Integrated Services

Digital Network
(ISDN)
 Introduction
ISDN is a set of standards which define an end to end Digital Network
WAN Technology
 Introduction
Features of ISDN
• Uses Digital Signal
• Uses Existing telephone wiring
• Charges are generally based on the duration of call
(How long the WAN link was used)
• Alternate to using leased lines
• Can transport many types of Network traffic (Voice,
Data, Video, Text, Graphics etc)
• Faster Data transfer rate than modems
• Faster Call setup than Modems
 Introduction
ISDN Benefits
• Carries a variety of user traffic, such as digital video, data, and
telephone network services, using the normal phone circuit-switched
network
• Offers much faster call setup than modems by using out-of-band
signaling (D channel)
– Often less than one second
• Provides a faster data transfer rate than modems by using the 64-kbps
bearer channel (B channel)
– Can combine multiple B channels to bandwidth of 128 kbps
• Can negotiate PPP links
 ISDN Architecture
ISDN Components
• Terminal Equipment type 1 (TE1)
• * ISDN compatible device (Router with ISDN Interface)
* TE1s connect to the ISDN network through a four-wire,
twisted-pair digital link
• Terminal Equipment type 2 (TE2)
* ISDN Non-compatible devices.
* Will require a terminal adapter.
• Terminal Adapter (TA)
* Converts standard electrical signals into the form used by ISDN
* Needed for connection with TE2 devices
* The ISDN TA can be either a standalone device or a board inside
the TE2
 ISDN Architecture
ISDN Components
• Network termination type 1 (NT1)
* Network-termination devices that connect the four-wire
Subscriber wiring to the conventional two-wire local loop
* Is a customer premises equipment (CPE) device (North
America)

• Network termination type 2 (NT2)

* Intelligent device that performs switching & concentrating.
* Provides multiple ISDN interfaces on an ISDN line. The NT2
may be as simple as a bridging device connected to an NT1 unit
or it may be as complicated as a PBX (Private Branch
exchanges)
 ISDN Architecture
Functions of ISDN Functional groupings
NT1 NT2
• Line transmission termination • Layer 2 and layer 3
• Line maintenance and protocol
performance monitoring • Layer 2 and layer 3
• Timing multiplexing
• Power transfer • Switching
• Layer 1 multiplexing • Concentration
• Interface termination, • Maintenance functions
including multidrop termination • Interface termination
employing layer 1 contention and other layer 1
resolution functions
 ISDN Architecture
Functions of ISDN Functional groupings
TE
• Protocol handling
• Maintenance functions
• Interface functions
• Connection functions to
other equipment
 ISDN Architecture
ISDN Reference points
ISDN specifies a number of reference points that define logical
interfaces between functional groupings, such as TAs and NT1s.
ISDN reference points include the following:

• R---The reference point between non-ISDN equipment and a TA.

• S---The reference point between user terminals and the NT2.
• T---The reference point between NT1 and NT2 devices.
• U---The reference point between NT1 devices and line-termination
equipment in the carrier network. The U reference point is
relevant only in North America, where the NT1 function is not
provided by the carrier network
 ISDN Architecture

Reference points are a series of specifications that define the

connection between specific devices, depending on their
function in the end-to-end connection
ISDN Architecture
ISDN Architecture
ISDN Architecture
ISDN Architecture
ISDN Architecture
ISDN Services

