scope:

This Recommendation specifies the signalling transport converter sublayer on top of the message transfer part (MTP) specified in ITU-T Q.704 [4] "MTP3" and ITU-T Q.2210 [6] "MTP3b"; both Recommendations specify the peer-to-peer protocol for the transfer of information and control between any pair of MTP level 3 entities. Since the service provided by either of these Recommendations is the same, this Recommendation only describes the actions in terms of MTP3 for clarity of expression. This Recommendation covers the specification of the sublayer structure, the PDU structures of the signalling transport converter sublayer, and the mechanisms for the provision of the Generic Signalling Transport Service.

When this Signalling Transport Converter on MTP is applied for a signalling protocol entity, that entity is liberated from considering peculiarities of the underlying signalling transport service. This is achieved by relying on a Generic Signalling Transport Service that is provided, for example, by the sublayer specified in this Recommendation.

This Recommendation describes the interactions between the Signalling Transport Converter (STC) and the next higher layer, e.g. the AAL type 2 or BICC signalling protocol entity, between the STC and the Message Transfer Part, and between the STC and layer management.