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draft-ietf-sigtran-m3ua-12

Description: Request For Comments

You can download source copies of the file as follows:

draft-ietf-sigtran-m3ua-12.txt in text format.

Listed below is the contents of file draft-ietf-sigtran-m3ua-12.txt.


Network Working Group                                   Greg Sidebottom
INTERNET-DRAFT                                      gregside consulting
                                       Javier Pastor-Balbas, Ian Rytina
                                                               Ericsson
                                                           Guy Mousseau
                                                        Nortel Networks
                                                             Lyndon Ong
                                                                  Ciena
                                             Hanns Juergen Schwarzbauer
                                                                Siemens
                                                      Klaus Gradischnig
                                                                NeuStar
                                                          Ken Morneault
                                                                  Cisco
                                                          Mallesh Kalla
                                                              Telcordia
                                                         Normand Glaude
                                               Performance Technologies
                                                         Brian Bidulock
                                                                OpenSS7
                                                          John Loughney
                                                                  Nokia
                                                    
Expires in six months                                         Feb 2002

                SS7 MTP3-User Adaptation Layer (M3UA)
                  <draft-ietf-sigtran-m3ua-12.txt>

Status of This Memo

This document is an Internet-Draft and is in full conformance with all 
provisions of Section 10 of RFC 2026. Internet-Drafts are working 
documents of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), its areas, and 
its working groups.  Note that other groups may also distribute working 
documents as Internet-Drafts.

Internet-Drafts are draft documents valid for a maximum of six months 
and may be updated, replaced, or obsoleted by other documents at any 
time.  It is inappropriate to use Internet-Drafts as reference material 
or to cite them other than as 'work in progress.'

     The list of current Internet-Drafts can be accessed at
     http://www.ietf.org/1id-abstracts.html

     The list of Internet-Draft Shadow Directories can be accessed at
     http://www.ietf.org/shadow.html

To learn the current status of any Internet-Draft, please check the 
'1id-abstracts.txt' listing contained in the Internet- Drafts Shadow 
Directories on ftp.is.co.za (Africa), nic.nordu.net (Europe), 
munnari.oz.au (Pacific Rim), ftp.ietf.org (US East Coast), or 
ftp.isi.edu (US West Coast).

Sidebottom et al                                              [Page 1]

Internet Draft         SS7 MTP3-User Adaptation Layer         Feb 2002

Abstract

This Internet Draft defines a protocol for supporting the transport of 
any SS7 MTP3-User signalling (e.g., ISUP and SCCP messages) over IP 
using the services of the Stream Control Transmission Protocol.  Also, 
provision is made for protocol elements that enable a seamless 
operation of the MTP3-User peers in the SS7 and IP domains. This 
protocol would be used between a Signalling Gateway (SG) and a Media 
Gateway Controller (MGC) or IP-resident Database.  It is assumed that 
the SG receives SS7 signalling over a standard SS7 interface using the 
SS7 Message Transfer Part (MTP) to provide transport. 

Sidebottom et al                                              [Page 2]

Internet Draft         SS7 MTP3-User Adaptation Layer         Feb 2002

                        TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Introduction.......................................................4
    1.1 Scope.........................................................4
    1.2 Terminology...................................................4
    1.3 M3UA Overview.................................................6
    1.4 Functional Areas.............................................10
    1.5 Sample Configurations........................................16
    1.6 Definition of M3UA Boundaries................................19
2. Conventions.......................................................24
3. M3UA Protocol Elements............................................24
    3.1 Common Message Header........................................24
    3.2 Variable Length Parameter....................................26
    3.3 Transfer Messages............................................29
    3.4 SS7 Signalling Network Management (SSNM) Messages............32
    3.5 ASP State Maintenance (ASPM) Messages........................41
    3.6 Routing Key Management (RKM) Messages........................44
    3.7 ASP Traffic Maintenance (ASPTM) Messages.....................57
    3.8 Management (MGMT) Messages...................................61
4. Procedures........................................................66
    4.1 Procedures to Support the M3UA-User .........................66
    4.2 Procedures to Support the Management of SCTP Associations ...69
    4.3 AS and ASP State Maintenance.................................69
    4.4 Routing Key Management Procedures............................81
    4.5 Procedures to Support the Availability or Congestion Status
        of SS7 Destination...........................................83
    4.6 MTP3 Restart.................................................86
5. Examples of M3UA Procedures.......................................86
    5.1 Establishment of Association and Traffic 
        Between SGs and ASPs.........................................86
    5.2 ASP traffic Failover Examples................................91
    5.3 Normal Withdrawal of an ASP from an Application Server 
        and Teardown of an Association...............................92
    5.4 M3UA/MTP3-User Boundary Examples.............................93
6. Security Considerations...........................................97
    6.1 Introduction.................................................97
    6.2 Threats......................................................97
    6.3 Protecting Confidentiality...................................98
7. IANA Considerations...............................................98
    7.1 SCTP Payload Protocol Identifier.............................98
    7.2 M3UA Port Number.............................................98
    7.3 M3UA Protocol Extensions.....................................99
8. Acknowledgements.................................................100
9. References.......................................................100
    9.1 Normative References........................................100
    9.2 Informative References......................................100
11. Author's Addresses..............................................102
Appendix A..........................................................103

Sidebottom et al                                              [Page 3]

Internet Draft         SS7 MTP3-User Adaptation Layer         Feb 2002

1.  Introduction

This draft defines a protocol for supporting the transport of 
any SS7 MTP3-User signalling (e.g., ISUP and SCCP messages) over IP 
using the services of the Stream Control Transmission Protocol [17].  
Also, provision is made for protocol elements that enable a seamless 
operation of the MTP3-User peers in the SS7 and IP domains. This 
protocol would be used between a Signalling Gateway (SG) and a Media 
Gateway Controller (MGC) or IP-resident Database [11].  

1.1 Scope

There is a need for Switched Circuit Network (SCN) signalling protocol 
delivery from an SS7 Signalling Gateway (SG) to a Media Gateway 
Controller (MGC) or IP-resident Database as described in the Framework 
Architecture for Signalling Transport [11].  The delivery mechanism 
should meet the following criteria: 

*  Support for the transfer of all SS7 MTP3-User Part messages (e.g., 
   ISUP [1,2,3], SCCP [4,5,6], TUP [12], etc.)
*  Support for the seamless operation of MTP3-User protocol peers
*  Support for the management of SCTP transport associations and 
   traffic between an SG and one or more MGCs or IP-resident Databases 
*  Support for MGC or IP-resident Database process failover and load
   sharing
*  Support for the asynchronous reporting of status changes to 
   management 

In simplistic transport terms, the SG will terminate SS7 MTP2 and MTP3 
protocol layers [7,8,9] and deliver ISUP, SCCP and/or any other 
MTP3-User protocol messages, as well as certain MTP network management 
events, over SCTP transport associations to MTP3-User peers in MGCs or 
IP-resident Databases.

1.2 Terminology

Application Server (AS) - A logical entity serving a specific Routing 
Key. An example of an Application Server is a virtual switch element 
handling all call processing for a unique range of PSTN trunks, 
identified by an SS7 SIO/DPC/OPC/CIC_range.  Another example is a 
virtual database element, handling all HLR transactions for a 
particular SS7 DPC/OPC/SCCP_SSN combination.  The AS contains a set of 
one or more unique Application Server Processes, of which one or more 
is normally actively processing traffic.  Note that there is a 1:1 
relationship between an AS and a Routing Key.

Application Server Process (ASP) - A process instance of an Application 
Server. An Application Server Process serves as an active or backup 

Sidebottom et al                                              [Page 4]

Internet Draft       SS7 MTP3-User Adaptation Layer         Feb 2002

process of an Application Server (e.g., part of a distributed virtual 
switch or database).  Examples of ASPs are processes (or process 
instances) of MGCs, IP SCPs or IP HLRs.  An ASP contains an SCTP 
endpoint and may be configured to process signalling traffic within 
more than one Application Server. 

Association - An association refers to an SCTP association.  The 
association provides the transport for the delivery of MTP3-User 
protocol data units and M3UA adaptation layer peer messages.

IP Server Process (IPSP) - A process instance of an IP-based 
application.  An IPSP is essentially the same as an ASP, except that it
uses M3UA in a point-to-point fashion.  Conceptually, an IPSP does not 
use the services of a Signalling Gateway node.

Failover - The capability to reroute signalling traffic as required 
to an alternate Application Server Process, or group of ASPs, within an 
Application Server in the event of failure or unavailability of a 
currently used Application Server Process.  Failover also applies upon 
the return to service of a previously unavailable Application Server 
Process.

Host - The computing platform that the process (SGP, ASP or IPSP) is 
running on.

Layer Management - Layer Management is a nodal function that handles 
the inputs and outputs between the M3UA layer and a local management 
entity.

Linkset - A number of signalling links that directly interconnect two 
signalling points, which are used as a module.

MTP - The Message Transfer Part of the SS7 protocol.

MTP3 - MTP Level 3, the signalling network layer of SS7

MTP3-User - Any protocol normally using the services of the SS7 MTP3 
(e.g., ISUP, SCCP, TUP, etc.).

Network Appearance - The Network Appearance is a M3UA local reference 
shared by SG and AS (typically an integer) that together with an 
Signaling Point Code uniquely identifies an SS7 node by indicating 
the specific SS7 network it belongs to. It can be used to distinguish 
between signalling traffic associated with different networks being 
sent between the SG and the ASP over a common SCTP association. An 
example scenario is where an SG appears as an element in multiple 
separate national SS7 networks and the same Signaling Point Code 
value may be reused in different networks.

Network Byte Order: Most significant byte first, a.k.a Big Endian.

Sidebottom et al                                              [Page 5]

Internet Draft       SS7 MTP3-User Adaptation Layer         Feb 2002

Routing Key: A Routing Key describes a set of SS7 parameters and 
parameter values that uniquely define the range of signalling traffic 
to be handled by a particular Application Server. Parameters within the 
Routing Key cannot extend across more than a single Signalling Point 
Management Cluster.

Routing Context - A value that uniquely identifies a Routing Key.
Routing Context values are either configured using a configuration 
management interface, or by using the routing key management procedures 
defined in this document.

Signalling Gateway Process (SGP) - A process instance of a Signalling 
Gateway.  It serves as an active, backup, loadsharing or broadcast 
process of a Signalling Gateway.

