IP/VoIP Protocol Simulators

Core Network Simulators

MAPS™ SS7 Protocol Emulator

(SS7/ISUP Protocol Emulation over TDM)

MAPS™ ISUP Architecture

Background

SS7 (Signaling System Number 7) defined by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU- T) is a globally adopted protocol for out-of-band signaling systems.

The network elements involved in SS7 networks are SSPs (Signaling Switching Points), STPs (Signaling Transfer Points) and SCPs (Signaling Control Points). These elements ensure signaling integrity and availability even if one or more signaling links fail.

The SS7 network manages calls by identifying end-to-end addressing and from there controls all the routing judgments necessary for a seamless operation.

ISUP is a part of the complex signaling system SS7 that are used to set up and release calls through the PSTN. ISUP end-to-end signaling is transported directly over MTP3 or SCCP levels.

Overview

GL's Message Automation & Protocol Simulation (MAPS™) designed for  SS7 simulation over TDM (T1 E1) can simulate Service Switching Point (SSP). The ISUP signaling specification conforms to ITU-T and ANSI standards. The tester supports testing network elements, error tracking, regression testing, conformance testing, load testing/call generation and generation of high volumes of ISUP traffic. MAPS™ SS7 functionality covers the ITU and ANSI variant of SS7 implementing MTP2, MTP3, and ISUP protocols. It is able to run pre-defined test scenarios against ISUP test objects in a controlled & deterministic manner.

The application is available as

  • MAPS™ SS7 Emulator (Item # XX649)
  • MAPS™ SS7 Conformance Scripts (Item # XX647)

MAPS™ SS7 Conformance Scripts (XX647) is designed for conformance tests and functional tests, where test objects can be accurately, reliably and comfortably validated for compliance with ITU-T standard Q.761-764 and Q.784. It is suitable for manufacturers, network operators and service providers to address all stages of the development cycle, regression testing through to type approval, acceptance testing.

The application gives the users the unlimited ability to edit SIP messages and control scenarios (message sequences). "Message sequences" are generated through scripts. "Messages" are created using message templates

With the purchase of additional licenses (xx610, xx620, xxFT0) traffic can be simulated over T1 E1 interfaces. Supported traffic includes transmission and detection of TDM digits, voice files, single tone, dual tone, speech and FAX. Also supports various traffic events simulation during the course of a call, which is listed below:

TDM Traffic Events – digits, tones, files, speech, fax

  • Send, and Detect Tones, Digits, File, Test Tone, Silence and verify speech bearer
  • Stop Send Digits, File, Tone
  • Stop Send - Stops Transmission of Tone
  • Detect different tone types - dial tone, special dial tone, stutter dial tone, special information tone, call waiting, call in progress tone, reorder tone, busy tone, congestion tone, confirmation tone, howler tone, and ring-back tone
  • Set region for call progress tones (Busy, Call Waiting, Dial, Ring, Congestion, Special Dial, Special Information) detection
  • Send /Receive fax image (TIFF format) file from/to the specified location.

User can remotely perform all MAPS™ SS7 functions using MAPS™ client-server functionality (requires additional license), which includes scripting through a Command Line Interface (CLI) such as the Python, Java, VBScript, and TCL clients. Signaling and traffic functionalities such as start test bed setup, load scripts and profiles, apply user events such as send digits/file/tones, detect digits/file/tones, dial, originate call, terminate call, start and stop traffic and others can be performed remotely. User can also generate and receive calls through commands. The client application includes a dll file, a packaged library that enables communication with the Server from the client environment, which is distributed along with MAPS™ CLI Server application.

GL also provides an independent GUI based SS7 protocol analyzers (optional application – xx120) for online capture and decode of the signaling in real-time both during tests and as a stand-alone tracer for live systems.

Supported Protocols Standards


Supported Protocols Standards
Supported Protocols Standard / Specification Used
MTP3 (ITU) ITU-T Q.704
ISUP (ITU) ITU - Q.761, Q.762, Q.763 and Q.764
ISUP CHINA Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of the People's Republic of China, Technical Specification of ISUP, 1996
MTP3 (ANSI) T1.111.4-1996
ISUP (ANSI) ANSI - T1.113.1 to T1.113.4
Test & Network Management Messages (ITU, China) ITU-T Q.703, Q.704
Test & Network Management Messages (ANSI) ANSI T1.111.4, ANSI T1.111.7
ISUP ETSI EN 300 356 -1 V3.2.2(1998-08) Part 1

ISUP Call Simulation

Typical ISUP Signaling Procedure

ISUP Call Messages

ISUP Call Messages


ISUP Call Generation and Reception
MAPS™ ISUP is configured as end-terminals in the network simulating the ISUP signaling call and handling TDM traffic – voice, file, digits, VF, FAX, IVR over the established call.

