Implementing

SS7 Signaling Solutions

Jon Mechling, Director, Product Management, NMS
Dan Rothschild, Director of Engineering,
SS7 and Protocols, NMS

Agenda
z SS7 overview
z NMSs SS7 products
SS7 software
TX 4000(C)
TX 4000/20(C) replacement for TX 3220(C)
Carrier-grade feature details
Passive monitoring feature details

z Global interoperability
z Upcoming enhancements

www.nmscommunications.com

Slide 2

SS7 and Enhanced Services in

Wireline Networks
Enhanced Services
Voice Rec 411
Call Centers (411, 611,
911, Operators)
Equal Access (IXC)

POTS

SCP

SCP

STP

STP

IMT

Tandem

Enhanced Services
800 numbers
LNP
Prepaid
Follow-me
Etc.

POTS

LE

IMT

PRI

PRI
PBX
PBX

IMT
LE

Enhanced Services
Call Centers
IVR
Auto-attendant with voice rec
Voicemail
Calling number display
www.nmscommunications.com

IMT

IMT
Tandem

Tandem

Circuit
Switched

Voice Channels
SS7
Slide 3

ISDN PRI
1 or 2 dedicated
signalling channels
Enhanced Services
Voicemail
Prepaid

- Network Elements with NMS technology

SS7 and Enhanced Services in

Wireless Networks
Enhanced Services
Voicemail with
SMS notification
Voice portals
Etc.

Enhanced Services
Short Message
Service

SMS-C

SS7
MSC
MS
BSC

HLR

BTS

VLR
Enhanced Services
Pre-paid

www.nmscommunications.com

Enhanced Services
Mobility
Management
Location based
Slide 4

- Network Elements with NMS technology

Voice Channels
SS7 or Signalling

SS7 in Next-Generation Networks

Signaling
Gateway

IP Network
SCP

SS7

SIGTRAN
Media Server

Softswitch

SIP/H323

PSTN

STP

MGCP/MEGACO
TDM
SSP

www.nmscommunications.com

RTP/IP

RTP/IP

Media
Gateway

Slide 5

- Network Elements with NMS technology

Media
Gateway

Numerous Customer Applications

Enabled by NMSs SS7 Offerings
z Service nodes and intelligent peripherals
z Network databases (e.g., Service Control Points)
z Switch-enabled peripherals
z Gateways
z Test equipment
z Mobile switching centers
z In-building wireless network connectivity
z Network presence/location based services

www.nmscommunications.com

Slide 6

SS7 Software Protocol Stacks

z ISUP / TUP

Application
Application

Set up and tear down calls

z MAP, CAMEL, INAP

WIN
WIN

CAMEL
CAMEL

INAP
INAP

GSM MAP
MAP
GSM

ANSI -- 41
41
ANSI

Enhanced wireless and

wireline services

z TCAP
ISUP

TUP
TUP

TCAP

Database look-up for

Intelligent Networking

z SCCP
Subsystem routing

SCCP
SCCP

z MTP3
Routing of messages

MTP
MTP Layer
Layer 1/2/3
1/2/3

z MTP2
Accurate end-to-end
transmission

T1, E1

z MTP1
Physical layer (E1, T1, )

www.nmscommunications.com

Slide 7

Sample ISUP and TUP Applications

z Voicemail systems
z Debit card centers
z Intelligent peripherals
z Personalized ringback tones
z Anything in the network that needs to accept/make
telephone calls

www.nmscommunications.com

Slide 8

Sample TCAP-Based Applications

z Enhanced 800, Freephone services
z Alternate billing systems (e.g., calling card
validation)
z Local number portability
z One Number/Follow Me
z Wireless HLR/VLR databases
z Intelligent call routing (e.g., geographically
distributed ACDs)
z Anything in the network that needs to look up
information before connecting calls
www.nmscommunications.com

