SS7 Protocol
Overview
Table of Contents
SS7 Protocol Stack 5
MTP 1 7
MTP 2 8
MTP 3 14
SCCP 16
TCAP 17
ISUP 18
ISUP vs. ISDN vs. QSIG 19
TUP 22
TUP vs. ISUP 23
Examples 24
Summary 33
Review Questions 34
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SS7 Protocol Stack
Protocol - set of rules for data transmission over a
network
Independent “layers” or levels with different
responsibilities
Physical - “bottom” layer; DS0 or v.35
Data link - reliable communications between 2 nodes
Network - message routing
User parts/application parts - e.g. database transactions, call
setup and teardown
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SS7 Protocol Stack
GSM
INAP MAP BSS
AP ISUP TUP
TCAP
SCCP
MTP Layer 3
MTP Layer 2
MTP Layer 1
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MTP 1 (Physical Layer)
GSM
INAP MAP BSS
AP ISUP TUP
TCAP
SCCP
MTP Layer 3
MTP Layer 2
MTP Layer 1
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MTP 2 (Data Link Layer)
GSM
INAP MAP BSS
AP ISUP TUP
TCAP
SCCP
MTP Layer 3
MTP Layer 2
MTP Layer 1
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MTP 2 Messages: Signal Units
An SS7 message is typically referred to as a Signal
Unit.
There are three types of Signal Units:
Fill In Signal Unit (FISU)
Link Status Signal Unit (LSSU)
Message Signal Unit (MSU)
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Signal Unit Fields
Field # Bits Description FISU LSSU MSU
FLAG 8 Start/End Indicator
BSN 7 Backward Sequence Number
BIB 1 Backward Indictor Bit
FSN 7 Forward Sequence Number
FIB 1 Forward Indicator Bit
LI 6 Length Indicator
Spare 2 Spare field
SF 8 Status Field
SIO 8 Service Indicator Octet
SIF 3-272 Service Information Field
octets
FCS 16 Frame Check Sequence
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Fill In Signal Unit (FISU)
FISUs are sent when there is no traffic from the MTP3
and upper layers (no payload to be delivered)
FISUs are also used to acknowledge reception of a
Message Signal Unit (MSU)
FCS LI FIB FSN BIB BSN Flag
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Link Status Signal Unit (LSSU)
The LSSU describes the status of the signaling link
on which it is carried
FCS SF LI FIB FSN BIB BSN Flag
SF (8 or 16 bits) = Status Field
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Message Signal Unit (MSU)
The MSU provides the structure for transmitting
information messages coming from MTP3 and the
upper layers (ISUP, TUP, SCCP, TCAP…)
FCS SIF SIO LI FIB FSN BIB BSN Flag
SIF (3 to 272 octets) = Service Information Field
SIO (8 bits) = Service Indicator Octet SSF (4 bits) = SubService Field
SI (4 bits) = Service Indicator
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MTP 3 (Network Layer)
GSM
INAP MAP BSS
AP ISUP TUP
TCAP
SCCP
MTP Layer 3
MTP Layer 2
MTP Layer 1
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MTP 3 Routing Label
Signaling Information Field SIO
SS7 MSU
SIF Field User Specific Information Routing Label
Signaling Link Origination Destination
Routing Label Selector Point Code Point Code
Point Code ‘x’ ‘y’ ‘z’
Structure
See Notes view for Point Code Structure specifics
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SCCP (Signaling Connection
Control Part)
GSM
INAP MAP BSS
AP ISUP TUP
TCAP
SCCP
MTP Layer 3
MTP Layer 2
MTP Layer 1
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TCAP (Transaction Capabilities
