GSM

Global System for Mobiles

GS CHANNELS
GSM
C
S

By: Mrs. Shweta Shah

1

Multiple access schemes With

GSM
The
h radio
d transmission in GSM networks
k
is based on digital technology. Digital
transmission in GSM is implemented
using two methods known as Frequency
Division Multiple Access (FDMA) and
Time
Division
Multiple
Access
(TDMA).

Concept of TDMA and FDMA used in GSM

along with SDMA using cellular structure

Frequency Division Multiple Access

(FDMA) refers to the fact that each
Base Transceiver Station is allocated
different radio frequency channels.
Mobile p
phones in adjacent
j
cells ((or in
the same cell) can operate at the same
time, but are separated according to
frequency.

Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) divides

one radio frequency channel into consecutive
periods of time, each one called a "TDMA frame".
Each TDMA frame contains eight
g shorter p
periods of
time known as "timeslots".

Time is divided into discrete periods called

timeslots. The timeslots are arranged in
sequence and are conventionally numbered 0
to 7.
7 Each repetition of this sequence is called
a TDMA frame.
The information carried in one timeslot is called
a burst.
b
t
Each MS telephone call occupies one timeslot
((07)) within the frame until the call is
terminated, or a handover occurs.
For such a system to work correctly,
synchronization and timing has to be maintain
correctly.

GSM 900 calculations:

GSM-900
l l ti
-Forward link (BS to mobile)-- 960 MHz 935 MHz = 25 MHz
-Reverse link (Mobile to BS)- 915 MHz 890 MHz = 25 MHz

Total available bandwidth

25MHz
-Total number of channels =
=
= 125
200 kHz
Per channel bandwidth
- ARFCN = 0 to 124
-Per channel 8 time slots assigned and
-channel data rate is 270.833 kbps
-effective channel transmission rate =270.833/8
=270 833/8 = 33
33.854
854 kbps
-In GSM with overhead user data is actually sent at 24.7 kbps
instead of 33.854 kbps
-Signaling
Signaling bit duration = 1/270.833
1/270 833 =3.692
3 692 s
s
8

Transmission through air interface

The principle of air interface can be understand by
an example of an army which has to moved from
one place to another and a group of vehicles is set
aside to do the job.
j
Each vehicle has eight seats and therefore only
eight people can be carried in each vehicle. One
officer and seven soldiers are allocated to each
vehicle.
There are different types of people in army,
soldiers and officers. This could be referred to as
g
differences as their functions are
logical
different.

To move them form one place to

another, a physical connection is
employed,
p y , that is,, the vehicle and seats.
The physical channel is the medium over
which the information is carried, in the
case of a terrestrial
te est ial interface
inte face this would
o ld
be a cable.
The logical channels consist of the
information carried over the physical
channel.

Physical and Logical Channels

The TDMA frame can be compared
p
to the vehicle in our
example.
Each TDMA frame contains eight shorter periods of time
k
known
as "timeslots".
" i
l
" These
Th
timeslots
i
l
can be
b compared
d
to the seats in the vehicle.
The TDMA timeslots
Th
ti
l t are called
ll d "physical
" h i l channels",
h
l " as
they are used to physically move information from one
place to another.
The radio carrier signal between the mobile station and
the BTS is divided into a continuous stream of timeslots,
which in turn are transmitted in a continuous stream of
TDMA frames - like a long line of vehicles with eight seats
in each.

The contents of the physical channels - that is, the

soldiers and officers traveling in the eight seats of the
vehicle,
hi l
according
di
t their
to
th i roles,
l
are called
ll d "logical
"l i l
channels".
For such
Fo
s ch a system
s stem to work
o k correctly,
co ectl
the timing of the
transmissions to and from the mobiles is critical. The MS
or Base Station must transmit the information related to
one call at exactly
y the right
g moment,, or the timeslot will
be missed. The information carried in one timeslot is
called a burst.
In the
h example
l off the
h army, the
h soldiers
ld
are one type off
logical channel and the officers are other types of logical
channels, and they exercise some kind of control
depending on their responsibilities. In GSM, the logical
channels can be divided into two types:
dedicated channels
common channels.

Hierarchy of Logical channels

Logical channels
There are 12 different types of logical channels, which are
mapped into physical channels in the radio path.
Logical channels comprise
dedicated channels.

of

common

channels

and

Common channels are those that are used for

broadcasting different information to MS and for setting up
signalling channels between the MSC/VLR and the mobile
station.
t ti
Over the radio path, different types of signalling channels are
used between the MS and the BTS, BSC and the MSC/VLR.
All these signalling channels are called dedicated control
channels.
Traffic channels are also dedicated channels,, as each
channel is dedicated to only one user to carry speech or
data.