Slide 9

Sample MAP/INAP Applications

z MAP/ANSI41/CAMEL
Automatic roaming and system hand-off
Short Message Service
Group calls, broadcast calls
Position location-based services
Incoming call screening

z INAP
Local Number Portability
Calling Name Delivery
IVR systems
Call center solutions

www.nmscommunications.com

Slide 10

Agenda
z SS7 overview
z NMSs SS7 products
SS7 software
TX 4000(C)
TX 4000/20(C) replacement for TX 3220(C)
Carrier-grade feature details
Passive monitoring feature details

z Global interoperability
z Upcoming enhancements

www.nmscommunications.com

Slide 11

SS7 Software Protocol Stacks

z Board-level APIs available

Application
Application

WIN
WIN

CAMEL
CAMEL

INAP
INAP

GSM/UMTS
GSM/UMTS
MAP
MAP

ANSI -- 41
41
ANSI

ISUP, TUP, TCAP, SCCP

MTP 1/2/3
Passive monitoring
ISUP

TUP
TUP

TCAP
SCCP
SCCP

z Host-level APIs
ANSI41, GSM/UMTS MAP,
INAP, CAMEL, WIN

z Operating systems
Solaris (SPARC and x86)
Windows
Red Hat Linux

MTP
MTP Layer
Layer 1/2/3
1/2/3

T1, E1
NMS-provided runs on host processor
NMS-provided runs on TX board

www.nmscommunications.com

Slide 12

NMSs SS7 Software Version 4.2

z MTP, ISUP, TUP, SCCP and TCAP protocols
z Point code sharing between two TX boards
Board-level support of link redundancy
MTP3/ISUP/SCCP/TCAP/TUP
Both MTP2 layers active

z
z
z
z

Supports multiple point codes on one board

Configuration of signaling link locations without re-boot
Passive monitoring
Global Messaging Toolkit (ISUP)
Allows extension of ITU, ETSI, and ANSI standards

z Rich set of application demo programs

z Compatible with Natural Access 2005-1
z Competitively-priced licensing options
www.nmscommunications.com

Slide 13

Application Part Protocol Layers

z GSM/UMTS MAP, ANSI-41D, WIN, CAMEL, INAP
z Supports broad range of new IN services, wireless
and wireline
z Dramatically simplifies processing of ASN.1
formatted TCAP messages
Host-based encode/decode of ASN.1 messages
Binary libraries, C/C++ API

z Sample applications included

z Available now

www.nmscommunications.com

Slide 14

TX 4000 Series

www.nmscommunications.com

Slide 15

TX 4000 and TX 4000/20

PCI and cPCI Boards
z PCI
4 trunks
H.100 bus connector

z cPCI
Rear panel I/O with 8 trunks
Hot swap support
H.110 bus connection

z Software-configurable trunks for T1 or E1

z Full node-level redundancy
Dual Ethernet ports

z High-impedance configuration for passive monitoring

www.nmscommunications.com

Slide 16

TX 4000 and TX 4000C

z High-performance processing
Over 6 times greater than TX 3220

z 4, 16 or 32 signaling links
z Software-selectable T1 or E1 (120 ohm) trunks
PCI: 4 trunks
CompactPCI: 8 trunks

www.nmscommunications.com

Slide 17

TX 4000/20 and TX 4000/20C

z Value-priced SS7 boards
Throughput processing equivalent to TX 3220(C)

z Up to 16 signaling links
z Software-selectable T1 or E1 (120 ohm) trunks
PCI: 4 trunks
CompactPCI: 8 trunks

www.nmscommunications.com

Slide 18

TX Performance
z TX 4000(C)
ISUP: >800 calls/sec (based on 5 messages/call)
TUP: >1,000 calls/sec
TCAP: >1,500 transactions/sec (query + response)
Over 6 times greater than TX 3220

z TX 4000/20(C)
ISUP: 130 calls/sec (based on 5 messages/call)
TUP: 160 calls/sec
TCAP: 250 transactions/sec (query and response)

www.nmscommunications.com

Slide 19

Applications:
Host-Based Architecture
Host
SS7
SS7 Traffic
Traffic

Application
ApplicationPart
Part
Protocol
ProtocolLayers
Layers
(MAP,
(MAP,INAP,
INAP,etc.)
etc.)

TX
TX Board
Board

Application
Application
Voice
Voice Circuits
Circuits

AG
AG // CG
CG Board
Board

NMS-provided

www.nmscommunications.com

Slide 20

Applications:
Client/Server-Based Architecture
Signaling Server
Host
TX
TXBoard
Board

SS7
SS7 Traffic
Traffic

Server
Server
S/W
S/W

Application Server
Application
ApplicationPart
Part
Protocol
ProtocolLayers
Layers
(MAP,
(MAP,INAP,
INAP,etc.)
etc.)

