FUNDAMENTALS OF GSM
RGMTTC, CHENNAI-27
GSM INTERFACES
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GSM Interfaces
Introduction The GSM network is shown in the i!"re with the #$%or inter $&es in'i&$te' $s U#, A(is $n' A
Um The $ir inter $&e is "se' or e)&h$n!es (etween $ MS $n' $ *SS+ Abis This is $ *SS intern$, inter $&e ,inkin! the *SC $n' $ *TS, $n' it h$s not (een st$n'$r'i-e'+ The A (is inter $&e $,,ows &ontro, o the r$'io e."i/#ent $n' r$'io re."en&0 $,,o&$tion in the *TS+12M ,ink2
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A A inter $&e is (etween the *SS $n' the MSC+ The A inter $&e #$n$!es the $,,o&$tion o s"it$(,e r$'io reso"r&es to the MSs $n' #o(i,it0 #$n$!e#ent+ 12M ,ink CCS72 B The * inter $&e is (etween the MSC $n' 3LR+ Most MSCs $re $sso&i$te' with $ 3LR, #$kin! the * inter $&e 4intern$,4+ 5hene6er the MSC nee's $&&ess to '$t$ re!$r'in! $ MS ,o&$te' in its $re$, it interro!$tes the 3LR+ C The C inter $&e is (etween the HLR $n' $ GMSC or $ SMS-G+ E$&h &$,, ori!in$tin! o"tsi'e o GSM 1i+e+, $ MS ter#in$tin! &$,, ro# the 7STN2 h$s to !o thro"!h $ G$tew$0 to o(t$in the ro"tin! in or#$tion re."ire' to &o#/,ete the &$,,+ 12M ,ink CCS72 D The D inter $&e is (etween the 3LR $n' HLR, to e)&h$n!e the '$t$ re,$te' to the ,o&$tion o the MS $n' to the #$n$!e#ent o the s"(s&ri(er+ 12M ,ink CCS72 E The E inter $&e inter&onne&ts two MSCs+ The E inter $&e e)&h$n!es '$t$ re,$te' to h$n'o6er (etween the $n&hor $n' re,$0 MSCs+12M ,ink CCS72 F The F inter $&e &onne&ts the MSC to the EIR, to 6eri 0 the st$t"s o the IMEI th$t the MSC h$s retrie6e' ro# the MS+12M ,ink CCS72 G The G inter $&e inter&onne&ts two 3LRs o 'i erent MSCs to tr$ns er s"(s&ri(er in or#$tion, '"rin! e+!+ $ ,o&$tion "/'$te /ro&e'"re+ 12M ,ink CCS72 H The H inter $&e is (etween the MSC $n' the SMS-G, to s"//ort the tr$ns er o short #ess$!es+ 12M ,ink CCS72
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Um Interface It is the $ir inter $&e (etween #o(i,e $n' *TS+ There $re "/,ink $n' 'own,ink re."en&0 ($n's+ The &$rriers $re s/$&e' $t 2889H-+ E$&h &$rrier is /ro6i'in! : ti#es,ots+
P !sica" C anne" and #o$ica" C anne" P !sica" C anne" The &$rrier n"#(er $n' the re/etiti6e ti#e s,ot n"#(er 'eter#ine 7h0si&$, Ch$nne, 1e+!+2 ti#e s,ot ; on &$rrier n"#(er <+ The '"r$tion o ti#es,ot in GSM is =77 #i&ro se&s 1>=?2@ #s2+ The tr$ns#ission is 'i!it$, $n' is in ("rsts $n' hen&e in GSM, /h0si&$, &h$nne,, ti#es,ot $n' ("rst re er to the s$#e+ #o$ica" C anne" The &ontent or #ess$!e o /h0si&$, &h$nne, is ,o!i&$, &h$nne,+ One or #ore ,o!i&$, &h$nne,s &$n (e #$//e' to one /h0si&$, &h$nne,+ For e)$#/,e, on one o the /h0si&$, &h$nne, "se' or tr$ i&,tr$ i& is sent (0 "sin! TCH 1tr$ i& &h$nne,2 #ess$!e whi,e $ h$n'o6er #ess$!e is tr$ns#itte' "sin! FACCH 1F$st Asso&i$te' Contro, Ch$nne, #ess$!e2+ Tr$ i& &h$nne,s TCH *ro$'&$st &h$nne,s *CH Co##on Contro, Ch$nne,s CCCH+ De'i&$te' Contro, Ch$nne,s DCCH+
