Top 38 Signaling System 7 Interview Questions You Must Prepare 19.Mar.2024

Given below are some examples of parameters configurable from LME 

  • Linksets configuration
  • Link configuration
  • Route configuration
  • Timer configuration
  • Trace Levels
  • E1/T1 card configuration
  • Congestion levels

Other parameters e.g. Call Control configuration parameters, CICs provisioning / unprovisioning etc can be included as per the customer's requirements

Computer data storage, often called storage or memory, refers to computer. Memory can refer to other forms of fast but temporary storage. ... The CPU continuouslyreads instructions stored there and executes them as required. ... The CPU firstly sends a number through an address bus, a number called memory address...

COT is an automated diagnostic procedure performed in the Signaling System 7 (SS7) PublicSwitched Telephone Network (PSTN) between switches to ensure that circuits are in service and notexperiencing excessive signal loss. This validation is performed by sending tones across the bearer channel. Itis performed on a sampling basis. For instance, on 10 percent of the calls.

MTP2 has a well defined interface (in the form of functional calls) with the hardware, which is to be ported. This is explained in detail, in the MTP2 Porting Guide. 

The multiple SS7 links are handled by the hardware in any fashion (polling in round robin or any other manner/ interrupt driven) – MTP2 places no restriction on this.

MTP2–hardware interface consists of a set of functions, which are invoked by the hardware as needed :

  • Whenever the hardware is ready to transmit, it will invoke a well-defined MTP2 function.
  • Whenever the hardware has received a signaling unit, it will invoke another MTP2 function.

  • physical layer : all phsical devices like wires, connectors, hubs repeaters,electrical signals
  • Datalink layer : switch ,briges.
  • Network layer: routers or broutertransport-gateways.

SS7 messages are exchanged between network elements over 56 or 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

The Network consist of three types of Network Elements

  • SSP: Signal Switching Points are telephone exchanges equipped with SS7 capable software. They are responsible for originating, terminating or switching calls
  • STP: Signal Transfer Points are packet switches that receive and route signaling messages to their proper destination
  • SCP: Signaling Control Point is a database that provides information necessary for advanced call-processing capabilities

The SS7 protocol stack has the following underlying layers.

Message Transfer Part 

The Message Transfer Part (MTP) is divided into three levels. The lowest level, MTP Level 1, is equivalent to the OSI Physical Layer. MTP Level 1 defines the physical, electrical, and functional characteristics of the digital signaling link. Physical interfaces defined include E-1 (2048 kb/s; 32 64 kb/s channels), DS-1 (1544 kb/s; 24 64kb/s channels), V.35 (64 kb/s), DS-0 (64 kb/s), and DS-0A (56 kb/s).

MTP Level 2 ensures accurate end-to-end transmission of a message across a signaling link. Level 2 implements flow control, message sequence validation, and error checking. When an error occurs on a signaling link, the message (or set of messages) is retransmitted. MTP Level 2 is equivalent to the OSI Data Link Layer. 

MTP Level 3 provides message routing between signaling points in the SS7 network. MTP Level 3 re-routes traffic away from failed links and signaling points and controls traffic when congestion occurs. MTP Level 3 is equivalent to the OSI Network Layer. 

ISDN User Part (ISUP): The ISDN User Part (ISUP) defines the protocol used to set-up, manage, and release trunk circuits that carry voice and data between terminating line exchanges (e.g., between a calling party and a called party). ISUP is used for both ISDN and non-ISDN calls. However, calls that originate and terminate at the same switch do not use ISUP signaling. 

Telephone User Part (TUP): In some parts of the world (e.g., China, Brazil), the Telephone User Part (TUP) is used to support basic call setup and tear-down. TUP handles analog circuits only. In many countries, ISUP has replaced TUP for call management. 

Signaling Connection Control Part (SCCP): SCCP provides connectionless and connection-oriented network services and global title translation (GTT) capabilities above MTP Level @SCCP is used as the transport layer for TCAP-based services. 

Transaction Capabilities Applications Part (TCAP): TCAP supports the exchange of non-circuit related data between applications across the SS7 network using the SCCP connectionless service. Queries and responses sent between SSPs and SCPs are carried in TCAP messages. For example, an SSP sends a TCAP query to determine the routing number associated with a dialed 800/888 number and to to check the personal identification number (PIN) of a calling card user. In mobile networks (IS-41 and GSM), TCAP carries Mobile Application Part (MAP) messages sent between mobile switches and databases to support user authentication, equipment identification, and roaming. 

