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The external BSS interfaces, which are the Um interface between the BSS and the MS, and the
A interface between the BSS and the MSC, are standard interfaces. The Abis interface between
the BSC and the BTS is an internal interface.
1.1 A Interface
This topic describes the A interface protocol model that consists of the physical layer, MTP
layer, SCCP layer, and BSSAP layer.
1.2 Abis Interface
The Abis interface lies between the BTS and the BSC. It complies with GSM Rec.08.5X series.
The Abis interface is an internal interface of the BSS. The interworking between the BSC and
BTS equipment from different manufactures is not available. The terrestrial traffic channels on
the Abis interface map the radio traffic channels on the Um interface.
1.3 Um Interface
The Um interface lies between an MS and the BTS. It is used for the interworking between the
MS and the fixed part of the GSM system. The links on the Um interface are radio links. The
Um interface transmits the information about radio resource management, mobility
management, and connection management.
1.1 A Interface
This topic describes the A interface protocol model that consists of the physical layer, MTP
layer, SCCP layer, and BSSAP layer.
BSS MSC
BSSAP BSSAP
SCCP SCCP
MTP MTP
Physical layer
DTAP: Direct Transfer Application MTP: Message Transfer Part SCCP: Signaling Connection
Part Control Part
The MTP protocols are defined in ITU-T Q.701–Q.710 recommendations. The MTP layer
comprises three sublayers, the signaling data link sublayer, signaling link sublayer, and signaling
network sublayer.
determined through the negotiation between the BSC and the MSC. The timeslot can be used to
establish a semi-permanent connection.
A signaling data link serves as an information bearer of SS7. One of the important features of
the signaling data link is that the information transferred on the link is transparent, that is, the
data transferred on the link cannot be changed. Therefore, equipment such as echo canceler,
digital attenuator, and A/u rate converter, cannot be connected to this link.
Message
distribution
Messages to the local
signaling point
Messages to the other
signaling points
Message
Message routing
discrimination
cannot automatically change the previous connection relations. The SLM comprises
link test, link prohibition and unprohibion, link switchover and switchback, as well as
link activation and deactivation.
– Signaling Route Management (SRM)
The SRM ensures reliable exchange of signaling route availability information between
signaling points so that signaling routes can be blocked or unblocked. It comprises
prohibited transfer, allowed transfer, controlled transfer, and restricted transfer, as well
as signaling route group test and signaling route group congestion test.
The SCCP, with the help of MTP L3, provides complete network layer functions and reliable
services for information exchange in any form.
The network layer services provided by the SCCP are classified into connectionless service and
connection-oriented service. The connectionless service indicates that an MS does not establish
a signaling or connection in advance, but uses the routing function of the SCCP and of the MTP
to directly transmit data in the signaling network. The connectionless service is applicable to the
transmission of a small quantity of data. The connection-oriented service indicates that an MS
establishes a signaling connection in advance and directly transfers data on the signaling
connection, instead of using the route selection function of the SCCP. The connection-oriented
service is applicable to the transmission of a large quantity of data, and effectively shortens the
delay of batch data transmission.
The SCCP also performs routing and network management functions. It performs addressing
based on the address information such as the DPC, subsystem number (SSN), and global title
(GT). The DPC is the destination singling point code used by the MTP. The SSN is the subsystem
number. The DPC and the SSN are used to identify different SCCP users, such as the ISUP users,
MAP users, TCAP users, and BSSAP users in the same node. They help to compensate the
insufficiency of MTP users and to enlarge the addressing scope. The BSS does not use the GT
addressing mode, which is not described here.
The SCCP performs signaling point state and subsystem state management, active/standby
subsystem switchover, status information broadcast, and subsystem state test. The SCCP
management (SCMG) maintains the network functions by reselecting a route or adjusting the
traffic volume in case of network failure or congestion.
Typical Messages
The BSSAP protocol, which serves as the A interface specification, describes two types of
messages, BSSMAP messages and DTAP messages.
l DTAP messages
Based on the functional units that process DTAP messages on the NSS side, the DTAP
messages are classified into Mobile Management (MM) messages and Call Control (CC)
messages.
– The MM messages include messages related to authentication, Configuration
Management (CM) service request, identification request, IMSI detach, location update,
MM state, and TMSI reallocation.
