GSM Channel concept

Logical channels
Every base station sends on at least one
frequency in 8 timeslots.
It has become common practice to refer to
physical channels that are defined by frequency
and timeslot.
Several "types" of data are sent on these
physical channels, e.g. speech, test reports,
instructions, etc. For these data types the term
"logical channel" is used.

Logical channels
Logical channels are time-dependent
virtual channels carried on a single
physical channel.
One physical channel may support
one or multiple logical channels.

Logical channels
The type of logical channel is
determined by the function of the
information transmitted over it.
The following are the logical
channels:
Traffic channels
Control channels (signaling channels)

Classification of GSM
channels

Traffic Channels (TCH)

The Traffic Channels are used to send
Speech or User Data in both MS to BTS
and BTS to MS directions.
They are distinguished by their
transmission rates.
3 types of TCHs
TCH/F (full rate)
TCH/H (half rate)
EFR (enhanced full-rate )

TCH
Full Rate TCH
One conversation in one time-slot
carries Speech at 13Kbps (with additional overhead
it becomes 22.8 Kb/s)
Data at 14.4Kb/s, 9.6Kb/s, 4.8Kb/s and 2.4Kb/s.
Half rate TCH
In one timeslot, two conversations or one
conversation and one/two data
carries Speech at 6.5 Kb/s (with additional
overhead it becomes 11.4Kbps)
Data at 4.8 Kb/s and 2.4 Kb/s.
EFR
voice 12.2Kbps (with overhead 22.8Kbps) and
data rates similar to TCH/F.

Signaling or Control
channels
The main function of the control
channels is to transfer signaling
information.
They are sub divided into three
categories
Broadcast channels (BCH)
Common control channels (CCH)
Dedicated control channels (DCH)

Broadcast channels (BCH)

Broadcast Channels are point to multipoint
channels from BTS to MS (Downlink-only).
The information distributed over the broadcast
channels helps the mobile stations to orient
themselves in the mobile radio network.
Carries system parameters and LAI
Using BCH, the MS can tune to a particular BTS and
synchronize its timing with the frame structure and
timing in that cell.
MS listens to 3 BCHs on attaching to a new cell.
GSM cells are not synchronized by master clock.
Hence synchronization is required. (may use GPS)

Broadcast channels
These are further classified into four
Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH),
Frequency Correction Channel (FCCH)
Synchronization Channel (SCH).
BCCH: Through this channel, the MS is informed
about the system configuration parameters
LAI and Cell Identity,
Maximum power level allowed in the cell, and
BCCH carrier frequencies in neighbour cells.

Using this information, the MS can choose the best

cell to be attached to.
BCCH is transmitted on timeslot zero of BCCH carrier.
Read-only by idle mobile at least once every 30 secs.

Broadcast channels
FCCH:
To communicate with the BTS, the MS must tune to the
BTS.
The FCCH transmits a constant frequency shift of the
radio frequency (Frequency Hopping) that can be used
by MS for frequency correction i.e., sends the MS a
burst of all 0 bits which acts as a beacon
Tune MS to the frequency (frequency synchronisation)
allows MS to locate TS0 of BCCH carrier.

SCH is used to time synchronize the mobile

stations.
The data on this channel carries the TDMA frame
number (TDMA Matching) and the base station
identity code (BSIC).

COMMON CONTROL CHANNELS

(CCCH)
Point to Multi-point Control Channels
operated in one direction of
transmission, either in up link or in
down link direction.
Provide paging messages to the MS
and a means bye which the mobile
can request a signaling channel that
it can use to contact the network.

COMMON CONTROL CHANNELS

(CCCH)
Two CCCHs between BTS to MS (downlink).
Paging Channel (PCH) : used for paging the
Mobile stations during an Incoming Call or
SMS or multimedia (Alert Message).
Consists paging message and mobiles ID
Access Grant Channel (AGCH) : used for
assigning an MS to a Dedicated Control
Channel, i.e., gives acknowledgement to
request for accessing to DCCH

COMMON CONTROL CHANNELS

(CCCH)
There is one CCCH between MS to BTS
(Uplink ).
Random Access Channel (RACH) :
Used to respond to a paging message, by
requesting for a signaling channel.
Can also be used in case of mobileoriginated call.
When MS is switched ON, RACH is used
to search network, i.e., used for
requesting access to DCCH.