LOGICAL CHANNELS

TRAFFIC

FULL RATE
Bm 22.8 Kb/S

SIGNALLING

HALF RATE
Lm 11.4 Kb/S
BROADCAST

FCCH

SCH

COMMON CONTROL

DEDICATED CONTROL

BCCH
PCH

FCCH -- FREQUENCY CORRECTION CHANNEL

SCH -- SYNCHRONISATION CHANNEL
BCCH -- BROADCAST CONTROL CHANNEL
PCH
-- PAGING CHANNEL
RACH -- RANDOM ACCESS CHANNEL
AGCH -- ACCESS GRANTED CHANNEL
SDCCH -- STAND ALONE DEDICATED CONTROL CHANNEL
SACCH -- SLOW ASSOCIATED CONTROL CHANNEL
FACCH -- FAST ASSOCIATED CONTROL CHANNEL

RACH

AGCH

SDCCH

SACCH

FACCH

DOWN LINK ONLY

UPLINK ONLY

BOTH UP &
DOWNLINKS

TDMA frames with common and

dedicated channels

Different logical channels are placed in different timeslots

depending on whether they are common channels used by
several MS (blue above) or if they are dedicated to a certain
MS in connection with a call (yellow above).
The common and dedicated channels are grouped in different
multiframes.
The common channels are grouped in a 51 TDMA frame
order, and
The dedicated channels are
a e grouped
g o ped in a 26 TDMA frame
f ame
order.
By multiplying 51 with 26, we can conclude that any TDMA
y in both multiframes
frame number will occur simultaneously
every 1326 TDMA frames (which corresponds to 6.12
seconds). Such cycles are called superframes.

19

20

21

Relationship of All Time Segments

Control Channel Multiframe

Control Channel Multiframe

composed of 51 TDMA frames
duration = 235.4 ms

22

Traffic Channel Multiframe

composed of 26 TDMA frames
d
duration
ti
= 120 ms

23

Traffic Channel and Control Channel Multiframes

24

Superframe
A Superframe is composed of multiple Multiframes.
Again, there is a superframe for Control Channels and one for
Traffic Channels.
Control Channel Superframe
composed of 26 Control Channel (CCH) multiframes (each CCH
multiframe has 51 TDMA frames)
d
duration
i
=6
6.12
12 seconds
d
Traffic Channel Superframe
composed of 51 Traffic Channel (TCH) multiframes (each TCH)
multiframe has 26 TDMA frames)
duration = 6.12 seconds
Each superframe, whether it is a CCH or TCH frame, consists of
1326 TDMA frames (51 * 26)
*Note: The CCH and TCH frame sequences
q
will synchronize
y
every superframe.
25

Hyperframe
A hyperframe is composed of 2048 superframes.
superframes
duration = 3h 28m 53s 76ms (12,533.76
seconds) consists of 2,715,548 TDMA frames

26

GSM burst
The GSM burst,
burst or transmission can fulfil a variety of
functions.
Some GSM bursts are used for carrying data while others
are used for control information.
information
As a result of this a number of different types of GSM
burst are defined.

Normal burst uplink and downlink

Synchronisation burst downlink
Frequency correction burst downlink
Random Access (Shortened Burst)
uplink
27

28

GSM normal burst

This GSM burst is used for the standard
communications between the base station
and the mobile, and typically transfers the
digitised voice data.
The structure of the normal GSM burst is
exactly defined and follows a common format.
format
It contains data that provides a number of
different functions:

29

3 tail bits: These tail bits at the start of the GSM burst give
time for the transmitter to ramp up its power
57 data bits: used to carry information (contains the
digitised voice data) although on occasions it may be
replaced with signalling information in the form of the Fast
Associated Control CHannel (FACCH).
The type of data is indicated by the flag that follows the data field

1 bit flag: This bit within the GSM burst indicates the type
of data in the previous field.
26 bits training sequence: used as a timing reference and
for equalisation.
There is a total of eight different bit sequences that may be used, each
26 bits long.
long
The same sequence is used in each GSM slot, but nearby base stations
using the same radio frequency channels will use different ones, and
this enables the mobile to differentiate between the various cells using
th same frequency.
the
f
30

1 bit flag Again this flag indicates the type of data in

the data field.
57 data bits Again, this block of data within the GSM
burst is used for carrying data.
data
3 tail bits These final bits within the GSM burst are used
to enable the transmitter power to ramp down. They are
often called final tail bits,
bits or just tail bits.
bits
8.25 bits guard time At the end of the GSM burst there
is a guard period. This is introduced to prevent
transmitted bursts from different mobiles overlapping.
overlapping
As a result of their differing distances from the base
station.