ISDN BRI
 ISDN Services

ISDN Services – BRI

• Basic Rate Interface (BRI)
– Two 64 Kbps B channels, one 16 Kbps D channel, and 48 Kbps worth of framing
and synchronization.
– Available data bandwidth: 128 Kbps (2 x 64 Kbps)
– User bandwidth: 144 Kbps (128 Kbps + a 16 Kbps D channel)
– Total line capacity: 192 Kbps (144 Kbps + 48 Kbps framing)
• Each B channel can be used for separate applications
– Such as Internet and Voice
• Allows individual B channels to be aggregated together into a
Multilink channel
 ISDN Services
ISDN Services – PRI
• Primary Rate Interface (PRI)
– A PRI connection can assign various 64 Kbps channels to both
ISDN and analog modem connections
– North America and Japan – PRI service has 23 64 Kbps B
channels, one 64 Kbps D channel, and 8 Kbps of synchronization
and framing for a total bit rate of up to 1.544 Mbps (same as T1)
– Europe, Australia, and other parts of the world – PRI service has
30 64 Kbps B channels, one 64 Kbps D channel, and 64 Kbps of
framing and synchronization for a total bit rate of up to 2.048
Mbps (same as E1)
• Each B channel to be used for separate applications including
voice, data and Internet
• Multiple B channels can be Multilinked together
 ISDN Services
• Basic Access
• Basic Rate Interface (BRI)
– Two 64 Kbps B channels, one 16 Kbps D channel, and 48 Kbps worth of framing and
synchronization.
– Available data bandwidth: 128 Kbps (2 x 64 Kbps)
– User bandwidth: 144 Kbps (128 Kbps + a 16 Kbps D channel)
– Total line capacity: 192 Kbps (144 Kbps + 48 Kbps framing)

• The basic service is intended for individual users,

including residential subscribers and very small offices.
• In some cases, one or both of the B channels remain
unused. This results in a B+D or D interface, rather than
2B+D interface. However to simplify the network
implementation, the data rate at the interface remains 192
kbps.
 ISDN Services
• Primary Access
– Intended for users with greater capacity requirements,
such as offices with PBX or a LAN.
• Primary Rate Interface (PRI)
– A PRI connection can assign various 64 Kbps channels to both ISDN and analog modem
connections
– North America and Japan – PRI service has 23 64 Kbps B channels, one 64 Kbps D channel,
and 8 Kbps of synchronization and framing for a total bit rate of up to 1.544 Mbps (same as
T1)
– Europe, Australia, and other parts of the world – PRI service has 30 64 Kbps B channels, one
64 Kbps D channel, and 64 Kbps of framing and synchronization for a total bit rate of up to
2.048 Mbps (same as E1)
• It is possible for a customer with lesser requirements to employ fewer B
channels, in which case the channel structure is nB+D where n varies from 1 to
23 or 1 to 30.
• Also a customer with higher capacity requirement may be provided with more
than one primary physical interface.
 ISDN Services
• PRI also supports H channels. The following structures are recognized:
– PRI H0 channel structures:
• Supports multiple 384 kbps H0 channels.
• 3H0+D and 4H0 for 1.544 Mbps interface
• 5H0+D for 2.048 Mbps interface.
– PRI H1 channel structures
• H11 channel structure consists of one 1536 kbps H11 channel
• H12 channel structure consists of one 1920 kbps H12 channel and one D
channel.
– PRI structures for mixtures of B and H0 cannels:
These consist of zero or one D channel plus any possible combination of B and
H0 channels up to the capacity of the physical interface. (e.g. 3H0+5B D or
3H0+6B for the 1.544 Mbps interface.
 ISDN Transmission Structure

Transmission Structure
• B channels:64 Kbps
• D channels:16 or 64 Kbps
• H channels:384 (H0), 1536 (H11), or 1920
(H12) Kbps
 ISDN Transmission Structure
• B channel
– User channel used to carry digital data, PCM
encoded voice, or a mixture of lower rate traffic,
including data and voice encoded at a fraction of
64 kbps.
– Elemental unit of circuit switching is the B
channel
– Three kinds of connections:
• Circuit switched
• Packet switched
• Semi permanent
 ISDN Transmission Structure
• D channel
– It serves two main purposes:
– It carries common-channel signaling information
to control circuit-switched calls on associated B
channels at the user interface.
– It may also be used for packet-switching at low-
speed (100 bps) telemetry at times when no
signaling information is waiting.
ISDN Transmission Structure

• H channels
– Provided for user information at higher bit
rates.
– The user may use such a channel as a high
speed trunk or sub-divide the channel
according to the user’s own TDM scheme.
– E.g. fast facsimile, video, high speed data, high
quality audio,
 ISDN Transmission Structure

