210 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ELECTRONICS & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

IJECT Vol. 2, IssuE 3, sEpT. 2011 ISSN : 2230-7109(Online) | ISSN : 2230-9543(Print)

www. i j e c t . o r g
Abstract
A cellular telephone system links mobile station (MS) subscribers
into the public telephone system or to another cellular systems
MS subscriber. Information sent between the MS subscriber
and the cellular network uses radio communication. This
removes the neoessity for the txed wiring used in a traditional
telephone installation. Due to this, the MS subscriber is able
to move around and beoome fully mobile, perhaps travelling in
a vehicle or on foot. The physical channel is the medium over
which the information is carried, in the case of a terrestrial
interfaoe this would be a oable. 1he logioal ohannels oonsist
of the information carried over the physical channel. Also, in
03M, ldentities gives uniqueness to the user, on the bases
of 3ubsoriber, Looation, and Lquipment. 1his paper gives
comprehensive review of the channels and identities used in
Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM).
Keywords
Cellular Telephone System, GSM Channels, GSM Identities.
I. Introduction
lor long distanoes, 3peeoh and visual oommunioations
cannot be done. Such communications can be performed up
to few kilometres using wire oommunioation. 1hus wireless
oommunioation is needed for long distanoe Communioation.
If it is a wireless Communication, needs modulation and
demodulation of the signal. 3ignals like speeoh, Musio, news,
piotures, soientito data, business transaotions, military aotions,
entertainment, education, all can be handled electronically.
lmmediaoy and versatility makes eleotronio oommunioation
a basio key to suooess and progress. enoe wireless
communication is speedy, versatile and secret. When a cellular
phone is switched on, it immediately contacts the nearest radio
station. This is called location update [1]. The radio station
relays this information to the nearest exohange, whioh stores
the information. 1he radio stations are oontinually broadoasting
a number of information. This information is transmitted with
the help of communication channels in GSM. In addition to this,
03M ldentities gives uniqueness to the user, on the bases of
3ubsoriber, Looation, and Lquipment. 1his paper is a detailed
study of the channels and identities used in Global System for
Mobile Communication (GSM). In Section II, we have introduced
the concept of GSM Channels, and in Section III, a complete
study of the GSM Identities has been carried out. Finally in
3eotion lv, we have oonoluded our review of 03M Channels
and Identities.
II. GSM Channels
ln order to transmit information, we required the ohannels.
Channels used in GSM are of two types: Physical Channels and
Logioal Channels. 1he physioal ohannel is the medium over
which the information is carried, in the case of a terrestrial
interfaoe this would be a oable [2]. 0ther Channel next to
Physioal is Logioal Channel whioh oonsists of the information
oarried over the physioal ohannel. Control Channel and 1rafto
Channel are further of two types of Logioal Channel. Blook
diagram of 1ype of Channels is shown in tg. 1.
lig. 1 : 1ypes of Channels
A. GSM Physical Channels
A single 03M Rl oarrier oan support up to eight M3 subsoribers
simultaneously. Each channel occupies the carrier for one
eighth of the time. 1his is a teohnique oalled 1ime Uivision
Multiple Access. Time is divided into discrete periods called
timeslots". 1he timeslots are arranged in sequenoe and are
conventionally numbered 0 to 7 [4]. Each repetition of this
sequenoe is oalled a 1UMA frame". Laoh M3 telephone oall
occupies one timeslot (07) within the frame until the call is
terminated, or a handover occurs [2]. The TDMA frames are
then built into further frame struotures aooording to the type
of ohannel. lor suoh a system to work oorreotly, the timing of
the transmissions to and from the mobiles is critical. The MS
or Base 3tation must transmit the information related to one
oall at exaotly the right moment, or the timeslot will be missed.
The information carried in one timeslot is called a burst. Each
data burst, oooupying its allooated timeslot within suooessive
1UMA frames, provides a single 03M physioal ohannel oarrying
a varying number of logioal ohannels between the M3 and
B13 [3].
B. GSM Logical Channels
03M Logioal Channels oonsists of two types: Control Channels
and 1rafto Channels.
