Stream control transport protocol (SCTP)

The SS7 network and the Internet have been two independent networks that perform different tasks and provide different services. SS7 is used for telephony signaling and the Internet for data transfer in packet-switched networks. However, in the last years the services they offer are merging. On one hand, the telephone users are demanding new services that involve access to the Internet. On the other hand, there has been a development in the services provided by IP networks so that they are able to assure certain levels of quality. This makes IP networks more suitable for the transport of more delay sensitive data such as speech or telephony signaling. Applications such as voice over IP (VoIP) and the deployment of the 3/sup rd/ generation mobile telephony networks make increasing need for internetworking between telephone and computer networks. To be able to transfer signaling traffic originating in the other networks via IP networks, a family of protocols is being defined based on SCTP, a new end-to-end transport protocol.