B channel (64 kbps) D channel

• Digital voice • Signaling
– 64 kbps PCM – Basic
– Low bit rate (32 kbps) – Enhanced
• High speed data • Low-speed data
– Circuit switched – Videotext
– Packet switched – Teletext
• Other – Terminal
– Facsimile, • Telemetry
– Slow scan video – Emergency services
– Energy management
 ISDN Uses

• Remote Access (Telecommuters)

• Remote Nodes (Voice and Data)
• SOHO Connectivity (Small
Branches)
 ISDN Uses
Remote Access (Telecommuters)
 ISDN Uses
Remote Nodes (Voice and Data)
 ISDN Uses
SOHO Connectivity(Small Branches)
 ISDN Connections

• Narrowband ISDN provides six types of

service for end-to-end communication:
– Circuit switched calls over a B or H channel
– Semi permanent connections over a B or H
channel
– Packet switched calls over a B or H channel
– Packet switched calls over a D channel
– Frame relay calls over a B or D channel
– Frame relay calls over a D channel
 ISDN Addressing

• The numbering scheme for ISDN should be

based on the following requirements:
– It should be easily understood and used by the
subscriber.
– It should be compatible with the existing and
planned switching equipment.
– It should allow for expansion of the size of the
subscriber population.
– It should facilitate interworking with existing
public network numbering schemes
 ISDN Addressing
ISDN address structure
• ITU-T makes a distinction between a
number and an address.
• An ISDN number is one that relates to
the ISDN network and ISDN numbering
plan.
• An ISDN address comprises the ISDN
number and any additional addressing
information
 ISDN Addressing

ISDN address
TE

TE NT2 NT1

TE
Single ISDN number
 ISDN Addressing

Country National ISDN Subscriber ISDN Sub address

code Destination code number (max 40 digits)

National ISDN
number

international ISDN
number

ISDN address
(max 55 digits)
 ISDN Layers

ISDN and the OSI Reference Model

• The ISDN Physical Layer

• The ISDN Data Link Layer
• The ISDN Network Layer
 ISDN Physical Layer
Physical layer functions (at reference point S or T)
– encoding of digital data for transmission across the
interface
– full-duplex transmission of B channel data
– full-duplex of transmission of D channel data
– multiplexing of channels to form basic or primary access
– activation and deactivation of physical circuit
– power feeding from network termination to the terminal
– terminal identification
– faulty terminal isolation
– D channel contention access (for multipoint
configuration in basic)
 ISDN Physical Layer
• Layer 1 specification is defined in I.430
• Key aspects of basic interface (supports
a 2B+D at 192 kbps)
– Line coding
– Physical connector
– Framing and multiplexing
– Contention resolution for multi drop
configurations
 ISDN Physical Layer
Line Coding
• full-duplex digital data transmission
(one line for each direction)
• no echo cancellation or time-compression
multiplexing needed
• use of pseudoternary coding scheme
– “1”: absence of voltage
– “0”: a positive or negative pulse of 750
mV ± 10%
– data rate is 192 kbps
 Primary Rate User-Network Interface

• Interface at 2.048 Mbps (defined in ITU-T G.704

recommendation)
• 256-bit frames (32X8), 8000 f/s, each channel supports 64
kbps
• supporting 30 B + 1 D channels (or 31 B + combination of
H channels)
• line coding is AMI using HDB3
 U Interface

• ANSI T1.601 standard for U interface supporting basic rate ISDN

access
• two 64-kbps B and one 16-kbps D channels multiplexed an 160
interface
• frames of 240 bits, at 160 kbps, repeated one frame every 1.5 ms
– Synchronization word: for receiver synchronization (18 bits)
– User data:12 groups of 18 bits carry B and D channel data
– M channel: a 4-kbps channel for maintenance and other purposes
• line coding is 2B1Q (two binary, one quaternary) coding
– more efficiency in use of bandwidth each signal element
representing two bits
– using 4 different voltage levels
Basic rate interface comparison of physical
layer standards
Data Link Layer
 Link Access Protocol–D Channel

• All traffic over D channel uses LAPD defined in Q.921.