The HSS SS7 stack allows for national variants such as the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and Bell Communications Research (Bellcore) standards used in North America and the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) standard used in Europe. Spanish and British Variants are also supported.

MTP3 is used for Narrowband signaling and is the traditional TDM based transmission system.
On the other hand MTP3b is used for Broadband signaling and basically designed for supporting ATM features on the basis of MTP3.

All errors are indicated through an uniform interface. Handling of errors is the responsibility of the system management entity. All possible errors that might occur in processing (including SS7 protocol procedural errors) is numbered and globally defined. All the SS7 protocol processing entity modules maintain a global error flag (global to a module) which reflects last error encountered in the processing.

The database and a few other variables maintained by each stack entity are defined as global definitions. This has no implication in OS like Unix, which do not share memory across tasks. However, in case of RTOS (like Vxworks, PSOS) which have a flat memory space, there is only one copy of this data irrespective of number of tasks or processes started. e.g. if two instances of ISUP are running on the same board they will be referring to the same copy of data.

This will be fixed in future releases of stack – the solution will be as decided in the Protocol Development framework, which would be one of the following :

  • Keep global database indexed by the instance number of the module.
  • Define the database as local to the stack entity and pass the reference to it with each call of stack and down to all levels. All the database references will be done with respect to this reference.

The SS7 Stack entities (MTP2, MTP3, ISUP SCCP& TCAP) can be compiled and run as a single thread. This is possible because of the coding guidelines which ensure uniqueness of function names and global variables.

In addition, each SS7 Stack Entity can execute as a separate thread. This is possible because each stack entity is independent and does not share any data structures with other stack entities. Communication between two stack entities is through a message based interface.

The client codes parses all the APIs coming to the stack. It forms an interface between the stack and the user / service layer.

In OSI reference model, there are seven layers which are Application layer, Presentation layer, Session layer, Transport layer, Network layer, Datalink Layer, and Physical layer. It is detailed model for the transfer of information from one destination from other. While the TCP/ IP suite was somewhat compact, it was not as detailed.

Two types of tcp/ip protocol is two types tcp/ipv4 & tcp/ipv6.tcp/ipv4 it is 32 bit now a days it is used. tcp/ipv6 it is 128 bits it is advancd technology.

In MTP3 The routing label details like Servive indicator ,servive network type ,OPC and DPC details are aviable.The SCCP is the Transport layer for Tcap Based applications.The SCCP Placed over the MTP3 layer.

The four parameters between node A and node B, to bring aPCM link up between them are

  1. DPC(Destination Point Code) and OWNSP
  2. Signaling Link set.
  3. Network ID(NAT0 & NAT1)
  4. PCM channel on which link is creating.

full form of D-link is diagonal link . this link actually used to connect the STP pairs within the same network .

This depends upon the operating system.

In OS like Solaris, Windows NT etc., where each instance / execution of the stack entity has its own data area, this is possible. 

In RTOS like VxWorks etc., the global variables are mapped to a fixed location in memory (flat memory structure). Hence, multiple instances of the stack entity access the same data area for globals, leading to clash. 

  • The protocol stack (and each constituent entity) will be so designed so as to allow porting on the target platform with minimal real-time overload on the client’s thread of control (calling application). This implies that whenever possible, the stack code should be executed in the stack’s thread of control.
  • Keeping in mind the strong time and memory constraints in telecom systems, the stack design and code will be developed for maximum time and memory efficiency.
  • Wherever messages need to be exchanged across entities, stack architecture will be so designed so as to minimize the bandwidth requirement.

Porting the stack onto a system involves the following :

  • Porting the OS calls
  • Porting error handler & printing of trace messages
  • Porting System Management Entity 
  • Porting redundancy

Porting the OS calls is dependent on the Operating System & involves :

  • Memory management
  • Timer management
  • IPC mechanism between stack entities / stack entity & service user

Porting error handler is dependent on the User’s System & is based on how the errors are to be reported.

Porting the printing is dependent on the User’s System & is based on how / where the trace messages are to be displayed.

Porting System Management Entity involves developing an User Interface (GUI / other) for managing the stack entities using the Layer Management APIs (Provisioning, Statistics, Controlling Error Reporting and Traces etc.). 

SS7 stack can be ported unto any customer platform 

There are 6 links

  1. A-Access link
  2. B-Bridge link
  3. C-Crossover link
  4. D-Diagonal link
  5. E-Extended link
  6. F-Fully Associated link.