Media Server
Voice
Voice Circuits
Circuits

AG
AG/ /CG
CGBoard
Board

Application
Application
Server
Server
S/W
S/W

Media Server
NMS-provided
Voice
Voice Circuits
Circuits

AG
AG/ /CG
CGBoard
Board

www.nmscommunications.com

Server
Server
S/W
S/W

Slide 21

Agenda
z SS7 overview
z NMSs SS7 products
SS7 software
TX 4000(C)
TX 4000/20(C) replacement for TX 3220(C)
Carrier-grade feature details
Passive monitoring feature details

z Global interoperability
z Upcoming enhancements

www.nmscommunications.com

Slide 22

Carrier-Grade Capabilities with

Point Code Redundancy
z SS7 signaling infrastructure is mission-critical
z Protocols designed for maximum availability
z NMSs SS7 redundancy benefits
No single point of failure
Preserve stable calls and transactions
Share point code on two boards in different (or same)
chassis

z Uses distributed model

Utilizes on-board, high-speed, private Ethernet

z Support in MTP3, ISUP, SCCP, TCAP, and TUP

www.nmscommunications.com

Slide 23

Point Code Redundancy Illustrated

(Secondary)
(Secondary)

Check-pointing
Check-pointing

TCAP

TCAP
TCAP

Check-pointing
Check-pointing

MTP3
MTP3

Check-pointing
Check-pointing

(Secondary)
(Secondary)
Standby Signalling server

Application

(Secondary)
(Secondary)

MTP

Application
Application

(Primary/Active)
(Primary/Active)

TCAP
TCAP

(Primary/Active)
(Primary/Active)

MTP3
MTP3

(Primary/Active)
(Primary/Active)

SS7 traffic data

(over Ethernet)

MTP
MTP12
12
(Active)
(Active)

STP

www.nmscommunications.com

MTP
MTP12
12
(Active)
(Active)

STP

Slide 24

Active Signalling server

Application
Application

z Two SS7 boards share

one point code
z Active-Active mode for
MTP1/MTP2 layers
z Secondary MTP1/MTP2
traffic routed to primary via
dedicated Ethernet
z Active-Standby mode for
layer MTP3 and up
z Check-pointing APIs for ISUP
TCAP, SCCP, MTP3, TUP
automatic

Redundancy Features and Benefits

z Carrier-grade reliability
(survival)
Against link failures
Against signaling board
failures
Against server failures

z Manageability

z Scalability
Board-based SS7 processing
to minimize host load
Multiple links provide signal
load distribution

z Higher availability in the

network

Increase circuit capacity

without service outage
Upgrade server hardware or
software without service
outage

www.nmscommunications.com

Slide 25

Agenda
z SS7 overview
z NMSs SS7 products
SS7 software
TX 4000(C)
TX 4000/20(C) replacement for TX 3220(C)
Carrier-grade feature details
Passive monitoring feature details

z Global interoperability
z Upcoming enhancements

www.nmscommunications.com

Slide 26

SS7 Passive Monitoring Feature

z Set of APIs and tools used in
conjunction with a TX board to
monitor up to 16 live SS7
signalling links
z Typical applications
Testing
Lawful intercept
Customized SMS messages
(international roaming
greetings)

z Filters
MTP2 signal units and headers
can be filtered to massively
reduce host load
Higher lever protocol layers such
as ISUP and SCCP messages
(based on DPC*, OPC* and/or
SIO* fields)

z Message collection and buffering

to limit host interrupts
z Not supported
Injection of messages
Dual mode (monitoring and SS7
signaling simultaneously)

* DPC: Destination Point Code

OPC: Originating Point Code
SIO: Service Indication Octet

www.nmscommunications.com

Slide 27

SS7 Monitoring
High-Level Architecture
Operator-provided
cross-connect equipment
(DSX or other)

Central Office A

Live SS7 signalling

link

SS7 Network

Protected
monitoring
connection point

Live SS7 network

element A
Transmit side for B
node (-10 dB max)

Receive side for B

node (-10 dB max)

Notes

Each monitored link requires 2 receive (RX) ports

on the TX board

32 receive (RX) ports are available on the TX 4000:

max of 16 monitored links per TX board

Receive (RX) level at TX board must be at 10 dB

loss or better (includes protection circuitry and
cabling)

www.nmscommunications.com

Central Office B

Monitoring Server
with TX 4000(C)

