GLOSSARY OF ACRONYMS & TERMS USED IN TSNP NOTES

Loop - A condition in subscriber line that results in a current flow in the local loop. The flow of
loop current is sensed at the exchange to detect off-hook condition.

Local Loop - The circuit with two wires (or pair) that connects the exchange to the subscriber's
telephone is called local loop.

Off-Hook - The receiver of telephone instrument is normally kept on-hook to receive any
incoming call. When we want to make a call, we take the receiver Off-Hook. This operates a
switch and a low impedance path is offered across the two wires from the exchange resulting in
a current flow in the loop.

E & M Signalling - A form of Line Signalling used in trunk circuits using either ground (0V)
or -48V for conveying states. E, derived from Ear, is the input to an exchange and M, derived
from Mouth, is the output from an exchange.

FDM System - A system that transmits more trunk channels on a single analog link by
Frequency Division Multiplexing, where different trunk channels occupy different frequency
bands.

TDM System - This uses the method of sending more trunk channels on a single digital link by
Time Division Multiplexing, where different trunk channels occupy different time slots.

CAS - Channel Associated Signalling is a particular way of conveying signalling information

on an individual channel or circuit basis. In this method, the signalling related to a particular
channel is conveyed in the same physical circuit that carries the voice. The voice together with
associated signalling is loosely referred to as a trunk circuit.

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CCS - Common Channel Signalling is a way of conveying signalling information related to a
group of voice circuits in a single message channel. The signalling is carried in the form of
messages that will be interpreted by the processors in call control functions of exchanges.

Line Signalling - This relates to conveying conditions of circuits or change of conditions of

circuits - like seizure, seizure acknowledgement, clear forward, answer.

Register Signalling - As opposed to Line Signalling, which has to be used continuously to

indicate the status of the circuits. Register Signalling is used only during call set up for
conveying called party number, calling party number, subscriber priority, status of called party,
etc.

In Band Signalling - When a particular form of signalling uses the voice band (0.3 - 3.4 kHz)
for conveying information, then this is said to be In Band. DTMF and MF signalling fall into
this category. Since voice band cannot be used during active conversation, this can be used
only for conveying Register Signalling.

Out of Band Signalling - When a scheme uses any means other than the voice band, then the
scheme used is called Out of Band Signalling (or Out Band). E & M signalling, Loop
signalling, 3.825 kHz signalling are examples of Out Band signalling.

DTDF - Dual Tone Multi Frequency signalling is a form of In Band signalling used for
conveying the digits dialed by the subscriber to the exchange by transmitting two frequencies,
one each from a low band & high band frequencies. The combination conveys the dialed digit.

MF - Muti Frequency signalling is used for conveying Register Signals between exchanges.
This is done by transmitting 2 out of 6 frequencies, (2 out of 5 frequencies in Indian network)
thereby giving 15 combinations (10 combinations in Indian network).

Forward Signalling - A trunk can be used by an exchange for making an outgoing call. At this
time, the signalling done by this exchange is called Forward Signalling.

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Backward Signalling - The signalling done by an exchange receiving an incoming call is called
Backward Signalling.

Calling Line Identification (CLI) - Though the called number is not required for routing a call,
the number of the calling subscriber is required in identifying the calling line. Hence, the
signalling provides for conveying the digits of the calling line. This is called CLI and this
feature has been used from the earliest time for tracing malicious calls.

Decadic Dialing - The earliest form of conveying digits was by creating a Make / Break in the
loop current flowing in the local loop. The digit is conveyed by number of pulses in the
Make/Break sequence, with 0 being conveyed by 10 pulses. This method has also been adapted
for conveying digits between exchanges by pulsing M line in the case of E & M trunks and a bit
in the case of digit R2.

Seizure - This forward line signal conveys that an exchange wants to make an outgoing call.

Seizure Acknowledgement - This backward line signal is sent by an exchange in response to

seizure and this conveys its readiness to receive an incoming call .

Answer - This is a backward line signal sent by an exchanging conveying that the called party
has answered. This signal will the used by the originating exchange for charging for the call.

