MAPS™ INAP Emulator
Simulation of Intelligent Network (IN) services using SS7 INAP (Intelligent Network Application Part) protocol over IP/TDM/ATM between gsmSCF and gsmSSF network elements.
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Background
Traditional telecommunications networks usually limited to making and receiving voice calls are now supporting enhanced services such as prepaid calling, tele-voting, number portability, call transfer, and so on. Such enhanced Intelligent Network (IN) services were defined by the ANSI and ITU-T standards. The core IN specifications defines Intelligent Network Application Part (INAP) as an application-layer protocol used in Intelligent Networks (IN). INAP is part of SS7 protocol suite and used for services such as single number translation (800), local number portability, incoming call management (do not disturb or call forwarding), backup call destinations in case of disaster, Apply Charging for the call duration, Establish Temporary Connection, Connect to Resources, and similar services. This protocol runs on top of TCAP and is deployed using SS7 or SIGTRAN.
The communication between SSPs in the SS7 network uses ISUP signaling. The communication between the SSP and the SCP takes place using the TCAP layer of SS7. As the SSP handles calls, the SCP is queried for information about how to process the IN service calls.
The functionality provided by the Intelligent Network (IN) is applicable to mobile/wireless networks, which includes mobility management to the task of implementing distributed IN services.
Intelligent Network Application Part (INAP) over TDM/ATM/IP provides the communication between the Functional Entities such as SSF and SCF, typically layered over TCAP similar to the mobile protocols. The Telephone exchange uses TCAP, SCCP and INAP.
The Service Switching Function (SSF) normally resides within the SSP and the Service Control Function (SCF) within the SCP. As the SSP handles calls, the SCP is queried for information about how to process the IN service calls. In IN network Service Switching Point (SSP) sends an INAP Initial Detection Point (IDP) message to the Service Control Point (SCP).
Overview
GL's Message Automation & Protocol Simulation (MAPS™) is an advanced protocol simulator/tester for INAP (Intelligent Network Application Part) over TDM/ATM/IP services. The tester supports testing network elements gsmSCF and gsmSSF, error tracking, regression testing, conformance testing, and load testing/call generation. It is able to run pre-defined test scenarios against INAP test objects in a controlled & deterministic manner.
MAPS™ INAP functionality covers the ITU and ANSI variants of SS7 implementing M3UA, M2PA, M2UA, MTP3 and ISUP protocols over TDM and IP and ATM-transport protocols,-only INAP ANSI is supported over ATM. INAP can be transported using 'traditional' SS7 protocols carried by Message Transfer Protocol (MTP) in TDM/ATM (T1 and E1) or over IP using SIGTRAN. With the popularity of the internet and IP, a special IP protocol called SIGTRAN is rapidly gaining acceptance to transport SS7 signaling over IP.
MAPS™ INAP scripts are suitable for testing objects reliably and accurately validated for compliance with ANSI, and ITU-T specifications.
As per ANSI specifications, the supported services are CNAM (Calling Name Delivery), LNP (Local Number Portability), and Toll-free 800 Number over TCAP/ATM/IP layer as per ANSI. There are few other procedures supported such as Prepaid Voice Call Service, Toll Free Voice Call Service, Low Balance Voice Call Service, and Initiate Call Attempt (ICA) Service over IP as per ITU-T specifications.
The application gives the users the unlimited ability to edit INAP messages and to create IN service scenarios (message sequences). "Message sequences" are generated through scripts. "Messages" are created using message templates.
MAPS™ ANSI INAP ATM uses SSCOP server for establishing SSCOP links over which IN signaling will be carried further for making calls. SSCOP Server is GL's WCS based server module and provides SSCOP, and AAL5 layer services. Only INAP ANSI is supported over ATM
Over successfully established call, traffic can be generated. MAPS™ ANSI INAP ATM internally uses AAL5 Traffic Generator for traffic generation. Various traffic types like Tone, Digits and File playback are supported.
The AAL5 traffic simulation supports the following actions:
- Transmitting Voice Files
- Transmitting DTMF, MF Digits, and other Tones and Dual Tones
- Recording Voice Files
- Monitoring Single and Dual Tones, DTMF, and MF digits
MAPS™ supports Command Line Interface (CLI) and when configured as server-side application enables remote controlling of the application through multiple command-line based clients including Python and Java, using MAPS™ client-server architecture (requires additional license).
GL also provides an independent GUI based SS7 protocol analyzers (optional application – XX120) and SIGTRAN Analyzer for online capture and decode of the signaling in real-time both during tests and as a stand-alone tracer for live systems.
