GSM Protocols

GSM Protocol is divided into mainly three Layers:

Layer-1 Protocol:MTP
Layer-2 Protocol:LAPDm & LAPD
Layer-3 Protocol:RR, MM, CM, BSSMAP, DTAP, MAP

Layer-1
The physical layer. It uses the channel structures over the air interface.
MTP-Message Transfer Part:
The Message Transfer Part (MTP) is part of the Signaling System 7(SS7)
used for communication in Public Switched Telephone Networks.
MTP is responsible for reliable, unduplicated and in-sequence transport
of SS7 messages between communication partners.
The MTP provides a mechanism giving reliable transfer of signaling
messages
Layer-2 protocols:
LAPDm-Link Access Protocol D Channel Mobile
LAPDm:

LAPDm stands for Link Access Procedure on D channel (modified). This

is a modified version of LAPD and is optimized for the GSM Air interface.

It is said to be a lightweight LAPD protocol as it does not handle error

correction/detection.

It handles:

Segmentation and reassembly of data and

Acknowledges/unacknowledged data transfer

Re-sequencing of data frames and flow control!

The LAPD protocol is used for A and A-bis interface.
LAPDm is a data link layer protocol used in GSM cellular networks. LAPDm
forms Layer 2 of the Um interface between the Base Transceiver Station and
Mobile station which is to say that it is used in the radio link between the
cellular network and the subscriber handset

Functions:
Organization of Layer 3 information into frames

Data flow Control

Acknowledged/Unacknowledged data transmission

Segmentation

Data re-assembly
Peer-to-peer transmission of signaling data in defined frame formats
Recognition of frame formats
Establishment, maintenance, and termination of one or more (parallel) data
links on signaling channels
Layer-3 Protocols:

A number of mechanisms needed to establish, maintain and terminate

a mobile communication session

Layer III implements the protocols needed to support these

mechanisms

A signaling protocol, the registration process, is composed of a

sequence of communication events or messages
RR: Radio Resource Management
MM-Mobility Management
CM-Connection Management
BSSMAP-Base Station Subsystem Mobile Application Part
DTAP-Direct Transfer Application Part
MAP-Mobile Application Part
MM:
Responsible for
location management and
Security

Location management involves the procedures and signaling for

location updating, so that the mobiles current location is stored at the HLR,
allowing incoming calls to be properly routed.

Security involves the authentication of the mobile, to prevent

unauthorized access to the network, as well as the encryption of all radio link
traffic.

The protocols in the MM layer involve the SIM, MSC, VLR, and the HLR,
as well as the AuC (which is closely tied with the HLR).
CM:
The CM functional layer is divided into three sub layers.
- Call Control (CC)
- Supplementary Services
- Short Message Service
Call Control (CC) sub layer
- manages call routing, establishment, maintenance, and release, and is
closely related to ISDN call control.
Supplementary Services sub layer

- manages the implementation of the various supplementary services (Call

Forwarding/waiting/hold), and also allows users to access and modify their
service subscription.
Short Message Service sub layer
- handles the routing and delivery of short messages, both from and to the
mobile subscriber.
BSSMAP:

BSSMAP Support all of the procedure between the MSC & BSS that
require interpretation and processing of information related to single call and
Resource management

BSSAP includes all messages exchanged between the BSC and the MSC
that the BSC actually processesexamples include PAGING, HND_CMD, and
the RESET message. More generally, BSSAP comprises all messages that are
exchanged as RR messages between MSC and BSC, and messages that are
used for call-control tasks between the BSC and the MSC.

The BSS Management Application sub-Part (BSSMAP) supports other

procedures between the
MSC and the BSS related to the MS (resource management, handover
control), or to a cell within the BSS, or to the whole BSS.
DTAP:

The Direct Transfer part is used to transfer call control and Mobility
management message between the MSC & MS.The DTAP information in
these message is not interpreted by the BSS.
MAP:

It pprovides basic communication between HLR and other MSC

MAP functions:

Updating of location information in VLRs

Storing routing information in HLRs

Updating and supplementing user profiles in HLRs

Handoff of connections between MSCs

GSM Protocols
GSM Protocol is divided into mainly three Layers:
Layer-1 Protocol:MTP
Layer-2 Protocol:LAPDm
LAPD
Layer-3 Protocol:RR
MM
CM
BSSMAP
DTAP
MAP