• LAPD service will support
– multiple terminals at the user-network installation
– multiple layer 3 entities (e.g., X.25 level 3, Q.931)
• Two types of service to LAPD users by LAPD standard
– unacknowledged information-transfer service
– acknowledged information-transfer service
 Link Access Protocol–D Channel

unacknowledged information-transfer service

• does not guarantee delivery of data nor inform of failure
• no flow control, no error control mechanism
• supports both point-to-point and broadcast
• fast data transfer, e.g. management procedures (alarm messages)
acknowledged information-transfer service
• more common, similar to service of LAPB and HDLC
• three phases of connection establishment between two users
– connection establishment
– data transfer
– connection termination
• guarantee of frame delivery in the order of transmission
 Link Access Protocol–D Channel

• Two types of LAPD operation corresponding to two types

of service
• unacknowledged operation: layer 3 information is
transferred in unnumbered frames, error detection, no
error or flow control
• acknowledged operation: layer 3 information is
transferred in frames with sequence numbers and
acknowledged, with error and flow control, also referred
to as multiple-frame operation
• two types of operation may coexist on a single D channel
 Link Access Protocol–D Channel

• Frame Structure
• Flag Fields
• a unique pattern of
01111110 to
delimit the frame
at both ends
• using bit stuffing
to allows the
presence of
arbitrary patterns
 Link Access Protocol–D Channel

• Address Field
• a two-part address for dealing with two levels of multiplexing
– multiple user devices sharing the same physical interface
– multiple types of traffic within each user device (PS data and cont.)
* Terminal endpoint identifier (TEI)
– given to each user device manually or automatically
* Service access point identifier (SAPI)
– corresponds to a layer 3 protocol entity within a user device
• SAPI values are unique within a TEI
• SAPI and TEI together identify a logical connection DLCI at any time, LAPD
may maintain multiple logical connection, each with a unique DLCI one log.
connec. per a layer 3 entity
• Command/response (C/R) bit shows the type of LAPD message
Link Access Protocol–D Channel
 Link Access Protocol–D Channel

• Control Field
• three types of frames and three different control field
– Information-transfer frames (I-frames)
• carrying data to be transmitted for user
• piggybacked of flow- and error-control data using go-back-N ARQ
• Supervisory frames (S-frames)
providing ARQ mechanism
• Unnumbered frames (U-frames)
• providing supplemental link-control functions
• supporting unacknowledged operation
• poll/final (P/F) bit
– P=1: solicit a response frame from the peer LAPD entity
– F=1 in response frame indicating the response frame transmission
• Information Field
• presents only in I-frames and some unnumbered frames
• max length of information field specified in Q.921=260 bytes
• Frame-Check Sequence Field
• • an error-detecting code for all field except flags using CRC
 Link Access Protocol–D Channel

• Three phases in acknowledged operation

• Connection Establishment
– requested by either network or subscriber by sending a SABME (Set
Asynchronous Balanced Mode Extended) frame (used in HDLC)
• – SABME contains TEI and SAPI of the layer 3 of requested entity
• – replied by a UA or DM frame to confirm or reject the request
• Data Transfer
– sending I-frames with N(S) and N(R) fields in modulo 128
– flow- and error-control, sliding window FC and go-back-N ARQ EC
• Disconnect
– by sending a DISC frame which replied by a UA frame
 Link Access Protocol–D Channel

• Frame-Reject Frame (FRMR)

• indicating an improper frame reception because
of
– receipt of an undefined or not implemented control
field
– receipt of an S-frame or U-frame with incorrect
length
– receipt of an invalid N(R)
– receipt of an I-frame with a too long information
field
• The FRMR effect is to abort the connection.
 Terminal Adaption

• During transition period, existing ISDN-incompatible data

communication devices can use a terminal adapter (TA).
• TA function id to map a non-ISDN terminal to an ISDN interface.
• Functions that performed in this mapping are:
– Rate adaption: mapping low data stream into 64 kbps
– Signaling conversion: mapping signaling protocol into Q.931
– X.25 conversion: converting functions of non-ISDN X.25 devices to operate on
the B and/or D channels
– Physical interface conversion: mapping non-ISDN interface onto ISDN’s twp
twisted pairs at the S or T interface
– Digitization: analog-to-digital conversion for analog devices
 Terminal Adaption

