Simplifying SS7 Programming for Enhanced Intelligent Network Services

Jon Mechling Director, Product Management [email protected]

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Agenda

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Intelligent Network Enhanced Services Overview SS7 Network Architecture Review Application Part Protocols Functions Application Part Protocols Implementation Examples

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Slide 2

Sample Enhanced Services

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Mobile Enhanced Services

Wireline Enhanced Services

Automatic roaming and system hand-off Short Message Service (SMS) Group calls, broadcast calls Position location-based services Incoming call screening Prepaid Number portability

Local Number Portability Calling Name Delivery IVR systems Call center solutions Virtual Private Network (extension dialing)

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Slide 3

Prepaid Market Size

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Just this one service

~ 2/3 of mobile subscribers in China ~ 1/2 of mobile subscribers in Europe

China Mobile Users Forecast
400,000 350,000 300,000 250,000 200,000 150,000 100,000 50,000 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Subs (000's)

Western Europe Cellular Subscribers

Source Yankee Group 2005

Source: IDC

Prepaid Subs

Contract Subs

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Slide 4

Looking Beyond Prepaid

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Mobile enhanced services now considered fundamental

Roaming Number Portability

Spectrum of new revenueproducing services

Location based services (E911, 1-800-GET-PIZZA) SMS VPN

Almost 30% of hot new services require Application Part Protocols

Customer interest in LBS Services

(Source: Yankee Group, 2004)

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Slide 5

SS7 and Enhanced Services in Mobile Networks

Enhanced Services Short Message Service Enhanced Services Voicemail with SMS notification Voice portals Etc.

SMS-C

SS7 MSC MS HLR VLR

Enhanced Services Pre-paid Mobility Management Location based www.nmscommunications.com Enhanced Services Mobility Management Location based

BSC BTS
Voice Channels SS7 or Signalling

Slide 6

Key to Wireless Services WIN/ANSI-41D, CAMEL/GSM MAP

Enhanced Services Short Message Service Enhanced Services Voicemail with SMS notification Voice portals Etc.

SMS-C

SS7 MSC MS HLR VLR

Enhanced Services Pre-paid Mobility Management Location based www.nmscommunications.com Enhanced Services Mobility Management Location based

BSC BTS
Voice Channels SS7 or Signalling

Slide 7

SS7 and Enhanced Services in Wireline Networks

Enhanced Services Voice Reco 411 Call Centers (411, 611, 911, Operators) Equal Access (IXC) Enhanced Services 800 numbers LNP Prepaid Follow-me Etc.

SCP

SCP

POTS

STP

STP

POTS

PRI PBX LE Enhanced Services Call Centers IVR Auto-attendant with voice rec Voicemail Calling number display IMT Tandem

IMT

Tandem

IMT

LE

PRI PBX

IMT Circuit Switched Tandem

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

Voice Channels SS7

Slide 8

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Key to Wireline Service INAP

Enhanced Services Voice Reco 411 Call Centers (411, 611, 911, Operators) Equal Access (IXC) Enhanced Services 800 numbers LNP Prepaid Follow-me Etc.

SCP

SCP

POTS

STP

STP

POTS

PRI PBX SSP Enhanced Services Call Centers IVR Auto-attendant with voice rec Voicemail Calling number display IMT Tandem

IMT

Tandem

IMT

SSP

PRI PBX

IMT Circuit Switched Tandem

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

Voice Channels SS7

Slide 9

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Application Part Protocols

Building on TCAP

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INAP (Intelligent Network Application Part)

Used between a wireline Service Switching Point (SSP), network media resources (Intelligent Peripherals), and Service Control Points (SCPs) Supports IN services such as enhanced call routing, VPN, number portability, etc. Used among distributed mobile switching elements (MSC, GMSC, SGSN, GGSN) with databases (HLR, VLR) Carries subscriber routing number, service profile and service trigger data Allows basic handoff, roaming, call setup capabilities

ANSI-41D, GSM MAP (Mobile Application Part)

Wireless Intelligent Network (WIN), Customized Application of Mobile Enhanced Logic (CAMEL)

Intelligent Network services for wireless subscribers CAMEL = IN + service portability while roaming WIN primarily for ANSI-41 networks; CAMEL primarily for GSM MAP networks
Slide 10

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Sample Application Prepaid

(with ISUP Signaling)

DB

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Complicated

Many steps, slow, poor end user experience

Prepaid VRU App server Adjunct Switch

Inefficient

Loopback eats up ports at MSC and prepaid system adjunct switch

Welcome. You have ___ minutes remaining on your account.