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Traffic C anne"s Tr$ i& &h$nne,s $re "se' to sen' '$t$ or ser6i&es+ On&e the &$,, set "/ /ro&e'"res $re &o#/,ete' on the &ontro, c anne"s% MS tunes to a traffic & !sica" c anne"' It uses t e Traffic C anne" "o$ica" c anne"' Traffic c anne" carries s&eec or data traffic' S/ee&h is en&o'e' into >;9(/s 'i!it$, stre$# (0 "sin! $ s/e&i$, $,!orith# &$,,e' Re!",$r 7",se E)&ite'- Line$r 7re'i&ti6e Co'er with Lon! 7re'i&tor Loo/+ *$si&$,,0 in or#$tion ro# /re6io"s s$#/,es whi&h 'oes not &h$n!e 6er0 ."i&k,0 is "se' to /re'i&t the &"rrent s$#/,e+ The &oe i&ients o ,ine$r &o#(in$tions o /re6io"s s$#/,es, /,"s $n en&o'e' or# o the resi'" a"% t e difference bet(een t e &redicted and actua" sam&"e re&resent t e si$na"' Traffic c anne"s are c"assified into t(o t!&es F",, R$te TCH?FAIt tr$ns#its ",, r$te s/ee&h 1>;9(/s2+ A ",, r$te TCH o&&"/ies one /h0si&$, &h$nne, H$, R$te TCH?H AIt transmits a"f rate s&eec )*'+ ,b&s-' T(o a"f rate TCHs can s are one & !sica" c anne" to doub"e t e ca&acit! There $re enh$n&e' ",, r$te &o'ers, 1>2+29(/s2 whi&h i#/ro6e the s/ee&h ."$,it0 ("t sti,, o&&"/0 one ",, r$te TCH+ D$t$ r$tes s"//orte' (0 s/ee&h &o'ersA A ",, r$te tr$ i& &h$nne, &$n s"//ort '$t$ r$te o B+@9(/s $n' $ h$, r$te &h$nne, <+: 9(/s+ Broadcast Contro" C anne" )BCCH2 Thro"!h the *CCH ,o!i&$, &h$nne, MS is in or#e' $(o"t the s0ste# &on i!"r$tion /$r$#eters ,ike Lo&$, Are$ I'entit0 Ce,, I'entit0 I'entit0 o *CCH &$rrier re."en&ies o Nei!h(or &e,,s+ M$) tr$ns /ower o MS to $&&ess Con i!"r$tion o &ontro, &h$nne,s *CCH is $,so known $s (e$&on+ E$&h &e,,?se&tor wi,, h$6e one &$rrier re."en&0 on ( ic BCCH (i"" be broadcasted'
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Fre.uenc! Correction C anne"/FCCH The ,o!i&$, Ch$nne, &ont$ins no in or#$tion 1&ontin"o"s -eros2 ("t /"re &$rrier is tr$ns#itte' so th$t the #o(i,e &$n t"ne itse, $n' s0n&hronise with the re."en&0+ FCCH wi,, (e tr$ns#itte' in the s$#e (e$&on &$rrier $s *CCH+ S!nc ronisation C anne"/SCH This ,o!i&$, &h$nne, tr$ns#its in or#$tion $(o"t TDMA r$#e str"&t"re in $ &e,, ?se&tor 1 r$#e n"#(er2 $n' *$se St$tion I'entit0 Co'e whi&h &$n (e 'e&o'e' on,0 i the *TS (e,on!s to the network or whi&h the MS h$s s"(s&ri(e'+ SCH wi,, $,so (e tr$ns#itte' in the s$#e &$rrier o FCCH $n' *CCH+ Ce"" Broadcast C anne"/ CBCH This ,o!i&$, &h$nne, &ont$ins #ess$!es th$t &$n (e re&ei6e' (0 $,, #o(i,es+ These #ess$!es $re sent (0 "sin! 