Common Channel Signaling Access Capability (CCSAC)/Signaling System 7

Product Description

Common Channel Signaling Access Capability (CCSAC) allows you to connect with the Brightspeed Signaling System 7 (SS7) network. CCSAC/SS7 provides the means for transmitting SS7 out-of-band signaling information via Common Channel Signaling (CCS) Links between your Signaling Point of Interface (SPOI) and Brightspeed's Signal Transfer Point (STP), or Facility Signaling Point of Interconnection (FSPOI). The STP provides translations and routing functions for SS7 signaling messages received from Brightspeed's network signaling points and the SS7 networks of other entities. These SS7 signaling messages are: Integrated Switched Digital Network User Part (ISUP) messages, used for call set-up (establishing and closing transmission paths for voice and data calls over the public switched network), and Transaction Capabilities Application Part (TCAP) messages, used to carry information between signaling points for call related database services.

CCSAC/SS7 acts as a platform for the following applications:

• Call Set-Up (ISUP) on Feature Group D (FG-D) and/or Local Interconnection Service (LIS) as well as call set-up on calls that do not utilize Brightspeed's switched access network
• Data Base Services, either Brightspeed databases or non-Brightspeed databases if available via Brightspeed:
  • 8XX Database Query Service
  • InterNetwork Calling Name (ICNAM)
  • Line Information Data Base (LIDB) which includes:
    • Alternate Billed Services (ABS)
    • Query Service
  • Local Number Portability (LNP)

CCSAC is provided by a CCS Link. The CCS Link provides digital bi-directional transmission and operates at a Digital Service Level 0 (DS0) (i.e., 56 Kilobit Bits Per Second (Kbps) of CCS7 signaling data and 8 Kbps of control/supervisory data). Each DS0-A (Access) channel occupies a single DS0 (i.e., 64 Kbps) channel of a 24-channel Digital Service Level 1 (DS1) digital transmission system that is used exclusively for signaling. The DS0-A channel is multiplexed into a DS1 format for hand off at your SPOI. One Signal Transfer Point (STP) Port is required for each 56 Kbps signaling link utilized for CCSAC at Brightspeed's Local Signal Transfer Point (LSTP). Your SPOI and Brightspeed's serving wire center must be located within the same Local Access and Transport Area (LATA). In certain states connection to a designated Brightspeed LSTP pair will provide signaling access to multiple LATAs. The STP Port is the point of termination to the signal switching capability of the STP and is dedicated to you.

If you are connecting a Signal Switching Point (SSP) to Brightspeed's LSTP pair or FSPOI pair, a minimum of two CCS Links is necessary. To connect a STP pair to Brightspeed's LSTP pair, or FSPOI pair, a minimum of four CCS Links is necessary.

Each Signaling Point (SP), in the SS7 network, is uniquely identified by a numeric point code. Point codes are carried in signaling messages exchanged between signaling points to identify the source and destination of each message. Each SP uses a routing table to select the appropriate signaling path for each message. There are multiple signaling locations in the SS7 network. They are described below:

• STPs are switches that provide CCS translation and routing functions for signaling messages received from network signaling entities. STPs are the "tandem switch" of the signaling network and are the first nodes encountered in the CCS network. STPs use information stored in memory to route messages to the appropriate destination signaling point. STPs are deployed as LSTPs or Regional Signal Transfer Points (RSTPs) in geographically separated mated pairs for reliability and redundancy.

• SSPs can be end offices, tandems, operator services switches, servers, or softswitches that have CCS and SSP capability. SSPs also serve as "control points" for data base query services by suspending call processing while accessing databases to obtain information required to complete the call.

• Service Control Points (SCP) are call-related databases connected to STPs to provide call control information. The SCP is a centralized on-line database that contains the application software and end-user related information required to provide transaction-based services, e.g., 8XX Database, ICNAM, LIDB and LNP.

• SPOI is much like a Point of Presence (POP) in that it is the component in CCSAC where requests for queries/information move to/from Brightspeed's CCSAC, to/from your internal CCSAC.

• FSPOI is a Company designated ordering point within a Company LATA to which customers may establish SS7 Signaling connections. FSPOIs are connected directly to LSTPs in other LATAs.

Availability

CCSAC/SS7 is offered per Brightspeed Operating Companies Tariff F.C.C. No. 11, Section 20 and State Access Tariffs where facilities exist throughout Brightspeed territories.

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