2

Network Components
Switching System(SS)
Base Station System(BSS)
3

B
T
S
MSC VLR
HLR
PSTN
ISDN
Data
Networks
Air interface
OSS
B
T
S
B
T
S
MSC VLR
BSC
BSC


A Interface
A-bis interface
4
BGW
SOG
OSS
ERICSSONS GSM SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE
SCF
MIN
SDP
EIR AUC
HLR
Switching System
ILR
MSC/VLR
DTI SSF
MC
(MXE)
GMSC
Other PLMNsz
ISDN
PSTN
Public Data
Networks
5
TRC
BSC
RBS
Base Station System
6
Basic or
Additiona
l
Abbrev. System Full component name Platfor
m
Basic

Basic
Basic
Basic
Basic
Basic
Basic
Basic
Basic
Basic
Basic
Basic
Additional
Additional
Additional
Additional
Additional
Additional
MSC/VLR

GMSC
HLR
ILR
AUC
EIR
DTI
TRC
BSC
BTS
OMC
NMC
MC
SSP
SCP
SDP
SOG
BGW
SS

SS
SS
SS
SS
SS
SS
BSS
BSS
BSS
OSS
OSS
SS
SS
SS
SS

Mobile service Switching
Center/Visitor Location Register
Gateway MSC
Home Location Register
Interworking Location Register
Authentication Center
Equipment Identity Register
Data Transmission Interface
TRanscoder Controller
Base Station Controller
Base Transceiver Station
Operation and Maintenance Center
Network Management Center
Message Center
Service Switching Point
Service Control Point
Service Data Point
Service Order Gateway
Billing Gateway
AXE

AXE
AXE
AXE
Unix/AXE
Unix
AXE
AXE
AXE
RBS
TMOS
TMOS
MXE
AXE
AXE
Unix
Unix
Unix
7

Network Structure
Cell
A cell is the basic unit of a cellular
system and is defined as the radio
coverage given by one BS antenna
system.
Each cell is assigned a unique CGI.
8
LOCATION AREA
A LA is defined as a group of cells.Within the
network, a subsribers location is known by the LA
which they are in.
The identity of the LA in which an MS is currently
located is stored in the VLR. (LAI)


Network Structure
9




Cells & LA

MSC
VLR
LA1
LA2
LA3
LA6
LA4
LA5
C1
C2
C3
C6
C5
C4
C=CELL
10

Network Structure

MSC Service Area
An MSC Service Area is made up of
LAs and represents the
geographical part of the network
controlled by one MSC.
11



MSC Service Area
MSC
VLR
LA1
LA2
LA3
LA6
LA4
LA5
12

Network Structure
PLMN SERVICE AREA
A PLMN service area is the entire set of
cells served by one network operator
and is defined as the area in which an
operator offers radio coverage and
access to its network.
13


PLMN Service Area

V

MSC
MSC
MSC
MSC
VLR
VLR
VLR
I
II
IV
III
I
14

Network Structure
GSM SERVICE AREA
The GSM service area is the entire
geographical area in which a subscriber
can gain access to a GSM network.
15

Relation between areas in GSM
Location Area
Cell

Location Area
MSC Service Area
PLMN Service Area
GSM Service Area
16
Mobile Station
GSM MSs consist of:
Mobile Equipment
Subscriber Identity Module

17

Functions of Mobile Station
Voice and data transmission& receipt
Frequency and time synchronization
Monitoring of power and signal quality
of the surrounding cells
Provision of location updates even
during inactive state


18

Mobile Station
Discontinuous Transmission(DTX)
Discontinuous reception(DRX)
MS identified by unique IMEI
STAR#06#

19

SIM
Fixed data stored for the subscription:
IMSI,
Authentication Key, Ki
Security Algorithms:kc,A3,A8
PIN&PUK
20
SIM
Temporary network data:
Location area of subscriber and
forbidden PLMNs
Service data:
language preference, advice of charge
21
KEY TERMS
An MS can have one of the following states :

Idle: the MS is ON but a call is not in
progress.

Active: the MS is ON and a call is in
progress.

Detached: the MS is OFF.

22
The following table defined the key terms used to describe GSM mobile
traffic cases (there are no traffic cases in detached mode):
Mode Term Description
Idle Registration



Roaming


International
Roaming



This is the process in which an MS
informs a network that it is attached.

When an MS moves around a
network in idle mode, it is referred to
as roaming.

When an MS moves into a network
which is not its home network, it is
referred to as international roaming.
MSs can only roam into networks
with which the home network has a
roaming agreement.
23
Mode Term Description











Active
Location
Updating



Paging





Handover

An MS roaming around the network
must inform the network when it enters
a new LA. This is called location
updating.

This is the process whereby a network
attempts to contact a particular MS.
This is achieved by broadcasting a
paging message containing the
identity of that MS.