• Rate Adaption
• It is desirable to have devices at data rates < 64 on B
channel
– much existing equipment operates at data rates less than 64
kbps
– having advantages of multiplexing
• ISDN is circuit-switched: all subchannels are on a single circuit
• one B channel for fax and PC (multiplexed) and one B channel for
phone
• Rate adaption: to adapt a terminal with < 64 to a data rate
of 64
– For rates of 8, 16, or 32 kbps, simple bit positioning technique
is used.
Network Layer
Network Layer
Network Layer
Network Layer
Network Layer
Network Layer
Network Layer
BROADBAND ISDN
 Broadband Integrated Services Digital Networks

• In the mid-1980s, the ITU-T (formerly CCITT)

initiated a standardization effort to merge voice,
video and data on a single network.

• The goal was to replace all existing networks

(telephony networks, Cable TV network, data
networks) with a single network infrastructure.
• The effort was called B-ISDN (Broadband
Integrated Services Digital Networks)

• The technology selected for B-ISDN was

Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) and
SONET/SDH (Synchronous Optical
Network/Synchronous Digital Hierarchy)
Broadband Integrated Services Digital Networks

Telephone network Company

B
Company
A
Data network

Video network Residential

user
x

Traditional Network
Infrastructure
Broadband
Broadband Integrated
Integrated Services
Services Networks
Digital Networks

Company
B
Company Broadband
A Integrated Services
Network
(B-ISDN)

Residential
user
x
 Broadband
Broadband Integrated
Integrated Services
Services Networks
Digital Networks

• B-ISDN is based on ATM as the backbone technology.

• B-ISDN: broadband ISDN.
– ISDN: digital circuit between source and destination.
– Broadband: 155 Mbps transfer rate.
∗ Video on demand, interactive TV, CD-quality audio, . .
• ATM: Asynchronous Transfer Mode.
– Asynchronous: no master clock signal (unlike SONET).
– Packet-switched technology.
– Can simulate circuits very well.
∗ QoS: Quality of Service control.
∗ Guaranteed bit rates and delays.
– 155 Mbps and 622 Mbps.
Broadband Integrated Services Digital Networks

Issues Driving LAN Changes

• Traffic Integration
– Voice, video and data traffic
– Multimedia became the ‘buzz word’
• One-way batch Web traffic
• Two-way batch voice messages
• One-way interactive Mbone broadcasts
• Two-way interactive video conferencing
• Quality of Service guarantees (e.g. limited
jitter, non-blocking streams)
• LAN Interoperability
• Mobile and Wireless nodes
Broadband Integrated Services Digital Networks

Stallings “High-Speed Networks”

Broadband Integrated Services Digital Networks

Stallings “High-Speed Networks”

 Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)

Voice
Data
packets MUX

Wasted bandwidth
Images

TDM
4 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 4 3 2 1

ATM `
4 3 1 3 2 2 1
 Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)
ATM
• ATM standard (defined by CCITT) is widely
accepted by common carriers as mode of
operation for communication – particularly
BISDN.
• ATM is a form of cell switching using small
fixed-sized packets.
Basic ATM Cell Format
5 Bytes 48 Bytes

Header Payload
 Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)

ATM Conceptual Model

Four Assumptions
1. ATM network will be organized as a
hierarchy.
User’s equipment connects to networks via a UNI
(User-Network Interface).
Connections between provided networks are made
through NNI (Network-Network Interface).
2. ATM will be connection-oriented.
A connection (an ATM channel) must be
established before any cells are sent.
 Private ATM
network
Private
UNI
X X

Private
NNI Public ATM
X
network A

X X

NNI
Public X
UNI
B-ICI Public ATM
network B
X

Public
UNI
X X

Figure 9.5
 Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)

ATM Connections
• two levels of ATM connections:
virtual path connections
virtual channel connections
• indicated by two fields in the cell
header:
virtual path identifier VPI
virtual channel identifier VCI
Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)

Virtual Paths

Physical Link

Virtual Channels

ATM Virtual Connections

 Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)

