Common Channel Interoffice Signaling: Development Tools

A CCIS switching office or Signal Transfer Point (STP) consists of a variety of complex software and hardware systems whose sound design and thorough testing can be aided by effective support and development tools. Such software tools as a text editor, a macro assembler, and a linking loader are indispensable for program development. Managing large data bases of commonly used symbol definitions and large numbers of individual programs is accomplished by sophisticated software administration systems. Several hardware development tools not only aid the design and analysis of complex electronic circuits, but also provide circuit performance data used in the diagnostic software for these circuits. Support for the testing of completed software and hardware designs has also been provided. Laboratory utilities and test systems are available for debugging, function testing, and integration of system programs. The need for testing certain electronic peripheral circuits in an isolated environment has led to the development of off-line test systems that simulate the appropriate central control processors and their peripheral busses. The operation and application of each of these systems in the development of CCIS are detailed below. 429