Signalling Gateway - An SG is a signaling agent that receives/sends SCN 
native signaling at the edge of the IP network [11].  An SG appears to 
the SS7 network as an SS7 Signalling Point.  An SG contains a set of 
one or more unique Signalling Gateway Processes, of which one or more 
is normally actively processing traffic.  Where an SG contains more 
than one SGP, the SG is a logical entity and the contained SGPs are 
assumed to be coordinated into a single management view to the SS7 
network and to the supported Application Servers.

Signalling Process - A process instance that uses M3UA to communicate 
with other signalling processes.  An ASP, an SGP and an IPSP are all 
signalling processes.

Signalling Point Management Cluster (SPMC) - The complete set of 
Application Servers represented to the SS7 network under a single MTP 
entity (Signalling Point) in one specific Network Appearance.  SPMCs 
are used to aggregate the availability, congestion, and user part status 
of an MTP entity (Signalling Point) that is distributed in the IP 
domain, for the purpose of supporting MTP3 management procedures 
towards the SS7 network.  In some cases, the SG itself may also be a 
member of the SPMC.  In this case, the SG availability /congestion 
/User_Part status should also be taken into account when considering any 
supporting MTP3 management actions.  

Stream - A stream refers to an SCTP stream; a unidirectional logical 
channel established from one SCTP endpoint to another associated SCTP 
endpoint, within which all user messages are delivered in-sequence 
except for those submitted to the unordered delivery service.

1.3 M3UA Overview

1.3.1 Protocol Architecture.  

The framework architecture that has been defined for SCN signalling 

Sidebottom et al                                              [Page 6]

Internet Draft       SS7 MTP3-User Adaptation Layer         Feb 2002

transport over IP [11] uses multiple components, including a common 
signalling transport protocol and an adaptation module to support the 
services expected by a particular SCN signalling protocol from its 
underlying protocol layer.  

Within the framework architecture, this document defines an MTP3-User 
adaptation module suitable for supporting the transfer of messages of 
any protocol layer that is identified to the MTP Level 3 as an MTP 
User.  The list of these protocol layers includes, but is not limited 
to, ISDN User Part (ISUP) [1,2,3], Signalling Connection Control Part 
(SCCP) [4,5,6] and Telephone User Part (TUP) [12].  TCAP [13,14,15] or 
RANAP [16] messages are transferred transparently by the M3UA protocol 
as SCCP payload, as they are SCCP-User protocols.  

It is recommended that M3UA use the services of the Stream Control 
Transmission Protocol (SCTP) [17] as the underlying reliable common
signalling transport protocol. This is to take advantage of various 
SCTP features such as:

   - Explicit packet-oriented delivery (not stream-oriented),
   - Sequenced delivery of user messages within multiple streams,
     with an option for order-of-arrival delivery of individual
     user messages, 
   - Optional multiplexing of user messages into SCTP datagrams, 
   - Network-level fault tolerance through support of multi-homing
     at either or both ends of an association,
   - Resistance to flooding and masquerade attacks, and   
   - Data segmentation to conform to discovered path MTU size. 

Under certain scenarios, such as back-to-back connections without 
redundancy requirements, the SCTP functions above might not be a 
requirement and TCP MAY be used as the underlying common transport 
protocol.  

1.3.2 Services Provided by the M3UA Layer

The M3UA Layer at an ASP or IPSP provides the equivalent set of 
primitives at its upper layer to the MTP3-Users as provided by the MTP 
Level 3 to its local MTP3-Users at an SS7 SEP.  In this way, the ISUP 
and/or SCCP layer at an ASP or IPSP is unaware that the expected MTP3 
services are offered remotely from an MTP3 Layer at an SGP, and not by 
a local MTP3 layer.  The MTP3 layer at an SGP may also be unaware that 
its local users are actually remote user parts over M3UA.  In effect, 
the M3UA extends access to the MTP3 layer services to a remote IP-based 
application.  The M3UA layer does not itself provide the MTP3 services.  
However, in the case where an ASP is connected to more than one SG, 
the M3UA layer at an ASP should maintain the status of configured SS7 
destinations and route messages according to the availability and 
congestion status of the routes to these destinations via each SG.

Sidebottom et al                                             [Page 7]

Internet Draft       SS7 MTP3-User Adaptation Layer         Feb 2002

The M3UA layer may also be used for point-to-point signalling between 
two IP Server Processes (IPSPs).  In this case, the M3UA layer provides 
the same set of primitives and services at its upper layer as the MTP3. 
However, in this case the expected MTP3 services are not offered 
remotely from an SGP.  The MTP3 services are provided but the 
procedures to support these services are a subset of the MTP3 
procedures due to the simplified point-to-point nature of the IPSP to 
IPSP relationship.

1.3.2.1 Support for the Transport of MTP3-User Messages

The M3UA layer provides the transport of MTP-TRANSFER primitives across 
an established SCTP association between an SGP and an ASP or between 
IPSPs.

At an ASP, in the case where a destination is reachable via multiple 
SGPs, the M3UA layer must also choose via which SGP the message is to 
be routed or support load balancing across the SGPs, minimizing 
missequencing.

The M3UA layer does not impose a 272-octet signalling information field 
(SIF) length limit as specified by the SS7 MTP Level 2 protocol [7,8,9].  
Larger information blocks can be accommodated directly by M3UA/SCTP, 
without the need for an upper layer segmentation/reassembly procedure as 
specified in recent SCCP or ISUP versions.  However, in the context of 
an SG, the maximum 272-octet block size must be followed when 
interworking to a SS7 network that does not support the transfer of 
larger information blocks to the final destination.  This avoids 
potential ISUP or SCCP fragmentation requirements at the SGPs.  The 
provisioning and configuration of the SS7 network determines the 
restriction placed on the maximum block size.  Some configurations 
(e.g., Broadband MTP [21]) may permit larger block sizes.

1.3.2.2 Native Management Functions

The M3UA layer provides the capability to indicate errors associated 
with received M3UA messages and to notify, as appropriate, local 
management and/or the peer M3UA.

1.3.2.3 Interworking with MTP3 Network Management Functions

At the SGP, the M3UA layer provides interworking with MTP3 
management functions to support seamless operation of the user SCN 
signalling applications in the SS7 and IP domains.  This includes:
 
  - Providing an indication to MTP3-Users at an ASP that a destination 
    in the SS7 network is not reachable.

Sidebottom et al                                             [Page 8]

Internet Draft       SS7 MTP3-User Adaptation Layer         Feb 2002

  - Providing an indication to MTP3-Users at an ASP that a destination 
    in the SS7 network is now reachable.

  - Providing an indication to MTP3-Users at an ASP that messages to a 
    destination in the SS7 network are experiencing SS7 congestion.

  - Providing an indication to the M3UA layer at an ASP that the routes 
    to a destination in the SS7 network are restricted.

  - Providing an indication to MTP3-Users at an ASP that a MTP3-User 
    peer is unavailable.  

The M3UA layer at an ASP keeps the state of the routes to remote SS7 
destinations and may initiate an audit of the availability, the 
restricted or the congested state of remote SS7 destinations.  This 
information is requested from the M3UA layer at the SGP. 

The M3UA layer at an ASP may also indicate to the SG that the M3UA 
layer itself or the ASP or the ASP's Host is congested.

1.3.2.4 Support for the Management of SCTP Associations between the SGP 
and ASPs.

The M3UA layer at the SGP maintains the availability state of all 
configured remote ASPs, to manage the SCTP Associations and 
the traffic between the M3UA peers.  As well, the active/inactive and 
congestion state of remote ASPs is maintained.

The M3UA layer MAY be instructed by local management to establish an 
SCTP association to a peer M3UA node.  This can be achieved using the 
M-SCTP_ESTABLISH primitives (See Section 1.6.3 for a description of 
management primitives) to request, indicate and confirm the 
establishment of an SCTP association with a peer M3UA node.  In order 
to avoid redundant SCTP associations between two M3UA peers, one side 
(client) SHOULD be designated to establish the SCTP association, or 
M3UA configuration information maintained to detect redundant 
associations (e.g., via knowledge of the expected local and remote SCTP 
endpoint addresses).

Local management MAY request from the M3UA layer the status of the 
underlying SCTP associations using the M-SCTP_STATUS request and 
confirm primitives.  Also, the M3UA MAY autonomously inform local 
management of the reason for the release of an SCTP association, 
determined either locally within the M3UA layer or by a primitive from 
the SCTP.

Also the M3UA layer MAY inform the local management of the change in 
status of an ASP or AS.  This MAY be achieved using the M-ASP_STATUS 
request or M-AS_STATUS request primitives.

Sidebottom et al                                              [Page 9]

Internet Draft       SS7 MTP3-User Adaptation Layer         Feb 2002

1.3.2.5 Support for the Management of Connections to Multiple SGPs

As shown in Figure 1 an ASP may be connected to multiple SGPs. In such 
a case a particular SS7 destination may be reachable via more than one 
SGP and/or SG, i.e., via more than one route. As MTP3 users only 
maintain status on a destination and not on a route basis, the M3UA 
layer must maintain the status (availability, restriction, and/or 
congestion of route to destination) of the individual routes, derive 
the overall availability or congestion status of the destination 
from the status of the individual routes, and inform the MTP3 users 
of this derived status whenever it changes.

1.4 Functional Areas

1.4.1 Signalling Point Code Representation

For example, within an SS7 network, a Signalling Gateway might be 
charged with representing a set of nodes in the IP domain into the SS7 
network for routing purposes.  The SG itself, as a signalling point in 
the SS7 network, might also be addressable with an SS7 Point Code for 
MTP3 Management purposes. The SG Point Code might also be used for 
addressing any local MTP3-Users at the SG such as a local SCCP layer.

An SG may be logically partitioned to operate in multiple SS7 network 
appearances.  In such a case, the SG could be addressable with a Point 
Code in each network appearance, and represents a set of nodes in the 
IP domain into each SS7 network.  Alias Point Codes [8] may also be 
used within an SG network appearance. 

Where an SG contains more than one SGP, the MTP3 routeset, SPMC and 
remote AS/ASP states of each SGP SHOULD be coordinated across all the 
SGPs.  Rerouting of traffic between the SGPs MAY also be supported.

Application Servers can be represented under the same Point 
Code of the SG, their own individual Point Codes or grouped with other 
Application Servers for Point Code preservation purposes.  A single 
Point Code may be used to represent the SG and all the Application 
Servers together, if desired. 

If an ASP or group of ASPs is available to the SS7 network via more 
than one SG, each with its own Point Code, the ASP(s) will typically be 
represented by a Point Code that is separate from any SG Point Code.  
This allows, for example, these SGs to be viewed from the SS7 network 
as "STPs", each having an ongoing "route" to the same ASP(s).  Under 
failure conditions where the ASP(s) become(s) unavailable from one of 
the SGs, this approach enables MTP3 route management messaging between 
the SG and SS7 network, allowing simple SS7 rerouting through an 
alternate SG without changing the Destination Point Code Address of SS7 
traffic to the ASP(s). 