31

GSM synchronisation burst

The purpose of this form of GSM burst is to provide
synchronisation for the mobiles on the network.
3 tail bits: Again, these tail bits at the start of the GSM burst
give time for the transmitter to ramp
g
p up
p its p
power
39 bits of information:
64 bits of a Long Training Sequence:
39 bits Information:
3 tail bits Again these are to enable the transmitter power to
ramp down.
8.25 bits guard time: to act as a guard interval.

32

GSM frequency correction

burst
With the information in the burst all set to zeros,
zeros the
burst essentially consists of a constant frequency carrier
with no phase alteration.
3 tail bits: Again,
Again these tail bits at the start of the GSM
burst give time for the transmitter to ramp up its power.
142 bits all set to zero:
3 tail
t il bits
bit Again
A i these
th
are to
t enable
bl the
th transmitter
t
itt
power to ramp down.
8.25 bits guard time: to act as a guard interval.

33

GSM random access burst

This form of GSM burst used when accessing
the network and it is shortened in terms of the
data carried, having a much longer guard
period.
This GSM burst structure is used to ensure that
it fits in the time slot regardless of any severe
timing problems that may exist.
Once the mobile has accessed the network and
timing has been aligned, then there is no
requirement for the long guard period.
34

7 tail bits: The increased number of tail bits is included

to provide additional margin when accessing the
network.
41 training bits:
36 data bits:
3 tail bits Again these are to enable the transmitter
power to
t ramp down.
d
69.25 bits guard time: The additional guard time,
filling the remaining time of the GSM burst provides for
la ge timing differences.
large
diffe en es

35

The normal burst contains a training sequence

and an SB (Stealing Bit).
The training
g sequence
q
is known,, which makes
it possible to correct bit errors by applying
Viterbi Equalisation.
There are eight different sequence patterns,
patterns
and the one to be used is determined at the
time of call set-up. The stealing bits indicate if
the
burst
contains
FACCH
(handover)
information.
36

Traffic Channels (TCH)

The traffic channel carries speech or data information.
information
The different types of traffic channel are listed below:
Full rate
TCH/FS: Speech (13 kbit/s net, 22.8 kbit/s gross)
TCH/EFR: Speech (12.2 kbit/s net, 22.8 kbit/s gross)
TCH/F9.6: 9.6 kbit/s data
TCH/F4.8: 4.8 kbit/s data
TCH/F2.4 2.4 kbit/s data

Half rate
TCH/HS: speech (6.5 kbit/s net, 11.4 kbit/s gross)
TCH/H4.8 4.8 kbit/s data
TCH/H2.4 2.4 kbit/s data
37

38

TCH Full Rate/Half Rate

User data
U
d t is
i contained
t i d within
ithi one TS
per frame
H lf R
Half
Rate
t :S
Sampled
l d att a rate
t half
h lf
than Full Rate,Mapped onto the same
time slot but it sent into alternate
frames
TCH/FS TCH/F 9.6,
TCH/FS,
9 6 TCH/F 4.8,
4 8 TCH/F
2.4
S
Speech
h channel
h
l Digitized
Di iti d 13 KBPS
After channel coding 22.8 KBPS

Traffic Channel (TCH)

Traffic channels are logical channels that transfer user
speech or data, which can be either in the form of half
rate traffic (5.6 Kbits/s) or full rate traffic (13
Kbits/s) Another form of traffic channel is the
Kbits/s).
Enhanced Full Rate (EFR) traffic channel.
The speech coding in EFR is still done at 13 Kbits/s, but
the coding mechanism is different than that used for
normal full rate traffic.
od g g
gives b
better speech
p
quality
qua
y a
at the same
a
bit
b
EFR coding
rate than normal full rate.
Traffic channels can transmit both speech and data and
are bi-directional channels.
channels
40

In the air interface,

interface TDMA is used where one
frequency is shared by, at the most, eight users.
Consider the example of a 2 Mbit/s PCM signal that
can carry 30 speech
h channels,
h
l
with
h each
h channel
h
l
occupying 64 Kbits/s.
p
signals
g
from the mobile stations must be
The speech
placed into a 2 Mbit/s signal that connects the BTS
and the BSC.
It is very important that all the mobile stations in the
same cell send the digital information at the correct
time to enable the BTS to place this information into
the correct position in the 2 Mbit/s signal.
signal
41

In the air interface,

interface a TDMA timeslot is a time
interval of approximately 576.9 s (~ 0.577 ms),
which corresponds to the duration of 156.25 bit
times.
times
All bursts occupy this period of time, but the actual
arrangement of bits in the burst depends on the
burst type.

42

Control channels

43

44

45

Broadcast group
Base stations can use several TXs,
TXs but there is always
only one TX that can carry common channels.
They are downlink point-to-multipoint channels.
They contain general information about the
network and the broadcasting cell.
There are three types of broadcast channels:
1. Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH)
2. Frequency Correction Channel (FCCH)
3 Synchronisation Channel (SCH)
3.

