Overview
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.
Message Automation & Protocol Simulation™ (MAPS) - SS7
GL's Message Automation & Protocol Simulation™ (MAPS) is a powerful Protocol Test platform-supporting a wide range protocols such as SS7
over TDM (E1/T1), ISDN over TDM, GSM-A interface & GSM-Abis interface over TDM, Megaco, SIP, and MGCP.
GL's MAPS-SS7 is an advanced protocol simulator/tester for SS7 simulation over TDM (T1E1) that can simulate Service Switching Point (SSP)
and ISUP signaling specification as defined by the ITU-T 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.
MAPS-SS7 Conformance Scripts, suitable 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.
MAPS-SS7 supports powerful utilities like Message Editor and Script Editor which allow new scenarios to be created or existing scenarios to be
modified using ISUP messages and parameters.
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.
Protocol Standards
This test tool can also be used to perform protocol conformance testing as per the following specifications -
- ITU-T Recommendation Q.761 - 764
- ITU-T Recommendation Q.784.1
- ANSI T1.113 specification
Future enhancements include testing SS7 over IP (SCTP/M3UA).
ISUP Testing Features
- SS7 (SSP) simulation over TDM (E1/T1)
- Multiple E1/T1 line interfaces supported
- User-friendly GUI for configuring the SS7 MTP Layers
- User Configurable Signaling Links
- User-configured Circuit Mapping, i.e defines Circuit Identification Codes (CIC) and map these CICs to Timeslots/Trunks in order to enable Voice/Data traffic
- Supports MTP2 and MTP3 protocol machine
- Multiple MTP links
- Access to all ISUP Message Parameters Initial Address, Subsequent Address, Release messages, and more
- User controlled access to optional ISUP parameters such as timers
- Subsequent Address Message (SAM) configurations available
- Fully Supported Continuity Testing (COT) that includes both COT messages
- Ready scripts for conformance testing
- Logging of all SS7 Messages in real time. Each SS7 message displays CIC values defined within the message
- Save and Load Configurations
- Supported on Windows® 2000/XP/Vista operating systems
Automatic Simulation Behavior (Generate and respond to calls/ messages):
- Call Generation Configuration: Allows independent outgoing communications. The Call Generation interpretation of establishing call is to invoke the required
scripts for call transfer.
- Editing utilities allow access to Mandatory Fixed, Mandatory Variable and Optional parameters using Message Templates, Import, and Export files
- Change parameters values using an utility Profile Editor
- Impairments can be applied to messages to simulate error conditions
- High volume traffic options – DTMF/MF generator/detector, single and dDual tone, Tx and Rx Voice files (scripted), and analyzing the received
voice files in VQT for Voice Quality Test
- Retransmission of messages with specific interval
- Provides protocol trace with full message decoding, custom trace, and graphical ladder diagrams of call flow with time stamp while
simulation is running
- Option to run the test for multiple iterations
- Quick configurations to create multiple entries
- Interactive GUI t o view status, results, call information, total iterations to be done, and number of completed iterations
- Provides the associated captured events and error events during call simulation
- Call Reception Configuration: Allows configuring incoming communications to handle all possible signaling and call control messages for responding to
the call requests.
- Automatic response to incoming messages - Processes the ISUP messages received based on the script specified in the script configuration
window
- Provide the result of the test with detail protocol decode and ladder diagram
Software Architecture
- Script based & protocol independent software architecture
- Quick-testing to complex testing
- Customization of call flow and messages
- Generate and respond to calls/ messages
- Monitor the call flow graphically (ladder diagrams)
Working Principle
The message templates form the backbone of MAPS application. The Message Editor is a powerful utility of MAPS application, which allows users to
create any number of message templates with user-selected protocol fields and default values for each protocol field.
The protocol fields in message templates comprises of Mandatory fixed, Mandatory variable and Mandatory Optional Parameters, and these can be
accessed by scripts as variables using import/export files.
The scripts comprises of sequence of commands that performs the required operation using pre-defined message templates. The Script Editor is
another powerful utility of MAPS, in which sequences of message templates can be grouped together in an order to create call flow.
Profile consists of values assigned to the variables. Profiles can be created using a utility called Profile Editor where the values can be assigned to the
variables. The original value of the variables in the message template is replaced with these assigned values.
MAPS provides the ability to create any number of scripts to simulate a real-time scenario with MAPS-SS7 and DUT.
Buyer's Guide:
| Item No. |
Item Description |
| XX600 |
Basic Client/Server Scripted Control Software |
| XX649 |
Message Automation & Protocol Simulation (MAPS) for ISUP
(XX can either be HDT, HDE, HUT, HUE, UTA or UEA depending upon the T1/E1 hardware) |
| XX647 |
Message Automation & Protocol Simulation (MAPS) for ISUP Conformance Scripts
(XX can either be HDT, HDE, HUT, HUE, UTA or UEA depending upon the T1/E1 hardware) |
| |
Related Software |
| XX648 |
Message Automation and Protocol Simulation (MAPS) for ISDN
(XX can either be HDT, HDE, HUT, HUE, UTA or UEA depending upon the T1/E1 hardware) |
| XX120 |
SS7 Analyzer Software |
| OLV120 |
Offline/ Remote SS7 Analyzer Software |
PKS120
PKS121
PKS122
PKS123
PKS124
PKS125 |
Message Automation & Protocol Simulation (MAPS) for SIP
MAPS - SIP Conformance Test Suite (Test Scripts)
Message Automation & Protocol Simulation (MAPS) for MEGACO
MEGACO Conformance Suite (Test Scripts)
Message Automation and Protocol Simulation (MAPS) for MGCP
MGCP Conformance Suite (Test Scripts) |
| |
Related Hardware |
| HDT001/HDE001 |
Legacy HD T1 or E1 (PCI) Cards with Basic Analyzer Software |
| HTE001 |
Universal T1/E1 Card |
| UTE001 |
Portable USB based Dual T1 or E1 Laptop Analyzer |
Specifications are subject to change without notice.
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