Sidebottom et al                                             [Page 10]

Internet Draft       SS7 MTP3-User Adaptation Layer         Feb 2002

Where a particular AS can be reached via more than one SGP, the 
corresponding Routing Keys in the SGPs should be identical.  (Note: 
It is possible for the SGP Routing Key configuration data to be 
temporarily out-of-sync during configuration updates).

                           +--------+ 
                           |        | 
              +------------+  SG 1  +--------------+ 
  +-------+   |  SS7 links | "STP"  |  IP network  |     ---- 
  |  SEP  +---+            +--------+              +---/      \ 
  |   or  |                    |*                      | ASPs  | 
  |  STP  +---+            +--------+              +---\      / 
  +-------+   |            |        |              |     ---- 
              +------------+  SG 2  +--------------+ 
                           | "STP"  | 
                           +--------+

* Note:.  SG-to-SG communication (i.e., "C-links") is recommended for 
carrier grade networks, using an MTP3 linkset or an equivalent, to 
allow rerouting between the SGs in the event of route failures.  
Where SGPs are used, inter-SGP communication might be used.  Inter-SGP 
protocol is outside of the scope of this document.

The following example shows a signalling gateway partitioned into two 
network appearances.

                               SG
  +-------+              +---------------+
  |  SEP  +--------------| SS7 Ntwk |M3UA|              ----
  +-------+   SS7 links  |   "A"    |    |            /      \
                         |__________|    +-----------+  ASPs  |
                         |          |    |            \      /
  +-------+              | SS7 Ntwk |    |              ----
  |  SEP  +--------------+   "B"    |    |
  +-------+              +---------------+

1.4.2 Routing Contexts and Routing Keys

1.4.2.1 Overview

The distribution of SS7 messages between the SGP and the Application 
Servers is determined by the Routing Keys and their associated Routing
Contexts. A Routing Key is essentially a set of SS7 parameters used to 
filter SS7 messages, whereas the Routing Context parameter is a 4-byte 
value (integer) that is associated to that Routing Key in a 1:1 
relationship. The Routing Context therefore can be viewed as an index 
into a sending node's Message Distribution Table containing the Routing 
Key entries.

Sidebottom et al                                             [Page 11]

Internet Draft       SS7 MTP3-User Adaptation Layer         Feb 2002

Possible SS7 address/routing information that comprise a Routing Key 
entry includes, for example, the OPC, DPC, SIO found in the MTP3 
routing label, or MTP3-User specific fields (such as the ISUP CIC, SCCP 
subsystem number).  Some example Routing Keys are: the DPC alone, the 
DPC/OPC combination, the DPC/OPC/CIC combination, or the DPC/SSN 
combination.  The particular information used to define an M3UA 
Routing Key is application and network dependent, and none of the 
above examples are mandated.  

An Application Server Process may be configured to process signalling 
traffic related to more than one Application Server, over a single SCTP 
Association.  In ASP Active and ASP Inactive management messages, the 
signalling traffic to be started or stopped is discriminated by the 
Routing Context parameter.  At an ASP, the Routing Context parameter 
uniquely identifies the range of signalling traffic associated with 
each Application Server that the ASP is configured to receive.

1.4.2.2 Routing Key Limitations

Routing Keys SHOULD be unique in the sense that each received SS7 
signalling message SHOULD have a full or partial match to a single 
routing result. It is not necessary for the parameter range values 
within a particular Routing Key to be contiguous.  For example, an 
AS could be configured to support call processing for multiple ranges 
of PSTN trunks that are not represented by contiguous CIC values. 

1.4.2.3 Managing Routing Contexts and Routing Keys

There are two ways to provision a Routing Key at an SGP. A Routing Key 
may be configured statically using an implementation dependent 
management interface, or dynamically using the M3UA Routing Key 
registration procedure. 

When using a management interface to configure Routing Keys, the 
message distribution function within the SGP is not limited to the set 
of parameters defined in this document.  Other implementation dependent 
distribution algorithms may be used.

1.4.2.4 Message Distribution at the SGP

To direct messages received from the SS7 MTP3 network to the 
appropriate IP destination, the SGP must perform a message distribution 
function using information from the received MTP3-User message.

To support this message distribution, the SGP might, for example, 
maintain the equivalent of a network address translation table, mapping 
incoming SS7 message information to an Application Server for a 
particular application and range of traffic.  This could be accomplished 
by comparing elements of the incoming SS7 message to
currently defined Routing Keys in the SGP.  

Sidebottom et al                                             [Page 12]

Internet Draft       SS7 MTP3-User Adaptation Layer         Feb 2002

These Routing Keys could in turn map directly to an Application Server 
that is enabled by one or more ASPs.  These ASPs provide dynamic status 
information regarding their availability, traffic handling capability 
and congestion to the SGP using various management messages defined in 
the M3UA protocol.  

The list of ASPs in an AS is assumed to be dynamic, taking into account 
the availability, traffic handling capability and congestion status of 
the individual ASPs in the list, as well as configuration changes and 
possible failover mechanisms. 

Normally, one or more ASPs are active (i.e., currently processing 
traffic) in the AS but in certain failure and transition cases it is 
possible that there may be no active ASP available.  Broadcast, 
loadsharing and backup scenarios are supported.

When there is no matching Routing Key entry for an incoming SS7 
message, a default treatment MAY be specified.  Possible solutions are 
to provide a default Application Server at the SGP that directs all 
unallocated traffic to a (set of) default ASP(s), or to drop the 
message and provide a notification to layer management.  The treatment 
of unallocated traffic is implementation dependent.

1.4.2.5 Message Distribution at the ASP

The ASP must choose an SGP to direct a message to the SS7 network.  
This is accomplished by observing the Destination Point Code (and 
possibly other elements of the outgoing message such as the SLS value).  
The ASP must also take into account whether the related Routing Context 
is active or not (See Section 4.3.4.3).

Implementation Note: Where more than one route (or SGP) is possible for 
routing to the SS7 network, the ASP could, for example, maintain a 
dynamic table of available SGP routes for the SS7 destinations, taking 
into account the SS7 destination availability/restricted/congestion 
status received from the SGP(s), the availability status of the 
individual SGPs and configuration changes and failover mechanisms. There 
is, however, no M3UA messaging to manage the status of an SGP (e.g., 
SGP-Up/Down/Active/Inactive messaging).  

Whenever an SCTP association to an SGP exists, the SGP is assumed to 
be ready for the purposes of responding to M3UA ASPSM messages (Refer 
to Section 3).  

1.4.3 SS7 and M3UA Interworking

In the case of SS7 and M3UA interworking, the M3UA adaptation layer is 
designed to provide an extension of the MTP3 defined user primitives.

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1.4.3.1 Signalling Gateway SS7 Layers

The SG is responsible for terminating MTP Level 3 of the SS7 protocol, 
and offering an IP-based extension to its users.

>From an SS7 perspective, it is expected that the Signalling Gateway 
transmits and receives SS7 Message Signalling Units (MSUs) to and 
from the PSTN over a standard SS7 network interface, using the SS7 
Message Transfer Part (MTP) [7,8,9] to provide reliable transport of 
the messages.

As a standard SS7 network interface, the use of MTP Level 2 signalling 
links is not the only possibility.  ATM-based High Speed Links can also 
be used with the services of the Signalling ATM Adaptation Layer (SAAL) 
[18,19].  

Note: It is also possible for IP-based interfaces to be present, using 
the services of the MTP2-User Adaptation Layer (M2UA) [27] or M2PA [28].  

These could be terminated at a Signalling Transfer Point (STP) or 
Signalling End Point (SEP).  Using the services of MTP3, the SG could 
be capable of communicating with remote SS7 SEPs in a quasi-associated 
fashion, where STPs may be present in the SS7 path between the SEP and 
the SG.

1.4.3.2 SS7 and M3UA Interworking at the SG

The SGP provides a functional interworking of transport functions 
between the SS7 network and the IP network by also supporting the M3UA 
adaptation layer.  It allows the transfer of MTP3-User signalling 
messages to and from an IP-based Application Server Process where the 
peer MTP3-User protocol layer exists.

For SS7 user part management, it is required that the MTP3-User 
protocols at ASPs receive indications of SS7 signalling point 
availability, SS7 network congestion, and remote User Part 
unavailability as would be expected in an SS7 SEP node.  To accomplish 
this, the MTP-PAUSE, MTP-RESUME and MTP-STATUS indication primitives 
received at the MTP3 upper layer interface at the SG need to be 
propagated to the remote MTP3-User lower layer interface at the ASP. 

MTP3 management messages (such as TFPs or TFAs received from the SS7 
network) MUST NOT be encapsulated as Data message Payload Data and sent 
either from SG to ASP or from ASP to SG.  The SG MUST terminate these 
messages and generate M3UA messages as appropriate. 

1.4.3.3 Application Server

A cluster of application servers is responsible for providing the 
overall support for one or more SS7 upper layers.  From an SS7 

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standpoint, a Signalling Point Management Cluster (SPMC) provides 
complete support for the upper layer service for a given point code.  
As an example, an SPMC providing MGC capabilities could provide 
complete support for ISUP (and any other MTP3 user located at the 
point code of the SPMC) for a given point code.

In the case where an ASP is connected to more than one SGP, the M3UA 
layer must maintain the status of configured SS7 destinations and route 
messages according to availability/congestion/restricted status of the 
routes to these SS7 destinations.

1.4.3.4 IPSP Considerations

Since IPSPs use M3UA in a point-to-point fashion, there is no concept 
of routing of messages beyond the remote end.  Therefore, SS7 and M3UA 
interworking is not necessary for this model.  

1.4.4 Redundancy Models

1.4.4.1 Application Server Redundancy

All MTP3-User messages (e.g., ISUP, SCCP) which match a provisioned 
Routing Key at an SGP are mapped to an Application Server.

The Application Server is the set of all ASPs associated with a 
specific Routing Key. Each ASP in this set may be active, inactive or 
unavailable.  Active ASPs handle traffic; inactive ASPs might be used 
when active ASPs become unavailable.

The failover model supports an "n+k" redundancy model, where "n" ASPs 
is the minimum number of redundant ASPs required to handle traffic and 
"k" ASPs are available to take over for a failed or unavailable ASP.  A 
"1+1" active/backup redundancy is a subset of this model. A simplex 
"1+0" model is also supported as a subset, with no ASP redundancy.