– The CC messages include messages related to alerting, call proceeding, connection,
establishment, modification, release, disconnection, notification, state query, and
DTMF startup.
l BSSMAP messages
The BSSMAP messages are classified into connectionless messages and connection-
oriented messages.
– Connectionless messages
The connectionless messages include block, unblock, handover, resource, reset, and
paging messages.
The block and unblock messages consist of block, block acknowledge, unblock, and
unblock acknowledge messages.
The group block and unblock messages consist of group block, block acknowledge,
unblock, and unblock acknowledge messages. The handover messages include
handover candidate request messages and handover candidate response messages.
The resource messages include resource request messages and resource indication
messages. The reset messages include reset and reset acknowledge messages.
– Connection-oriented messages
The connection-oriented messages include messages related to assignment, handover,
clear, and ciphering.
The Assignment messages include the assignment request message, assignment
complete message, and assignment failure message.
The handover messages include the Handover Request, Handover Request
Ackowledge, Handover Command, Handover Complete, and Handover Failure
messages.
The clear messages include the Clear Request and Clear Complete messages.
The ciphering messages include the Cipher Mode Command and the Cipher Mode
Complete messages.
l When an MS sends an Access Request message on the RACH, the BSS assigns a dedicated
channel (SDCCH or TCH) to the MS. After an L2 connection is established on the assigned
SDCCH or FACCH, the BSS starts a connection establishment.
l When the MSC decides to perform an external handover (the target BSS might be the
serving BSS), it must reserve a new DCCH or TCH from the target BSS. Then the MSC
starts a connection establishment.
Using the connection and connectionless messages, the BSSAP protocol implements the
functionalality described in Table 1-1.
RR BSSAP
BTSM
RR BTSM SCCP
LAPDm LAPD LAPD
Sign. MTP
Layer 1 Layer1
Layer 1
Abis interface
SCCP: Signaling Connection Control Part LAPD: Link Access Procedure on the D Channel
LAPD: Link Access Procedure on the Dm Channel RR: Radio Resource Management
Abis
TRX
BTS1
BCF
TRX
TRX BTS2
A Abis
MSC TRX
BSC
BCF
Abis
TRX
TRX BTS3
TRX
TRX
BCF
l Transceiver (TRX) is a functional entity defined in the Public Land Mobile Network
(PLMN). It supports eight physical channels of one TDMA frame.
l The Base Control Function (BCF) is a functional entity that performs common control
functions including BTS initialization, software loading, channel configuration, and
operation and maintenance.
The following two types of channels are on the Abis interface:
l Traffic channels of 8 kbit/s, 16 kbit/s, and 64 kbit/s, which carry speech or data from radio
channels
l Signaling channels of 16 kbit/s, 32 kbit/s, and 64 kbit/s, which carry signaling between the
BSC and an MS, and between the BSC and the BTS
A TEI is assigned to obtain the unique address of a TRX. Each BCF has a unique TEI. Three
different logical links are defined with a TEI, as shown in Figure 1-5.
l RSL: used to support traffic management procedures, one for each TRX
l OML: used to support network management procedures, one for each BCF
l L2ML: used to transmit L2 management messages
BSC BTS
RSL SAP1=0
TRX
OML SAP1=62
TEI1
L2ML SAP1=63
BCF
RSL SAP1=0
LAYER 2
OML SAP1=62 TRX
L2ML SAP1=63 TEI2
TEI
BCF
RSL SAP1=0
OML SAP1=62
TRX
MANA L2ML SAP1=63 TEI3
GEMENT
BCF
OML SAP1=62
L2ML SAP1=63 BCF TEI4
BCF
The electrical parameters of the physical layer conform to the ITU-T G.703 recommendations.
The BSS is the connection point between radio channels and terrestrial channels. The coding
schemes and rates of the two types of channels are different. The coding rate of the radio channels
in the BSS is 16 kbit/s, and the rate of the channels on the Abis interface is 64 kbit/s. To save
the transmission cost, different multiplexing modes, for example, 10:1, 12:1, and 15:1, are used
on the Abis interface.
Overview
The data link layer (L2) on the Abis interface uses the LAPD protocol. It receives data from the
physical layer (L1) and provides connection-oriented or connectionless services for L3. The
Service Access Point (SAP) of L2 is the connection point for providing services for L3. It is
identified by an SAPI. A data link connection endpoint is identified by a data link connection
endpoint identifier or a data link connection identifier (DLCI) from the perspective of L2 or L2,
respectively.
