Burst Structure on the AirInterface

Burst Types
Normal Burst (GMSK and 8PSK)
Carries all traffic data (see later slides)

Frequency Burst
All zeros burst on beacon channel (BCH) used for synchronization

Synchronization Burst
Carries BSIC and RFN on BCH (see later slides on synchronization)

Access Burst
Used by MS on uplink to access network

Dummy Burst
Used to fill empty timeslots e.g. on BCH

Frame Hierarchy Frames, Slots and Bursts

1 Hyperframe = 2048 Superframes = 2715648 TDMA Frames = 3h28min53sec760msec
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 2044 2045 2046 2047

1 Superframe = 1326 TDMA Frames = 6.12 S 51 x 26-Multiframes 26 x 51-Multiframes 25.5 x 52-Multiframes

0 0 0 1 2 1 1 3 2 2 4 3 3 24 48 49 24 25 50 25

26-Multiframe = 26 TDMA Frames = 120mS for Circuit-switched Traffic channels

0 1 2 3 23 24 25

51-Multiframe = 51 TDMA Frames = 3060/13 = 235.38msec for Circuit-switched Signaling 52 TDMA Frames = 240 mSec (1 Block = 4 TDMA Frames) for GPRS and EGPRS 0 1 2 3 48 49 50
0 1 2 3 49 50 51

1 TDMA Frame = 120/26 = 4.615mSec = 60,000 13MCyc

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

1 TDMA Frame = 120/26 = 4.615mSec = 60,000 13MCyc

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

1 Slot = 156.25 * Tsymb = 15/26 = 0.577ms = 7500 13MCyc Normal Burst Frequency Correction Burst Synchronization Burst Access Burst Dummy Burst
3 TB 57 Data Bits 1 S B 26 Training Sequence 1 S B 57 Data Bits 3 TB
8.25 G

3 TB

142 Fixed Bits

3 TB

8.25 G

3 TB

39 Encrypted Bits

64 Training Sequence

39 Encrypted Bits

3 TB

8.25 G

8 TB

41 Synchronization sequence

36 Encrypted Bits

3 TB

68.25 Gaurd Period

3 TB

39 Mixed Bits

3 TB

8.25 G

1 Slot = 156.25 * Tsymb = 15/26 = 0.577ms = 7500 13MCyc Normal Burst Frequency Correction Burst
3 TB 57 Data Bits 1 S B 26 Training Sequence 1 S B 57 Data Bits 3 TB
8.25 G

3 TB

142 Fixed Bits

3 TB

8.25 G

Synchronization Burst Access Burst Dummy Burst

3 TB

39 Encrypted Bits

64 Training Sequence

39 Encrypted Bits

3 TB

8.25 G

8 TB

41 Synchronization sequence

36 Encrypted Bits

3 TB

68.25 Gaurd Period

3 TB

39 Mixed Bits

3 TB

8.25 G

Normal Burst
Used for all data transfer on all traffic channels and control channels in uplink and downlink direction with the only exceptions of: Initial cell access from the MS - sent in an access burst Transmission of the synchronization data of a BTS - done via the synchronization burst. GMSK Modulation: Contains 114 bit of payload. 8PSK Modulation: Introduced with the introduction of 8-PSK as modulation scheme for EGPRS. Used also for E-CSD and O-TCH. New Modulation scheme. Altered power vs. time mask Contains 346 bits of payload (the only new feature).
[2GTS 05.02 / 2GTS 05.03 / 2GTS 05.05] 4

Normal Burst - Structure

Divided into two parts 57 or 173 bits each. The Training Sequence Code (TSC) is placed between the two parts. TSC is fixed in all slots. Depends only on Sector. In addition each normal burst contains 2 stealing flags.
156.25 Bit = 577 uS 3 Tail GMSK Normal Burst 57 Bit Payload/Signaling
1

26 Bit Training Sequence Stealing Flags

57 Bit Payload/Signaling

3 8.25
Guard Period

468.75 Bit = 577 uS 9 Tail 8PSK Normal Burst 173 Bit Payload/Signaling
1

78 Bit Training Sequence Stealing Flags

173 Bit Payload/Signaling

Tail Tail

9 24.75
Guard Period

Burst Fields function

Training Sequence
Channel Estimation, Timing Carrier to Interference Estimation

Tail Bits
Partial closure of Viterbi Equalizer

Guard Bits
Period to allow for power up/down ramping Required also in case TA is unknown and due to Timing jitter

Normal Burst: Stealing Bits

Stealing bits
Adjacent to training sequence

Indicate block type

In TCH, indicates stealing by FACCH block In (E)GPRS, indicates which CS (MCS) coding E.g. see GSM 05.03 5.1.3.5 Mapping on Burst

Frequency Correction Burst

The simplest format of all bursts Used only for the frequency correction channel (FCCH). All 148 bits (142 bits + 6 tail bits) are coded with '0'.
Results in a constant frequency (pure sine wave). Exactly 67.7kHz above the BCCH median frequency or 67.7kHz above the respective ARFCN frequency.