1.4.5 Flow Control

Local Management at an ASP may wish to stop traffic across an SCTP 
association to temporarily remove the association from service or to 
perform testing and maintenance activity.  The function could optionally 
be used to control the start of traffic on to a newly available SCTP 
association.

1.4.6 Congestion Management

The M3UA layer is informed of local and IP network congestion by means 
of an implementation-dependent function (e.g., an implementation-
dependent indication from the SCTP of IP network congestion). 

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At an ASP or IPSP, the M3UA layer indicates congestion to local MTP3-
Users by means of an MTP-STATUS primitive, as per current MTP3 
procedures, to invoke appropriate upper layer responses.  

When an SG determines that the transport of SS7 messages to a 
Signalling Point Management Cluster (SPMC) is encountering congestion, 
the SG MAY trigger SS7 MTP3 Transfer Controlled management messages 
to originating SS7 nodes, per the congestion procedures of the relevant 
MTP3 standard. The triggering of SS7 MTP3 Management messages from an 
SG is an implementation-dependent function.

The M3UA layer at an ASP or IPSP MAY indicate local congestion to an 
M3UA peer with an SCON message.  When an SG receives a congestion 
message (SCON) from an ASP, and the SG determines that an SPMC is now 
encountering congestion, it MAY trigger SS7 MTP3 Transfer Controlled 
management messages to concerned SS7 destinations according to 
congestion procedures of the relevant MTP3 standard.

1.4.7 SCTP Stream Mapping.  

The M3UA layer at both the SGP and ASP also supports the assignment of 
signalling traffic into streams within an SCTP association.  Traffic 
that requires sequencing SHOULD be assigned to the same stream.  To 
accomplish this, MTP3-User traffic may be assigned to individual 
streams based on, for example, the SLS value in the MTP3 Routing Label 
or the ISUP CIC assignment, subject of course to the maximum number of 
streams supported by the underlying SCTP association.  

1.4.8 Client/Server Model

It is recommended that the SGP and ASP be able to support both client 
and server operation. The peer endpoints using M3UA SHOULD be 

configured so that one always takes on the role of client and the 
other the role of server for initiating SCTP associations. The default 
orientation would be for the SGP to take on the role of server while 
the ASP is the client. In this case, ASPs SHOULD initiate the
SCTP association to the SGP.

In the case of IPSP to IPSP communication, the peer endpoints using 
M3UA SHOULD be configured so that one always takes on the role of 
client and the other the role of server for initiating SCTP 
associations.

The SCTP and TCP Registered User Port Number Assignment for M3UA is 
2905.

1.5 Sample Configurations

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1.5.1 Example 1: ISUP Message Transport

  ********   SS7   *****************   IP   ********
  * SEP  *---------*      SGP      *--------* ASP  *
  ********         *****************        ********

  +------+         +---------------+        +------+
  | ISUP |         |     (NIF)     |        | ISUP |
  +------+         +------+ +------+        +------+
  | MTP3 |         | MTP3 | | M3UA |        | M3UA |
  +------|         +------+-+------+        +------+
  | MTP2 |         | MTP2 | | SCTP |        | SCTP |
  +------+         +------+ +------+        +------+
  |  L1  |         |  L1  | |  IP  |        |  IP  |
  +------+         +------+ +------+        +------+ 
      |_______________|         |______________|

    SEP - SS7 Signalling End Point
    SCTP - Stream Control Transmission Protocol
    NIF - Nodal Interworking Function

In this example, the SGP provides an implementation-dependent nodal 
interworking function (NIF) that allows the MGC to exchange SS7 
signalling messages with the SS7-based SEP.  The NIF within the SGP 
serves as the interface within the SGP between the MTP3 and M3UA.  This 
nodal interworking function has no visible peer protocol with either 
the MGC or SEP.  It also provides network status information to one or 
both sides of the network.

For internal SGP modeling purposes, at the NIF level, SS7 signalling 
messages that are destined to the MGC are received as MTP-TRANSFER 
indication primitives from the MTP Level 3 upper layer interface, 
translated to MTP-TRANSFER request primitives, and sent to the local 
M3UA-resident message distribution function for ongoing routing to the 
final IP destination.  Messages received from the local M3UA network 
address translation and mapping function as MTP-TRANSFER indication 
primitives are sent to the MTP Level 3 upper layer interface as MTP-
TRANSFER request primitives for ongoing MTP Level 3 routing to an SS7 
SEP.  For the purposes of providing SS7 network status information the 
NIF also delivers MTP-PAUSE, MTP-RESUME and MTP-STATUS indication 
primitives received from the MTP Level 3 upper layer interface to the 
local M3UA-resident management function. In addition, as an 
implementation and network option, restricted destinations are 
communicated from MTP network management to the local M3UA-resident 
management function.

1.5.2  Example 2: SCCP Transport between IPSPs

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        ********    IP    ********
        * IPSP *          * IPSP *
        ********          ********
  
        +------+          +------+
        |SCCP- |          |SCCP- |
        | User |          | User |
        +------+          +------+
        | SCCP |          | SCCP |
        +------+          +------+
        | M3UA |          | M3UA |
        +------+          +------+
        | SCTP |          | SCTP |
        +------+          +------+
        |  IP  |          |  IP  |
        +------+          +------+
            |________________|

This example shows an architecture where no Signalling Gateway is used.  
In this example, SCCP messages are exchanged directly between two IP-
resident IPSPs with resident SCCP-User protocol instances, such as 
RANAP or TCAP.  SS7 network interworking is not required, therefore 
there is no MTP3 network management status information for the SCCP and 
SCCP-User protocols to consider.  Any MTP-PAUSE, MTP-RESUME or MTP-
STATUS indications from the M3UA layer to the SCCP layer should 
consider the status of the SCTP Association and underlying IP network 
and any congestion information received from the remote site.    

1.5.3 Example 3: SGP Resident SCCP Layer, with Remote ASP

  ********   SS7   *****************   IP   ********
  * SEP  *---------*               *--------*      *
  *  or  *         *      SGP      *        * ASP  *
  * STP  *         *               *        *      *
  ********         *****************        ********

  +------+         +---------------+        +------+
  | SCCP-|         |     SCCP      |        | SCCP-|
  | User |         +---------------+        | User |
  +------+           |   _____   |          +------+
  | SCCP |           |  |     |  |          | SCCP |
  +------+         +------+-+------+        +------+
  | MTP3 |         | MTP3 | | M3UA |        | M3UA |
  +------|         +------+ +------+        +------+
  | MTP2 |         | MTP2 | | SCTP |        | SCTP |
  +------+         +------+ +------+        +------+
  |  L1  |         |  L1  | |  IP  |        |  IP  |
  +------+         +------+ +------+        +------+
      |_______________|         |______________|

    STP - SS7 Signalling Transfer Point

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In this example, the SGP contains an instance of the SS7 SCCP protocol 
layer that may, for example, perform the SCCP Global Title Translation 
(GTT) function for messages logically addressed to the SG SCCP.  If the 
result of a GTT for an SCCP message yields an SS7 DPC or DPC/SSN 
address of an SCCP peer located in the IP domain, the resulting MTP-
TRANSFER request primitive is sent to the local M3UA-resident network 
address translation and mapping function for ongoing routing to the 
final IP destination.  

Similarly, the SCCP instance in an SGP can perform the SCCP GTT service 
for messages logically addressed to it from SCCP peers in the IP 
domain.  In this case, MTP-TRANSFER indication primitives are sent from 
the local M3UA-resident network address translation and mapping 
function to the SCCP for GTT.  If the result of the GTT yields the 
address of an SCCP peer in the SS7 network then the resulting MTP-
TRANSFER request primitive is given to the MTP3 for delivery to an SS7-
resident node.

It is possible that the above SCCP GTT at the SGP could yield the 
address of an SCCP peer in the IP domain and the resulting MTP-TRANSFER 
request primitive would be sent back to the M3UA layer for delivery to 
an IP destination.

For internal SGP modeling purposes, this may be accomplished with the 
use of an implementation-dependent nodal interworking function within 
the SGP that effectively sits below the SCCP and routes MTP-TRANSFER
request/indication messages to/from both the MTP3 and the M3UA layer, 
based on the SS7 DPC or DPC/SSN address information.  This nodal 
interworking function has no visible peer protocol with either the 
ASP or SEP.

Note that the services and interface provided by the M3UA layer are the 
same as in Example 1 and the functions taking place in the SCCP entity 
are transparent to the M3UA layer.  The SCCP protocol functions are not 
reproduced in the M3UA protocol.

1.6 Definition of M3UA Boundaries

1.6.1 Definition of the Boundary between M3UA and an MTP3-User.

>From ITU Q.701 [7]:

   MTP-TRANSFER request
   MTP-TRANSFER indication
   MTP-PAUSE indication
   MTP-RESUME indication
   MTP-STATUS indication  

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1.6.2 Definition of the Boundary between M3UA and SCTP

An example of the upper layer primitives provided by the SCTP are 
provided in Reference [17] Section 10.

1.6.3 Definition of the Boundary between M3UA and Layer Management

   M-SCTP_ESTABLISH request
   Direction: LM -> M3UA
   Purpose: LM requests ASP to establish an SCTP association with its 
            peer.

   M-STCP_ESTABLISH confirm 
   Direction: M3UA -> LM
   Purpose: ASP confirms to LM that it has established an SCTP 
            association with its peer.

   M-SCTP_ESTABLISH indication 
   Direction: M3UA -> LM
   Purpose: M3UA informs LM that a remote ASP has established an SCTP 
            association.

   M-SCTP_RELEASE request 
   Direction: LM -> M3UA
   Purpose: LM requests ASP to release an SCTP association with its 
            peer.

   M-SCTP_RELEASE confirm
   Direction: M3UA -> LM
   Purpose: ASP confirms to LM that it has released SCTP association 
            with its peer.

   M-SCTP_RELEASE indication
   Direction: M3UA -> LM
   Purpose: M3UA informs LM that a remote ASP has released an SCTP 
            Association or the SCTP association has failed.

   M-SCTP RESTART indication
   Direction: M3UA -> LM
   Purpose: M3UA informs LM that an SCTP restart indication has been 
            received.

   M-SCTP_STATUS request 
   Direction: LM -> M3UA
   Purpose: LM requests M3UA to report the status of an SCTP 
            association.

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   M-SCTP_STATUS confirm 
   Direction: M3UA -> LM
   Purpose: M3UA responds with the status of an SCTP association.

   M-SCTP STATUS indication
   Direction: M3UA -> LM
   Purpose: M3UA reports the status of an SCTP association.