Broadcast Control Channel

(BCCH)
Broadcast information for,
for
the network, e.g. for describing the current control channel
structure.
a MSs present cell and
The surrounding cells.

It is transmitted continuously as its signal strength is

measured by all MSs on surrounding cells.
cells
The information carried on the BCCH is monitored by the
MS periodically (at least every 30 secs), when it is
switched on and not in a call.
call
The BCCH is a point-to-multipoint channel (BS-to-MS).
It also broadcasts a list of channels that are currently in
use within the cell.
cell

The BCCH is transmitted at constant power at all times,

times
and its signal strength is measured by all MS which may
seek to use it. Dummy bursts are transmitted to ensure
continuity when there is no BCCH carrier traffic.
traffic
Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH) Carries the following
information:
1.
1
2.
3.
4
4.
5.
6.
7
7.
8.

Location Area Identity (LAI).

(LAI)
List of neighboring cells which should be monitored by the MS.
List of frequencies used in the cell.
Cell identity.
identity
Power control indicator.
DTX permitted.
Access control (for example,
example emergency calls,
calls call barring).
barring)
CBCH description.

Frequency Correction Channel

(FCCH)
This is transmitted frequently on the BCCH timeslot and
allows the mobile to synchronize its own frequency to
that of the transmitting base site.
The FCCH may only be sent during timeslot 0 on the
BCCH carrier frequency and therefore it acts as a flag to
the mobile to identify Timeslot 0.
The MS scans for this signal after it has been switched
on, since it has no information as to which frequency to
use.
use

Synchronisation Channel (SCH)

The SCH carries the information to enable the MS to
synchronize to the TDMA frame structure and know the timing
of the individual timeslots. The following parameters are sent:
Frame number.
Base Site Identity Code (BSIC).
The BSIC is needed to identify
y that the frequency
q
y
strength being measured by the mobile station is coming
from a particular base station.
The MS will monitor BCCH information from surrounding cells
and store the information from the best six cells. The SCH
information on these cells is also stored so that the MS may
quickly
qu
c y resynchronize
esy c o e when
e itt e
enters
te s a new
e ce
cell.

51

Common control channels

(CCCH) group
Common control channels comprise the second set of
logical channels.
They are used to set up a point to point connection.
Th CCCHs
The
CCCH are off two
t
main
i types:
t
The forward common channels are used for paging to inform a
mobile of an incoming call, responding to channel requests, and
broadcasting
g bulletin board information.
The return common channel is a random access channel used
by the mobile to request channel resources before timing information
is conveyed by the BSs.

The Common Control Channel is responsible for transferring

control information between all mobiles and the BTS. This
is necessary for the implementation of call origination and
call
call paging
paging functions
functions.
52

There are three types of common control channels:

1.
2.
3.
4.

Paging Channel (PCH)

Random Access Channel (RACH)
Access Grant Channel (AGCH)
Cell Broadcast Channel (CBCH)
(
)

53

Paging Channel (PCH)

downlink channel
broadcast by all the BTSs of a location area in the case of
a mobile terminated call.

The
h PCH transmits IMSI off the
h target subscriber
b
b
which is with a request for acknowledgement form the
mobile on RACH.
used for cell broadcast (ASCII text messages to all
MSs in form of SMS)

Used by the BTS to page MS,

MS (paging can be
performed by an IMSI, TMSI or IMEI).

54

Random Access Channel

(RACH)
only uplink and the first point to point channel in
the common control channels.
It is used by the mobile station in order to initiate
a transaction, or as a response to a PCH.
RACH is used by MSs to gain access to the system.

Main functions are access requests,

requests
response to call announcement, location
update, etc.
It is used by subscriber unit to acknowledge a
page form the PCH and also to originate a call
by mobile.
55

Access Grant Channel (AGCH)

The AGCH is the answer to the RACH.
RACH
It is used to assign a mobile Stand-alone Dedicated
Control Channel (SDCCH).
It is a downlink, point to point channel.
It is the final CCCH message sent by the BS before a
subscriber is moved off the control channel and will
move to the dedicated channel in order to proceed with
either a call setup, response to a paging message,
Location Area Update or Short Message Service.
Service
The PCH and AGCH are never used at the same time.

56

Cell Broadcast Channel

(CBCH)
This channel
Thi
h
l is
i
used
d to
t
t
transmit
it
messages to be broadcast to all MSs
within a cell.
cell
The CBCH uses a dedicated
Th
d di
d controll
channel to send its messages,
however it is considered a common
channel because the messages can be
received by all mobiles in the cell.
cell
57

Active
A
ti
MS mustt frequently
MSs
f
tl monitor
it
both BCCH and CCCH. The CCCH will
be transmitted on the RF carrier with
the BCCH.

