling transfer
capacity, then the message shall be sent to the message channeling
function part so that it is then sent out on another signaling link.
 DPC and SI
Message Message
distribution: identification
Go to the fourth level Come from the second level

LINK BY LINK
SIO(SSF & SI)
Message Go to the second lever
routing:

Come from the fourth level SLS and DPC

ZXC10 2048kb/s NET ZXC10
NET

MP STB DT transmission system DT STB MP

semi-permanent connecting
64kb/s
Level 1
Level 2
Signaling link
Level 3
Message transfer part

Level 4
Corresponding relation about Z
XC10 与 NO.7 system

No.7 DTI board———----------- MTP1

No.7 signaling board———----- MTP2
MP board —————— MTP3
MP board —————— U P
agenda
• NO.7 Signaling System overview
• The Protocol stack

• Message Transfer Part

• Call control protocol

• Network architecture and elements

One or more of the available Layer 4 protocols provides the data that
is transmitted by MTP in the form of MSUs. These can be divide into
two basic classes:
circuit-related call control protocols (e.g. ISUP and TUP)
non-circuit-related protocols (e.g.SCCP).
The telephone user part:(TUP)
TUP establishes a framework protocol for the exchange of
messages designed to describe call set-up and teardown.
SSF SI

F CK SIF SIO LI FIB FSN BIB BSN F

8 16 8n(n≥2) 8 2 6 1 7 1 7 8 The first transmitted bit
LEAD CODES

SI H1 H0 LABEL

8n 4 4 64

CIC OPC D PC

4 12 24 24
 TUP message is composed of three parts as flag,head code an
d message ， following as:
SIF

message （ n×8bit ）
Head code （ 8bit ） flag （ 64bit ）

H1 H0 CIC OPC DPC

32 TS
7 bits 5 bits

128 E1
• flag used for message route (level three of MTP) to select a
ppropriate signaling route ， and used to recognizing certain c
all of a message for TUP. It includes three fields:
• DPC （ 24bit ） destination signaling point coding ， a sign
for destination of message.
• OPC （ 24bit ） origination signaling point ， a sign for s
ource of message.
• CIC （ 12bit ） identify a voice circuit of voice circuits bet
ween DPC and OPC.
• Head code is for specifying the message type ,made up of
H1,H0
•H0 (4 bits) message group code for identifying message group
•H1 (4 bits) message code ,used to identify message in one
message group .
message H1
0000 0001 0010 0011 0100 0101 0110 0111 1000 1001 1010 1011 1100 1101 1110 1111
group H0
0000 Reserved for domestic
FAM 0001 IAM IAI SAM SAO
FSM 0010 GSM COT CCF
BSM 0011 GRQ
SBM 0100 ACM CHG
UBM 0101 SEC CGC NNC ADI CFL SSB UNN LOS SST ACB DPN MPR EUM
CSM 0110 ANU ANC ANN CBK CLF RAN FOT CCL
CCM 0111 RLG BLO BLA UBL UBA CCR RSC
GRM 1000 MGB MBA MGUMUA HGB HBA HGU HUA GRS GRA SGB SBA SGU SUA
1001 reserved
CNM 1010 ACC Reserved for international and
1011 domestic
NSB 1100 MPM
NCB 1101 OPR Reserved for domestic
NUB 1110 SLB STB
NAM 1111 MAL
 Inter office
signaling
IAM Initiate address message
ACM Address complete message

ringing
Answer
ANC call 、 billing
Caller hang CLF
Clear line forward
off RLG Release guard
CalledClear
hangline
down
CBK
Called （ forward
CLF
party hang release
Release ）
guard
RLG
off
agenda
• NO.7 Signaling System overview

• The Protocal stack

• Message Transfer Part

• call control protocol

• Network architecture and elements

1)Signaling point (local exchange)
It refers to the node in the signaling system that provides
common channel signaling.
SP can also be divided into source points (the SP that
generate signaling messages)OPC(Originating points code) and
destination points (i.e.,the SP that receives signaling
messages)DPC(destination point code). Actually, SP is part of a
switching system.
2)Signal transfer point (STP)
It refers to SP that transfer signaling messages from one signaling lin
k to another. They are neither source points, nor destination points. T
hat is, they are the middle signaling points during signaling transfer.

STPs are usually setted in pairs, as they are linked to

ensure redundancy. A device connecting to a STP will co
nnect to both in the pair to achieve routing reliabilit
y.

One key advantage of STP is that it enables a SP to sig

nal to other SPs without being directly connected to th
em.
 Voice channels

A B
SP A Signaling link
SP B
2_2_2 3_3_3
C

STP
8_8_5
Signaling code

OPC or DPC is 14-bit address for CCITT (24-bit for China)

In CHINA ， the frame is 8bit-8bit-8bit

In international ： 3bit-8bit-3bit

OPC and DPC is a opposite conception, but signaling

point cod (SPC) is a absolute
for example, the SP of switch A is 2_2_2, and SP of switch B is
3_3_3. If you work in switch A then 2_2_2 is OPC for A, and 3_3_3
is DSP for A. If other work in switch B, then 3_3_3 is OPC for B,
and 2_2_2 is DPC for B.

Voice channels

A B
Signaling link

2_2_2 3_3_3
C
 signaling mode

1)The associated mode

In this mode, messages related to the voice channel connecting
two switches are sent on the signaling link that directly connects
two switches, as shown in the Figure.

Voice channels
A B
Signaling link
2)Non-associated mode
Signaling messages between A and B are transferred by
several signaling links according to the current network status,
but the voice circuit is the direct route between A and B. In other
cases, the common channel signaling messages are transferred on
different paths.
Voice channels

A B

Signaling link
This mode is normally not used, as it is rather
difficult to exactly identify a route at any given
time.
3)The quasi-associated mode
This can be called a special case of the non-associated mode.
In this mode, signaling messages between switches A and B go
through the several preset concatenated signaling links, but
voice signals go through the direct channels between A and B.
Normally, different transmission carriers are used in the
common channel signaling systems and their related voice
links.
Voice channels

A B
Signaling link
SP SP
C
STP
 The 3-level signaling network

HSTP HSTP

A B

D D
D
D
D D D D HSTP 层

C
B1 B2
B
B B

A1 C2
B

A2 C1 C
B
LSTP 层

A A A
A A
SP C区
SP
A区
SP
B区

HSTP-LSTP: DLINK
成对 LSTP 之间 :CLINK
异对 LSTP 之间 :BLINK SP 层
SP-LSTP 之间 ||:ALINK