'e'i&$te' &h$nne,s $n' &o#e "n'er the &$te!or0 o short #ess$!es+ Howe6er, the0 $re &onsi'ere' $s &o##on &h$nne,s sin&e $,, #o(i,es &$n re&ei6e the#+ Common Contro" C anne"s )CCCHThe0 o/er$te either in "/ ,ink or 'own ,ink 'ire&tions $n' $re /oint-to-/oin t sim&"e0 c anne"s' T0/es o Co##on Contro, Ch$nne,s 7CH-7$!in! Ch$nne, AGCH-A&&ess Gr$ntCh$nne, RACH- R$n'o# A&&ess Ch$nne, Pa$in$ C anne"/ PCH It is ,o!i&$, &h$nne, in the 'own,ink 'ire&tion $n' it is /oint-to-/oint t0/e+ It &o#/rises o $ &a$in$ messa$e to indicate an incomin$ ca"" or s ort messa$e' T e &a$in$ messa$e consists of t e identit! of mobi"e t e net(or1 (ants to contact' Access Grant C anne"/AGCH It is $ /oint-to-/oint ,o!i&$, &h$nne, in the 'own,ink 'ire&tion+ It in or#s the #o(i,e $(o"t the $ssi!n#ent o si!n$,in! &h$nne, or &$,, set-"/ i+e+ SDCCH+
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Random Access C anne" )RACHIt is $ /oint-to-/oint ,o!i&$, &h$nne, in the "/,ink 'ire&tion+ It is sent (0 the #o(i,e $s $ re."est or #$kin! $ &$,, or $s $ res/onse to $ /$!in! to the #o(i,e+ It &onsists o the i'entit0 o the #o(i,e $n' ,o&$tion $re$ 'et$i,s $s $6$i,$(,e in SIM+ Dedicated Contro" C anne" )DCCHThese $re the ,o!i&$, &h$nne,s, whi&h $re /oint-to-/oint, '"/,e) $n' $6$i,$(,e in "/,ink $n' 'own,ink 'ire&tions+ T!&es of DCCH SDCCH-St$n'$,one De'i&$te' Contro, Ch$nne, SACCH-S,ow Asso&i$te' Contro, Ch$nne, FACCH-F$st Asso&i$te' Contro, Ch$nne, SDCCH/Standa"one Dedicated Contro" C anne" It is the ,o!i&$, &h$nne, or e)&h$n!e o in or#$tion (etween *TS $n' MS when no TCH is a""otted' It a"so used to send SMS )S ort Messa$e Ser2ice-'It is used for ser2ices "i1e S"(s&ri(er $"thenti&$tion Ci/herin! Initi$tion E."i/#ent 6$,i'$tion Assi!n#ent o $ TCH C$,, Set"/ Lo&$tion U/'$tes SACCH/S"o( Associated Contro" C anne" This ,o!i&$, &h$nne, is "se' or non-"r!ent in or#$tion e)&h$n!e (etween #o(i,e $n' *TS+ It &$n (e $sso&i$te' either with SDCCH or TCH+ In the "/,ink 'ire&tion it is "se' to sen' $6er$!e' #e$s"re#ent o si!n$, stren!th $n' ."$,it0 o the /resent ser6in! *TS $n' nei!h(o"rin! *TSs+ In the 'own,ink 'ire&tion it is "se' to tr$ns#it /ower &ontro, $n' ti#in! $'6$n&e '$t$ to the #o(i,e+ SACCH is "se' e6en when &$,,s $re in /ro!ress
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FACCH/Fast Associated C anne"' This ,o!i&$, &h$nne" is used to e0c an$e some ur$ent information "i1e ando2er commands% ca"" re"ease instructions% etc' 5hi,e &$,,s $re in /ro!ress it is tr$ns#itte' (0 ste$,in! the (its ro# TCH, whi&h is known $s 7RE-EM7TION+
#o$ica" C anne" Summar!