58

59

Dedicated control channels

(DCCH)
The dedicated channels are of two main types:
those used for signaling, and
those used for traffic.
The signaling channels are used for
maintenance of the call and
for enabling call set up,
providing facilities such as handover when the call is in
progress, and finally terminating the call.

The traffic channels handle the actual payload.

60

Dedicated control channels

(DCCH)
Dedicated control channels compose the third group of
logical channels.
The dedicated channels are:
1. Stand
Alone
Dedicated
Control
Channel
(SDCCH)
2. Associated Control Channel (ACCH)
1.
2.

Slow Associated Control Channel (SACCH)

Fast Associated Control Channel (FACCH)

They are
The
a e used
sed for
fo call set-up,
set p sending measurement
meas ement
reports and handover.
They are all bi-directional and point to point channels.
61

Stand-alone Dedicated
Control Channel (SDCCH)
It is used for signaling exchanges,
exchanges e.g.
e g during call setup,
setup
registration / location updates.
The SDCCH carries signaling data following the connection
of MS with the BS and just before a TCH assignment is
issued by the BS.
It ensures that the mobile and BS remain connected while the
base station and MSC verify the subscriber unit and then it
allocates resources for the mobile.
It can be considered as an intermediate temporary
channel accepting a newly completed call from the BCH.
BCH
It holds the traffic while waiting for the base station to
allocate a TCH channel. The SDCCH is used to send
authentication and alert messages.
messages
62

Slow Associated Control

Channel (SACCH)
An SACCH is associated with each SDCCH and TCH.
TCH
It transmits measurement reports and is also used for
power control, time alignment and in some cases for
transmitting short messages.
messages
On the forward link, SACCH is used to send slow but
regularly changing control information to the mobile e.g.
transmit power level instructions,
instructions specific timing advance
instructions for each user on the ARFCN.
On the reverse link, SACCH carries information about the
received signal strength and quality of the TCH and also
the BCH measurement resulting from neighboring cells. The
SACCH is transmitted in 13th frame (also in 26th frame when
half rate traffic is used) of every speech /dedicated control
channel multiframe.
63

Fast Associated Control

Channel (FACCH)
The FACCH is transmitted instead of a TCH.
TCH The
FACCH steals the TCH burst and inserts its own
information.
The FACCH is used to carry out user
authentication,
handovers
and
immediate
assignment.
assignment

64

Power On

Select the channel with

highest RF level among
the control channels

Scan Channels,
monitor RF levels

Scan the channel for the

FCCH
NO

Select the channel with

ith
next highest Rf level from
the control list.

Is
FCCH detected?
YES
Scan channel for SCH
NO
Is
SCH detected?
d
d?
YES
Read data from BCCH
and determine is it BCCH?

From the channel data

update the control channel
list

NO

Is
the current BCCH
channel included?
Camp on BCCH and
start decoding

YES

Example: Incoming Call Setup

MS
MS
MS
MS
MS
MS
MS
MS
MS
MS
MS
MS
MS
S
MS
MS
MS

BSS/MSC
/
----- BSS/MSC----- BSS/MSC ----- BSS/MSC ----- BSS/MSC ----- BSS/MSC ----- BSS/MSC ----- BSS/MSC ----- BSS/MSC ----- BSS/MSC ----- BSS/MSC ----- BSS/MSC ----- BSS/MSC ----- BSS/MSC
SS/ SC ----- BSS/MSC -----BSS/MSC

Paging
g g request
q
((PCH))
Channel request
(RACH)
Immediate Assignment (AGCH)
Paging Response
(SDCCH)
Authentication Request (SDCCH)
Authentication Response (SDCCH)
Cipher Mode Command (SDCCH)
Ci h Mode
Cipher
M d Compl.
C
l
(SDCCH)
Setup
(SDCCH)
Call Confirmation
(SDCCH)
Assignment Command (SDCCH)
Assignment Compl.
(FACCH)
Alert
(FACCH)
Connect
Co
ect
((FACCH)
CC )
Connect Acknowledge
(FACCH)
------ Data
(TCH)

Channel combinations
The different logical channel types mentioned are grouped
into what are called channel combinations.
Full Rate Traffic Channel Combination TCH/FACCH +
SACCH
Broadcast Channel Combination BCCH + CCCH
Dedicated Channel Combination SDCCH + SACCH
Combined Channel Combination BCCH+CCCH+SDCCH+SACCH

69

1 Hyper frame = 2048 Super frames =2715648 TDMA frames 3h

( 28 min 53 sec 760 ms)