ISUP Basic Call Generation

ISUP Basic Call Generation

ISUP Call Reception

ISUP Call Reception

ISUP Conformance

As an example, MAPS™ ISUP Conformance is configured (SP B) with GL’s DCOSS (DUT). The purpose of this conformance test is to verify that on receipt of a Reset Circuit message SP A (DUT) will respond by sending a Release Complete message.

Reset of circuits Conformance

Reset of circuits Conformance

The answer call conformance script is set against the Reset Circuit message in Incoming Call Handler Configuration, which is triggered when MAPS™ ISUP receives a release message with a given cause and the correct indication is given to the calling party. The call will be immediately released by the outgoing signaling point verifying the Unsuccessful call setup. The suggested causes are: unallocated number, no circuit available, switching equipment, and congestion.

Unsuccessful Call Setup Conformance

Unsuccessful Call Setup Conformance

A Typical MAPS™ SS7 Test System

A typical MAPS™ SS7 consists of:

  • A Python/Java interface communicating over TCP/IP to a Rack PC with T1 E1 Analyzer Software
  • The Rack PC consists of MAPS™ Client IFC, MAPS™ CLI Server, T1 E1 Analyzer Software (including Windows Client Server software) and a Dual T1 E1 Card
  • A patch panel for RJ-11 connections to the outside world (DUT)

    ISUP working principle

  • Python/Java Client – Acts as User Interface, which executes Python/Java Scripts
  • MAPS™ Python/Java Interface (MAPS Client IFC) – acts as an interface between MAPS™ CLI Server and its Python/Java client Python. It interprets the Python/Java commands and forms the appropriate command as understood by MAPS CLI Server and vice versa.
  • MAPS™ CLI Server is an executable that inherits all features of MAPS™ without GUI. It listens to a TCP message socket to receive and execute commands from client and sends the responses back to client.

T1 E1 Windows Client Server - Windows Client/Server software performs all SS7 emulation primitives including signaling, tone detection, call progress signals, file transfer, and many more functions.

In CLI, MAPS™ Server constitutes two server modules, namely MAPS™ CLI server and GL WCS server.

  • MAPS™ CLI Server
    MAPS™ CLI Server is an executable which inherits all features of MAPS™ without the graphical user interface. Instead it listens to TCP message socket to receive and execute commands from the client and sends the responses back to the client.
  • GL's Windows Client Server
    GL's Windows Client/Server software allows the user of T1 E1 analysis cards the capability of remote operation, automation, and multi-site connectivity.

    CLI server

    Python client recieves report event from the CLI server as shown in the below screenshot.

    Sample Python Script WCS Server Log
    Python client receives report event WCS Server Log

Resources

Please Note: The XX in the Item No. refers to the hardware platform, listed at the bottom of the Buyer's Guide, which the software will be running on. Therefore, XX can either be ETA or EEA (Octal/Quad Boards), PTA or PEA (tProbe Units), XUT or XUE (Dual PCIe Express) depending upon the hardware.

Item No. MAPS™ for TDM Network
(requires T1 or E1 Hardware and Basic Software)
XX649 MAPS™ SS7 Emulator
XX647 MAPS™ SS7 Conformance
XX652 MAPS™ MC-MLPPP Conformance
XX648 MAPS™ ISDN & LAPD Emulator
XX642 MAPS™ ISDN & LAPD Conformance Emulator
XX692 MAPS™ GSM A Emulator
XX693 MAPS™ GSM Abis Emulator
XX651 MAPS™ CAS Emulator
XX694 MAPS™ MAP Emulator
XX696 MAPS™ CAP Emulator
XX656 MAPS™ INAP Emulator
XX682 MAPS™ IUP Emulator
XX624 MAPS™ FXO FXS Emulator (only for tProbe)
  Related Hardware
FTE001