Possible applications include:
- Multi-protocol, Multi-interface Simulation
- Provides fault insertion, and erroneous call flows testing capability
- Performance testing, Load Testing, Functional testing, Regression testing and Conformance testing of network elements
- Ready scripts make testing procedure simpler, less time consuming and hence time to market products
- Test response of network against protocol message modification, or corruption
- Inter-operability testing of networks
Supported Protocols Standards
 ITU INAP TDM Protocol Stack |
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 ITU INAP ATM Protocol Stack |
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 ANSI INAP ATM Protocol Stack |
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 ANSI INAP IP Protocol Stack |
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 ITU INAP IP Protocol Stack |
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Typical Call Procedures
Shown below are the typical INAP procedures over IP TDM and ATM interfaces:
CNAM (Calling Name Delivery) Service
LNP (Local Number Portability) Service
Toll-free 800 Number Service
Prepaid Voice Call Service
Toll Free Voice Call Service
Initial Call Attempt (ICA) Service
Low Balance Voice Call Service
(playAnnouncement on Low Balance)
Low Balance Voice Call Service
(Release on Low Balance)
Call Generation and Reception
Call Generation option allows the user to simulate outgoing communications where an outgoing call is initiated by sending call control messages using proper scripts and profiles. The profile allows necessary parameters of call control messages to be changed during run-time.
The MAPS™ INAP TDM/ATM/IP configured to act as GSM SSF terminal to simulate Camel Voice calls prepaid service. The Prepaid Voice call procedure specifies the charging related information to be provided by the SSF and the conditions on which the information has to be reported back to the SCF via the "ApplyChargingReport" operation. The contents are Network Operator specific.
Prepaid Voice Call Service at gsmSSF Node
MAPS™ INAP IP can also be configured as gsmSCF node to test the DUT (gsmSSF). The Voice Call Service script is triggered once the initialDP message is received from gsmSSF, which is processed and a response notifying SSF about the call related events is sent back. Followed by which Apply Charging operation is used to interact with the SSF about charging mechanisms.
Prepaid Voice Call Service at gsmSCF Node
Resources
Please Note: The XX in the Item No. refers to the hardware platform, listed at the bottom of the Buyer's Guide, which the software will be running on. Therefore, XX can either be ETA or EEA (Octal/Quad Boards), PTA or PEA (tProbe Units), XUT or XUE (Dual PCIe Express) depending upon the hardware.
| Item | Description |
| PKS136 | MAPS™ INAP over IP Emulator (ANSI, ITU) |
| XX656 | MAPS™ INAP (over T1 E1) Emulator |
| Item No. | MAPS™ for Wireless Network |
| LTS220 | MAPS™ UMTS IuCS ATM Emulator over OC-3 / STM-1 requires LTS214 + LightSpeed1000™ Hardware; optional LTS217 |
| LTS214 | OC-3 / STM-1 SSCOP Server |
| LTS320 | MAPS™ UMTS IuCS ATM Emulator over OC-12 / STM-4 requires LTS314 + LightSpeed1000™ Hardware; optional LTS317 |
| LTS314 | OC-12 / STM-4 SSCOP Server |
| LTS217 | OC-3 / STM-1 AAL2 Traffic Core |
| LTS317 | OC-12 / STM-4 AAL2 Traffic Core |
| Item No. | MAPS™ for IP Network |
| PKS122 PKS123 |
MAPS™ MEGACO Emulator MAPS™ MEGACO Conformance Test Suite (Test Scripts) |
| PKS124 | MAPS™ MGCP Protocol Emulation with Conformance Test Suite |
| PKS120 PKS121 |
MAPS™ SIP Emulator SIP Conformance Test Suite (Test Scripts) |
| PKS127 | MAPS™ IMS Emulator |
| PKS130 | MAPS™ SIGTRAN Emulator |
| PKS132 | MAPS™ MAP IP Emulator |
| PKS136 | MAPS™ SIGTRAN SS7 INAP |
| PKS152 | MAPS™ SIGTRAN ANSI MAP |
| PKS300 | MAPS™ Multi-Interface MGC |
| XX649 | MAPS™ SS7 Emulator |
| XX647 | MAPS™ SS7 Conformance |
| XX651 | MAPS™ CAS Emulator |
| XX694 | MAPS™ MAP Emulator |
| XX696 | MAPS™ CAP Emulator |
| XX656 | MAPS™ INAP Emulator |
| Related Hardware | |
|---|---|
| FTE001 ETE001 |
QuadXpress T1E1 Main Board (Quad Port - requires additional licenses) OctalXpress T1E1 Main Board plus Daughter Board (Octal Port - requires additional licenses) |
| PTE001 | tProbe™ Dual T1 E1 Laptop Analyzer with Basic Analyzer Software |
| XTE001 | Dual T1 E1 Express (PCIe) Boards (requires additional licenses) |
| Item No. | Traffic Options |
| GTP Mobile Traffic Options | |
| ETH101 ETH102 ETH103 |
MobileTrafficCore - GTP MobileTrafficCore - Gateway MobileTrafficCore for Gb Interface |
| TDM Traffic Options | |
| XX610 XX620 XX646 |
File based Record/Playback Transmit/Detect digits (Place Call/ Answer Call) Multi-Channel TRAU Tx/Rx Emulation and Analysis |
| LTS217 | OC-3 / STM-1 AAL2 Traffic Core |
| LTS317 | OC-12 / STM-4 AAL2 Traffic Core |