GSM Air Interface

YLI Sessions
VFE Radio Team January 2008

Idle mode behaviour

What is idle mode?
The MS is said to be in Idle mode when it is powered on but not allocated any dedicated channel.

Idle mode activities : PLMN selection

CELL selection & reselection Tune to the control channel of the cell, to listen to the system information messages transmitted in that cell (Camping on the cell) 4- It must also be able to register its current location to the network (Location Updating)

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Idle Mode: PLMN Selection

PLMN selection (Automatic/Manual mode) Automatic mode
1- Last registered PLMN 2- Home PLMN 3- According to PLMN list stored on SIM 4- PLMNs with SS > -85 dBm in random order 5- All other PLMNs in order of decreasing SS

Manual mode
1- Last registered PLMN 2- Home PLMN 3- The MS will indicate the user all available PLMNs

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Idle mode: Cell Selection

Why MS must camp on a cell?
The MS can receive system information

The MS can initiate a call

The system can reach the MS

Types of cell selection:

Normal cell selection The MS will search all RF channels in its supported frequency band (124 channels in GSM 900) The MS will perform the measurements for only the last BA list BCCH carriers stored on SIM before it was powered off.

Stored list cell selection

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Idle mode: Cell Selection

Scan 124 channels and measure signal strength

Tune to the RF channel with the highest received average signal strength Tune to the RF-channel with the highest signal strength not already tried

Determine if it is a BCCH frequency carrier by searching for frequency correction bursts

No Is it a BCCH carrier

Yes
The MS shall attempt to synchronize to this carrier and read BCCH info

No

Is it the wanted PLMN ?

Yes
Yes Is the cell barred for access ? No No Is C1>0 ? Yes Camp on this cell
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Idle mode: Cell reselection

Cell reselection:
The MS detects that it is more suitable to camp on another cell.

Why?
The MS at all times try to camp on the cell which has the highest probability of successful communication on both up and downlinks when accessing the system

When?
MS performs cell reselection if:

The serving cell becomes barred

Downlink signaling failure C1<0 for serving cell more than 5sec C2(neighbor)>C2(serving) (+CRH) more than 5sec
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Idle mode: Cell reselection

Cell reselection procedures:
MS monitors Neighbors BCCH carriers as well as the serving one. MS measure server BCCH at least once every 30s

MS measures neighbors BCCH carrier at least once every 5min.

MS attempts to decode the BSIC parameter at least once every 30s (for each of the six strongest surrounding cells)

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Idle mode: location updating

Location Updating:
The location updating is initiated by the MS to keep the network updated by its location.

Types of Location updating : 1- Normal:

MS listens to the broadcasted system information. It compares the broadcasted LAI with the stored one on the SIM.

If it is different , a location updating type normal will be initiated.

2- Periodic registration: Reduces unnecessary paging of MSs which lost coverage or run out of battery.
T3212 parameter (1 255) determines how often MS should perform periodic location update.

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Idle mode: IMSI attach/detach

When a MS is powered on, an IMSI attach message is sent to the MSC/VLR When a MS is powered off, an IMSI detach message is sent to the MSC/VLR Implicit detach?

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Normal Location update within same MSC/VLR service area 1. The Mobile sends an SDCCH allocation request message on the RACCH to the BTS

MSC / VLR

3
BSC

2. The BTS responds with the SDCCH allocation message on the AGCH
3. The mobile sends a location update request message with its IMSI on the allocated SDCCH channel to the MSC/VLR
1

4. The MSC/VLR updates the location information and sends a Location Update confirmation message on the SDCCH channel to the mobile then the SDCCH channel is released 2

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Normal Location update between 2 MSC/VLR service areas

1. The mobile requests a location update just like the first case

HLR
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2. The new MSC/VLR receives the IMSI and conclude the MGT

5 3

IMSI

MGT

3. The MSC/VLR sends a subscriber information request with the IMSI to the HLR 4. The HLR stores the address of the new MSC/VLR

Old MSC

New MSC
1

Old BSC

New BSC
1

5. The HLR sends the data to the new MSC/VLR and it is kept there

6. The HLR sends a location cancellation message to the old MSC/VLR to remove the data

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7. The new MSC/VLR sends a location updating confirmation message to the mobile

Dedicated Mode: Handover

Handover :
Handover is essential to keep continuity of the call when MS roams along the network and moving from one cell to another between different nodes in the network. During a call, the MS is continuously measuring the signal levels of neighboring cells in addition to servers and reports this results to the BSC through the BTS. The BSC, being responsible on supervising the cells, is responsible of handover initiation. Good neighbor relations between cells is an important factor in keeping the network performance in the accepted level.

BSC

Types of handover :
Intra Cell Intra BSC Handover Inter BSC / Intra MSC Handover Inter MSC Handover
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Basic definitions
Basic definitions:
Time Slot : TS is the basic radio resource during which the carrier serves one logic channel MS receives TS by TS and also sends TS by TS. Burst : the contents of each time slot is called a burst. Physical channel : the recurrence of the same physical TS in successive frames. Logical channel : the recurrence of the same TS contents in successive frames.