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GSM Frame Structure and Burst T!&es3 GSM, one ti#e s,ot '"r$tion is 8+=77#s1>=?2@#s2+ One TDMA r$#e &$rries : ti#es,ots $n' hen&e '"r$tion o one r$#e is <+@>2#s+ Se/$r$te #",ti r$#es $re 'e ine' or tr$ i& $n' &ontro, si!n$,s+ A 2@- r$#e TDMA #",ti r$#e is 'e ine' or &$rr0in! TCH, SACCH $n' FACCH+ D"r$tion o this #",ti r$#e is <+@>2)2@C>28#s1>=?2@):)2@2+ A =>- r$#e TDMA #",ti r$#e is 'e ine' or &ontro, #",ti r$#e or &$rr0in! *CCH, CCCH, SDCCH $n' its $sso&i$te' SACCH+ The '"r$tion o s"&h #",ti r$#e is <+@>2)=>C2;=#s+ A s"/er r$#e is 'e ine' whi&h &onsists o => tr$ i& #",ti r$#es or 2@ &ontro, #",ti r$#es $n' '"r$tion o s"/er r$#e is @+;>2s+It re/resents s#$,,est &0&,e or whi&h the or!$ni-$tion o $,, &h$nne,s is re/e$te'+ A h0/er r$#e is 'e ine' whi&h &onsists o 28<: s"/er r$#es+ The '"r$tion o s"&h r$#e is ;Hrs 2:#ts =; se&s $n' 7@8 #se&s 127>=@<: r$#es2+ This re/resents the s#$,,est &0&,e or re."en&0 ho//in! $n' &i/herin!+ GSM Frame Structure
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Traffic Mu"tiframe Tr$ i& M",ti r$#e is 'e ine' with 2@ r$#es+ The ,en!th o $ 2@-M",ti r$#e is >28 #s+ O the 2@ r$#es, 2< $re "se' or tr$ i&, > is "se' or the S,ow Asso&i$te' Contro, Ch$nne, 1SACCH2, $n' > is "n"se' in &$se o ",, r$te &h$nne, 'e/,o0#ent+In &$se h$, r$te &h$nne,s $re "se' the r$#e 2= is "se' or SACCH or the se&on' set o &$,,s+ I FACCH is to (e sent then /re-e#/tion o tr$ i& &h$nne, is e#/,o0e'+ Hen&e the ,o!i&$, &h$nne, &o#(in$tions th$t $re $,,owe' &$n (e either
TCH?FDSACCH?FDFACCH?F or TCH?HDSACCH?HDFACCH?H+
Traffic Mu"tiframe
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Contro" Mu"tiframe The0 $re 'e ine' or => TDMA r$#es+ The &o#(in$tions &$n (e $s o,,ows+
FCCHDSCHD*CCHDCCCH FCCHDSCHD*CCHDCCCHDSDCCH?<DSACCH?< CCCHD*CCH SDCCH?:DSACCH?:
FCCH4SCH4BCCH4CCCH
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SDCCH564SACCH56
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FCCH4SCH4BCCH4CCCH4SDCCH574SACCH57
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GSM Bursts *"rst is the &ontent o the ti#es,ot+ The '"r$tion o ti#es,ot is =77 #i&ro se&s+ It &onsists o "s$(,e (its $n' !"$r' /erio'+ The ("rst $re &,$ssi ie' into+
Nor#$, *"rst D"##0 *"rst Fre."en&0 Contro, *"rst1F-*"rst2 S0n& *"rst1S-*"rst2 A&&ess *"rst
F-*"rst is $sso&i$te' with FCCH, S-("rst with SCH $n' A&&ess *"rst with RACH+ A,, other ,o!i&$, &h$nne,s "se nor#$, ("rst+ D"##0 *"rst is "se' to i,, the e#/t0 /h0si&$, &h$nne, in TS8 in *CCH &$rrier, i ne&ess$r0+ Norma" Bursts It &onsists o ><: "s$(,e (its $n' !"$r' /erio' &orres/on'in! to :+2= (its+1;8+= #i&ro se&s2+ *"rst /erio'C ti#e s,ot '"r$tion- !"$r' /erio'C =77-;8+= C=<@+= #i&ro se&s+
It &onsists o three t$i, (its e$&h $t the (e!innin! $n' en', en&r0/te' '$t$ (its =7 e$&h $s two (,o&ks $n' $ #i'$#(,e o 2@ (its $s tr$inin! se."en&e, $ known /$ttern "se' or $'o/ti6e e."$,i-$tion $t *TS $n' MS+ The ,$! (its $re "se' to in'i&$te whether the /$rti&",$r (,o&k o =7 (its (e,on! to TCH or FACCH '"rin! /re-e#/tion+
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Dumm! Bursts It is tr$ns#itte' in I',e ti#e s,ots on the *CCH Crrier,whi&h ens"res th$t the *CCH C$rrier is $,w$0s /resent $n' MS is $(,e to in' it e$si,0 $n' &$rr0 o"t the $ssess#ent o si!n$, ,e6e,+This he,/s in Mo(i,e Assiste' H$n' O6er1MAHO2