For the information exchange between two or more L3 entities, data links must be established
between L3 entities.
The co-operation between L2 entities is controlled by the protocol of the peer layer. The message
units at L2 are transmitted between L2 entities through L1. Inter-layer service requests are
processed through service primitives.
Functions
The LAPD reliably transfers end-to-end information between L3 entities through the D channel.
Specifically, the LAPD supports:
l Multiple terminal devices between MSs and physical interfaces
l Multiple L3 entities
The functions of the LAPD layer on the Abis interface are as follows:
l Providing one or multiple data links on the D channel
l Delimiting, locating, and transparently transmitting frames so that a string of bits
transmitted in the form of frames on the D channel can be identified
l Controlling and keeping the sequence of frames
l Checking for transmission errors, format errors, and operation errors on data link
connections
l Making recoveries based on the detected transmission errors, format errors, and operation
errors
l Notifying the management layer entities of unrecoverable errors
l Performing flow control
The LAPD layer on the Abis interface provides the means for information transfer between
multiple combinations of data link connection points. The information may be transferred
through point-to-point data link connections or broadcast data link connections.
In terms of processing, traffic management messages are classified into transparent and non-
transparent messages.
l The transparent messages refer to the messages directly forwarded without interpretation
or processing by the BTS.
l The non-transparent messages refer to the messages that are transmitted between the BSC
and the BTS and that must be processed and structured by the BTS.
In terms of functions, traffic management messages are classified into the following:
l Radio link layer management messages that are used to manage the data link layer on radio
channels
l Dedicated channel management messages that used to manage dedicated channels such as
the SDCCH and TCH
l Common control channel management messages that are used to manage common control
channels
The transparency and group of traffic management messages are determined by the message discriminator
at the header of the messages.
l Radio link management procedures
Radio link management procedures consist of the following:
– Link establishment indication procedure: used by the BTS to indicate to the BSC that
an MS-originated multi-frame-mode link establishment is successful. Upon receiving
the indication from the BTS, the BSC establishes an SCCP link to the MSC.
– Link establishment request procedure: used by the BSC to request the establishment of
a multi-frame link on a radio channel.
– Link release indication procedure: used by the BTS to indicate to the BSC that an MS-
initiated radio link release is complete.
– Link release request procedure: used by the BSC to request the release of a radio link.
– Transmission of transparent L3 messages on the Um interface in acknowledged mode:
used by the BSC to request the transmission of transparent L3 messages to an MS on
the Um interface in acknowledged mode
– Reception of transparent L3 messages on the Um interface in acknowledged mode: used
by the BTS to notify the BSC that transparent L3 messages are received on the Um
interface in acknowledged mode
– Transmission of transparent RIL3 messages on the Um interface in unacknowledged
mode: used by the BSC to request the transmission of transparent L3 messages to an
MS on the Um interface in unacknowledged mode
– Reception of transparent RIL3 messages on the Um interface in unacknowledged mode:
used by the BTS to notify the BSC that transparent L3 messages are received on the
Um interface in unacknowledged mode
– Link error indication procedure: used by the BTS to notify the BSC in case of errors at
the radio link layer
l Dedicated channel management procedures
The dedicated channel management procedures consist of the following:
– Channel activation procedure: used by the BSC to request the BTS to activate a
dedicated channel for an MS. Then the BSC assigns the activated channel to the MS
through an Immediate Assignment, Assignment Command, Additional Assignment, or
Handover Command message.
– Channel mode modification procedure: used by the BSC to request the BTS to change
the mode of an activated channel.
– Handover detection procedure: used between the target BTS and the target BSC to detect
the access of an MS being handed over.
– Ciphering mode command procedure: used to start the ciphering procedure defined in
GSM Rec. 04.08.
– Measurement report procedure: consists of the mandatory basic measurement report
procedure and optional measurement report preprocessing procedure. The BTS reports
all the parameters related to handover decisions to the BSC through this procedure.
– SACCH deactivation procedure: used by the BSC to deactivate the SACCH related to
a TRX according to the Channel Release procedure defined in GSM Rec. 04.08.