ATM Conceptual Model

Assumptions
3. Vast majority of ATM networks will run
on optical fiber networks with
extremely low error rates.
4. ATM must support low cost
attachments.
• This decision lead to a significant decision –
to prohibit cell reordering in ATM
networks.
 ATM switch design is more difficult.
 UNI Cell Format
GFC (4 bits) VPI (4 bits)
VPI (4 bits) VCI (4 bits)
ATM cell VCI (8 bits)
header CLP
VCI (4 bits) PT (3 bits) (1 bit)

HEC (8 bits)

Payload
(48 bytes)
 ATM Cell Switching
1
Switch voice 67 1
…

video 67 2
video 25 voice 32 25 N 75
5
32 1 67 data 39 3
32 3 39
6 data 32 video 61

…
61 2 67
…

N video 75 N
 VP3 a
VP5
a
b ATM ATM
c ATM ATM b
Sw DCC Sw Sw c
d 1 2 3
e

VP2

VP1
ATM d
Sw = switch Sw e
4

Digital Cross Connect

Only switches virtual paths
 Voice ATM Adaptation Layers

A/D AAL
s1 , s2 … cells
Digital voice samples

Video

A/D … Compression AAL

cells
compressed
picture frames
frames

Data AAL
Bursty variable-length cells
packets
 PROTOCOL REFERENCE MODEL

Control User Plane

Plane
Higher Layers Higher Layers

ATM Adaptation Layer

ATM Layer
Management
Plane
Physical Layer
B-ISDN COMPARED WITH OSI
MODEL
CBR VBR ABR UBR Signaling
Network Layer
ATM Adaptation Layer
Link Layer
ATM Layer

Physical Layer
Physical Layer
 User User
information information

AAL AAL

ATM ATM ATM ATM

PHY PHY PHY PHY

…
End system Network End system
 ATM Architecture
An AAL is further divided into:
The Convergence Sublayer (CS)
manages the flow of data to and from SAR sublayer.

The Segmentation and Reassembly Sublayer

(SAR)
breaks data into cells at the sender and reassembles
cells into larger data units at the receiver.
Revised ATM Architecture
Revised ATM Service Categories
Class Description Example

CBR Constant Bit Rate T1 circuit

RT-VBR Real Time Variable Bit Real-time

Rate videoconferencing
NRT-VBR Non-real-time Variable Bit Multimedia email
Rate
ABR Available Bit Rate Browsing the Web

UBR Unspecified Bit Rate Background file

transfer
 QoS, PVC, and SVC
• Quality of Service (QoS) requirements
are handled at connection time and
viewed as part of signaling.
• ATM provides permanent virtual
connections and switched virtual
connections.
– Permanent Virtual Connections (PVC)
permanent connections set up
manually by network manager.
– Switched Virtual Connections (SVC)
set up and released on demand by the end
user via signaling procedures.
 B-ISDN SERVICES

• Interactive Services
 Conversational Services
 Messaging Services
 Retrieval Services
• Distributive Services
 No User Control of Presentation
 User Controlled Presentation
 APPLICATIONS
• Enhanced Phone Services
• Customer Premise Equipment
• High Speed Data Transfers
• Telemessaging
• Videotex
• Tele-conferencing
• Telecontrol, Telepolling
• Tele-financing
• Online Services
• Remote Video Surveillance
Signaling System #7
 Types of Signalling

Signaling in Telecommunications
Network
•Channel Associated Signaling (CAS)
•Common Channel Signaling (CCS)

Signaling System Number (SS7) is a

form of Common Channel Signaling.
 Types of Signalling

Channel Associated Signaling (CAS)

• Used for In-Band Signaling
• Signaling is transmitted in the same
frequency band as used by voice.
• Voice path is established when the
call setup is complete, using the same
path that the call setup signals used.
 Types of Signalling
Common Channel Signaling
• Out of Band signaling
• Employs separate, dedicated path for
signaling.
• Voice trunks are used only when a
connection is established, not before.
• Faster Call Setup.
Voice Trunks

