Intel Dialogic / Datakinetics - SS7 Interface

Dialogic SS7 Solutions Overview

SS7 is the signaling system that forms the backbone of the international telecommunications network. In terms of CT applications, SS7 offers a number of advantages over conventional in-band and common-channel signaling methods. By SS7 enabling CT applications, application developers can realize a number of advantages :

• an expanded customer base by network enabling existing CT applications and making them available to network service providers.
• improve performance from a given application platform by taking advantage of SS7's fast call setup. This translates to less equipment required in the central office as well as lower trunking costs.
• access to the Intelligent Network(IN) by utilizing SS7's transaction services

Dialogic makes SS7 solutions available through a partnership with DataKinetics, a worldwide leader in SS7 connectivity. These products are sold and supported by Dialogic.

What is SS7?

The SS7 signaling system is a packet-switch data network that forms the backbone of the international telecommunications network. SS7 plays an important role in both wireline and wireless network. For example, as the basis for GSM and IS-41 networks, SS7 allows wireless users capabilities such as automatic roaming that are transparent to the user.

SS7 provides two basic types of services:

The SS7 network is accessed through a set of protocols. Through DataKinetics' implementation of the protocols, existing enterprise-based applications can be migrated to the public network domain.

FEATURES AND BENEFITS

• Complete family of SS7 products ranging from board to server level that easily scale from 64 ports to over 16,000 ports.
• Commom hardware architecture across the product line offers scalable solutions from 64 to 16,384 Channel Identification Code (CIC).
• Modular, common API across the product line means faster application development and greater flexibility.
• Customer extensible software allows you to design your own variants based on the needs of the network.
• Reliable, load-sharing implementations provide the high degree of availability that telephony company or public network applications demand.
• E-1, T-1 or V.35 interfaces.
• Support for MTP, ISUP/TUP, SCCP, and TCAP — including many international variants
• cPCI solutions available.
• Support for IN protocols including GSM-MAP, IS-41, and INAP.
• Open interfaces at all levels -MTP3, ISUP, TUP, SCCP, TCAP; offering your the ability to customize your solutions.
• ITU, ANSI, and ETSI standards compliance. Multiple country variants supported and Worlwide deployment.

APPLICATIONS

The SS7 product family offers a modular open architecture to build functional, reliable, cost-effective public network applications and services. In addition, the SS7 platform enables building Intelligent Network platforms including Service Control Points (SCP), Intelligent Peripherals (IP), Service Nodes (SN), Service Switching Points (SSP), Mobile Switching Centers (MSC), and Signal Transfer Points (STP). These platforms can be used in both wireless and wireline networks. Common applications include :

• Prepaid phone
• Prepaid calling card
• Personal productivity and personal assistant applications
• Follow-me / One-number services
• Voice mail and Unified Messaging
• Voice-Activated Dialing
• Short Messaging Services (SMS)
• Network call center
• SS7-IP gateway
• Least-cost routing / Telecom resale
• Local number portability
• 800 / Freephone
• Calling name
• Virtual private network
• International callback
• IS-41 and GSM-MAP home location register

The SS7 Protocol Architecture

SS7 is a layered software architecture that consists of message transfer and user parts. The diagram above illustrates the SS7 protocol architecture (items in gray are part of the DataKinetics software offering).

Message Transfer Part

MTP1-3 (transport): Provides the physical, link, and network layer functions. The overall purpose of MTP is to transport information from the upper layers (including the user parts and SS7 applications) across the SS7 network.

User Parts

ISUP/TUP (call control): Provides standards-based and network-specific call control services for wireless and wireline PSTN networks.

SCCP (Signal Connection Control Part): Provides address resolution services (i.e., global title) for locating services within the network. SCCP is available in two versions: connectionless only and connection-oriented plus connectionless.

TCAP (Transaction Capabilities Application Part) (transaction services): Used for transporting transaction-oriented data across the SS7 network. TCAP implements standard Remote Operation Service Invoke (ROSE) services for applications such as GSM-MAP and IS-41. These "applications" provide IN services such as Home Location Register or Short Message Service.

GSM-MAP, IS-41, and INAP: Transaction-based services that allow development of applications such as Short Message Service, access to HLR/VLR (for wireless networks), and other IN applications.

IMPORTANT TERMS AND CONCEPTS

The following terms will help you understand SS7.

Links
Signaling data links are used to connect SS7 signaling points. In most countries, these links are 56/64 Kb/s data facilities. The physical interface to an intelligent peripheral is either a T-1/E-1 interface or a V.35 connection.

Linksets
Links are grouped into linksets. All links in a linkset must connect to a single point code. Up to 16 links can be assigned to a single linkset.

Point Codes
Point codes define the address of SS7 network nodes. Each switch, SCP, STP, and IP has a unique point code in the SS7 network. In some respects, point codes are analogous to IP addresses defined by the Internet Protocol.

CIC
The circuit identification code (CIC) refers to a single port or time slot on a T-1 or E-1 interface. The combination of the point code and the CIC defines a unique point in the network, like an Internet Protocol IP address.

Products	Description
PC-CS6
	Intelligent SS7 signaling board Maximum of 3 SS7 links (1-2 ISUP links typical) MTP layers 1 and 2 Single or dual network interface options: E1(75ohm, 120 ohm) T1 V.35 Typically engineered for 25call/sec 256 or 1024 CICs options. Support RJ-45, BNC, D-type. Support slot ISA form factor and SCbus. Software Support :Win 2000, Linux.
DSC131
	DSC-131SIU Standalone unit supports Single or dual network interface options: E1(75ohm, 120 ohm), T1, V.11 Same PCCS6 API over TCP/IP Typically engineered for > 25call/sec One or two dual PCCS6 boards maximum of 6 SS7 links Up to 4096 ISUP voice ports in 4 linksets standalone unit Support RJ-45, BNC, D-type. Same API as card Physical Dimensions : short 19" rack mount Software Support :Win 2000, Linux.
DSC231
	DSC-231SIU Standalone unit supports Single or dual network interface options: E1(75ohm, 120 ohm),T1, V.11 Targeted to large link groups Same PCCS6 API over TCP/IP Typically engineered for 25-75+call/sec Greater Density Up to 10 PCCS6 boards/32 links Up to 16,384 ISUP voice ports in 8 linksets standalone unit Support RJ-45, BNC, D-type. Same API as card Physical Dimensions : Std. 19" rack mount Software Support :Win 2000, Linux.

*Preliminary Information