DEDICATED CONTROL
CHANNELS (DCCH)
Full duplex, point-to-point channels
Used for Signalling between BTS and
certain MS
These are of four types
Slow associated control channel (SACCH)
Fast associated control channel (FACCH)
Stand alone dedicated control channel
(SDCCH)
Cell broadcast channel (CBCH)

DEDICATED CONTROL
CHANNELS (DCCH)
SACCH
Used for transmission of
---------

signaling data,
radio link supervision measurements,
transmit power control and
timing advance data.

Always allocated to a TCH or SDCCH.

Only used for non-urgent procedures
FACCH is used as
a main signaling link for the transmission
of signaling data (handover commands)
required for call setup and release.

DEDICATED CONTROL
CHANNELS (DCCH)
SDCCH is used
For signaling in higher layer.
Carries all signalling between the BTS and
MS when no TCH is allocated.
Used for service requests (like SMS),
location updates, subscriber
authentication, ciphering initiation,
equipment validation and assignment to a
TCH (Dialled digits are processed through
SDCCH)
CBCH is used to deliver SMS in downlink
direction.
It uses same physical channel as SDCCH.

Speech processing
Estimates are that speech only contains 50bits per
second of information.
Speech is digitized and broken up into 20-ms segments.
Channel coding to reduce errors
Produces 8000 samples of 13 bits per sample per
second or 160 samples of 13 bits per sample per 20ms.
Speech coder yields 260 bits per 20ms (or 13kbps)
Channel encoding yields 456 bits per 20ms (or
22.8kbps)
Interleaving, ciphering and burst formatting yields
156.25 bits per timeslot (one timeslot = 0.577 ms).
Overall data rate 270.8kbps (one bit-period = 3.69s)

Speech processing

Speech processing
At receiver,
Signal bursts received and channel
model is created
Estimated bit sequence is calculated
in the equalizer.
Deciphered and reassembled into
456-bit message.
Then decoding and error correction.

Timeslots and TDMA frames

GSM timing is based on transmission time of
one bit (approx. 3.69 microsec)
A certain number of these bits is combined
to form a burst and is transmitted in one
timeslot.
Eight timeslots form a frame.
A certain number of these frames is
combined to give a multiframe.
Since there are several types of multiframe,
certain numbers are grouped together to
form standard superframes and
hyperframes.

TDMA frames

Timeslots
Type of information voice, data or signaling.
Bit time is 3.69 microsec, 156 bits in a timeslot gives
one timeslot duration is 0.577msec.
Typical data, 148 bits.
Data burst 0.546 msec or 148 bit periods
0.577 msec or 156.25 bit periods

The start of uplink TDMA frame is delayed by 3

timeslots from downlink frame, so that MS need not
receive and transmit at the same time.

GSM traffic and control signal

bursts

Timeslot Bursts
Normal bursts and other types of bursts.
Training sequence consists of alternating
0s and 1s and is used to train the adaptive
equalizer in the GSM mobile receiver.
Tail bits (TB) consists of 3 zeroes time to
initialize digital radio circuitry.
Flag bits indicate encrypted bits contain
traffic or control information.
Guard period where no activity takes
place.

Timeslot Bursts
Frequency correction bursts (FB)
used to obtain frequency synchronization.
142 fixed bits all 0s
Repetition of FBs within a frame structure forms FCCH.

Synchronization bursts (SB)

timing synchronization.
Frame number and BSIC contained in encrypted bits.

Access bursts (AB)

Used by mobile to facilitate random access requests by the
mobile and handover operations.
More GP new MS has to accommodate for system timing
advance.
Used in RACH and FACCH

Dummy bursts (DB)

Transmitted on radio frequency c 0

To ensure that the BTS is always transmitting on frequency
carrying the system information

Mapping of logical channels to

physical channels
Two combinations of logical channels in a
timeslot
1.FCCH + SCH+BCCH+CCCH
9 groups of 4 frames carrying CCCH info
1 group of 4 frames carrying BCCH info

Mapping of logical channels to

physical channels
2. FCCH+SCH+BCCH+CCCH+SDCCH+
SACCH

Mapping of logical channels to

physical channels