Fre.uenc! Correction Burst F/burst It is $sso&i$te' with FCCH $n' tr$ns#itte' in TS8 in r$#es 8,>8,28,;8,$n' <8 th r$#es in $ &ontro, #",ti r$#e+ This ("rst $,so &onsists o three t$i, (its e$&h $t the (e!innin! $n' en', !"$r' /erio' o :+2= (its with $ strin! o ><2 -eros 1;D><2D;D:+2=C>=@+2=2+ Sin&e the in or#$tion is on,0 -eros, $ ter #o'",$tion /"re &$rrier is tr$ns#itte'+
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S!nc Bursts)S/BurstIt is $sso&i$te' with SCH $n' is tr$ns#itte' in TS8 o r$#es >,>>,2>,;> $n' <> th r$#es in $ &ontro, #",ti r$#e+ This ("rst &onsists o three t$i, (its e$&h $t the st$rt $n' en', !"$r' /erio' o :+2= (its with two (,o&ks o ;B (its o in or#$tion $n' $ tr$inin! se."en&e o @< (its s$n' wit&he' in (etween the#+ This is the irst ("rst in the 'own,ink 'ire&tion to (e /ro&esse' (0 the MS+The ,on!er tr$inin! se."en&e he,/s the MS to e e&ti6e,0 'e#o'",$te the si!n$, ro# *TS
Access Burst It is "se' (0 MS or RACH+ It &onsists o ;@ nos o en&r0/te' (its with : t$i, (its in the (e!innin!, three t$i, (its $t the en' $n' $ tr$inin! se."en&e o <> (its+ The re#$inin! /erio' is !"$r' /erio'+ This is the Short ("rst "se' (0 MS in the U/,ink 'ire&tion $t $n initi$, /h$se o $ &$,, when the /ro/$!$tion 'e,$0 (etween MS $n' *TS is not known 0et neither $s the re."en&0 error $n' re&e/tion ,e6e,+ It /ro6i'es $ ,on!er <> (its TSC in or'er to $&i,it$te the initi$, 'e#o'",$tion or the *TS #ore s"&&ess ",+
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Different Modes of 8&eration The 'i erent ,o!i&$, &h$nne,s $re "se' to t$ke MS ro# EO #o'eFto EI',e #o'eF $n' then to EDe'i&$te' #o'eF+ 8FF M8DE MS is in the Swit&he' O &on'ition+It &$nnot re&ei6e in&o#in! /$!in! #ess$!es or &$nnot #$ke o"t!oin! &$,, $n' No 'e'i&$te' &h$nne, is $sso&i$te' with it+ Id"e Mode MS Swit&he' On $n' it is $tt$&he' to the network $n' &$n re&ei6e in&o#in! /$!in! #ess$!es, &$n #$ke o"t!oin! &$,,, ("t there is no 'e'i&$te' &h$nne, $sso&i$te' with it Dedicated Mode MS is in &on6ers$tion $n' $ 'e'i&$te' &h$nne, is $sso&i$te' with it+ Abis Interface It is &onne&ti6it0 (etween *SC to *TS $n' 2 M(/s ,ink is est$(,ishe' or this /"r/ose+ E6er0 ti#es,ot o @<9(/s &$n (e s"( 'i6i'e' into o"r+>@ 9(/s $n' the tr$ i& o >;9(/s ro# *TS with the $sso&i$te' si!n$,in! in or#$tion is #",ti/,e)e' $s >@9(/s $n' inserte' in the ti#es,ots+ Hen&e e$&h ti#es,ot on 2M(/s A(is &$n $&&o##o'$te o"r /h0si&$, &h$nne,s o U#+ For one &$rrier we nee' two s,ots+ A''ition$,,0 we re."ire e)&,"si6e ti#es,ots or si!n$,in! /"r/oses re,$te' to the tr$ns&ei6ers o e$&h se&tor 1TRG2 $n' or O $n'M /"r/oses+ Consi'er $ *TS with three se&tors with < C$rriers in e$&h se&tor 1<?<?<2, then the ti#es,ot &$,&",$tions $re $s o,,owsA In e$&h se&tor e$&h TRG nee's 2 s,ots+ Hen&e o"r TRGs nee' : s,ots+ 5e nee' one s,ot or TRGs si!n$,in! /"r/oses $n' one or O $n' M /"r/oses in th$t se&tor+ There ore tot$, s,ots nee'e' /er se&torC :D>D>C>8 Three se&tors nee' ;8 s,ots $n' TS8 is reser6e' or FA5 $n' the tot$, &o#es ;>+ 5ith one s/$re ti#es,ot $''e' it t$,,ies to ;2 s,ots o 2M(/s ,ink+ Hen&e one 2M(/s ,ink to *TS &$n t$ke $ #$)i#"# ,o$' "nti, the *TS re$&hes $ &on i!"r$tion <?<?<
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