GSM-P&O_I_01_200909

GSM/GPRS/EDGE Basic Principles

ZTE University

GSM BSS Team

 Objective

At the end of this course, you will be able to:

 Learn GSM development history
 Learn and master network structure of GSM
system and functions & principles of different
portions
 Learn and be familiar with GSM wireless
channel and protocol
 Learn and be familiar with main service call
process for GSM
Content

Chap.1: GSM Overview

Chap.2: GSM Network Structure
Chap.3: Interfaces and Protocols
Chap.4: GSM Radio Channel
Chap.5: Basic Service and Signaling Process
Chap.6: Voice Processing and Key Radio
Technology
Chap.7: GPRS and EDGE
 Chap.1: GSM Overview

This chapter mainly introduces some basic information for

GSM, including GSM development history, supported
service type, specification, and system features.

 GSM Basic Concepts

 Services Supported by GSM System

 GSM Specification
 Chap.2: GSM Network Structure

This section introduces network structure of GSM system

and basic functions of various NEs.

 GSM Area Division Concepts

 GSM composition
 Mobile Switching System (MSS)
 Base Station Subsystem (BSS)
 Operation & Maintenance Subsystem (OMS)
 Mobile Station (MS)
 GSM System Number
 Chap.2: GSM Network Structure

GSM Area Division Concepts

Relationship between Areas in GSM

 Chap.2: GSM Network Structure

GSM composition

PSTN

Um A IBM

Interfac IBM
Interf
e ace MS

MS
Other
BSS MSS
PLMN

GSM System Composition

 Chap.2: GSM Network Structure

Mobile Switching System (MSS)

The MSS consists of such entities as the mobile switching

center (MSC), home location register (HLR), visitor location
register (VLR), equipment identity register (EIR), authentication
center (AUC) and short message center (SMC).
 Chap.2: GSM Network Structure

Base Station Subsystem (BSS)

BSS serves as a bridge between the NSS and MS. It performs

wireless channel management and wireless transceiving. The
BSS includes the Base Station Controller (BSC) and Base Tra
nsceiver Station (BTS).
 Chap.2: GSM Network Structure

Operation & Maintenance Subsystem (OMS)

The OMS consists of two parts: Operation & Maintenance

Center – System (OMC-S) and OMC-Radio (OMC-R). The
OMC-S serves the NSS, while the OMC-R serves the BSS.
 Chap.2: GSM Network Structure

Mobile Station (MS)

The MS consists of mobile terminals and Subscriber Identity

Module (SIM) card.
 Chap.2: GSM Network Structure

GSM System Number

GSM system number contains:

 Mobile Subscriber ISDN Number (MSISDN)
 International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI)
 Mobile Subscriber Roaming Number (MSRN)
 Handover Number
 Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identification (TMSI)
 Location Area Identification (LAI)
 Chap.3: Interfaces and Protocols

This chapter introduces GERAN interfaces, User

plane/control plane protocol stack at PS and CS.

 Interfaces

 PS-Domain Protocol Stack

 CS-Domain Protocol Stack

 Chap.3: Interfaces and Protocols

Interfaces

MS MSC SGSN

A 口

BSS

GSM interfaces
 Chap.3: Interfaces and Protocols

PS-Domain Protocol Stack

User plane protocol stack at PS domain

 Chap.3: Interfaces and Protocols

PS-Domain Protocol Stack

Control plane protocol stack at PS domain

 Chap.3: Interfaces and Protocols

CS-Domain Protocol Stack

User plane protocol stack at CS domain

 Chap.3: GSM Radio Channel

CS-Domain Protocol Stack

Control plane protocol stack at CS domain

 Chap.4: GSM Radio Channe

This section introduces GSM radio frame, channel concept,

division & function for different channels, mapping
combination mechanism between channels.

 GSM Working Frequency Band

 Structure of GSM Radio Frame

 Physical Channel and Logical Channel

 System Messages
 Chap.4: GSM Radio Channe

GSM Working Frequency Band

Currently, the GSM communication system works at

900MHz, extended 900MHz and 1800MHz. 1900MHz
band is adopted in some countries.
 Chap.4: GSM Radio Channe

Structure of GSM Radio Frame

There are five layers for structure of GSM radio frame, that is, timeslot,
TDMA frame, multiframe, super frame, and hyper frame.
1 hyper frame = 2048 super frames =2715648 TDMA frame

1 hyper frame = 1326 TDMA frame (6.12s)

(=51 (26 frames) multi-frames or 26 (51 frames) multi-frames

1 (26 frames) multi-frame = 26 TDMA frame (120ms) 1 (51 frames) multi-frame = 51 TDMA frame (3036/13 ms)

TDMA Frame

Hierarchical frame structure in GSM system

 Chap.4: GSM Radio Channe

Physical Channel and Logical Channel

GSM uses TDMA and FDMA technologies for physical channel,

as shown in the figure below.
 Chap.4: GSM Radio Channe

System Messages

System message falls into 12 types: type1, 2, 2bis, 2ter,

3, 4, 5, 5bis, 5ter, 6, 7, 8.
 Chap.5: Basic Service and Signaling Process

This section introduces GSM terminal start, position register /

update, service call and handover service implementation and
signaling interaction process.