Layer-1 Protocol:
MTP-Message Transfer Part:
The Message Transfer Part (MTP) is part of the Signaling System 7(SS7)
used for communication in Public Switched Telephone Networks.
MTP is responsible for reliable, unduplicated and in-sequence transport of
SS7 messages between communication partners.
The MTP provides a mechanism giving reliable transfer of signaling
messages
The Media Transfer Protocol (MTP) is an extension to the Picture
Transfer Protocol (PTP) communications protocol that allows media files to be
transferred atomically to and from portable devices.
Layer-2 protocols:
LAPDm-Link Access Protocol D Channel Mobile
LAPDm:
LAPDm stands for Link Access Procedure on D channel (modified). This is
a modified version of LAPD and is optimized for the GSM Air interface.
It is said to be a lightweight LAPD protocol as it does not handle error
correction/detection.
It handles:
Segmentation and reassembly of data and
Acknowledges/unacknowledged data transfer
Re-sequencing of data frames and flow control!
The LAPD protocol is used for A and A-bis interface.
LAPDm is a data link layer protocol used in GSM cellular networks. LAPDm
forms Layer 2 of the Um interface between the Base Transceiver
Station and Mobile station which is to say that it is used in the radio link
between the cellular network and the subscriber handset

Functions:
Organization of Layer 3 information into frames

Data flow Control

Acknowledged/Unacknowledged data transmission

Segmentation

Data re-assembly
Peer-to-peer transmission of signaling data in defined frame formats
Recognition of frame formats
Establishment, maintenance, and termination of one or more (parallel)
data links on signaling channels
Layer-3 Protocols:
A number of mechanisms needed to establish, maintain and terminate
a mobile communication session
Layer III implements the protocols needed to support these
mechanisms
A signaling protocol, the registration process, is composed of a
sequence of communication events or messages
RR: Radio Resource Management
MM-Mobility Management
CM-Connection Management
BSSMAP-Base Station Subsystem Mobile Application Part
DTAP-Direct Transfer Application Part
MAP-Mobile Application Part

MM:
Responsible for
location management and
Security

Location management involves the procedures and signaling

for location updating, so that the mobiles current location is stored at the
HLR, allowing incoming calls to be properly routed.

Security involves the authentication of the mobile, to prevent

unauthorized access to the network, as well as the encryption of all radio
link traffic.

The protocols in the MM layer involve the SIM, MSC, VLR, and the HLR,
as well as the AuC (which is closely tied with the HLR).
CM:
The CM functional layer is divided into three sub layers.
- Call Control (CC)
- Supplementary Services
- Short Message Service
Call Control (CC) sub layer
- manages call routing, establishment, maintenance, and release, and is
closely related to ISDN call control.
Supplementary Services sub layer
- manages the implementation of the various supplementary services (Call
Forwarding/waiting/hold), and also allows users to access and modify their
service subscription.
Short Message Service sub layer

- handles the routing and delivery of short messages, both from and to the
mobile subscriber.
BSSMAP:
BSSMAP Support all of the procedure between the MSC & BSS that require
interpretation and processing of information related to single call and
Resource management
BSSAP includes all messages exchanged between the BSC and the MSC
that the BSC actually processesexamples include PAGING, HND_CMD, and
the RESET message. More generally, BSSAP comprises all messages that are
exchanged as RR messages between MSC and BSC, and messages that are
used for call-control tasks between the BSC and the MSC.
The BSS Management Application sub-Part (BSSMAP) supports other
procedures between the
MSC and the BSS related to the MS (resource management, handover
control), or to a cell within the BSS, or to the whole BSS.
DTAP:
The Direct Transfer part is used to transfer call control and Mobility
management message between the MSC & MS.The DTAP information in
these message is not interpreted by the BSS.
MAP:
It pprovides basic communication between HLR and other MSC
MAP functions:
Updating of location information in VLRs
Storing routing information in HLRs
Updating and supplementing user profiles in HLRs
Handoff of connections between MSCs