1. Control Channels
Control Channels further consists of three Groups namely
Broadoast Control Channel, Common Control Channel and
Dedicated Control Channel. Types of Control Channels are
shown in tg. 2.
lig. 2: 1ypes of Control Channels
Channels and Identities in GSM
1
Tanvir Singh,
2
Amit Kumar,
2
Dr. Yunfei Liu
1
Dept. of ECE, I.E.T. Bhaddal, Ropar, Punjab, India
2
College of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ELECTRONICS & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY 211
IJECT Vol. 2, IssuE 3, sEpT. 2011 ISSN : 2230-7109(Online) | ISSN : 2230-9543(Print)
www. i j e c t . o r g
(i). Broadoast Control Channel:
Broadoast Control Channel is further of three types as shown
in tg. 3.
lig. 3 : 1ypes of Broadoast Channels
Broadcast Control Channel (BCH)
1he Broadoast Control Channels are downlink only (B33
to MS) and it carries the CGI (Cell Global Identity). It also
sends control information to MS (Mobile Station). The
information oarried on the BCC is monitored by the M3
periodioally (at least every 30 seo), when it is switohed on
and not in a call.
Synchronization Channel (SCH)
1he 3ynohronizing Channel (3C) helps to synohronise
1UMA lrame. lt also sends the B3lC value to M3. 1he M3
will monitor BCC information from surrounding oells and
stores the information from the best six oells. 1he 3C
information on these cells is also stored so that the MS
may quiokly resynohronize when it enters a new oell.
Frequency Correction Channel (FCH)
lrequenoy Correotion Channel (lCC) allows the mobile to
synohronize its own frequenoy to that of the transmitting
base site. lt aots as a tag to the mobile to identify 1imeslot
0 beoause it may only sent during time slot 0 on BCC
oarrier frequenoy.
(ii). Common Control Channel
1he Common Control Channel (CCC) is responsible for
transferring oontrol information between all mobiles and the
B13. 1ypes of Common Control Channels are shown in tg.4.
lig. 4 : 1ypes of Common Control Channels
Random Access Control Channel (RACH)
Random Aooess Channel (RAC) helps M3 to assign with
network and used by the mobile when it requires to gain
access to the system [2]. This occurs when the mobile
initiates a oall or responds to a page.
Paging Control Channel (PCH)
Paging Control Channel (PC) helps network to assign
with M3 and also used by B13 (Base transoeiver station)
to page M3.
Access Grant Control Channel (AGCH)
Aooess 0rant Control Channel (A0C) is used by network
to assign signalling upon suooessful deoodation of Burst.
Cell Broadcast Control Channel (CBCH)
Cell Broadoast Control Channel (CBC) tells from whioh
B13 (Base 1ransoeiver 3tation) we are getting ooverage
(RX Level) also M3 has feature of Cell lnfo Uisplay whioh
display the name of Site ID with which we are latched [4].
(iii). Dedicated Control Channel
Dedicated Control Channels are both Uplink and Downlink and
has further oategories: 3UCC, 3ACC, and lACC as shown
in tg. 5.
lig. 5 : 1ypes of Uedioated Control Channels
Stand Alone Dedicated Control Channel (SACH)
3tand Alone Uedioated Control Channel (3UCC) is used by
MS for Location Updation, SMS, and Authentication.
Slow Associated Control Channel (SACCH)
3low Assooiated Control Channel (3ACC) sends oontrol
information (Power Control) in downlink and measurement
reports (Link uality Reports) in uplink.
Fast Associated Control Channel (FACCH)
Fast Associated Control Channel is transmitted instead of a
1C. 1he lACC ''steals" the 1C (1rafto Control Channel) burst
and inserts its own information. 1he lACC is used to oarry out
user authentioation, handovers and immediate assignment.
2. Traffic Channels
1he trafto ohannel oarries speeoh or data information. lt is
further of two types: lull Rate and alf Rate whioh are of again
of two types namely Net Rate and 0ross Rate [6] as shown in
tg.6.
212 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ELECTRONICS & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
IJECT Vol. 2, IssuE 3, sEpT. 2011 ISSN : 2230-7109(Online) | ISSN : 2230-9543(Print)
www. i j e c t . o r g
lig. 6 : 1ypes of 1rafto Channels
A. Full Rate/ Half Rate
ln lull Rate, 1 3ubsoriber uses 1 1ime 3lot whioh means in
1UMA lrame there are total 8 3ubsoribers while oase of alf
Rate, 1 1ime 3lot is used by 2 3ubsoribers on sharing bases
that means 16 3ubsoribers in 1 1UMA lrame [2].