 Mobile subscriber state

 Location Update

 Typical Call and Handover Process

 Basic Signaling Process

 Chap.5: Basic Service and Signaling Process

Mobile subscriber state

The mobile subscriber has three states as follows:

 MS starts, network does "Attach" marks on it

 MS shutdowns, separated from network

 MS Busy
 Chap.5: Basic Service and Signaling Process

Location Update

Location Update at Same MSC Office

Location update between different MSCs

 Chap.5: Basic Service and Signaling Process

Typical Call and Handover Process

Call process
 Chap.5: Basic Service and Signaling Process

Typical Call and Handover Process

Handover process
 Chap.5: Basic Service and Signaling Process

Basic Signaling Process

MS BTS BSC M SC
CH REQ
CH RQD
CH ACT
CH ACT ACK
IMM ASS CMD
IM M ASS
SABM
EST IND
UA CR：LOC UPD REQ
CC
DT1：CIPH MODE CMD
ENCRY CM D
CIPH M ODE CM D
CIPH M ODE COM
DI：CIPH M ODE COM
DT1：CIPH M ODE COM

DTAP：LOC UPD ACCEPT

DT1：Clear CM D
DT1：Clear COM
DR：CH REL
CH REL RLSD
DEACT SACCH
DISC RLC
REL IND
UA
RF CH REL
RF CH REL ACK

Location Update Process of MS

 Chap.5: Basic Service and Signaling Process

Basic Signaling Process

MS BTS BSC M SC
CH REQ
CH RQD
CH ACT
CH ACT ACK
IM M ASS CM D
IM M ASS
SABM
EST IND
UA CR：IM SI DETACH
CREF
DR：CH REL
CH REL
DEACT SACCH
DISC
REL IND
UA
RF CH REL
RF CH REL ACK

IMSI Detach Process

 Chap.5: Basic Service and Signaling Process
MS BTS BSC M SC

Basic Signaling Process

CH REQ
CH RQD
CH ACT
CH ACT ACK
IM M ASS CM D
IM M ASS
SABM
EST IND
UA CR：CM SERV REQ
CC
DT1：CIPH M ODE CM D
ENCRY CM D
CIPH M ODE CM D
CIPH M ODE COM
DI：CIPH M ODE COM
DT1：CIPH M ODE COM

DTAP:CM SERV ACCP

DTAP:SETUP

DTAP:CALL PROC

DT1:ASS REQ

Mobile-Originated Call and Called

PHY CONT REQ
PHY CONT CONF
CH ACT
CH ACT ACK Party On-hook Process
DR：ASS CM D
ASS CM D
SABM
EST IND
UA
ASS COM DI：ASS COM
DT1：ASS COM
RF CH REL
RF CH REL ACK

DTAP ：Alerting
DTAP ：Connect
DTAP ：Connect ACK
数据流
DTAP ：Disconnect
DTAP ：Release
DTAP ：Release COM
DT1：Clear CM D
DR：CH REL
CH REL DT1：Clear COM
DEACT SACCH
DISC RLSD
REL IND
UA RLC
RF CH REL
RF CH REL ACK
 Chap.5: Basic Service and Signaling Process
MS BTS BSC M SC

PAG REQ
CH REQ
PAG CM D UDT ：PAG
Basic Signaling Process
CH RQD
CH ACT
CH ACT ACK
IM M ASS CM D
IM M ASS
SABM
EST IND
UA CR：PAG RES
CC
DT1：CIPH M ODE CM D
ENCRY CM D
CIPH M ODE CM D
CIPH M ODE COM
DI：CIPH M ODE COM
DT1：CIPH M ODE COM

DTAP:SETUP

DTAP:CALL CONF

PHY CONT REQ

DT1:ASS REQ Mobile-Terminated Call and Calling
PHY CONT CONF
CH ACT
Party On-hook Process
CH ACT ACK
DR：ASS CM D
ASS CM D
SABM
EST IND
UA
ASS COM
DI：ASS COM
DT1：ASS COM
RF CH REL
RF CH REL ACK

DTAP：Alerting
DTAP ：Connect
DTAP ：Connect ACK
数据流
DTAP ：Disconnect
DTAP：Release
DTAP ：Release COM
DT1：Clear CM D
DR：CH REL
CH REL DT1：Clear COM
DEACT SACCH
DISC RLSD
REL IND
UA RLC
RF CH REL
 Chap.5: Basic Service and Signaling Process

Basic Signaling Process

MS BTS1 BTS2 BSC M SC
M EAS REP
M EAS RES
CH ACT
CH ACT ACK
DR：HO CM D
HO CM D
HO ACCESS
HO DET
PHY INFO
SABM
EST IND
UA

HO COM
DI：HO COM
DT1：HO PERF
RF CH REL
RF CH REL ACK

Inter-cell Handover Process

 Chap.6: Voice Processing and Key Radio Technology

This section describes basic voice processing for GSM, and

several key radio enhanced technologies.

