Overview
SIGTRAN protocols are an extension of the SS7 protocol family, but carried over IP. A Signaling Gateway (SG)
translates the SS7 TDM layers to SIGTRAN IP format. It supports the same application and call management functions
as SS7 but uses two protocol layers on top of Internet Protocol (IP): Stream Control Transport Protocol (SCTP) and
M3UA (MTP3 User Adaptation Layer.
M3UA enables SS7 protocol's User Parts (e.g. ISUP, SCCP and TUP) to run over IP instead of TDM lines.
ISUP, or ISDN User Part, is used to set up and release calls through the PSTN. In an IP network, ISUP is carried
as payload by SCTP, as are SCCP and TUP. When a call is terminated in the IP Network, a soft switch translates
SIGTRAN into SIP or MGCP signaling. If the call is terminated in the PSTN, an SG reconverts SIGTRAN to SS7 TDM.
Message Automation & Protocol Simulation™ (MAPS) - SIGTRAN
Message Automation & Protocol Simulation™ (MAPS) is a powerful protocol test simulation platform supporting
a wide range protocols such as SIGTRAN (SS7 over IP), SS7 over TDM (T1 E1), ISDN over TDM (T1 E1), GSM-A & GSM-Abis
over TDM, Megaco, SIP, and MGCP over IP.
GL's MAPS-SIGTRAN™ is an advanced protocol simulator/tester for SS7 simulation over IP Networks.
It can simulate a Signaling Gateway and Softswitch ISUP signaling specification as defined by 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-SIGTRAN™ functionality covers the ITU and ANSI
variant of SS7 implementing M3UA, and ISUP protocols. It is able to run pre-defined test scenarios against ISUP test
objects in a controlled & deterministic manner.
MAPS SIGTRAN™ Conformance Scripts are suitable for compliance tests and functional tests, where test objects
can be accurately and reliably 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, and acceptance testing.
MAPS SIGTRAN™ 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.
Also available is an independent GUI based SIGTRAN (SS7 over IP) Protocol Analyzer 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
| Supported Protocols |
Standard / Specification Used |
| ISUP ITU |
ITU - Q.761, Q.762, Q.763 and Q.764 |
| ISUP Conformance testing |
ITU - Q.784.1 |
| ISUP ANSI |
ANSI - T1.113.1 to T1.113.4 |
| M3UA ITU |
RFC 3332 |
| M3UA ANSI |
RFC 3332 |
Applications
- Complete analysis and simulation capability on par with any protocol tester in the market
- Provides fault insertion, and erroneous call flows testing capability
- Functional testing, Regression testing and Conformance testing of network elements
- Ready scripts makes testing procedure simpler, less time consuming and hence time to market products
ISUP Testing Features
- SS7 simulation over IP
- User-friendly GUI for configuring the SS7 M3UA Layers
- User Configurable Signaling Links
- Supports M3UA and SCTP protocol machine
- Multiple M3UA 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
- 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:
(XX can either be HDT, HDE, HUT, HUE, UTA or UEA depending upon the T1/E1 hardware)
Specifications are subject to change without notice.
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