Switch Switch
A B
Signaling Link
 Types of Signalling

Advantage of CCS over CAS

• Faster call setup
• No interference between signaling tones by
network and frequency of human speech pattern.
• Greater Trunking Efficiency:- CCS has shorter call
set up and tear down times that result in less call
holding time, thereby reducing the traffic on the
network.
• Information Transfer:- CCS allows the transfer of
additional information along with the signaling
traffic providing facilities such as caller
identification and voice or data identification
 SS7 Introduction

• CCITT developed a digital signaling standard called

Signaling System 6
• SS6 was based on Packet-Switched, proprietary
data network.
– Uses 2.4 Kbps data links to send packets of data
to distant switches to request service.
• SS7 began deployment in 1983, was initially used
for inter office network, but now it is deployed in
local central offices.
• Provide a global standard for call setup, routing,
control and database access.
 SS7 Introduction

• Out of band Signaling

• Higher Signaling data rates (56Kbps & 64 Kbps)
• Signaling traffic is bursty and of short duration,
hence operates in connectionless mode using
packet switching
• Variable length signal units with maximum size
limitation
• Optimum use of bandwidth
• Reliability and flexibility
SS7 Protocol Stack

OSI SS7
 SS7 Protocol Stack

Message Transfer Part (MTP Level 1)

Physical

• Provides an interface to the actual physical

channel over which communication takes place
• CCITT recommends 64Kbps transmission whereas
ANSI recommends 56 Kbps
 SS7 Protocol Stack

MTP Level 2 (Data Link)

• Ensures accurate end-to-end transmission of a

message across a signaling link
• Variable Length Packet Messages are defined here
• Implements flow control, message sequence
validation, error checking and message
retransmission
• Monitor links and reports their status
• Test links before allowing their use
• Provides sequence numbers for outgoing messages
 SS7 Protocol Stack

MTP Level 3 (Network)

• Message routing between signaling points in the

SS7 network
• Signaling network management that provides
traffic, links and routing management, as well as
congestion (flow) control
• Re-routes traffic away from failed links and
signaling points, controls traffic when congestion
occurs
 SS7 Protocol Stack

Signaling Connection Control Part (SCCP)

• Provides connectionless and connection-

oriented network services
• Provides global title translation (GTT)
capabilities above MTP level 3; translates
numbers to DPCs (Destination point codes) and
subsystem numbers
• Provides more detailed addressing information
than MTPs
• Used as transport layer for TCAP (Transaction
capabilities applications part) based services
 SS7 Protocol Stack

Transaction Capabilities Applications Part (TCAP)

• Exchange of non-circuit related data

– Between applications across the SS#7 network
– Using the SCCP service
• Queries and responses sent between Signaling Switching
Point (SSPs) and Signaling Control Point (SCPs)
• Sends and receives database information
– Credit card validation
– Routing information
 SS7 Protocol Stack

Telephone User Part (TUP)

• Basic call setup and tear down
• In many countries, ISUP has replaced TUP for
call management

ISDN User Part (ISUP)

• Necessary messaging for setup and tear down
of all circuits (voice and digital)
• Messages are sent from a switch, to the
switch where the next circuit connection is
required
• Call circuits are identified using circuit
identification code (CIC)
SS7 Networks

STP
STP

STP

STP

STP
SS7 Networks
 SS7 Networks

SS7 Components
 SS7 Networks

Service switching point (SSP)

– SSPs are switches that have SS7 software and
terminating signaling links
– SSPs create packets (signal units) and send
those messages to other SSPs, as well as
queries to remote shared databases to find out
how to route calls
– SSPs communicate with the voice switch via the
use of primitives and have the ability to send
messages using ISUP (call setup and teardown)
and TCAP (database lookup) protocols.
– The switch can originate, terminate, or switch
calls
 SS7 Networks
Signaling transfer point (STP)
–STPs are packet switches, and act like routers in the SS7
network.
–Routes each incoming message to an outgoing signaling
link, based on routing information contained in the SS#7
message and a pre-defined route table
–Does not offer termination services
–STPs are paired to ensure redundancy
There are three levels of STPs.
•National Signal Transfer Point
•International Signal Transfer Point
•Gateway Signal Transfer Point
 SS7 Networks