MSC/ Switch
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Voice Path ISUP

MSC/ Switch

Slide 11

Sample Application Prepaid

(with TCAP-based Signaling)

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Less complicated

Fewer steps, faster, better end user experience Preserves expensive MSC ports
Welcome. You have ___ minutes remaining on your account.
VRU

SCP

Efficient

MSC/ Switch
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Voice Path ISUP MAP/WIN/CAMEL

MSC/ Switch

Slide 12

NMS SS7 Application Part Protocols

The Developers View

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Host-based code giving application access to value-add SS7 IN protocols Binary libraries linked to the application Object oriented (C/C++) API Compatible with Natural Access API

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Slide 13

Applications: Host-Based Architecture

Host
SS7 SS7 Traffic Traffic
Application ApplicationPart Part Protocols Protocols (MAP, (MAP,INAP, INAP,etc.) etc.)

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TX TX Platform Platform

Application Application
Voice Voice Circuits Circuits

AG AG // CG CG Platform Platform

NMS Provided

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Slide 14

ASN.1 Abstract Syntax Notation

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The ITU-T Recommendations use the Abstract Syntax Notation (ASN.1) to specify the semantics of the IN Application Protocol (INAP) parameters, which are expected to be binary-encoded. ASN.1 International standard for classifying data structures

There are 27 data types with tag values starting with 1; for example, Boolean (1), integer (2), and bit string (3) Internationally standardized Platform, vendor, and language independent

Used extensively to encode data structures in SS7 for transaction based signaling i.e., TCAP, MAP, INAP

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Slide 15

Developers Options

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Use a C/C++ API to encode/decode messages in ASN.1 format Hand code ASN.1-compliant binary encoded TCAP messages First option is much easier for sophisticated services with multiple MAP or INAP messages

Faster time to market Fewer bugs, more reliable code Better ROI

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Slide 16

Implementation Comparison
With Application Part Protocols Using C or C++:

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Create RequestReportBCSMEventArg object Container for parameters of SS7 message (subsystem #, point code, destination SSN, BCSM event, etc.) Insert data step by step in the created RequestReportBCSMEventArg object (i.e. populate various parameters of the RequestReportBCSMEventArg object). Translate the IN message data in the structure into an ASN.1 encoded message EncodeMsg(RequestReportBCSMEventArg, &encOctets);

Fill in the TCAP header, TCAP component header, and place the ASN.1 encoded message in the TCAP component parameter. SendRequest(encOctets)

Loop Repeat for next message

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Slide 17

Implementation Comparison
Without Application Part Protocols

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ASN.1 formatted messages are hand coded Sample binary coded message:
15:50:24.0 TCAP.1 --> : sapNum = 8 65 06 80 00 01 80 BE 01 0B 0A 01 81 07 A1 A3 17 01 03 02 80 81 A2 AB 00 09 05 30 02 81 30 01 01 03 48 11 06 A1 62 30 01 0B 09 01 80 01 86 07 03 A0 10 28 80 81 A2 01 01 05 04 02 60 80 30 01 01 03 02 49 01 00 01 30 01 0B 09 00 80 A1 04 01 00 00 0B 06 80 81 A2 01 06 B0 01 01 6C 80 81 01 01 03 01 02 64 A0 00 74 01 01 07 00 80 30 01 0D 1D 32 A1 05 01 81 A2 01 0B 52 6D 61 01 6A 81 A2 01 03 02 80 02 6B 1B A2 02 01 03 01 80 30 01 01 2A 80 03 01 01 80 A2 01 0B 04 1F 28 02 02 51 A2 01 03 01 80 81 28 07 01 02 03 02 80 30 01 01 e..H..I..d.mk*(( ...........a.... ..........2..... ........lt.j..Q. ..0b.`0......... ...0............ ....(0.......... ..0............0 ............0... .........0...... ..........R...

(Actual trace of a TCAP message)

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Slide 18

Application Part Protocol Product Availability

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Software and documentation are downloadable from the NMS web site Licenses are priced on a per-host basis Contact your NMS sales person for specific pricing information and to request a 30 day trial license

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Slide 19

N M S COMMUNICATIONS