2045

2046 2047

1 Super frame = 1326 TDMA frames (6.12s)

= 51(26 frames) Multi frame

50

0 12 3
1 Super frame = 1326 TDMA frames (6.12s)
= 26(51 frames) Multi frame

23 24

1(51 frames) Multi frame = 51 TDMA frames (3060/13 ms)

1(26 frames) Multi frame = 26 TDMA frames (120 ms)

T0

T1

T2

T12
(SACCH)

T23

0 1

49 50

2 3

1 TDMA frame
= 8 time slots (120/26 or 4.615ms)

25

3 4

1 time slot = 156.25 bit duration (15/26 or 0.577 ms)

(1 bit duration = 48/13 or 3.69 s)

A practical approach:
Suppose a subscriber switches on his mobile
phone and receives a call. This simple act
of switching on the phone involves the
following steps:
1. The mobile scans all the radio frequencies
and
d measures them.
th
2. It selects the frequency with the best quality
and tunes to it.
3. With the help of a synchronization signal in a
TDMA frame, the mobile synchronizes itself
to the network.

The synchronization
s nch oni ation information
info mation required
eq i ed by
b this process
p ocess is
broadcast by the network and analyzed by the mobile.
Registration and authentication are the next steps and
they consist of the following operations:
1. A point to point connection must be set up. The mobile
station makes a request for a channel to establish the
connection.
2. The network acknowledges the request and allocates a
channel The mobile receives and reads this information.
channel.
information
3. The mobile then moves to the allocated (dedicated)
channel for further transactions with the network. The
next steps are registration and authentication.

Initiation of a call

Once the subscriber is registered in the network and

the authentication is successful, calls can be set up.
In the case of a mobile terminated call, the subscriber
has to be paged. This process is like this:
1. The network sends a paging message to all the BTS
within the Location Area (LA) where the subscriber
is registered.
registered
2. The mobile station answers the paging message by
sending a service/channel request.
3. The network acknowledges
g
this request
q
and again
g
an
authentication is needed.
4. A dedicated signalling channel is assigned in order to
transmit the data related to the call. A traffic channel
is assigned for the conversation.
conversation

During the conversation,

conversation the mobile measures the
signal strength of adjacent carriers and sends
measurement reports to the Base Station Controller
(
(BSC).
)
A channel must be dedicated also for this
function.
p
description
p
of the p
process,, but it
This is a simplified
conveys the idea that there are many functions
involved in the air interface to enable a mobile user to
have conversation.
Each one of these functions requires a separate
"logical channel", as the data contents are different.
Some of them are uplink, others are downlink and
some are bi-directional.
bi-directional

Mobile to Land Sequence Steps

Land to Mobile Sequence

MS Initiated Call Clearing

Se e e
Sequence

Call completion from the called side

Mobility Management Messages

Message name
AUTHENTICATION REQUEST
AUTHENTICATION RESPONSE
AUTHENTICATION REJECT
IDENTITY REQUEST
IDENTITY RESPONSE
TSMI REALLOCATION COMMAND
LOCATION UPDATING REQUET
LOCATION UPDATING ACCEPT
LOCATION UPDATING REJECT
IMSI DETACH REQUEST
CM SERVICE REQUEST
CM RE-ESTABLISHMENT REQUEST
MM-STATUS

Transmitted by
Base
Mobile
Base
Base
Mobile
Base
Mobile
Base
Base
Mobile
Mobile
Mobile
bil
Mobile/Base

Call management
g
messages
g
Message name

Transmitted by
Starting a call

SETUP
Mobile/base
EMERGENCY SETUP
mobile
CALL PROCEEDING
base
PROGRESS
base
CALL CONFIRMED
mobile
ALERTING
mobile/base
CONNECT
mobile/base
During a call
START DTMF
Mobile
STOP DTMF
mobile
MODIFY
mobile/base
USER INFORMATION
mobile/base
Ending a call
DISCONNECT
Mobile/base
RELEASE
mobile/base
RELEASE COMPLET
mobile/base
Abnormal conditions
STATUS
Mobile/base
STATUS ENQUIRY
mobile/base
CONGESTION CONROL
mobile/base

Radio Resources Management Messages

Message name

Logical channel Transmitted by

SYNC CHANNEL INFORMATION

SYSTEM INFORMATION (TYPE 1,2,3,4,5)
SYSTEM INFORMATION (TYPE 6)
CHANNEL REQUEST
PAGING REQUEST (TYPE 11,2.3)
2 3)
IMMEDIATE ASSIGNMENT
IMMEDIATE ASSIGNMENT EXTENDED
IMMEDIATE ASSIGNMENT REJECT
ASSIGNMENT COMMAND
ADDITIONAL ASSIGNMENT
PAGING RESPONSE
MERSUREMENT REPORT
HANDOVER COMMAND
HANDOVER ACCESS
PHYSICAL INFORMATION
HANDOVER COMPLETE
CIPHERING MODE
CHANNEL RELEASE
PARTIAL RELEASE
FREQUENCY REDEFINITION

