TRAFFIC CASES

Chapter 2
ERlC55DN@
This chapter is designed to provide the student with the procedures
that occur regarding calls to and from a Mobile Station (MS). The
chapter will also describe the location updating procedures. This
chapter will also identify the signaling protocols used from the MSC
to different nodes.
OBJECTIVES:
Given a series of traffic cases, the participant will be able to perform
the following tasks:
Identify the signaling protocols used between the different nodes
Describe location updating of the HLR, profile request
procedures, and location cancellation
Describe a mobile to mobile call
Describe a PSTN to mobile call
Describe a mobile to PSTN call
Describe different cases of handoff
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2 TRAFFIC CASES
Table of Contents
Topic Page
INTRODUCTION................................................................................... 1
MSC SIGNALING PROTOCOLS................................................................................... 3
MOBILE REGISTRATION..................................................................... 5
POWER UP.................................................................................................................... 5
PARAMETER CHANGE (LOCATION UPDATING)....................................................... 7
PERIODIC REGISTRATION........................................................................................ 11
POWER DOWN DEREGISTRATION.......................................................................... 11
CALL TO A MOBILE SUBSCRIBER.................................................. 13
CALL FROM A MOBILE SUBSCRIBER ............................................ 15
HANDOFF........................................................................................... 17
INTRA-BSC HANDOFF ............................................................................................... 19
INTER-BSC HANDOFF (HARD HANDOFF INTER BSC) ........................................... 21
INTER-MSC HANDOFF (HARD HANDOFF INTER MSC).......................................... 23
SELF TEST ......................................................................................... 26
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INTRODUCTION
This chapter describes the location-updating, call to/ from the
mobile and handoff traffic cases. These are CDMA applications.
This chapter will also discuss the interfaces between the MSC and
different nodes.
CDMA Data Transcript MSC-BSC ERlC55DN@
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Home
HLR
PSTN
ANSI - 41
Interface
ISUP
IS-95
Interface
BSC
MSC/
VLR
A-Interface
BTS
A - Bis
Figure 2-1 Signaling in CDMA network
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MSC SIGNALING PROTOCOLS
The MSC communicates on different SS7 Protocol layers. For this
section we will focus on the different types of protocols used to
communicate with the different nodes rather than the layers within
the protocols.
There are three interfaces present from MSC to BSC, HLR and
PSTN. These three interfaces are represented by three different
designations. These designations are:
A-Interface (MSC BSC)
ANSI-41 Interface (MSC MSC) (MSC - HLR)
ISUP (MSC PSTN) (PSTN MSC)
A-Interface is an IS-634 (CDG-IOS). A-Interface allows signaling
information and user traffic to be exchanged between the MSC and
BSC. The A-Interface can then be described as A1 and A2. The A1
carrying signal while A2 carries traffic.
ANSI-41 Interface is a signaling protocol, which defines the process
by which the MSC communicates with the HLR. This standard is
used for the purpose of pre-call validation of the Mobile Subscriber
to ensure the legitimacy of the originating device, and also to traffic
handling to a mobile.
ISUP is the Integrated Services Digital Network User Part. It is the
call control part of the SS7 protocol. ISUP determines the
procedures for setting up, coordinating, and release calls on the SS7
network.
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MOBILE REGISTRATION
A roaming mobile subscriber may move freely within the CDMA
network. For the mobile subscriber to receive a call, the network
needs to know the actual location of the mobile subscriber. This
process of identification and location of the mobile subscriber is
called registration.
There are different types of registration:
Power up
Parameter change (Location Updating)
Periodic registration
Power down
POWER UP
When a mobile subscriber powers on, MSC is informed and the
subscriber location area is defined. MSC informs HLR that checks if
the subscriber can be registered. If so, HLR updates the location of
the mobile subscribers (MSC address). In MSC, the subscriber is
assigned a VLR record where subscriber classes and location data is
stored. The, MSC knows the current LAI of the mobile subscriber
and HLR knows the current MSC of the mobile subscriber. The
mobile subscriber is able to originate and receive calls.
CDMA Data Transcript MSC-BSC ERlC55DN@
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MDN
(6)
(5)
(7)
Figure 2-2 Parameter Change (Location Updating)
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PARAMETER CHANGE (LOCATION UPDATING)
To keep the system updated with the subscribers current location, the
mobile station must inform the MSC system whenever a location area
is changed. A location area may consist of one or more cells in which
a mobile station may move freely without having to update the MSC
VLRs location. A location area maybe controlled by one or more
Base Station Controllers (BSCs) but by only one Mobile Switching
Center (MSC).
