scope:

This standard addresses the testing required for internetwork connections employing Common Channel Signaling (CCS) based on Signaling System No. 7 (SS7) protocol used in North America. The internetwork connection may be either within or between North American countries. This standard provides a list of test scripts for testing compatibility between the interconnecting networks of the ISDN User Part (ISUP) of the SS7 protocol used for call control and circuit supervision. This standard references material in ANSI T1 SS7 protocol standards. (See clause 2.)

Purpose

This standard provides a uniform basis for testing the compatibility of the ISUP of the SS7 protocol implementation in the Signaling Points (SPs) of interconnection networks. This part of the protocol is used for call control (e.g., call setup/release) and circuit supervision.

Application

The nature of Common Channel Signaling makes it imperative that the SPs within interconnecting networks be compatible.

The primary application of this standard is to ensure that call control capabilities of SPs used for interconnecting networks employing SS7 protocol in North America are addressed appropriately. It is assumed that the MTP levels 2 and 3 compatibility tests have been performed successfully between interconnecting networks.

The interconnecting networks may have call-through tests they wish to perform in addition to the tests listed in this standard. In that case, those tests would be outside of this standard, and should be part of a bilateral agreement developed for SS7 network interconnection testing.

Compatibility testing may disturb the operation of the SPs. Any ISUP tests that may cause disturbance to the SPs should be carefully selected to meet the operational criteria of the two interconnecting SS7 networks.