   M-ASP_STATUS request 
   Direction: LM -> M3UA
   Purpose: LM requests M3UA to report the status of a local or remote 
            ASP.

   M-ASP_STATUS confirm 
   Direction: M3UA -> LM
   Purpose: M3UA reports status of local or remote ASP.

   M-AS_STATUS request 
   Direction: LM -> M3UA
   Purpose: LM requests M3UA to report the status of an AS.

   M-AS_STATUS confirm 
   Direction: M3UA -> LM
   Purpose: M3UA reports the status of an AS.

   M-NOTIFY indication 
   Direction: M3UA -> LM
   Purpose: M3UA reports that it has received a Notify message 
            from its peer.

   M-ERROR indication 
   Direction: M3UA -> LM
   Purpose: M3UA reports that it has received an Error message from 
            its peer or that a local operation has been unsuccessful.

   M-ASP_UP request 
   Direction: LM -> M3UA
   Purpose: LM requests ASP to start its operation and send an ASP Up
            message to its peer.

   M-ASP_UP confirm
   Direction: M3UA -> LM
   Purpose: ASP reports that is has received an ASP UP Ack message from 
            its peer.

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   M-ASP_UP indication
   Direction: M3UA -> LM
   Purpose: M3UA reports it has successfully processed an incoming ASP 
            Up message from its peer.

   M-ASP_DOWN request 
   Direction: LM -> M3UA
   Purpose: LM requests ASP to stop its operation and send an ASP Down 
            message to its peer.

   M-ASP_DOWN confirm
   Direction: M3UA -> LM
   Purpose: ASP reports that is has received an ASP Down Ack message 
            from its peer.

   M-ASP_DOWN indication
   Direction: M3UA -> LM
   Purpose: M3UA reports it has successfully processed an incoming ASP 
            Down message from its peer, or the SCTP association has 
            been lost/reset.

   M-ASP_ACTIVE request
   Direction: LM -> M3UA
   Purpose: LM requests ASP to send an ASP Active message to its peer.

   M-ASP_ACTIVE confirm
   Direction: M3UA -> LM
   Purpose: ASP reports that is has received an ASP Active
            Ack message from its peer.

   M-ASP_ACTIVE indication
   Direction: M3UA -> LM
   Purpose: M3UA reports it has successfully processed an incoming ASP 
            Active message from its peer.

   M-ASP_INACTIVE request
   Direction: LM -> M3UA
   Purpose: LM requests ASP to send an ASP Inactive message to its 
            peer.

   M-ASP_INACTIVE confirm
   Direction: LM -> M3UA
   Purpose: ASP reports that is has received an ASP Inactive
            Ack message from its peer.

   M-ASP_INACTIVE indication
   Direction: M3UA -> LM
   Purpose: M3UA reports it has successfully processed an incoming ASP 
            Inactive message from its peer.

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   M-AS_ACTIVE indication
   Direction: M3UA -> LM
   Purpose: M3UA reports that an AS has moved to the AS-ACTIVE state.

   M-AS_INACTIVE indication
   Direction: M3UA -> LM
   Purpose: M3UA reports that an AS has moved to the AS-INACTIVE state.

   M-AS_DOWN indication
   Direction: M3UA -> LM
   Purpose: M3UA reports that an AS has moved to the AS-DOWN state.

If dynamic registration of RK is supported by the M3UA layer, the layer 
MAY support the following additional primitives:

   M-RK_REG request
   Direction: LM -> M3UA
   Purpose: LM requests ASP to register RK(s) with its peer by sending 
            REG REQ message

   M-RK_REG confirm
   Direction: M3UA -> LM
   Purpose: ASP reports that it has received REG RSP message with 
            registration status as successful from its peer.

   M-RK_REG indication
   Direction: M3UA -> LM
   Purpose: M3UA informs LM that it has successfully processed an 
            incoming REG REQ message.

   M-RK_DEREG request
   Direction: LM -> M3UA
   Purpose: LM requests ASP to deregister RK(s) with its peer by 
            sending DEREG REQ message.

   M-RK_DEREG confirm
   Direction: M3UA -> LM
   Purpose: ASP reports that it has received DEREG REQ message with 
            deregistration status as successful from its peer.

   M-RK_DEREG indication
   Direction: M3UA -> LM
   Purpose: M3UA informs LM that it has successfully processed an 
            incoming DEREG REQ from its peer.

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2. Conventions

The keywords MUST, MUST NOT, REQUIRED, SHALL, SHALL NOT, SHOULD, SHOULD 
NOT, RECOMMENDED, NOT RECOMMENDED, MAY, and OPTIONAL, when they appear 
in this document, are to be interpreted as described in [20].

3. M3UA Protocol Elements

The general M3UA message format includes a Common Message Header 
followed by zero or more parameters as defined by the Message Type.  
For forward compatibility, all Message Types may have attached 
parameters even if none are specified in this version.

3.1 Common Message Header

The protocol messages for MTP3-User Adaptation require a message header 
which contains the adaptation layer version, the message type, and 
message length.

    0                   1                   2                   3
    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |    Version    |   Reserved    | Message Class | Message Type  |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |                        Message Length                         |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   \                                                               \
   /                                                               /

All fields in an M3UA message MUST be transmitted in the network byte 
order, unless otherwise stated.

3.1.1 M3UA Protocol Version: 8 bits (unsigned integer)

   The version field contains the version of the M3UA adaptation layer.  

   The supported versions are the following:

         1      Release 1.0

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3.1.2  Message Classes and Types

The following list contains the valid Message Classes:

Message Class: 8 bits (unsigned integer)

   The following list contains the valid Message Type Classes:

     0     Management (MGMT) Message

     1     Transfer Messages
     2     SS7 Signalling Network Management (SSNM) Messages
     3     ASP State Maintenance (ASPSM) Messages
     4     ASP Traffic Maintenance (ASPTM) Messages
     5     Reserved for Other Sigtran Adaptation Layers
     6     Reserved for Other Sigtran Adaptation Layers
     7     Reserved for Other Sigtran Adaptation Layers
     8     Reserved for Other Sigtran Adaptation Layers
     9     Routing Key Management (RKM) Messages
  10 to 127 Reserved by the IETF
 128 to 255 Reserved for IETF-Defined Message Class extensions

Message Type: 8 bits (unsigned integer)

   The following list contains the message types for the defined 
   messages.

     Management (MGMT) Messages (See Section 3.6)

         0        Error (ERR)
         1        Notify (NTFY)
      2 to 127    Reserved by the IETF
    128 to 255    Reserved for IETF-Defined MGMT extensions

     Transfer Messages (See Section 3.3)

         0        Reserved
         1        Payload Data (DATA)      
      2 to 127    Reserved by the IETF
    128 to 255    Reserved for IETF-Defined Transfer extensions

     SS7 Signalling Network Management (SSNM) Messages (See Section 
     3.4)

         0        Reserved
         1        Destination Unavailable (DUNA)
         2        Destination Available (DAVA)
         3        Destination State Audit (DAUD)
         4        Signalling Congestion (SCON)
         5        Destination User Part Unavailable (DUPU)
         6        Destination Restricted (DRST)      
      7 to 127    Reserved by the IETF
    128 to 255    Reserved for IETF-Defined SSNM extensions

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  ASP State Maintenance (ASPSM) Messages (See Section 3.5)

         0        Reserved
         1        ASP Up (ASPUP)
         2        ASP Down (ASPDN)         
         3        Heartbeat (BEAT)
         4        ASP Up Acknowledgement (ASPUP ACK)
         5        ASP Down Acknowledgement (ASPDN ACK)
         6        Heartbeat Acknowledgement (BEAT ACK)
      7 to 127    Reserved by the IETF
    128 to 255    Reserved for IETF-Defined ASPSM extensions

  ASP Traffic Maintenance (ASPTM) Messages (See Section 3.5)

         0        Reserved
         1        ASP Active (ASPAC)
         2        ASP Inactive (ASPIA)
         3        ASP Active Acknowledgement (ASPAC ACK) 
         4        ASP Inactive Acknowledgement (ASPIA ACK)
      5 to 127    Reserved by the IETF
    128 to 255    Reserved for IETF-Defined ASPTM extensions

  Routing Key Management (RKM) Messages (See Section 3.7)

         0        Reserved
         1        Registration Request (REG REQ)
         2        Registration Response (REG RSP)
         3        Deregistration Request (DEREG REQ) 
         4        Deregistration Response (DEREG RSP)
      5 to 127    Reserved by the IETF
    128 to 255    Reserved for IETF-Defined RKM extensions

3.1.3  Reserved: 8 bits

   The Reserved field SHOULD be set to all '0's and ignored by the 
   receiver.

3.1.4  Message Length: 32-bits (unsigned integer)

   The Message Length defines the length of the message in octets, 
   including the Common Header.  For messages with a final parameter 
   containing padding, the parameter padding MUST be included in the 
   Message Length. 

   Note: A receiver SHOULD accept the message whether or not the final 
   parameter padding is included in the message length.  

3.2 Variable Length Parameter Format

M3UA messages consist of a Common Header followed by zero or more 
variable length parameters, as defined by the message type.  All the 

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parameters contained in a message are defined in a Tag Length-Value 
format as shown below.  

   0                   1                   2                   3
   0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
  +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
  |          Parameter Tag        |       Parameter Length        |
  +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
  \                                                               \
  /                       Parameter Value                         /
  \                                                               \
  +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

Where more than one parameter is included in a message, the parameters 
may be in any order, except where explicitly mandated.  A receiver 
SHOULD accept the parameters in any order. 