SCH
BCCH
SACCH
RACH
PCH
AGCH
AGCH
AGCH
FACCH
FACCH
SDCCH
SACCH
FACCH
TCH
FACCH
FACCH
FACCH
FACCH
FACCH
SACCH
FACCH
SACCH
FACCH
FACCH
FACCH
SACCH

CLASSMARK CHANGE
CHANNEL MODE MODIFY
RR STATUS

Base
Base
Base
Mobile
B
Base
Base
Base
Base
Base
Base
Mobile
Mobile
Base
Mobile
Base
Mobile
Base
Base
Base
Base
Mobile
Base
Mobile/base

Message sequence and system operations for registration

of a te
o
terminal
a in a visited
s ted service
se ce a
area
ea
Prior
MSC

Prior
VLR

HLR

Serving
VLR

Serving
MSC

Serving
Base

Registration info

Store info
REGISTRATION NOTIFICATION INVOKE
Store info
REGISTRATION NOTIFICATION INVOKE
Change
g info
REGISTRATION NOTIFICATION RESULT
REGISTRATION NOTIFICATION RESULT
REGISTRATION CANCELLATION INVOKE
remove info
REGISTRATION CANCELLATION RESULT

REGISTRATION CANCELLATION INVOKE

QUALIFICATION REQUEST INVOKE
remove info
REGISTRATION CANCELLATION RESULT
QUALIFICATION REQUEST RESULT
PROFILE REQUEST INVOKE
PROFILE REQUEST RESULT
Store info

Location-Updating
g Procedure
Mobile
station

Base
station

Category

Carrier sine wave

Logical
Channel
FCCH

SYNC CHANNEL INFORMATION

RRM

SCH

SYSTEM INFORMATION TYPE3

RRM

BCCH

RRM
RRM

RACH
AGCH

MM
MM
MM

SDCCH
SDCCH
SDCCH
SDCCH
SDCCH

CHANNEL REQUEST
IMMEDIATE ASSIGNMENT
LOCATION UPDATING REQUEST
AUTHENTICATION REQUEST
AUTHENTICATION RESPONSE
CIPHERING MODE COMMAND
CIPHERING MODE ACK
LOCATION UPDATING ACCEPT
TMSI ALLOCATION COMPLETE
CHANNEL RELEASE

RRM
RRM
MM
MM
RRM

SDCCH
SDCCH
SDCCH

Call Deliver to MH
Mobile
station

Base
station
Carrier sine wave
SYNC CHANNEL INFORMATION
SYSTEM INFORMATION
PAGING REQUEST
CHANNEL REQUEST
IMMEDIATE ASSIGNMENT
PAGING RESPONSE
AUTHENTICATION REQUEST
AUTHENTICATION RESPONSE
CIPHERING MODE
CIPHERING MODE ACK
SETUP
CALL CONFIRMED
ALERTING
CONNECT
ASSIGNMENT COMMAND
ASSIGNMENT ACK
CONNECT ACK
conversation
conversation
conversation
DISCONNECT
RELEASE
RELEASE COMPLETE
CHANNEL RELEASE

Category

RRM
RRM
RRM
RRM
RRM
RRM
MM
MM
RRM
RRM
CMCM
CM
CM
RRM
RRM
CM

CM
CM
CM
RRM

Logical
Channel
FCCH
SCH
BCCH
PCH
RACH
AGCH
SDCCH
SDCCH
SDCCH
SDCCH
SDCCH
SDCCH
SDCCH
SDCCH
SDCCH
SDCCH
SDCCH
FACCH
TCH
TCH
FACCH
FACCH
FACCH
FACCH

Location-Updating
g Procedure
Mobile
station

Base
station

Category

Carrier sine wave

Logical
Channel
FCCH

SYNC CHANNEL INFORMATION

RRM

SCH

SYSTEM INFORMATION TYPE3

RRM

BCCH

RRM
RRM

RACH
AGCH

MM
MM
MM

SDCCH
SDCCH
SDCCH
SDCCH
SDCCH

CHANNEL REQUEST
IMMEDIATE ASSIGNMENT
LOCATION UPDATING REQUEST
AUTHENTICATION REQUEST
AUTHENTICATION RESPONSE
CIPHERING MODE COMMAND
CIPHERING MODE ACK
LOCATION UPDATING ACCEPT
TMSI ALLOCATION COMPLETE
CHANNEL RELEASE