B. Net Rate/ Gross Rate
Net Rate refers to the Uata Rate before Channel Coding while
0ross Rate refers to Uata Rate after ohannel ooding.
III. GSM Identities
In GSM, we have different types of identities based on
3ubsoriber, Lquipment, and Looation whioh are disoussed
below in detail and shown in tg.7.
lig.7 : 03M ldentities
A. Subscriber Related Identity
This type of identity is related to Subscriber which makes
the subsoriber unique. Uifferent types of 3ubsoriber Related
Identities are IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity),
M3l3UN (Mobile 3tation lnternational 3ubsoriber Uialling
Number). These Identities are discussed below:
1. IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity)
lig. 8: lM3l
lM3l is stored in LR (ome Looation Register), LR is
Permanent Database which keeps the record of subscriber.
It contains MCC (Mobile Country code), MNC (Mobile Network
Code), and M3lN (Mobile 3tation lnternational Number) [5]
as shown in tg.8.
2. MSISDN (Mobile Station International Subscriber
Dialling Number)
lig. 9: M3l3UN
M3l3UN is also stored in LR (ome Looation Register), a
Permanent Database and it contains CC (Country Code), NDC
(National Destination Code), and SN (Serial Number) shown
in tg.9.
B. Equipment Related Identity
1his type of ldentity is related to Lquipment that is our mobile
phone. 0ur Mobile Phone has lMLl (lN1LRNA1l0NAL M0BlLL
LulPMLN1 lULN1l1) whioh is 15 Uigit Number and is unique
to all mobile phones.
lig. 10 : lMLl Number
LOCATION RELATED IDENTITY
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ELECTRONICS & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY 213
IJECT Vol. 2, IssuE 3, sEpT. 2011 ISSN : 2230-7109(Online) | ISSN : 2230-9543(Print)
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IMEI Number has four components TAC (Type Approval Code)
+lAC (linal Assembly Code) +3NR (3erial Number) + 3pare
(lor 3eourity Purpose) [5]. 1ype Approval Code (1AC) tells
whether phone is GSM or CDMA, Final Assembly Code (FAC),
tells about oompany of phone, 3erial Number (3NR) gives the
serial number of manufaoturing of phone, 3pare is used for
seourity purposes as shown in tg.10. 1able 1 shows the number
of digits of various oomponents of lMLl Number.
1able 1: 3howing Number of Uigits of various Components of
IMEI Number
Component No. of Uigits
TAC 6
FAC 2
3NR 6
3PARL 1
C. Location Related Identity
This type of identity is related to Location of subscriber and this
type of identity consists of LAI (Location Area Identity), CGI (Cell
0lobal ldentity), M3RN (Mobile 3ubsoriber Roaming Number),
and TMSI (Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity).
1. LAI (Location Area Identity)
It consists of MCC (Mobile Country Code), MNC (Mobile Network
Code), and LAC (Location Area Code). Table 2 shows the number
of digits of various oomponents of LAl.
1able 2: 3howing Number of Uigits of various Components
of LAI.
Component No. of Uigits
MCC 3
MNC 2-3
LAC 16
MCC oonsists of 3 Uigits, MNC oonsists of 2-3 Uigits and LAC
oonsists of 16 Uigits as shown in tg. 11. Also 1able 3 shows
the number of digits of various oomponents of LAl.
lig. 11: LAl
1able 3: 3howing Number of Uigits of various Components
of LAI.
Component No. of Uigits
MCC 3
MNC 2-3
LAC 16
2. Cell Global Identity (CGI)
We can track any subscriber with the help of CGI and it consists
of MCC (Mobile Country Code), MNC (Mobile Network Code),
LAC (Location Area Code), and CI (Cell ID). CGI is provided by
ohannel BCC (Broadoast Control Channel) as shown in tg. 12.
lig. 12: C0l
3. Mobile Subscriber Roaming Number (MSRN)/
Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity (TMSI)
M3RN is used to proteot subsoriber identity in air interfaoe, when
subsoriber is in roaming while 1M3l is used when subsoriber
is not in roaming that is in ome Network [7].