Parameter Tag: 16 bits (unsigned integer)

   The Tag field is a 16-bit identifier of the type of parameter. It 
   takes a value of 0 to 65534.  Common parameters used by adaptation 
   layers are in the range of 0x00 to 0x3f.   M3UA-specific parameters 
   have Tags in the range 0x0200 to 0x02ff.  The parameter Tags defined 
   are as follows:

   Common Parameters.  These TLV parameters are common across the 
   different adaptation layers:

   Parameter Name                     Parameter ID 
   ==============                     ============ 
   Reserved                              0x0000
   Not Used in M3UA                      0x0001
   Not Used in M3UA                      0x0002
   Not Used in M3UA                      0x0003
   INFO String                           0x0004   
   Not Used in M3UA                      0x0005
   Routing Context                       0x0006
   Diagnostic Information                0x0007
   Not Used in M3UA                      0x0008
   Heartbeat Data                        0x0009
   Not Used in M3UA                      0x000a
   Traffic Mode Type                     0x000b
   Error Code                            0x000c
   Status                                0x000d
   Not Used in M3UA                      0x000e
   Not Used in M3UA                      0x000f
   Not Used in M3UA                      0x0010
   ASP Identifier                        0x0011
   Affected Point Code                   0x0012
   Correlation ID                        0x0013

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   M3UA-Specific parameters.  These TLV parameters are specific to the 
   M3UA protocol:

   Network Appearance                    0x0200
   Reserved                              0x0201
   Reserved                              0x0202
   Reserved                              0x0203
   User/Cause                            0x0204
   Congestion Indications                0x0205
   Concerned Destination                 0x0206
   Routing Key                           0x0207
   Registration Result                   0x0208
   Deregistration Result                 0x0209
   Local_Routing Key Identifier          0x020a
   Destination Point Code                0x020b
   Service Indicators                    0x020c
   Reserved                              0x020d
   Originating Point Code List           0x020e
   Circuit Range                         0x020f
   Protocol Data                         0x0210
   Reserved                              0x0211
   Registration Status                   0x0212
   Deregistration Status                 0x0213

   Reserved by the IETF             0x0214 to 0xffff
 
   The value of 65535 is reserved for IETF-defined extensions.  Values 
   other than those defined in specific parameter description are 
   reserved for use by the IETF. 

Parameter Length: 16 bits (unsigned integer)

   The Parameter Length field contains the size of the parameter in 
   bytes, including the Parameter Tag, Parameter Length, and Parameter 
   Value fields. Thus, a parameter with a zero-length Parameter Value 
   field would have a Length field of 4.  The Parameter Length does 
   not include any padding bytes.

Parameter Value: variable length.

   The Parameter Value field contains the actual information to be 
   transferred in the parameter. 

   The total length of a parameter (including Tag, Parameter Length and 
   Value fields) MUST be a multiple of 4 bytes. If the length of the 
   parameter is not a multiple of 4 bytes, the sender pads the 
   Parameter at the end (i.e., after the Parameter Value field) with 
   all zero bytes. The length of the padding is NOT included in the 
   parameter length field. A sender SHOULD NOT pad with more than 3 
   bytes. The receiver MUST ignore the padding bytes.

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3.3 Transfer Messages

The following section describes the Transfer messages and parameter 
contents. 

3.3.1 Payload Data Message (DATA)

The DATA message contains the SS7 MTP3-User protocol data, which is an 
MTP-TRANSFER primitive, including the complete MTP3 Routing Label. The 
DATA message contains the following variable length parameters:

     Network Appearance       Optional
     Routing Context          Optional
     Protocol Data            Mandatory
     Correlation Id           Optional

The following format MUST be used for the Data Message:

    0                   1                   2                   3
    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |        Tag = 0x0200           |          Length = 8           |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |                       Network Appearance                      |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |        Tag = 0x0006           |          Length = 8           |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |                        Routing Context                        | 
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |        Tag = 0x0210           |             Length            |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   \                                                               \
   /                        Protocol Data                          /
   \                                                               \
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |        Tag = 0x0013           |          Length = 8           |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |                        Correlation Id                         |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

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Network Appearance: 32-bits (unsigned integer)

   The Network Appearance parameter identifies the SS7 network 
   context for the message and implicitly identifies the SS7 
   Point Code format used, the SS7 Network Indicator value, and the 
   MTP3 and possibly the MTP3-User protocol type/variant/version used 
   within the specific SS7 network.  Where an SG operates in the 
   context of a single SS7 network, or individual SCTP associations 
   are dedicated to each SS7 network context, the Network Appearance 
   parameter is not required.  In other cases the parameter may be 
   configured to be present for the use of the receiver.

   The Network Appearance parameter value is of local significance 
   only, coordinated between the SGP and ASP. Therefore, in the case 
   where an ASP is connected to more than one SGP, the same SS7 network 
   context may be identified by different Network Appearance values 
   depending over which SGP a message is being transmitted/received.

   Where the optional Network Appearance parameter is present, it must 
   be the first parameter in the message as it defines the format of 
   the Protocol Data field.

   IMPLEMENTATION NOTE: For simplicity of configuration it may be 
   desirable to use the same NA value across all nodes sharing a 
   particular network context.

Routing Context: 32-bits (unsigned integer)

   The Routing Context parameter contains the Routing Context 
   value associated with the DATA message.   Where a Routing Key has 
   not been coordinated between the SGP and ASP, sending of Routing 
   Context is not required.  Where multiple Routing Keys and Routing 
   Contexts are used across a common association, the Routing Context 
   MUST be sent to identify the traffic flow, assisting in the internal 
   distribution of Data messages.

Protocol Data: variable length
 
   The Protocol Data parameter contains the original SS7 MTP3 
   message, including the Service Information Octet and Routing Label. 

   The Protocol Data parameter contains the following fields:

       Service Indicator, 
       Network Indicator,
       Message Priority.

       Destination Point Code,
       Originating Point Code,

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       Signalling Link Selection Code (SLS).

       User Protocol Data.  Includes:
            MTP3-User protocol elements (e.g., ISUP, SCCP, or TUP 
               parameters).

   The Protocol Data parameter is encoded as follows:

       0                   1                   2                   3
       0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 
      +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
      |                     Originating Point Code                    |
      +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
      |                     Destination Point Code                    |
      +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
      |       SI      |       NI      |      MP       |      SLS      |
      +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
      \                                                               \
      /                        Protocol Data                          /
      \                                                               \
      +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

Originating Point Code: 32 bits (unsigned integer)
Destination Point Code: 32 bits (unsigned integer)

   The Originating and Destination Point Code fields contains the OPC 
   and DPC from the routing label of the original SS7 message in 
   Network Byte Order, justified to the least significant bit.  Unused 
   bits are coded `0'.

Service Indicator: 8 bits (unsigned integer)

   The Service Indicator field contains the SI field from the original 
   SS7 message justified to the least significant bit.   Unused bits 
   are coded `0'.

Network Indicator: 8-bits (unsigned integer)

   The Network Indicator contains the NI field from the original SS7 
   message justified to the least significant bit.  Unused bits are 
   coded `0'.

Message Priority: 8 bits (unsigned integer)

   The Message Priority field contains the MP bits (if any) from the 
   original SS7 message, both for ANSI-style and TTC-style [29] message 
   priority bits. The MP bits are aligned to the least significant 
   bit. Unused bits are coded `0'.

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Signalling Link Selection: 8 bits (unsigned integer)

   The Signalling Link Selection field contains the SLS bits from 
   the routing label of the original SS7 message justified to the 
   least significant bit and in Network Byte Order.  Unused bits are 
   coded `0'.

Protocol Data: (variable)

   The Protocol Data field contains a byte string of MTP-User 
   information from the original SS7 message starting with the 
   first byte of the original SS7 message following the Routing Label.

Correlation Id: 32-bits (unsigned integer)

   The Correlation Id parameter uniquely identifies the MSU carried in 
   the Protocol Data within an AS.  This Correlation Id parameter is 
   assigned by the sending M3UA.

3.4 SS7 Signalling Network Management (SSNM) Messages

3.4.1 Destination Unavailable (DUNA)

The DUNA message is sent from an SGP in an SG to all concerned ASPs 
to indicate that the SG has determined that one or more SS7 destinations 
are unreachable.  It is also sent by an SGP in response to a message 
from the ASP to an unreachable SS7 destination.  As an implementation 
option the SG may suppress the sending of subsequent "response" DUNA 
messages regarding a certain unreachable SS7 destination for a certain 
period to give the remote side time to react. If there is no alternate 
route via another SG, the MTP3-User at the ASP is expected to stop 
traffic to the affected destination via the SG as per the defined MTP3-
User procedures. 

The DUNA message contains the following parameters:

     Network Appearance      Optional
     Routing Context         Optional
     Affected Point Code     Mandatory
     INFO String             Optional

The format for DUNA Message parameters is as follows:

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    0                   1                   2                   3
    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 
   |         Tag = 0x0200          |          Length = 8           |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |                      Network Appearance                       |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |        Tag = 0x0006           |             Length            |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   \                                                               \
   /                       Routing Context                         / 
   \                                                               \
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |         Tag = 0x0012          |             Length            |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |     Mask      |                 Affected PC 1                 |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   \                                                               \
   /                              ...                              /
   \                                                               \
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |     Mask      |                 Affected PC n                 |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |          Tag = 0x0004         |             Length            |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   \                                                               \
   /                          INFO String                          /
   \                                                               \
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

Network Appearance: 32-bit unsigned integer

   See Section 3.3.1

Routing Context: n x 32-bits (unsigned integer)

   The optional Routing Context parameter contains the Routing Context 
   values associated with the DUNA message.  Where a Routing Key has 
   not been coordinated between the SGP and ASP, sending of Routing 
   Context is not required.  Where multiple Routing Keys and Routing 
   Contexts are used across a common association, the Routing 
   Context(s) MUST be sent to identify the concerned traffic flows 
   for which the DUNA message applies, assisting in outgoing traffic 
   management and internal distribution of MTP-PAUSE indications to 
   MTP3-Users at the receiver.

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Affected Point Code: n x 32-bits

   The Affected Point Code parameter contains a list of Affected 
   Destination Point Code fields, each a three-octet parameter to allow 
   for 14-, 16- and 24-bit binary formatted SS7 Point Codes.  Affected 
   Point Codes that are less than 24-bits, are padded on the left to 
   the 24-bit boundary.  The encoding is shown below for ANSI and ITU 
   Point Code examples.

ANSI 24-bit Point Code:

       0                   1                   2                   3
       0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
      +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 
      |     Mask      |    Network    |    Cluster    |     Member    |
      +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

                      |MSB-----------------------------------------LSB|

   ITU 14-bit Point Code:

       0                   1                   2                   3
       0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
      +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 
      |     Mask      |0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0|Zone |     Region    | SP  |
      +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

                                           |MSB--------------------LSB|

   It is optional to send an Affected Point Code parameter with more 
   than one Affected PC but it is mandatory to receive it.  Including 
   multiple Affected PCs may be useful when reception of an MTP3 
   management message or a linkset event simultaneously affects the 
   availability status of a list of destinations at an SG.  

Mask: 8-bits (unsigned integer)

   The Mask field can be used to identify a contiguous range of 
   Affected Destination Point Codes.  Identifying a contiguous range of 
   Affected DPCs may be useful when reception of an MTP3 management 
   message or a linkset event simultaneously affects the availability 
   status of a series of destinations at an SG.   