IAM(Initial Address Message)contains the information requried for setup call.For a basic call it is a first message send to Destination.SAM(subsequent address message)exactly it is overlap calls address.SAM message has to be sent in the scenario when suppose a subscriber dialed a number 9321353536.SSP send the IAM message to there destination without reading the 35353@I.e originating SSP looks 9321 and sends the IAM message to their respective Destination.And SAM to be send with rest dialed digit.

A global title is an address (e.g., a dialed 800 number, calling card number, or mobile subscriber identification number) which is translated by SCCP into a destination point code and subsystem number. A subsystem number uniquely identifies an application at the destination signaling point.

Floopy Disc store data Less than 200MB CD,DVD's are morethan 200MBCD-700MBDVD-4.3to 8.5GB.

Computer is powered on -> Power On Self Test (POST) is doneto check all the hardware -> BIOS (detects the devices like,hard-disk, sets the date and time etc.) -> MBR (locates thefirst location of boot-loader and starts booting theboot-loader) -> boot-loader (locates the OS and startsloading the OS).

The SS7 network and protocol can be used for: 

  • basic call setup, management, and tear down 
  • wireless services such as personal communications services (PCS), wireless roaming, and mobile subscriber authentication 
  • local number portability (LNP) 
  • toll-free (800/888) and toll (900) wireline services 
  • enhanced call features such as call forwarding, calling party name/number display, and three-way calling 
  • efficient and secure worldwide telecommunications 

Message Transfer Part level 3 (MTP3) is the network layer inthe SS7 protocol stack. It routes SS7 signalling messages topublic network nodes by means of Destination Point Codes,and to the appropriate signalling entity within a node bymeans of a Service Info Octet. MTP3 is specified as part of the SS7 protocol and is also referred to as part of theB-ICI interface for ATM. MTP3 sits between MTP2 and the userparts (ISUP, TUP, SCCP and TCAP) of the SS7 protocol stack.B-ISUP is an Application Layer protocol run over MTP3.

Two links are possible between 2 ss7 links.

  • High Speed Links (HSL).
  • Low Speed Links (LSL).

Some times called 'file system aging'is the inability of a file system to lay out related data sequentially (contiguously), an inherent phenomenon in storage-backed file systems that allow in-place modification of their contents. It is a special case of data fragmentation.

All the checksums calculated in SS7 (i.e. CRC in MTP2) are 16-bit CRC. They will not be affected by a 64-bit processor.

All the stack entities operates on following basic types : 

  • U8bit
  • U16bit
  • U32bit
  • S8bit
  • S16bit
  • S32bit 

(where U is for unsigned and S for Signed)   These definitions are defined in a header file & can be changed if needed. 

The SS7 stack includes a primitive System Management entity. The functionality of system management entity consists of the following: 

  1. Provisioning, initialization and maintenance of SS7 stack entities.
  2. Debug and trace management of SS7 stack entities.
  3. Solicited and periodic statistics collection/reporting.
  4. Redundancy management of SS7 stack entities.

Redundancy management if implemented shall mean the following

  • SS7 stack shall have two operating states ONLINE and STANDBY.
  • An interface shall be provided for redundancy data updation.
  • A mechanism shall be provided to indicate to the system management entity for triggering the redundancy data updation to all the redundant components.
  • System management entity shall have the control for changing the state of the SS7 stack.
  • Compile time flag to control the inclusion/exclusion of redundancy features shall be provided. 

Common Channel Signaling System No. 7 (i.e., SS7 or C7) is a global standard for telecommunications defined by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T). The standard defines the procedures and protocol by which network elements in the public switched telephone network (PSTN) exchange information over a digital signaling network to effect wireless (cellular) and wireline call setup, routing and control. 

Database maintained by each stack entity is local to it and has got no external dependency. The database maintained by each entity has got a static part (which is initialized by provisioning) and a dynamic part (which is updat5ed at run-time by the stack entity).

The interface of each stack entity with its database module is a well defined functional interface (read/write/access/modify). If there is a need to use an external database, this functional interface has to be ported.

The SS7 development environment is Solaris, with GNU C (gcc) compiler.

We also compile our source code using the following compilers, before a release :

  • Microtek MCC68K compiler
  • Borland C compiler

If a customer is planning to use a different compiler than the above, the source code can be compiled using that compiler before the release.