Clear Forward - This forward signal conveys that the circuit can be cleared in the forward
direction (it implies that the calling subscriber has gone on-hook). Usually, this will result in
the entire chain of trunk circuits being released in a step by step manner.

Clear Backward - This backward signal conveys that the circuit can be released in the
backward direction. Due to the calling line release principle, this signal will be carried upto the
originating exchange, which will usually initiate a time out expiry of which will result in call
release. The call is held till the expiry of time.

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Release Guard - This signal is sent in response to either Clear Forward or Clear Backward
signal. This is a backward signal acknowledging the forward signal Clear Forward. This
forward signal is sent in response to a backward Clear Backward signal after necessary time out
at the originating exchange.

Blocking - This is a backward signal sent during idle condition to indicate that the trunk circuit
is not available for making calls.

SS7 - Signalling System # 7 is one of the standards specified by CCITT for common channel
signalling and this is generally called SS7.

MTP - Message Transfer Part collectively refers to the physical layer, data link layer and
network layer that are involved in transfer of signalling messages from the sending Signalling
Point to receiving Signalling Point across the signalling network.

MTP1 - Message Transfer Part 1 refers to the physical layer function that is responsible for
carrying signalling messages from one SP to another SP.

MTP2 - This refers to that part that carries functions related to data link layer of SS7. The
functions include error detection, error control through retransmission, sequence control,
providing assistance in flow control, alignment and others

MTP3 - The part that performs network layer function of SS7 network is called MTP3. The
jobs of this part include routing, link management, route management, traffic management.

SP - Signalling Point is that functionality that performs signalling functions of call control in an
exchange.

STP - Signal Transfer Point performs the function of routing messages between SPs / STPs.
STP may also be serving an exchange or it may merely be providing the routing function.

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Signall Unit (SU) - MTP1 carries messages in the form of SUs, which contain Flags, Check bits
along with information bits. There are three types of SUs, viz., FISUs, LSSUs and MSUs.

FISU - Fill In Signal Unit are sent on the signalling data link when there are either MSUs or
LSSUs to be sent. Transmission of this helps in keeping the data links aligned and also perform
error estimation.

LSSU - Link Status Signal Unit conveys information related to status of the link (like Out of
Alignment, Out of Service, Busy).

MSU - Message Signal Unit carries the user & management information related to higher layers
of SS7. MTP2 performs error control and sequence control for MSUs. In case FISUs or LSSUs
are in error no attempt is made to recover SUs in error, whereas MSUs received in error are
retransmitted.

FSN - MSUs are given a sequence number (between 0 to 127) for the purpose of error control.
Forward Sequence Number refers to the sequence number of the message currently being sent
(or the previous message sent in case of LSSUs and FISUs).

FIB - Forward Indicator Bit indicates whether the MSU is a fresh message or a retransmission
of a previous message. This bit is inverted from the previously transmitted value to indicate
start of a retransmission cycle.

BSN - Backward Sequence Number indicates the sequence number of the last MSU that was
received without error at the receiving end.

BIB - Normally FIB received is sent as Backward Indicator Bit. However, when an error has
been detected, negative acknowledgement is sent by inverting the received FIB and assigning
the value of the last FSN correctly received to BSN.

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Zero Insertion - Flag bits 01111110 are used as delimiter between SUs. To prevent data bits
from imitating flag bits, condition of consecutive five 1s (11111) is detected and 0 is inserted in
the data field before transmission. This extra 0 inserted is removed at the receiving end. This is
called zero insertion.

SNM - Signalling Network Management function in MTP3 performs route management, link
management and traffic management.

User Part - MTP1, MTP2 and MTP3 exist for allowing the message flow between call control
functions of exchanges. The user part generates and uses the messages. Telephone User Part
(TUP), ISDN User Part (ISUP) and Signalling Connection Control Part (SCCP) are some of the
user parts.

TUP - This supports the conventional telephony using circuit switched connections.

ISUP - While ISUP can also support normal telephony applications, it is targeted for supporting
ISDN services.

Compiled by:
Hemant Kumar Rath,
Associate Professor,
School of Electronics Engineering,
KIIT Bhubaneswar