   The Mask parameter is an integer representing a bit mask that can be 
   applied to the related Affected PC field.  The bit mask identifies 
   how many bits of the Affected PC field are significant and which are 
   effectively "wildcarded".  For example, a mask of "8" indicates that 
   the last eight bits of the PC is "wildcarded".  For an ANSI 24-

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   bit Affected PC, this is equivalent to signalling that all PCs in 
   an ANSI Cluster are unavailable.  A mask of "3" indicates that the 
   last three bits of the PC is "wildcarded".  For a 14-bit ITU 
   Affected PC, this is equivalent to signaling that an ITU 

   Region is unavailable. A mask value equal (or greater than) the 
   number of bits in the PC indicates that the entire network 
   appearance is affected - this is used to indicate network isolation 
   to the ASP.

INFO String: variable length

   The optional INFO String parameter can carry any meaningful UTF-8 
   [10] character string along with the message.  Length of the INFO 
   String parameter is from 0 to 255 octets.  No procedures are 
   presently identified for its use but the INFO String MAY be used for 
   debugging purposes.

3.4.2 Destination Available (DAVA)   

The DAVA message is sent from an SGP to all concerned ASPs to indicate 
that the SG has determined that one or more SS7 destinations are now 
reachable (and not restricted), or in response to a DAUD message if 
appropriate. If the ASP M3UA layer previously had no routes to the 
affected destinations the ASP MTP3-User protocol is informed and may 
now resume traffic to the affected destination.  The ASP M3UA layer 
now routes the MTP3-user traffic through the SG initiating the DAVA 
message. 

The DAVA message contains the following parameters:

     Network Appearance       Optional
     Routing Context          Optional
     Affected Point Code      Mandatory
     INFO String              Optional

The format and description of the Network Appearance, Routing Context, 
Affected Point Code and INFO String parameters is the same as for the 
DUNA message (See Section 3.4.1). 

3.4.3 Destination State Audit (DAUD)

The DAUD message MAY be sent from the ASP to the SGP to audit the 
availability/congestion state of SS7 routes from the SG to one 
or more affected destinations.  

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The DAUD message contains the following parameters:

     Network Appearance      Optional
     Routing Context         Optional
     Affected Point Code     Mandatory
     INFO String             Optional

The format and description of DAUD Message parameters is the same as 
for the DUNA message (See Section 3.4.1).

3.4.4 Signalling Congestion (SCON)

The SCON message can be sent from an SGP to all concerned ASPs to 
indicate that an SG has determined that there is congestion in the 
SS7 network to one or more destinations, or to an ASP in response to 
a DATA or DAUD message as appropriate.  For some MTP protocol variants 
(e.g., ANSI MTP) the SCON message may be sent when the SS7 congestion 
level changes.  The SCON message MAY also be sent from the M3UA layer of 
an ASP to an M3UA peer indicating that the M3UA layer or the ASP is 
congested.

The SCON message contains the following parameters:

     Network Appearance       Optional
     Routing Context          Optional
     Affected Point Code      Mandatory
     Concerned Destination    Optional
     Congestion Indications   Optional           
     INFO String              Optional

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The format for SCON Message parameters is as follows:

    0                   1                   2                   3
    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |         Tag = 0x0200          |           Length =8           |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 
   |                       Network Appearance                      | 
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |        Tag = 0x0006           |             Length            |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   \                                                               \
   /                       Routing Context                         / 
   \                                                               \
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |         Tag = 0x0012          |             Length            |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |      Mask     |                 Affected PC 1                 |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   \                                                               \
   /                              ...                              /
   \                                                               \
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |      Mask     |                 Affected PC n                 |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |         Tag = 0x0206          |             Length            |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |    reserved   |                 Concerned DPC                 |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |         Tag = 0x0205          |             Length            |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |                   Reserved                    |  Cong. Level  |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |            Tag = 0x0004       |             Length            |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   \                                                               \
   /                         INFO String                           /
   \                                                               \
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

The format and description of the Network Appearance, Routing 
Context, Affected Point Code, and INFO String parameters is the same 
as for the DUNA message (See Section 3.4.1).

The Affected Point Code parameter can be used to indicate congestion 
of multiple destinations or ranges of destinations.  

Concerned Destination: 32-bits
   
   The optional Concerned Destination parameter is only used if the 
   SCON message is sent from an ASP to the SGP. It contains the point 

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   code of the originator of the message that triggered the SCON 
   message. The Concerned Destination parameter contains one Concerned 
   Destination Point Code field, a three-octet parameter to allow for 
   14-, 16- and 24-bit binary formatted SS7 Point Codes.  A Concerned 
   Point Code that is less than 24-bits is padded on the left to the 
   24-bit boundary. Any resulting Transfer Controlled (TFC) message 
   from the SG is sent to the Concerned Point Code  using the single 
   Affected DPC contained in the SCON message to populate the 
  (affected) Destination field of the TFC message

Congested Indications: 32-bits

   The optional Congestion Indications parameter contains a Congestion 
   Level field.  This optional parameter is used to communicate 
   congestion levels in national MTP networks with multiple congestion 
   thresholds, such as in ANSI MTP3.  For MTP congestion methods 
   without multiple congestion levels (e.g., the ITU international 
   method) the parameter is not included.

Congestion Level field: 8-bits (unsigned integer)

   The Congestion Level field, associated with all of the Affected 
   DPC(s) in the Affected Destinations parameter, contains one of the 
   Following values:

         0     No Congestion or Undefined
         1     Congestion Level 1
         2     Congestion Level 2
         3     Congestion Level 3

   The congestion levels are defined in the congestion method in the 
   appropriate national MTP recommendations [7,8]. 

3.4.5 Destination User Part Unavailable (DUPU)

The DUPU message is used by an SGP to inform concerned ASPs that a 
remote peer MTP3-User Part (e.g., ISUP or SCCP) at an SS7 node is 
unavailable.

The DUPU message contains the following parameters:

     Network Appearance       Optional
     Routing Context          Optional
     Affected Point Code      Mandatory
     User/Cause               Mandatory
     INFO String              Optional

The format for DUPU message parameters is as follows:

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    0                   1                   2                   3
    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |         Tag = 0x0200          |             Length            |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 
   |                      Network Appearance                       |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |        Tag = 0x0006           |             Length            |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   \                                                               \
   /                       Routing Context                         / 
   \                                                               \
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |         Tag = 0x0012          |          Length = 8           |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |   Mask = 0    |                  Affected PC                  |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |         Tag = 0x0204          |          Length = 8           |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |             Cause             |            User               |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |         Tag = 0x0004          |             Length            |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   \                                                               \
   /                          INFO String                          /
   \                                                               \
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

User/Cause: 32-bits

   The Unavailability Cause and MTP3-User Identity fields, associated 
   with the Affected PC in the Affected Point Code parameter, are 
   encoded as follows:

Unavailability Cause field: 16-bits (unsigned integer)

   The Unavailability Cause parameter provides the reason for the 
   unavailability of the MTP3-User.  The valid values for the 
   Unavailability Cause parameter are shown in the following table. 
   The values agree with those provided in the SS7 MTP3 User Part 
   Unavailable message.  Depending on the MTP3 protocol used in the 
   Network Appearance, additional values may be used - the 
   specification of the relevant MTP3 protocol variant/version 
   recommendation is definitive.

         0         Unknown
         1         Unequipped Remote User
         2         Inaccessible Remote User 

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MTP3-User Identity field: 16-bits (unsigned integer)

   The MTP3-User Identity describes the specific MTP3-User that is 
   unavailable (e.g., ISUP, SCCP, ...).  Some of the valid values for 
   the MTP3-User Identity are shown below.  The values align with those 
   provided in the SS7 MTP3 User Part Unavailable message and Service 
   Indicator.  Depending on the MTP3 protocol variant/version used in 
   the network appearance, additional values may be used.  The relevant 
   MTP3 protocol variant/version recommendation is definitive.

       0 to 2      Reserved
          3        SCCP
          4        TUP
          5        ISUP
       6 to 8      Reserved
          9        Broadband ISUP
         10        Satellite ISUP
         11        Reserved
         12        AAL type 2 Signalling
         13        Bearer Independent Call Control (BICC)
         14        Gateway Control Protocol 
         15        Reserved
                    
 
The format and description of the Affected Point Code parameter is 
the same as for the DUNA message (See Section 3.4.1.) except that 
the Mask field is not used and only a single Affected DPC is 
included.  Ranges and lists of Affected DPCs cannot be signalled in 
a DUPU message, but this is consistent with UPU operation in the 
SS7 network. The Affected Destinations parameter in an MTP3 User 
Part Unavailable message (UPU) received by an SGP from the SS7 
network contains only one destination.

The format and description of the Network Appearance, Routing 
Context, and INFO String parameters is the same as for the DUNA 
message (See Section 3.4.1).

3.4.6 Destination Restricted (DRST)   

The DRST message is optionally sent from the SGP to all concerned ASPs 
to indicate that the SG has determined that one or more SS7  
destinations are now restricted from the point of view of the SG, or 
in response to a DAUD message if appropriate. The M3UA layer at the ASP 
is expected to send traffic to the affected destination via an 
alternate SG with route(s) of equal priority, but only if such an 
alternate route exists and is available. If the affected destination 
is currently considered unavailable by the ASP, The MTP3-User should 
be informed that traffic to the affected destination can be resumed.  
In this case, the M3UA layer should route the traffic through the SG 
initiating the DRST message.

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This message is optional for the SG to send and it is optional for the 
ASP to act on any information received in the message. It is for use in 
the "STP" case described in Section 1.4.1.

The DRST message contains the following parameters:

     Network Appearance       Optional
     Routing Context          Optional
     Affected Point Code      Mandatory
     INFO String              Optional

The format and description of the Network Appearance, Routing Context, 
Affected Point Code and INFO String parameters is the same as for the 
DUNA message (See Section 3.4.1).

3.5 ASP State Maintenance (ASPSM) Messages

3.5.1 ASP Up

The ASP Up message is used to indicate to a remote M3UA peer that the 
adaptation layer is ready to receive any ASPSM/ASPTM messages 
for all Routing Keys that the ASP is configured to serve.

The ASP Up message contains the following parameters:

     ASP Identifier                Optional
     INFO String                   Optional

The format for ASP Up message parameters is as follows:

    0                   1                   2                   3
    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |         Tag = 0x0011          |           Length = 8          |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |                         ASP Identifier                        |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |         Tag = 0x0004          |             Length            |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   \                                                               \
   /                          INFO String                          /
   \                                                               \
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

ASP Identifier: 32-bit unsigned integer 

The optional ASP Identifier parameter contains a unique value that is 
locally significant among the ASPs that support an AS. The SGP should 
save the ASP Identifier to be used, if necessary, with the Notify 
message (see Section 3.8.2).