RRM
RRM
MM
MM
RRM

SDCCH
SDCCH
SDCCH

Call Deliver to MH
Mobile
station

Base
station
Carrier sine wave
SYNC CHANNEL INFORMATION
SYSTEM INFORMATION
PAGING REQUEST
CHANNEL REQUEST
IMMEDIATE ASSIGNMENT
PAGING RESPONSE
AUTHENTICATION REQUEST
AUTHENTICATION RESPONSE
CIPHERING MODE
CIPHERING MODE ACK
SETUP
CALL CONFIRMED
ALERTING
CONNECT
ASSIGNMENT COMMAND
ASSIGNMENT ACK
CONNECT ACK
conversation
conversation
conversation
DISCONNECT
RELEASE
RELEASE COMPLETE
CHANNEL RELEASE

Category

RRM
RRM
RRM
RRM
RRM
RRM
MM
MM
RRM
RRM
CMCM
CM
CM
RRM
RRM
CM

CM
CM
CM
RRM

Logical
Channel
FCCH
SCH
BCCH
PCH
RACH
AGCH
SDCCH
SDCCH
SDCCH
SDCCH
SDCCH
SDCCH
SDCCH
SDCCH
SDCCH
SDCCH
SDCCH
FACCH
TCH
TCH
FACCH
FACCH
FACCH
FACCH

Mobile-Assisted Handover
Mobile
station

Base
station

conversation
conversation
MEASUREMENT REPORT
conversation
conversation
conversation
MEASUREMENT REPORT
conversation
HANDOVER COMMAND
HANDOVER ACCESS
HANDOVER ACCESS
HANDOVER ACCESS
PHYSICAL INFORMATION
HANDOVER COMPLETE
conversation
conversation
ti
MEASUREMENT REPORT
conversation
conversation
conversation
MEASUREMENT REPORT
conversation

Logical
Channel
TCH
TCH
SACCH
TCH
TCH
TCH
SACCH
TCH
FACCH
new TCH
TCH
TCH
TCH
FACCH
TCH
TCH
SACCH
TCH
TCH
TCH
SACCH
TCH

Mobile-Assisted Handover
Mobile
station

Base
station

conversation
conversation
MEASUREMENT REPORT
conversation
conversation
conversation
MEASUREMENT REPORT
conversation
HANDOVER COMMAND
HANDOVER ACCESS
HANDOVER ACCESS
HANDOVER ACCESS
PHYSICAL INFORMATION
HANDOVER COMPLETE
conversation
conversation
ti
MEASUREMENT REPORT
conversation
conversation
conversation
MEASUREMENT REPORT
conversation

Logical
Channel
TCH
TCH
SACCH
TCH
TCH
TCH
SACCH
TCH
FACCH
new TCH
TCH
TCH
TCH
FACCH
TCH
TCH
SACCH
TCH
TCH
TCH
SACCH
TCH

B t and
Bursts
dF
Frames
1 TDMA frame = 8 timeslots

Normal Burst (NB)

TB
3

Fixed bits

TB
3

Access burst (AB)

TB
Synchronization sequence Encrypted bits 36 TB
3
41
3

Encrypted bits 39 Synchronization sequence 64

Mixed bits 58

TB
3

142

Synchronization
burst (SB)

TB
3

1 timeslot = 156.25 bit durations (15/26 =~ 0.577 ms)

(1 bit duration 48/13 =~ 3.69 micro sec)
flag Training sequence 26flag Encrypted bits 57 TB GP
Encrypted bits 57
1
3 8.25
1

Frequency correction TB
burst (FB)
3

Dummy burst (DB)

Training sequence 26

GP
8.25

Encrypted bits 39 TB GP
3 8.25
GP 68
68.25
25

Mixed bits 58

TB GP
3 8.25

TB: Tail bits

GP: Guard period

GSM terrestrial
interfaces
By: Mrs. Shweta Shah

Each GSM component is designed to

communicate over an interface specified by
the GSM standards.
This provides flexibility and enables a
system
operator
to
adopt
system
components from different manufacturers.
F
For
example
l Motorola
M t
l BSS equipment
i
t may
be coupled with a Nokia NSS.
Each interface within the GSM system has a
specified
f d name associated
d with
h it.
This table illustrates the names of all the
interfaces specified
p
by
y GSM.

It comprise
p
all the connections between the GSM
system entities, while the Um, or air interface is
not included since it belongs to radio interface

This diagram
Thi
di
shows
h
th GSM system
the
t
with the 2Mbps interfaces, which are
highlighted.
highlighted
These interfaces carry traffic from the
PSTN to the MSC,
MSC between MSCs,
MSCs
from an MSC to a BSC and from a
BSC to remotely sited BTSs.
BTSs
These links are also used between the
MSC and IWF.
IWF