IV. Conclusion
wireless oommunioation is an inevitable ohoioe for the long
distance Communication. A cellular telephone system links
mobile station (MS) subscribers into the public telephone system
or to another cellular systems MS subscriber. Information sent
between the MS subscriber and the cellular network uses radio
communication, due to which, the MS subscriber is able to
move around and become fully mobile. The physical channel is
the medium over which the information is carried, in the case of
a terrestrial interfaoe this would be a oable. 1he logioal ohannels
consist of the information carried over the physical channel.
Also, in 03M, ldentities gives uniqueness to the user, on the
bases of 3ubsoriber, Looation, and Lquipment. 1his paper gives
comprehensive review of the channels and identities used in
Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM).
References
[1] 1ingyuan Lhang, lvan 3tojmenovio, Cellular networks",
1uly 18, 2005.
[2] M010R0LA L1U 1999, Cellular infrastruoture group,
lntroduotion to Uigital Cellular", l33uL 5 RLvl3l0N 4.
[3] Ur.-lng. Andreas willig, 1he 03M Air lnterfaoe
Fundamentals and Protocols, [Online] Available: http://
www.dol.hpi.uni potsdam.de/teaohing/mobility3em03/
slides/hpi_gsm_air_interfaoe.pdf, May 20, 2003.
[4] Cellular Mobile Systems and Services, (TCOM1010),
2009-May, [0nline] Available: http://www.psit.in/psit/
deepesh/hie rarchy.pdf.
[5] lntroduotion to 03M Networks", CAMLL: lntelligent
CI
CELL ID
214 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ELECTRONICS & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
IJECT Vol. 2, IssuE 3, sEpT. 2011 ISSN : 2230-7109(Online) | ISSN : 2230-9543(Print)
www. i j e c t . o r g
Networks for the 03M, 0PR3 and uM13 Network Rogier
Noldus, 2006 1ohn wiley & 3ons, Ltd.
[6] LRlC330N, 03M 3ystem 3urvey", LN/LL1 123 3321 R2A.
[7] Airoom lnternational, 03M 1eohnology for Lngineers",
AlRC0M lnternational 2002
1anvir 3ingh is pursuing his baohelor's
degree in Lleotronios and Communioation
from l.L.1., Bhaddal, Ropar (Punjab
1eohnioal university), Punjab, lNUlA. e is
working as a budding researoher in teld
of researoh on topios 0reen Computing
and Sustainability with a dream to create
a Technical Advanced and eco- friendly
world. e has published many papers in
lnternational 1ournals and oonferenoe prooeedings.
Amit Kumar reoeived his baohelor's degree
in Mathematios from the imaohal Pradesh
University, Shimla, India, in 2002 and
Masters degree in Computer Applioation
from Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra,
lndia, in 2006. e oompleted his M.Phil.
in Computer Science from Annamalai
university, Annamalainagar, 1amilnadu,
lndia, in 2010. e is ourrently pursuing
his Ph.U. in Computer 3oienoe. e is working as a Leoturer in
the Uepartment of Computer 3oienoe, College of lnformation
3oienoe and 1eohnology, Nanjing lorestry university, Nanjing,
China. e has many publioations in National /lnternational
Conferenoe prooeedings and lnternational 1ournals. e is a
reviewer for many international 1ournals. is ourrent interest
inoludes 1eohno-Loonomio Analysis of Broadband wireless
Networks viz. wiMAX, 3PA, Lv-U0 and L1L. is future foous
is to explore the 0reen wireless 1eohnologies and 3ustainable
development.
un-fei Liu was born in Nanjing, China, on
Ueoember 20, 1962. e reoeived the B.3.
degree in physios from Lhenjiang Normal
College, Lhenjiang, China, in 1984,
the M.3. degree in optios from 3iohuan
Normal university, Chengdu, China, in
1991, and the Ph.U. degree in testing
measuring teohnology and instrument
from Nanjing university of Aeronautios and
Astronautios, Nanjing, China, in 2005. e
was a teaohing assistant, leoturer, assooiate professor, with
Uepartment of Basio Courses, Nanjing lorestry university,
in 1991, 1994 and 2000 respeotively. e was an assooiate
professor, professor, College of lnformation 3oienoe and
1eohnology, Nanjing lorestry university, in 2000 and 2007
respeotively. is researoh interests inolude digital signal
prooessing, eleotronio measurement teohniques, miorowave
and optioal teohnique. At present, e is engaged in 0aussian
optios and terahertz teohnique in forestry applioation.