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The format and description of the optional INFO String parameter is the 
same as for the DUNA message (See Section 3.4.1).

3.5.2 ASP Up Acknowledgement (ASP Up Ack)

The ASP UP Ack message is used to acknowledge an ASP Up message 
received from a  remote M3UA peer.

The ASP Up Ack message contains the following parameters:

     INFO String (optional)

The format for ASP Up Ack message parameters is as follows:

    0                   1                   2                   3
    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |         Tag =0x0004             |             Length            |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   \                                                               \
   /                          INFO String                          /
   \                                                               \
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

The format and description of the optional INFO String parameter is the 
same as for the DUNA message (See Section 3.4.1).  The INFO String in 
an ASP Up Ack message is independent from the INFO String in the ASP Up 
message (i.e., it does not have to echo back the INFO String received).

3.5.3 ASP Down

The ASP Down message is used to indicate to a remote M3UA peer that the 
adaptation layer is NOT ready to receive DATA, SSNM, RKM or ASPTM 
messages.

The ASP Down message contains the following parameters:

     INFO String    Optional

The format for the ASP Down message parameters is as follows:

    0                   1                   2                   3
    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |         Tag =0x0004           |            Length             |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 
   \                                                               \
   /                         INFO String                           /
   \                                                               \
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

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The format and description of the optional INFO String parameter is the 
same as for the DUNA message (See Section 3.4.1).

3.5.4 ASP Down Acknowledgement (ASP Down Ack)

The ASP Down Ack message is used to acknowledge an ASP Down message 
received from a remote M3UA peer.  

The ASP Down Ack message contains the following parameters:

     INFO String     Optional

The format for the ASP Down Ack message parameters is as follows:

    0                   1                   2                   3
    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |         Tag = 0x0004          |            Length             |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 
   \                                                               \
   /                         INFO String                           /
   \                                                               \
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

The format and description of the optional INFO String parameter is the 
same as for the DUNA message (See Section 3.4.1).

The INFO String in an ASP Down Ack message is independent from the INFO 
String in the ASP Down message (i.e., it does not have to echo back the 
INFO String received).

3.5.5 Heartbeat (BEAT)

The BEAT message is optionally used to ensure that the M3UA peers 
are still available to each other.  It is recommended for use when the 
M3UA runs over a transport layer other than the SCTP, which has its own 
heartbeat.

The BEAT message contains the following parameters:

     Heartbeat Data         Optional

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The format for the BEAT message is as follows:

    0                   1                   2                   3
    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 
   |         Tag = 0x0009          |            Length             |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   \                                                               \
   /                       Heartbeat Data                          /
   \                                                               \
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 

The Heartbeat Data parameter contents are defined by the sending node.  
The Heartbeat Data could include, for example, a Heartbeat Sequence 
Number and/or Timestamp.  The receiver of a BEAT message does not 
process this field as it is only of significance to the sender.  The 
receiver MUST respond with a BEAT Ack message.
  

3.5.6 Heartbeat Acknowledgement (BEAT Ack)

The BEAT Ack message is sent in response to a received BEAT 
message.  It includes all the parameters of the received BEAT 
message, without any change.

3.6 Routing Key Management (RKM) Messages [Optional]

3.6.1 Registration Request (REG REQ)

The REG REQ message is sent by an ASP to indicate to a remote M3UA peer
that it wishes to register one or more given Routing Keys with the 
remote peer.  Typically, an ASP would send this message to an SGP, and 
expects to receive a REG RSP message in return with an associated 
Routing Context value.

The REG REQ message contains the following parameters:

     Routing Key           Mandatory

One or more Routing Key parameters MAY be included.  The format for the 
REG REQ message is as follows:

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    0                   1                   2                   3
    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |          Tag = 0x0207         |            Length             |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   \                                                               \
   /                         Routing Key 1                         /
   \                                                               \
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   \                                                               \
   /                              ...                              /
   \                                                               \
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |          Tag = 0x0207         |            Length             |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   \                                                               \
   /                         Routing Key n                         /
   \                                                               \
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

Routing Key: variable length

   The Routing Key parameter is mandatory. The sender of this message
   expects that the receiver of this message will create a Routing
   Key entry and assign a unique Routing Context value to it, if the 
   Routing Key entry does not already exist.

   The Routing Key parameter may be present multiple times in the same
   message. This is used to allow the registration of multiple Routing 
   Keys in a single message.

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The format of the Routing Key parameter is as follows.

    0                   1                   2                   3
    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |                       Local-RK-Identifier                     |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |                  Traffic Mode Type (optional)                 |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |                     Destination Point Code                    |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |                  Network Appearance (optional)                |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |                  Service Indicators (optional)                |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |              Originating Point Code List (optional)           |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |                   Circuit Range List (optional)               |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   \                                                               \
   /                              ...                              /
   \                                                               \
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |                     Destination Point Code                    |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |                  Service Indicators (optional)                |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |              Originating Point Code List (optional)           |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |                   Circuit Range List (optional)               |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

Note: The Destination Point Code, Service Indicators, Originating Point 
Code List and Circuit Range List parameters MAY be repeated as a 
grouping within the Routing Key parameter, in the structure shown above.  
 

Local-RK-Identifier: 32-bit integer

   The mandatory Local-RK-Identifier field is used to uniquely identify 
   the registration request. The Identifier value is assigned by the 
   ASP, and is used to correlate the response in an REG RSP message 
   with the original registration request. The Identifier value must 
   remain unique until the REG RSP message is received.

   The format of the Local-RK-Identifier field is as follows:

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    0                   1                   2                   3
    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |         Tag = 0x020a          |         Length = 8            |   
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |                  Local-RK-Identifier value                    |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

Traffic Mode Type: 32-bit (unsigned integer)

   The optional Traffic Mode Type parameter identifies the traffic mode 
   of operation of the ASP(s) within an Application Server.  The format 
   of the Traffic Mode Type Identifier is as follows:

    0                   1                   2                   3
    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |         Tag = 0x000b          |         Length = 8            |   
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |                       Traffic Mode Type                       |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

   The valid values for Traffic Mode Type are shown in the 
   following table:

      1     Override
      2     Loadshare
      3     Broadcast

Destination Point Code:

   The Destination Point Code parameter is mandatory, and identifies 
   the Destination Point Code of incoming SS7 traffic for which the ASP 
   is registering.  The format is the same as described for the 
   Affected Destination parameter in the DUNA message (See Section 
   3.4.1). Its format is:

    0                   1                   2                   3
    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |         Tag = 0x020b          |         Length = 8            |   
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |    Mask = 0   |            Destination Point Code             |   
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

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Network Appearance:

   The optional Network Appearance parameter field identifies the SS7 
   network context for the Routing Key, and has the same format as in 
   the DATA message (See Section 3.3.1).  The absence of the Network 
   Appearance parameter in the Routing Key indicates the use 
   of any Network Appearance value, Its format is:

    0                   1                   2                   3
    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |         Tag = 0x0200          |         Length = 8            |   
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+   
   |                     Network Appearance                        |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

Service Indicators (SI): n X 8-bit integers

   The optional SI field contains one or more Service Indicators from 
   the values as described in the MTP3-User Identity field of the DUPU 
   message.  The absence of the SI parameter in the Routing Key 
   indicates the use of any SI value, excluding of course MTP 
   management.  Where an SI parameter does not contain a multiple of 
   four SIs, the parameter is padded out to 32-byte alignment.  

   The SI format is:

    0                   1                   2                   3
    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |         Tag = 0x020c          |             Length            |   
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+   
   |      SI #1    |     SI #2     |    SI #3      |    SI #4      |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+   
   /                              ...                              /
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+   
   |      SI #n    |             0 Padding, if necessary           |   
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

OPC List:

   The Originating Point Code List parameter contains one or more SS7 
   OPC entries, and its format is the same as the Destination Point 
   Code parameter.  The absence of the OPC List parameter in the 
   Routing Key indicates the use of any OPC value,

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    0                   1                   2                   3
    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |         Tag = 0x020e          |             Length            |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |    Mask = 0   |          Origination Point Code #1            |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |    Mask = 0   |          Origination Point Code #2            |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   /                              ...                              /
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |    Mask = 0   |          Origination Point Code #n            |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

Circuit Range:

   An ISUP controlled circuit is uniquely identified by the SS7 OPC, 
   DPC and CIC value.  For the purposes of identifying Circuit Ranges 
   in an M3UA Routing Key, the optional Circuit Range parameter 
   includes one or more circuit ranges, each identified by an OPC and 
   Upper/Lower CIC value.  The DPC is implicit as it is mandatory and 
   already included in the DPC parameter of the Routing Key.  The 
   absence of the Circuit Range parameter in the Routing Key indicates 
   the use of any Circuit Range values, in the case of ISUP/TUP 
   traffic.  The Origination Point Code is encoded the same as the 
   Destination Point Code parameter, while the CIC values are 16-bit 
   integers.

   The Circuit Range format is as follows:

    0                   1                   2                   3
    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |           Tag = 0x020f        |              Length           |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |    Mask = 0   |          Origination Point Code #1            |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |       Lower CIC Value #1      |      Upper CIC Value #1       |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |    Mask = 0   |          Origination Point Code #2            |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |       Lower CIC Value #2      |      Upper CIC Value #2       |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   /                              ...                              /
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |    Mask = 0   |          Origination Point Code #n            |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |       Lower CIC Value #n      |      Upper CIC Value #n       |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

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3.6.2 Registration Response (REG RSP)

The REG RSP message is used as a response to the REG REQ message from a
remote M3UA peer.  It contains indications of success/failure for 
registration requests and returns a unique Routing Context value for 
successful registration requests, to be used in subsequent M3UA Traffic 
Management protocol.

The REG RSP message contains the following parameters:

     Registration Result   Mandatory

One or more Registration Result parameters MUST be included.  The format 
for the REG RSP message is as follows:

    0                   1                   2                   3
    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |          Tag = 0x0208         |              Length           |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |                    Registration Result 1                      |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   \                                                               \
   /                              ...                              /
   \                                                               \
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |           Tag = 0x0208        |            Length             |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
   |                    Registration Result n                      |
   +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

Registration Results:

   The Registration Result parameter contains the registration result 
   for a single Routing Key in an REG REQ message.  The number of 
   results in a single REG RSP message MUST be anywhere from one to 
   the total number of number of Routing Key parameters found in the 
   corresponding REG REQ message. Where multiple REG RSP messages are 
   used in reply to REG REQ message, a specific result SHOULD be in 
   only one REG RSP message. The format of each result is as follows:

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    0                   1                   2                   3
    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6