– Radio channel release procedure: used by the BSC to release a radio channel that is no
longer needed.
– MS power control procedure: used by the BSS to control the transmit power of an MS
for which a channel is already activated. The power control decision must be performed
in the BSC. It can also be performed in the BTS.
– BTS transmit power control procedure: used by the BSS to control the transmit power
of a TRX with an activated channel. The BTS transmit power control decision must be
performed in the BSC. It can also be performed in the BTS.
– Connection failure procedure: used by the BTS to notify the BSC that an activated
dedicated channel is unavailable.
– Physical context request procedure: used by the BSC to obtain the information about
the physical context of a radio channel prior to a channel change. It is an optional
procedure.
– SACCH information modification procedure: used by the BSC to request the BTS to
change the filling system information on a specific SACCH.
l Common channel management procedures
The common channel management procedures consist of the following:
– MS-initiated channel request procedure: triggered when a TRX detects a Channel
Request message from an MS
– Paging procedure: used to page an MS on a specific paging sub-channel This procedure
is used in an MS terminating call establishment procedure. It is initiated by the MSC
through the BSC. Based on the IMSI of the called MS, the BSC determines the paging
group to be used. Then it sends to the BTS the paging group number together with the
identity of the MS.
– Immediate assignment procedure: used by the BSC to immediately assign a dedicated
channel to an MS when the MS accesses the BTS.
– Delete indication procedure: used by the BTS to notify the BSC that an Immediate
Assign Command message is deleted due to AGCH overload.
– CCCH load indication procedure: used by the BTS to notify the BSC of the load on a
specified CCCH if the load exceeds the preset threshold on the OMC. The indication
period is also set on the OMC.
– Broadcast information modification procedure: used by the BSC to notify the BTS of
the new system information to be broadcast on the BCCH.
– Short message service cell broadcast procedure: used by the BSC to request short
message service cell broadcast messages from the BTS.
l TRX management procedures
The TRX management procedures consist of the following:
– SACCH filling information modify procedure: used by the BSC to notify the BTS of
the new system information to be used as filling information on all downlink SACCHs
– Radio resource indication procedure: used by the BTS to notify the BSC of the
interference levels on the idle channels of a TRX
– Flow control procedure: used by the Frame Unit Controller (FUC) in a TRX to notify
the BSC of the TRX overload due to CCCH overload, AGCH overload, or TRX
processor overload
– Error reporting procedure: used by the BTS to notify the BSC of the detected downlink
message errors, which cannot be reported through any other procedure
OM Information Model
The OM information model consists of the following:
l Management objects
The management objects are site, cell, carrier (TRX), and channel. Figure 1-6 shows the
management objects.
SITE
BTS TRX
Status Description
Locked The BSC has disconnected all the calls passing this
management object, and no new services can be
connected to this object.
Status Description
Power Off The resource requires power and is not powered on. The
operational state is disabled.
Basic Procedures
All procedures are based on formatted OM messages. Most formatted OM messages initiated
by the BSC or the BTS require the peer L3 to respond with formatted OM messages. This pair
of formatted OM messages or a formatted OM message that does not require a response is called
a basic procedure.
All formatted OM messages are sent on L2 in the form of I frames. A group of messages, also
called structured procedures, are based on the combination of some basic procedures.
For a specific object instance, if a certain basic procedure is not complete, the system does not
start the subsequent basic procedures. When there is no response to a formatted OM message
from the peer L3 upon L3 timer expiry, the basic procedure is considered as not "completed."
When there is no response (ACK or NACK) in the previous basic procedure upon L3 timeout,
no subsequent basic procedure is sent to this object instance. The default value for L3 timeout
is 10 seconds. If part of an original message is not understood or supported, the entire message
is discarded. An ACK message from an object instance indicates an affirm response. It is used
to notify the sender that the command is executed or will be executed. An NACK message from
an object instance indicates a disaffirm response. It is used to notify the sender of the unsuccessful
execution of the command and of the failure cause.
The basic procedures are classified into the following:
l Software loading management procedure
l Abis interface management procedure
l Transmission management procedure
l Abis interface management procedure
l Test management procedure
l State management and event report procedure
l Equipment state management procedure
l Other procedures
1.3 Um Interface
The Um interface lies between an MS and the BTS. It is used for the interworking between the
MS and the fixed part of the GSM system. The links on the Um interface are radio links. The
Um interface transmits the information about radio resource management, mobility
management, and connection management.