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Basic definitions
Physical Channels

GSM band is divided into 124 RF channels, and each channel is divided into 8 time slots using TDMA. These time slots are called physical channels.

CH 124

CH 3 CH 2 CH 1
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0 0 0 1 1

1 2 2

2 3 3

3 4 4

4 5 5

5 6 6

6 7 7

7 0 0

0 1 1

Time

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Logical Channels

Logical Channels

Traffic Channels

Control Channels

Half Rate

Full Rate Common

Paging Channel Access Grant Channel Random Access Channel

Broadcast
Frequency Correction Control Channel Synchronization Channel

Dedicated
Fast Associated Control Ch Cell Broadcast Control Ch Slow Associated Control Ch

Broadcast Control Channel

Standalone Dedicated Control Ch

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Traffic Channels
TCH is allocated to the MS when it is in dedicated mode. TCH is intended to carry two types of bi-directional user information : Encoded speech and data .

Two types of traffic channels are defined

TCH/F: Full rate uses one physical channel TCH/H: Half rate shares one physical channel with another TCH/H

Channel rate: Full Rate (22,8 kbps gross bit rate on air interface) Half Rate (11,4 kbps gross bit rate)

Speech versions

FR SPV 1 = normal Full Rate (FR) 13 Kbps (speech coding rate FR SPV 2 = enhanced Full Rate (EFR) 12.2 Kbps (speech coding rate) FR SPV 3 = AMR Full Rate (AMR-FR) ACS (Active Codec Set) HR SPV 1 = normal Half Rate (HR) 5.6 Kbps (speech coding r HR SPV 3 = AMR Half Rate (AMR-HR) ACS (Active Codec Set)

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Broadcast Channels
Frequency Correction Channel (FCCH):
The 1st Burst that MS looks for just after switching on It is the repetition of frequency correction bursts Bursts containing only zeros are transmitted Make sure that this is the BCCH carrier Allow the MS to synchronize to the frequency

Only transmitted DL , TS0

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Broadcast Channels
Synchronization Channel (SCH):
Used to provide synchronization information between MS & BTS in the time domain. Repetition of synchronization bursts Transmitted DL only. Base Station Identity Code (BSIC) TDMA Frame Number (RFN)

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Broadcast Channels
Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH):
When a mobile is turned on, it scans the GSM spectrum to find an available BTS. It is a permanent channel to be scanned, providing network information (called system information) Transmitted DL only. Contains; cell description, cell identity, location area identity, network identity, BCCH of neighboring cells.

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Common Control Channels

Paging Channel (PCH) :
When the network wants to initiate a communication with the MS, it looks for the mobile by sending a paging request.

Incoming call or incoming short message.

Mobile Identity parameter (IMSI) or (TMSI). Transmitted DL only.

Access Grant Channel (AGCH) :

Inform about the SDCCH or TCH allocated. Transmitted DL only. Channel description, Timing advance.

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Common Control Channels

Random Access Channel (RACH) :
When the MS requests allocation of signaling channel by sending a Channel Request Answering to paging, network contact Only transmitted UL

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Dedicated Control Channels

Slow Associated Control Channel (SACCH) :
When an SDCCH or a TCH is allocated, an associated channel is used by MS &

Network in Order to exchange general information

Transmitted both UL and DL Up-Link: Measurement report Down-Link: System information, MS power level, timing advance

Fast Associated Control Channel (FACCH) :

During a hand over, both MS and Network need to send a fast message to the other
Works in stealing mode Transmitted both UL and DL
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Dedicated Control Channels

Standalone Dedicated Control Channel (SDCCH) :
MS and network need to exchange information before initializing communication.
Used in authentication, ciphering, setup and assignment procedures Transmitted both UL and DL

Transmission of SMS in idle mode.

Cell Broadcast Control Channel (CBCCH)

It displays general information (weather, addresses, traffic..) . It uses one of the SDCCH channels MS must be configured to receive this channel

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Normal Burst Structure

GSM Overview
Technical Session

TDMA Frame
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Tail Bits

Encrypted Bits

Training Sequence

Encrypted Bits

Tail Bits

Guard Period

57

26

57

8.25

156.25 bits in 577 m Sec

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Mapping of logical channels (DL)

Frame 1
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0

Frame 2
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0

Frame 3
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0

Frame 4
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0

Frame 5
1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Frame 6
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Frame 7
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

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Mapping of logical channels (UL)

Frame 1
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0

Frame 2
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0

Frame 3
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0

Frame 4
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0

Frame 5
1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Frame 6
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Frame 7
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

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Post installation cycle

Site integration

Site testing

Site optimization

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Drive-test Sample

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Questions

Thanks