Signaling System 7 (SS7) is architecture for performing out-of-band signaling in support of the call-establishment, billing, routing, and information-exchange functions of the public switched telephone network (PSTN). It identifies functions to be performed by a signaling-system network and a protocol to enable their performance.

What is Signaling?

Signaling refers to the exchange of information between call components required to provide and maintain service.

As users of the PSTN, we exchange signaling with network elements all the time. Examples of signaling between a telephone user and the telephone network include: dialing digits, providing dial tone, accessing a voice mailbox, sending a call-waiting tone. SS7 is a means by which elements of the telephone network exchange information. Information is conveyed in the form of messages. SS7 messages can convey information such as:
" I'm forwarding to you a call placed from 212-555-1234 to 718-555-5678. Look for it on trunk 067.
" Someone just dialed 800-555-1212. Where do I route the call?
" The called subscriber for the call on trunk 11 is busy. Release the call and play a busy tone.
" The route to XXX is congested. Please don't send any messages to XXX unless they are of priority 2 or higher.
" I'm taking trunk 143 out of service for maintenance.
" SS7 is characterized by high-speed packet data and out-of-band signaling.

What is Out-of-Band Signaling?

Out-of-band signaling is signaling that does not take place over the same path as the conversation.

We are used to thinking of signaling as being in-band. We hear dial tone, dial digits, and hear ringing over the same channel on the same pair of wires. When the call completes, we talk over the same path that was used for the signaling. Traditional telephony used to work in this way as well. The signals to set up a call between one switch and another always took place over the same trunk that would eventually carry the call. Signaling took the form of a series of multi frequency (MF) tones, much like touch tone dialing between switches.

Out-of-band signaling establishes a separate digital channel for the exchange of signaling information. This channel is called a signaling link. Signaling links are used to carry all the necessary signaling messages between nodes. Thus, when a call is placed, the dialed digits, trunk selected, and other pertinent information are sent between switches using their signaling links, rather than the trunks which will ultimately carry the conversation. Today, signaling links carry information at a rate of 56 or 64 kbps. It is interesting to note that while SS7 is used only for signaling between network elements, the ISDN D channel extends the concept of out-of-band signaling to the interface between the subscriber and the switch. With ISDN service, signaling that must be conveyed between the user station and the local switch is carried on a separate digital channel called the D channel. The voice or data which comprise the call is carried on one or more B channels.

Why Out-of-Band Signaling?

Out-of-band signaling has several advantages that make it more desirable than traditional in-band signaling.
" It allows for the transport of more data at higher speeds (56 kbps can carry data much faster than MF out pulsing).
" It allows for signaling at any time in the entire duration of the call, not only at the beginning.
" It enables signaling to network elements to which there is no direct trunk connection.

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