This is the process in which control of
a call is passed from one cell to
another while the MS moves between
cells.
24

Network Identities
MSISDN
IMSI
TMSI
MSRN
IMEI



25

MSISDN
Mobile Station ISDN Number
The MSISDN is registered in the telephone directory and
used by the calling party for dialing.
MSISDN shall not exceed 15 digits.
NDC--National Destination Code
SN--Subscriber Number

CC NDC SN
1 to 3 digits Variable
Variable
MSISDN : not more than 15 digits
26

IMSI
International mobile subscriber
Identity
The IMSI is an unique identity which is used
internationally and used within the network to
identify the mobile subscribers.
The IMSI is stored in the subscriber identity
module (SIM), the HLR, VLR database.

27

IMSI
3 digits
MCC MNC
MSIN
3 digits Not more than 9 digits
NMSI
IMSI : Max. 15 digits
MCC--Mobile Country Code, MNC--Mobile N/W Code, MSIN--Mobile
Station Identification Number
NMSI--National Mobile Station Identity,assigned by Individual
Administration.
Mobile station Identification Number. It identifies the subs. In a PLMN.
First 3 digit identifies the Logical HLR-id of Mobile subs.
28



Temporary Mobile subscriber Identity

TMSI is a temporary IMSI no. made known to
an MS at registration.
The VLR assigns a TMSI to each mobile
subscribers entering the VLR area.
Assigned only after successful authentication.
TMSI has only local significance i.e. within VLR
area & controlled by the VLR.
TMSI changes on location updation.
TMSI is less than 8 digit.


29
MSRN
Mobile Station Roaming Number
The MSRN is used in the GMSC to set up a
connection to the visited MSC/VLR.
MSRN--is a temporary identity which is
assigned during the establishment of a call to a
roaming subs.


CC
NDC
SN
CC--Country Code, NDC--National Destination Code, SN Servicing
Node
30

IMEI
International Mobile Equipment
Identity
The IMEI is an unique code allocated to each
mobile equipment. It is checked in the EIR.
IMEI check List
White List
Grey List
Black List



31
BASE STATION SYSTEM (BSS)
n BTS n BTS
BSC
BSC
BSC
MSC/VLR
BSS
32
FUNCTIONS OF BTS
Radio resources
Signal Processing
Signaling link management
Synchronization
Local maintenance handling
Functional supervision and Testing
33

FUNCTIONS OF BSC


Radio Network management
RBS Management
TRC Handling
Tx. Network Management
Internal BSC O&M
Handling of MS connections
34

MSC-BSS Configurations
BTS
BTS
BTS
BTS BTS
BTS
A-bis
BSC
BSS MSC
A
A-bis
36
Switching System (SS)
MSC
(PSTN)
VLR
HLR AUC
EIR
D
C
SS7 Signalling
Traffic Path
F
(BSS)
A
E
Other
MSC
37

MSC Functions
Switcing and call routing
Charging
Service provisioning
Communication with HLR
Communication with VLR
Communication with other MSCs
Control of connected BSCs

38

MSC Functions
Echo canceller operation control

Signaling interface to databases like HLR, VLR.

Gateway to SMS between SMS centers and
subscribers

Handle interworking function while working as
GMSC
39

VISITOR LOCATION REGISTER (VLR)

It controls those mobiles roaming in its area.

VLR reduces the number of queries to HLR

One VLR may be incharge of one or more LA.

VLR is updated by HLR on entry of MS its area.

VLR assigns TMSI which keeps on changing.

IMSI detach and attach operation

40

Data in VLR
IMSI & TMSI
MSISDN
MSRN.
Location Area
Supplementary service parameters
MS category
Authentication Key


41

Home Location Register(HLR)

Reference store for subscribers parameters,
numbers, authentication & Encryption values.

Current subscriber status and associated VLR.

Both VLR and HLR can be implemented in the
same equipment in an MSC.

one PLMN may contain one or several HLR.
42

Home Location Register(HLR)
Permanent data in HLR
Data stored is changed only by commands.

IMSI, MS-ISDN number.

Category of MS ( whether pay phone or not )

Roaming restriction ( allowed or not ).

Supplementary services like call forwarding
43

Home Location Register(HLR)
Temporary data in HLR
The data changes from call to call & is dynamic

MSRN

RAND /SRES and Kc

VLR address , MSC address.

Messages waiting data used for SMS


44

EQUIPMENT IDENTITY REGISTER ( EIR )

This data base stores IMEI for all registered
mobile equipments and is unique to every ME.

Only one EIR per PLMN.

White list : IMEI, assigned to valid ME.
Black list : IMEI reported stolen
Gray list : IMEI having problems like faulty
software, wrong make of equipment etc.

45
AUthentication Center (AUC)
To authenticate the subs. attempting to use a
network.
AUC is connected to HLR which provides it
with authentication parameters and ciphering
keys used to ensure network security.
46
AUC Functions
To perform subscriber
authentication and to establish
ciphering procedures on the radio
link between the network and MS.

47

Information provided is called a
TRIPLET consists of:

1. RAND(non predictable random number)

2. SRES(Signed response)

3. Kc(ciphering key)
AUC Functions
48

The centralized operation of the various units in
the system and functions needed to maintain the
subsystems.

Dynamic monitoring and controlling of the
network




Operations and Maintenance Centre
OMC
49

-O&M data function

-Configuration management

--Fault report and alarm handling

-Performance supervision/management

-Storage of system software and data



Functions Of OMC