Layered Architectures Tutorial

Postal Service
Communications Example
Simplified Layered Architecture

User layer protocols

User User

User-Network
interface
Network layer protocols
Network Network

Network-Carrier
interface

Physical Physical layer protocols Physical

Carrier Carrier
Layered Architectures for Data
Communications
Virtual Layer N
Layer N Layer N Receives
Data
Data from
Layer N
Virtual Layer N-1
(N-1) Layer N-1 Layer N-1
Services Peels Off
Its Data
Layer N-1
Add Its Info
Virtual Layer N-2
(N-2) Layer N-2 Layer N-2
Services Peels Off
Its Data
Layer N-2
Add Its Info
Physical
Layer 1 Layer 1 Layer 1
Service
Machine A Machine B

• Onion analogy: each layer’s data forms a ‘skin’ around previous data
• Protocol: communication between equal layers
• Interface: communication between adjacent layers
The Open Systems Interconnection
(OSI) Reference Model
• Goal: to establish a universally accepted structured approach for
communication between open systems

• Initiated by the ISO in 1977

• Adopted by the CCITT (X.200)

• OSI reference model

- basic architecture
- layer service definitions
- protocol specifications
Communication across a
Packet-Switched Network (OSI Model)
User User
Process Process

Application

Presentation

Session

Transport

Network

Data Link

Physical

Physical Media Physical Media

End Intermediate End
System Node System
An OSI Data Transfer

User User User

Process Data Process

User
Application AH Application
Data

Presentation PH Data Unit Presentation

Session SH Data Unit Session

Transport TH Data Unit Transport

Network NH Data Unit Network

Data Link LH Data Unit LT Data Link

Physical Bit stream Physical

Physical Media
Overview of GSM Interfaces and
Signalling Protocols
GSM Signalling and
Transport Layers
Signalling D VLR G
Layer HLR
VLR
C B
E
F
SSP SSP SSP
EIR
SS7 Network
Fixed
Station Local SS7 Network
Fixed A
Exchange SSP SSP

Transport Um
MSC
Layer Trunk
Network A
MSC BSS
PSTN/ISDN PLMN MS

MSC - Mobile Services Switching Centre EIR - Equipment Identity Register

BSS - Base Station System MS - Mobile Station
HLR - Home Location Register SSP - Service Signalling Point in SS7 Network
VLR - Visitor Location Register
Signalling System 7 (SS7)
SSP - Service Signalling Point
STP - Signal Transfer Point
SCP - Service Control Point

STP STP
SCP

SSP

STP STP SSP

The SS7 Architecture
OSI Model SS7 Protocol Model
OMAP - Operations Maintenance
and Administration Part Non-Circuit related Circuit related

ASE - Application Service

Element
OMAP ASEs
TCAP - Transaction Capabilities
Application Part
Application
TCAP
ISDN-UP - ISDN User Part

SCCP - Signalling Connection ISDN-UP

Control Part User
Presentation
Parts
MTP - Message Transfer Part Null
Session

Transport

SCCP

Network
MTP Level 3
Transport
Data Link MTP Level 2 Services
Parts
Physical MTP Level 1
Mobile Application Part (MAP)
• Location registration and cancellation

• Handover procedures Mobile Application Part

MAP
• Handling of supplementary services

• Retrieval of subscriber parameters during call set-up Mobile

OMAP ASEs
Application
• Authentication procedures Entity (AE)

• OA&M
TCAP

SCCP

MTP L3

MTP L2

MTP L1
Intelligent Networks - CAMEL
IN Implementation in a GSM Network

SCP - Service Control Point SCP Manages

SSF - Service Switching Function service aspects
INAP - Intelligent Network Application
Part of C7
 
SCP
Eg. Pre-paid accounts

MAP - Mobile Application Part of C7

MAP MAP
SSF VLR VLR SSF
HLR
 
MSC MSC

HLR/VLR’s
BSS BSS BSS BSS
Manage
Mobility
 The Intelligent Network

• Charging options
– Freephone
– Local rates The IN adds a computer
and voice system to the
– Premium rates
fixed network
• Routing options
– Group calls
• Network call centre options Service Control Point
• Virtual Private Networks
– Personal calls
Intelligent Peripheral
• one number
• configurable routing
CAMEL
• Customised Applications for Mobile Network
Enhanced Logic
• Designed to support operator specific services whilst
roaming
– E.g. keying your usual number to recover voice
mail
• Allows a mobile network to offer IN facilities
• Specific CAMEL subscription info is transferred when
mobile registers in foreign network
• All calls to and from Camel customers are referred
back to home network.
BSS/MSC Interface (A)
BSSAP - BSS Application Part
DTAP - Direct Transfer Application Part
BSSMAP - BSS Management BSSAP
Application Part
BSSOMAP- Operations and Maintenance
Application Part
DTAP BSSMAP
SCCP - Signalling Connection Control
Part
MTP - Message Transfer Part

Distribution BSSOMAP

A
SCCP
MSC BSS
MTP Level 3

MTP Level 2

MTP Level 1
32-Channel
E1 Digital Facilities
A-Interface to MSC
One PCM 30 Frame

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

SIGNALING
SYNC

Voice and/or Data Voice and/or Data

GSM A-Interface
Signalling Protocol Stack

Connectivity Management
Mobility Management
BSS Application Part
Signalling Connect Control Part
Message Transport Part – Layer 3
Message Transport Part – Layer 2
Message Transport Part – Layer 1
BSC/BTS Interface (A-bis)

Abis
BTS BSC

Radio Link Other Processes

Distribution

Traffic Management
Procedures

Transport Non
L3
Transport

Network
Distribution
Management
L2
Management

L2 LAPD

L1 Physical Layer
Mobile Station/Base
Station Interface (Um)
CC - Call Control entity
SS - Supplementary Services support entity Um
SMS - Short Message Service support entity
LAPDm - Link Access Procedures on Dm
channel (Similar to ISDN LAPD)

MS

Connection Management (CM)

CC SS SMS
L3
Mobility Management (MM)
Radio Resource Management (RR)

L2 LAPDm

Physical Layer
L1 (RADIO SUBSYSTEM)
Protocol Summary
MS–BTS–BSC–MSC Signalling Protocol Model

MS BTS BSC MSC

Um A-bis A

MS CM

MM MM

BSSAP
RR RR BSSAP

RR’ BTSM BTSM SCCP SCCP

LAPDm LAPDm LAPDm LAPD

MTP MTP
Phys. Phys. Phys. Phys.
Mobile Station
Functional Models
MT0
Speech-only
Mobile Data MT0 Mobiles
Terminal MT0

ISDN Speech and ISDN Equipment

Data Terminal MT1
Interface
(TE1) S

Non-ISDN Data Phone

Terminal (TE2)
ISDN Equipment
Interface MT1
R
S
ISDN TA

X- or V- Series
Terminal Equipment
Data Interface MT2
Terminal R
(TE2)