Physical layer
Functions
LAPDm transfers information between L3 entities through the Dm channel on the Um interface.
LAPDm supports multiple L3 entities, L1 entities, and signaling on BCCH, PCH, AGCH, and
DCCH.
NOTE
The Dm channel is a generic term for all the signaling channels on the Um interface in the GSM system.
For example, the Dm channel can be PCH or BCCH.
l Establishing a contention resolution on a data link after an access request is detected on the
RACH
Operation Type
L2 transmits L3 information in unacknowledged and acknowledged modes. One Dm channel
can be in both modes at the same time.
l Unacknowledged mode
In unacknowledged mode, L3 information is transferred in Unnumbered Information (UI)
frames. L2 does not acknowledge the UI frames or perform flow control or error correction.
The unacknowledged mode is applicable to different types of control channels except the
RACH.
l Acknowledged mode
In acknowledged mode, L3 information is transferred in numbered Information (I) frames.
L2 acknowledges the I frames. It performs error correction by resending unacknowledged
frames. When L2 fails to correct errors, it informs the specific L3 entity of the correction
failure. Flow control procedures are also defined. The acknowledged mode is applicable
to the DCCH.
Overview
The L3 entity consists of many functional program blocks. These program blocks transfer
message units between all L3 entities and between L3 and its adjacent layers.
L3 performs the following functions:
l Establishing, operating, and releasing dedicated radio channels (RR)
l Performing location update, authentication, and TMSI reallocation (MM)
The service interfaces between L3 and higher layers and the interactions between the adjacent
sublayers in L3 are described in primitives and parameters. The three sublayers in L3 perform
information exchange between peer entities.
The routing function of the MM enables the MM to route the messages of the CM entities and
the messages of the MM entity to the RR service access point (RR-SAP), and multiplexes the
messages in case of concurrent transactions. The routing function of the RR distributes the to-
be-sent messages according to their PD and the actual channel configuration.
The messages provided at different service access points of layer 2 are split by the RR routing
function according to the PD. If a message belongs to the RR sublayer, this message is transmitted
to the RR entity based on the TI. The other messages are sent to the MM sublayer through the
RR-SAP. If a message belongs to the MM sublayer, the message is transmitted to the MM entity
based on the TI. The other messages are sent to the CM sublayer through the MM-SAPs, and
then to the CM entities.
S SM
CC
S S
MMSS-SAP
MMCC-SAP
MMSMS-SAP
MMREG -SAP
MM MM CC SS SMS
signaling
Layer 3
RR-SAP
RR RR
PD
RR
SAPI 0 SAPI 3
BCCH
AGCH+PCH
SDCCH
SDCCH
SACCH
RACCH
SACCH
FACCH
The RR sublayer at the bottom receives the services from L2 through various service access
points (that is, various types of channels) of L2, and provides services to the MM sublayer
through RR-SAP. The MM sublayer provides services to different entities through different
SAPs: to the CC through MMCC-SAP, to the SS through MMSS-SAP, to the SMS through
MMSMS-SAP, and to the high layer through MMREG-SAP. The three independent entities
(CC, SS, and SMS) of the CM sublayer provide services to higher layers through MNCC-SAP,
MNSS-SAP, and MNSMS-SAP respectively.
Service Feature
L3 on the MS side provides the following services:
l Registration services, that is, IMSI attach and detach
l Call control services, including normal establishment of MS originating calls, emergency
establishment of MS originating calls, call hold, call termination, and support for call-
related supplementary services
l Support for call independent supplementary services
l Support for short messages service
L3 on the network side provides the following services:
l Call control services, including call establishment, call hold, call termination, and support
for call-related supplementary services
l Support for call independent supplementary services
l Support for short messages service
L3 provides the following services between the MS and the network:
l For the services provided by the RR, see Figure 1-9. These services are provided to the
MM through RR-SAP. They are used to set up control channel connections and traffic
channel connection, indicate ciphering mode, release control channel connections, and
transmit control data.
l For the services provided by the MM, see Figure 1-10. These services are used to manage
the three entities (CC, SS, and SMS) of the CM sublayer.
RR-
primitive
RR
SAP
CC SS SMS CC SS SMS