 Voice Processing
 Frequency multiplexing
 Adaptive equalizing
 Diversity Receiving
 Discontinuous Transmission (DTX)
 Power Control
 Timing Advance
 Frequency Hopping Technology
 Chap.6: Voice Processing and Key Radio Technology

Voice Processing

Voice Processing in the GSM System

 Chap.6: Voice Processing and Key Radio Technology

Frequency multiplexing

Frequency multiplexing is the core concept of the cellular mobile radio

system. In a frequency multiplexing system, users at different
geographical locations (different cells) can use channels of the same
frequency at the same time (see the figure above).
 Chap.6: Voice Processing and Key Radio Technology

Adaptive equalizing

Equalizer can do equalizing at frequency domain and time domain.

GSM uses time domain equalizing, enabling the better performance in
whole system.
 Chap.6: Voice Processing and Key Radio Technology

Diversity Receiving

Diversity reception technology is commonly used in GSM. Diversity

consists of different forms: Space diversity, frequency diversity, time
diversity and polarity diversity.
 Chap.6: Voice Processing and Key Radio Technology

Discontinuous Transmission (DTX)

The DTX mode accomplishes two objectives: Lower the total

interference level in the air and save the transmitter power.

Speech Frame Transmission in DTX Mode

 Chap.6: Voice Processing and Key Radio Technology

Power Control

Power control means to control the actual transmitting power (keep it

as low as possible) of MS or BS in radio propagation, so as to reduce
the power consumption of MS/BS and the interference of the entire
GSM network.

Power Control Process

 Chap.6: Voice Processing and Key Radio Technology

Timing Advance

In the GSM, the MS requires three intervals between timeslots when

receiving or transmitting signals. See the figure below.

Uplink and Downlink Offset of TCH

 Chap.6: Voice Processing and Key Radio Technology

Frequency Hopping Technology

Frequency hopping (FH) refers to hopping of the carrier frequency

within a wide frequency band according to a certain sequence.

Basic Structure of FH
 Chap.7: GPRS and EDGE

This section describes evolution of GSM technologies: basic concept,

network structure, radio channel, and basic application of GPRS and
EDGE.

 Definition and Feature

 Inheritance and Evolution

 GPRS Radio Channel

 Radio Link and Media Access Control Flow

 Terminal and Application

 Chap.7: GPRS and EDGE

Definition and Feature

The General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) is the packet data

service introduced in GSM Phase2+.
The GPRS has the following features:
• Seamless connection with IP network
• High rate
• Always online and flow charging
• Mature technology
 Chap.7: GPRS and EDGE

Definition and Feature

Enhanced Data Rate for GSM Evolution (EDGE) is a kind of tech
nology for transition of GSM to 3G.
The EDGE has the following features:
• EDGE neither changes GSM or GPRS network structure nor int
roduces new network element, but only upgrades the BSS.
• EDGE does not change the GSM channel structure, multiframe
structure and coding structure.
• EDGE supports two data transmission modes: packet service
(non-real time service) and circuit switching service (real time ser
vice).
• EDGE adopts octal 8PSK modulation technology, supports 303
% of GMSK payload, and provides higher bit rate and spectral eff
iciency.
•Compared with GPRS, EDGE adopts new coding mode.
 Chap.7: GPRS and EDGE

Inheritance and Evolution

Each standard for current 2G has a set of methods to upgrade
2G network into 3G:
(1) Evolution route to CDMA 2000 may be IS95 (or CDMA One)
→ CDMA20001x → CDMA 2000-3x or WCDMA.
(2) Evolution route to WCDMA may be GSM → GPRS → EDGE
→ WCDM A.
(3) Evolution route to TD-SCDMA is not obvious now. It is
possible to implement smooth transition based on GSM MAP
network, also compatible to ANSI41 and transited to 3G.
 Chap.7: GPRS and EDGE

GPRS Radio Channel

This section introduces GPRS physical channel, GPRS logic

channel, mapping of logical channel combination in the physical
channel, and GPRS channel coding.
 Chap.7: GPRS and EDGE

Radio Link and Media Access Control Flow

This section introduces paging flow, TBF setup flow, GPRS

suspend/resume flow, and TBF release flow.
 Chap.7: GPRS and EDGE

Terminal and Application

The GPRS MSs fall into three categories: Type A, B, and C.