Application Part)
GSM
INAP MAP BSS
AP ISUP TUP
TCAP
SCCP
MTP Layer 3
MTP Layer 2
MTP Layer 1
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ISUP (ISDN User Part)
GSM
INAP MAP BSS
AP ISUP TUP
TCAP
SCCP
MTP Layer 3
MTP Layer 2
MTP Layer 1
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ISUP Messages
All ISUP messages contain
A standard MTP-3 routing label
Originating Point Code (OPC)
Destination Point Code (DPC)
Signaling Link Selector (SLS)
A Circuit Identification Code (CIC) which identifies the voice
circuit (unique between two SSPs) affected by the message
A message type code that identifies the function and the
format of the rest of the message
Routing Message
CIC Information Elements
Label Type
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Example - ISUP Call
Establishment
SS7
DPC = 1.1.2 STP Network
OPC = 1.1.1 STP STP
MTP
SLS = 0
SCP
INITIAL STP STP
ADDRESS ISUP
508 555-
1333
Calling NBR
CIC = 22
SSP 1 Transit SSP 2
Circuit 22 SSP
1.1.1 1.1.2 1.1.3 555-1333
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Example - ISUP Call
Establishment
SS7
STP Network
STP STP
SCP
STP STP
DPC = 1.1.2
OPC = 1.1.1
MTP
SLS = 0
INITIAL
ADDRESS ISUP
508 555-1333
Calling NBR
CIC = 22
SSP 1 Transit SSP 2
Circuit 22 SSP
1.1.1 1.1.2 1.1.3 555-1333
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Example - ISUP Call
Establishment
SS7
STP Network
STP STP
SCP
STP STP
DPC = 1.1.3
OPC = 1.1.2 MTP
SLS = 0
INITIAL
ADDRESS ISUP
508 555-1333
Calling NBR
CIC = 7
SSP 1 Transit SSP 2
Circuit 22 SSP Circuit 7
1.1.1 1.1.2 1.1.3 555-1333
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Example - ISUP Call
Establishment
SS7
STP Network DPC = 1.1.3
STP STP OPC = 1.1.2 MTP
SLS = 0
SCP
STP STP INITIAL ISUP
ADDRESS
508 555-1333
Calling NBR
CIC = 7
SSP 1 Transit SSP 2
Circuit 22 SSP Circuit 7
1.1.1 1.1.2 1.1.3 555-1333
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Example - ISUP Call
Establishment
SS7
DPC = 1.1.1 STP Network DPC = 1.1.2
OPC = 1.1.2 STP STP OPC = 1.1.3 MTP
MTP
SLS = 0 SLS = 0
SCP
STP STP ISUP
ADDRESS ADDRESS
COMPLETE ISUP COMPLETE
CIC = 22 CIC = 7
DPC = 1.1.1 DPC = 1.1.2
OPC = 1.1.2 MTP MTP
OPC = 1.1.3
SLS = 0 SLS = 0
ADDRESS ISUP
ADDRESS ISUP
COMPLETE
COMPLETE CIC = 7
CIC = 22
SSP 1 Transit SSP 2
Circuit 22 SSP Circuit 7
1.1.1 1.1.2 1.1.3 555-1333
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Example - ISUP Call
Establishment
SS7
DPC = 1.1.1 STP Network DPC = 1.1.2
OPC = 1.1.2 STP STP OPC = 1.1.3 MTP
MTP
SLS = 0 SLS = 0
SCP
STP STP ANSWER ISUP
ANSWER
CIC = 22 ISUP CIC = 7
DPC = 1.1.1 DPC = 1.1.2
OPC = 1.1.2 MTP OPC = 1.1.3 MTP
SLS = 0 SLS = 0
ISUP ISUP
ANSWER ANSWER
CIC = 22 CIC = 7
SSP 1 Transit SSP 2
Circuit 22 SSP Circuit 7
1.1.1 1.1.2 1.1.3 555-1333
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Example - TCAP 800# Routing
Global Title Translation
Global Title Point Code SubSys #
: :
800 1.1.3 6 SCP
STP 1.1.3
: MTP
: SCCP
1.1.2
Begin
Trans ID = A TCAP
Invoke
Invoke ID = 1
SSP
APPL
Number Transl.
800 555-6120
1.1.1
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Example - TCAP 800# Routing
Global Title Translation
Global Title Point Code SubSys #
: :
800 1.1.3 6 SCP
STP 1.1.3
: MTP
: SCCP
1.1.2
End
Trans ID = A TCAP
Return Result
Respons: Inv. ID 1
SSP
APPL
508 555-1333
1.1.1
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