Slide 28

Live SS7 network

element B

Agenda
z SS7 overview
z NMSs SS7 products
SS7 software
TX 4000(C)
TX 4000/20(C) replacement for TX 3220(C)
Carrier-grade feature details
Passive monitoring feature details

z Global interoperability
z Upcoming enhancements

www.nmscommunications.com

Slide 29

Globally Deployed
z Example NMS customer deployment locations
Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, France,
Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Monaco, The
Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK
Australia, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia,
New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka,
Taiwan, Thailand
Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Haiti, Mexico, Surinam
Canada and the US

z Government approvals for protocols where obtainable

Chinese Ministry of Information Industry
Italian Ministry of Telecommunications

z Presence on six continents

z NMS has Tech Support in US, Hong Kong and Paris

www.nmscommunications.com

Slide 30

Connected to Carrier-Grade
Equipment
z Ericsson AXE-10,
CME-20, CXE
z Nortel DMS100
z Lucent 5ESS
z Alcatel E-10, S1240
z Siemens EWSD

www.nmscommunications.com

z
z
z
z
z
z

Slide 31

Nokia DX200
Motorola
NEC
Huawei
Hyundai
Interwave

With Many Wireline and Wireless

Telecom Networks
z Telecom operator deployment examples
AT&T, British Telecom, Deutsche Telekom
France Telecom, Omnicom, Telefonica, Capcom
Orange, NTT, Videotron, Japan Telecom, KDDI, KPN
Korea Telecom, Chung Hwa, SingTel, Jitong
Cedetel, Telemar, Telstra, Optus, Maxis, Belgacom
Telenor, KPN Telecom, Belgacom, Telia, Mobilecom
Swisscom, Doro Telefoni, Star Telecom

z Work with certification labs

AT&T TCAP certification
KTL Labs BT-NUP certification
Telcordia

www.nmscommunications.com

Slide 32

Agenda
z SS7 overview
z NMSs SS7 products
SS7 software
TX 4000(C)
TX 4000/20(C) replacement for TX 3220(C)
Carrier-grade feature details
Passive monitoring feature details

z Global interoperability
z Upcoming enhancements

www.nmscommunications.com

Slide 33

SS7 Software and TX Series Roadmap

2006

Hardware

2005
TX 4000
TX 4000C
TX 4000/20
TX 4000/20C

Software

TX 7000A

SS7
v 4.1
Natural

SS7
v 4.2
Access 2004-1

Natural

MAP
INAP
Access 2005-1

SS7
Monitoring
www.nmscommunications.com

Slide 34

HSL

SS7 SIGv 4.3 TRAN

Natural

SS7
Server

Access 2006-1

High-Speed Links
z High-capacity SS7 link
1.544 or 2.0 Mbps unchannelized T1/E1 links
n x 64 kbps links

z Runs on TX 4000
z Targeted Q106

www.nmscommunications.com

Slide 35

SIGTRAN
z Provides SS7 over IP transport for packet
environments and softswitch or gateway connections
z IETF-compliant implementation of SCTP, SUA and
M3UA layers
z Appropriate for range of network elements, including:
Media gateway controllers
IP-based SCPs
SIGTRAN gateways

z Targeted Q206

www.nmscommunications.com

Slide 36

TX 7000A
z ATCA format SS7 interface board
Plugs into ATCA chassis
IPMI (Intelligent Platform Management Interface) support

z Full SS7 stack support

MTP, ISUP, TUP, SCCP, TCAP on board for integrated solutions
SIGTRAN support
z Applicable to SS7 servers, signaling gateways

z Network IP control and management interface to application

Thin client on host

z Redundant board configuration for high availability

Checkpointing at MTP3, ISUP, TCAP

z Targeted Q206

www.nmscommunications.com

Slide 37

Competitive Differentiators
z Integrated board, software from one company
SS7 integrated with Natural Access APIs

z Global Messaging Toolkit (ISUP)

Allows extension of ITU, ETSI, and ANSI standards

z Worldwide SS7 support organization

Rich set of application demo programs
SS7 expertise in North America, Europe, and Asia

z Competitively-priced, flexible licensing

z Results: reduced time-to-success in worldwide
deployment and low cost of ownership

www.nmscommunications.com

Slide 38

Be sure to check out these demos

z Mobile and IP Video Services
Powered by Open Access CG and TX boards

z Multimodal Messaging
Powered by Open Access CG and TX boards

www.nmscommunications.com

Slide 39

Questions?
Contact Info:

jon_mechling@nmss.com
dan_rothschild@nmss.com