ETE001
QuadXpress T1 E1 Main Board (Quad Port– requires additional licenses) 

OctalXpress T1 E1 Main Board plus Daughter Board (Octal Port– requires additional licenses)
PTE001 tProbe™ Dual T1 E1 Laptop Analyzer with Basic Analyzer Software
XTE001
Dual T1 E1 Express (PCIe) Boards (requires additional licenses)
Item No. MAPS™ for Wireless Network
  Related Software
PKS140 MAPS™ LTE S1 Emulator
PKS142 MAPS™ LTE eGTP (S3, S4, S5, S8, S10, S11 & S16) Emulator
PKS141 MAPS™ LTE X2 AP Emulator
PKS146 MAPS™ SGs Interface Emulation
PKS160 MAPS™ UMTS IuCS IP Emulator
MAPS™ UMTS IuH IP Emulator
PKS164 MAPS™ UMTS IuPS Emulator
PKS166 MAPS™ UMTS Gn Gp Emulator
LTS220 MAPS UMTS IuCS ATM Emulator over OC-3 / STM-1
requires LTS214 + LightSpeed1000™ Hardware; optional LTS217
LTS214 OC-3 / STM-1 SSCOP Server
LTS320 MAPS UMTS IuCS ATM Emulator over OC-12 / STM-4
requires LTS314 + LightSpeed1000™ Hardware; optional LTS317
LTS314 OC-12 / STM-4 SSCOP Server
PKS131 MAPS™ Gb Emulator over IP for BSC & SGSN
  Related Hardware
LTS100 Lightspeed1000™ - Dual OC-3/12 STM-1/4 PCIe Card
 Item No. MAPS™ for IP Network
PKS122
PKS123
MAPS™ MEGACO Emulator
MAPS™ MEGACO Conformance Test Suite (Test Scripts)
PKS124
MAPS™ MGCP Protocol Emulation with Conformance Test Suite
PKS120
PKS121
MAPS™ SIP Emulator
SIP Conformance Test Suite (Test Scripts)
PKS126 MAPS™ SIP I Emulator
PKS130 MAPS™ SIGTRAN Emulator
PKS132 MAPS™ MAP IP Emulator

PKS147

MAPS™ Lb Interface Emulator

PKS148

MAPS™ SLs Interface Emulator

PKS153

MAPS™ IuPC Interface Emulator

PKS151 MAPS™ CAMEL IP Emulator
PKS135 MAPS™ ISDN SIGTRAN (ISDN IP)
PKS134 MAPS GSM Abis IP Emulator
PKS137 MAPS™ GSM A IP Emulator
PKS155 MAPS™ BICC IP Emulator
PKS136 MAPS™ INAP Emulator (ANSI, ITU)
PKS139 MAPS™ Diameter Emulator
Item No. Traffic Options
XX610
XX620
XX646
File based Record/Playback
Transmit/Detect digits (Place Call/ Answer Call)
Multi-Channel TRAU Tx/Rx Emulation and Analysis
PKS102 RTP Soft Core for RTP Traffic Generation
PKS200 RTP Pass Through Fax Emulation
ETH100

ETH101

ETH102

ETH103
PacketCheck™ - Packet GTP Traffic Simulation

Mobile Traffic Core-GTP


Mobile Traffic Core-Gateway

Mobile Traffic Core - GPRS Gb
LTS217 OC-3 / STM-1 AAL2 Traffic Core
LTS317 OC-12 / STM-4 AAL2 Traffic Core
Item No. Related Software
XX120 SS7 Analyzer Software
OLV120 Offline/ Remote SS7 Analyzer Software
XX100 ISDN Analyzer Software
OLV100 Offline/ Remote ISDN Analyzer Software
XX150 T1 or E1 Real-time GSM Protocol Analyzer
OLV150 Offline T1 or E1 GSM Protocol Analyzer
XX165 T1 or E1 Real-time UMTS Protocol Analyzer
PKS120 MAPS™ SIP Emulator
PKV100 PacketScan™ (Online and Offline)
PKB100
PKB105
RTP Toolbox™
G.168 Echo Canceller Test Compliance Suite
PKV105 SIGTRAN Analyzer (requires PKV100)
PKV107 LTE (Long Term Evolution) Analyzer (Optional with PacketScan™)