STP Levels

SSP SSP
ITU-TS
INTERNATIONAL
STP

GATEWAY
STP

NATIONAL STP
ANSI
SSP SSP
 SS7 Networks

National STP exists within the national network

• Protocol converters often interconnect a National and an
International STP by converting from ANSI to ITU-TS.
International STP functions within an international network.
• All nodes connecting to an International STP must use the
ITU-TS protocol standard.
Gateway STP converts signaling data from one protocol to
another.
• Gateway STPs are often used as an access point to the
international network.
• Depending on its location, the Gateway STP must be able to
use both the International and National protocol standards.
 SS7 Networks

Service control point (SCP)

– An SCP is usually a computer used as a front end to a
database system.
– It is an interface to application-specific databases.
– The address of an SCP is a point code, and the address of
the database it interfaces with is a subsystem number.
– The database is an application entity which is accessed
via the TCAP protocol.
– Databases that provides information necessary for
advanced call processing capabilities
– Accepts a query for information from a subsystem at
another node
– Used by STP to perform a function called global title
translation
 SS7 Networks

Databases Accessible via SCP

Home Location Used in cellular networks to store
HLR Register subscriber information.
Local Number Allows people to change service
LNP Portability providers but keep their same
telephone number

Operation Associated with remote maintenance

OSS Support System center for monitoring and managing
SS7 and voice networks.

Visitor Location Used when a cell phone is not

VLR Register recognized by the mobile switching
center (MSC).
 SS7 Networks

SS7 Signaling Links

• 3 types:
– Associated
– Nonassociated
– Quasi-associated
• All have to deal with how many packet
switches and voice switches that are
used.
 SS7 Networks

SS7 Signaling Links

• Associated:
– There is a static 1 to 1 correspondence to
the voice lines and the signaling packet
line.
– This occurs when 23 lines of a T1 are used
to carry voice and the 24th is used to carry
the SS7 signaling.
– The most wasteful method by far as the
packet channel can often sit empty.
 SS7 Networks

SS7 Signaling Links

• Nonassociated:
– The voice path is completely separate from
the signaling path.
– Many nodes (STPs) must be passed through
before the call routing signal is passed to
the correct place.
– Very often used.
 SS7 Networks

SS7 Signaling Links

• Quasi-associated:
– Reduces the number of STPs that the signaling
information must be transported through.
– Requires much more cabling, but it can be much
faster.
– The signal is only allowed to pass through 1 STP
between the voice switches.
 SS7 Networks

SS7 Signal Links

• Each type of link is given a different name
in the architecture depending on what it
does.
– The names are labeled A through F.
– For example, a C link is the link that occurs
between a mated pair of STPs.
• These designations just help us to manage
what type of links we are looking at on the
network.
 SS7 Networks

SS7 Link Types

STP

STP
STP STP
STP

STP STP STP

SS7 Networks
 SS7 Networks
SS7 Link Types
A link (access) Connects signaling end point (SCP or SSP) to STP

B link (bridge) Connects an STP to another STP; typically, a quad of B

links interconnect peer (or primary) STPs (STPs from a
network connect to STPs of another network)
C link (cross) Connects STPs performing identical functions, forming a
mated pair (for greater reliability)
D link (diagonal) Connects a secondary (local or regional) STP pair to a
primary (inter-network gateway) STP pair in a quad-link
configuration; the distinction between B and D links is
arbitrary
E link (extended) Connects an SSP to an alternate STP

F link Connects two signaling end points (SSPs and SCPs) in the
(fully associated) same local network
 Basic call set up in SS7

15

2 6,10

1 5
13
9
 Basic call set up in SS7

ISUP Messages
• Initial address message (IAM): contains all necessary
information for a switch to establish a connection
• Address complete message (ACM): acknowledge to IAM; the
required circuit is reserved and the “phone is ringing” (ring
back tone)
• Answer message (ANM): occurs when the called party picks
up the phone
• Release (REL): sent by the switch sensing that the phone
hung up
• Release complete (RLC): each exchange that receives REL,
sends an RLC message back (this acknowledges receipt of
REL)