Allows an MS to fine-tune its frequency to the BCCH frequency and coarse time synchronization.
156.25 Bit = 577 uS 3 Tail 142 Bit All Bits are coded with '0' 3 8.25
Guard Period

Tail

Synchronization Burst
Used to transmit synchronization channel information (SCH). Format similar to normal burst format (two data packets, left and right, from the TSC). Each part contains only a 39 bit payload The training sequence is 64 bit long. TSC for the SCH is identical for all BTS's
Easy distinguish of an accessible GSM-BTS from other radio system that accidentally works at the same frequency.
156.25 Bit = 577 uS 3 Tail 39 Bits SCH-Data
64 Bits

39 Bits SCH-Data

3 8.25
Guard Period

Extended Training Sequence

Tail

Access Burst
Used by the MS when no TA information is available (Applies in particular during the initial access to a cell).
GSM: RACH GPRS: PTCCH/U, PRACH and PACCH (only in case of the TA Update Procedure using Polling).

Very short compared to a Normal burst

Can be sent by even from a distance with an assumed TA = '0 and even then, still fit into the receiver window of a BTS. Guard period is 252 us long (252 us * speed of light = 75km) therefore max cell size = 37.5 km(35 km in spec)

Note: access burst requires special channel coding.

156.25 Bit = 577 uS 8 Tail 41 Bits Synchronization Sequence
36 Bits

3 Tail

68.25 Bits
Guard Period

Data

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Dummy Burst
Dummy bursts are inserted into otherwise empty timeslots on the BCCH frequency.
Purpose: MS periodically measure BCCH carriers of the neighbor cells to check if neighbor cell is received with a higher level than the current serving cell. Therefore, BCCH carriers need to be transmitted with a constant power level. Consequently, all timeslots have to be occupied.

Coded with a pseudorandom bit sequence to prevent accidental confusion with frequency correction bursts.

156.25 Bit = 577 uS 3 Tail 142 Bit Fill bits (pre-defined bit sequence) 3 8.25
Guard Period

Tail

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Transmit Ramping
A burst ramping requirement is given in GSM 05.05 This ensures that
The transmission of the burst does not interfere with adjacent time slots Limits the generation of spurious signals

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Transmit Ramping (GMSK)

dBc

Burst Period
60mse c/13/8 = 577use c 542.8use c

+4 +1 0 -1

10use c 8use c 10use c 0.5

542.8use c 147bit

10use c 8use c 10use c 0.5 8.25bit

Previous Burst

Tail
3bit

Data
58bit

Training
26bit 148bit

Data
58bit

Tail
3bit

Guard

Next Burst

This drawing is not up to scale

156.25bit

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Transmit Ramping Multislot

dBc
577usec 17.1usec 542.8usec 17.1usec 17.1usec 577usec 542.8usec 17.1usec 17.1usec 577usec 542.8usec 17.1usec

+4dB

PL1 PL2
-6dB

+1dB -1dB

+3dB +1dB -1dB +3dB

PL3

+1dB -1dB -6dB

10 usec

8 usec

10 usec

Pout<Max(PL 1,PL 2+3)=PL2 +3 PL1 -1<Pout<PL1 +1 Guard

8.25 bit

Pout<Max(PL 2 ,PL 3+3)=PL2 PL 3-1<Pout<PL 3+1 Guard

8.25 bit

PL 2-1<Pout<PL 2 +1 Guard
8.25 bit

10 usec

8 usec

10 usec

Useful Part
148 bit

Useful Part
148 bit

Useful Part
148 bit

Guard
8.25 bit

This drawing is not up to scale

PL1 - Output Power for Useful Part of 1st Burst. PL2 - Output Power for Useful Part of 2nd Burst. PL3 - Output Power for Useful Part of 3rd Burst.

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Rx-Tx Offset and Timing Advance

Tx offset from Rx by ~3 timeslots
Allows use of common synthesizer

Tx is advanced by TA to align burst at BTS

Downlink (Serving Cell) Rx 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 c0
c1 c2

7 0 1 2 Rx 3 4 5 6 7

a Uplink (Serving Cell)

c0' c1' c2'

Tx 3

7 0 1 2 Tx 3 4 5 6 7

b Downlink (Adjacent Cell)

d0

Monitor
e2

Monitor a) Rx => Tx; b) Tx => Rx (Monitor); c) Rx (Monitor) = > Rx ; LO frequency change

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