The BSC forwards paging messages to the Base Transceiver
Station (BTS) within subscribers defined location area. If the
mobile subscriber should move into a cell belonging to
another location area, the network must be informed of the
new subscribers location area via a procedure called location
updating.
The Base Transceiver Station (BTS) of every cell continuously
transmits the location area identity on the control channel. When the
mobile station (MS) detects that the broadcast location area identity
(LAI) is different from the one that is stored in the MS, it performs a
location update. It is possible also to have a change in system identity
(SID). In this case, a location update is performed on HLR and the
new MSC.
If the mobile subscriber is unknown to the Mobile Switching Center
(MSC), the MSC will perform a location update of the HLR and
MSC/VLR. In addition Location updating, a profile request will be
sent to the subscribers HLR
1. The mobile station requests a location update to be carried out in
the new MSC. The IMSI or MIN number is used to identify the
mobile station.
2. In the new MSC, an analysis of the IMSI number is performed.
The result of this analysis is a modification of the IMSI number to
convert the IMSI number to a mobile director number (MDN),
which is used to address the HLR.
3. The new MSC sends requests to the HLR for the subscriber
profile information, and location updating of the HLR is
performed.
4. The HLR stores the address of the new MSC.
5. The HLR returns the subscriber profile information to the MSC
where it is stored in the MSC/ VLR.
6. The HLR may send a location cancellation to the old MSC to
cancel the subscriber information because the mobile subscriber
is now served by another MSC.
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7. When the new MSC receives the Location update
acknowledgment from the HLR, it sends a location updating
confirmation message to the BSC.
Note: The HLR is not informed if the mobile subscriber moves from
one location area to another within the same MSC.
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Figure 2-3 Periodic Registration
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PERIODIC REGISTRATION
1. The mobile station receives information on whether periodic
registration is used. If periodic registration is used, the mobile
station is told how often to inform the system that it is reachable.
A special parameter is set by the operator and can have a value
from 0 to 255 deci-hours. In cases where the parameter is set to 0,
periodic registration is not used in the cell. If the parameter is set
to 1, the mobile station must register every six minutes (when the
timer expires).
2. The procedure is controlled by timers both in the mobile station
(see 2a in Figure 2-3) and in the MSC (see 2b in Figure 2-3). In
the MSC, there is a time-scanning function for the mobile
stations.
3. When the timer in the mobile station expires, the phone is forced
to perform periodic location updating (see 3a in Figure 2-3). The
timers in the mobile station and MSC then restart. If the cellular
phone does not register within the determined time interval plus a
safety interval, then the MSC scanning function detects this and
the mobile station is marked inactive (see 3b in Figure 2-3).
POWER DOWN DEREGISTRATION
When the mobile subscriber powers down, the MSC and HLR are
informed. In the MSC, the VLR record is cancelled. The subscribers
location in HLR is marked as UNKNOWN.
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MDN IMSI MSC/ VLR - Address
(3)
Page
Page Response (3)
(2)
MDN
(1)
MDN
(6) TLDN IMSI
(7) IMSI LAI
(3)
Page
(3)
Page
(3)
IMSI
(4)
TLDN
(4)
TLDN
(5)
(10)
Signaling
Speech/ Data
HLR
GMSC MSC/ VLR BSC
BTS
BTS
BTS
(9)
(8)
Figure 2-4 Call to a Mobile Subscriber
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CALL TO A MOBILE SUBSCRIBER
The following procedures for a call to a mobile subscriber are
illustrated in Figure 2-4.
1. Any call entering the CDMA network from the Public Switched
Telephony Network/Integrated Services Digital Network
(PSTN/ISDN) is routed to the Gateway Mobile Switching Center
(GMSC).
2. The GMSC analyzes the Mobile Directory Number (MDN) to
find out which HLR the mobile subscriber is registered in and
then sends the MDN along with a request for routing information
to this HLR. The serving MSC address is stored in the HLR from
the location updating. The HLR contains MDN number that is
connected to the IMSI number.
3. The HLR sends a request for a Temporary Local Directory
Number (TLDN) to the MSC that is serving the Mobile Station.
Included in the message is the mobile station IMSI. The serving
MSC, using the Mobile Station location area ID, pages the
Mobile Station. When the serving MSC receives a page response
from the Mobile Station, the MSC reserves a traffic channel (if
pre-selection is allowed) and selects an idle TLDN linking it to
the IMSI.
4. The serving MSC returns the TLDN via the HLR to the GMSC.
5. The GMSC, by means of the TLDN, routes the call to the
destination MSC.
Note: The TLDN number is a Network Routable number.
6. When the serving MSC receives the returned TLDN number, it
uses the TLDN to retrieve the mobile stations IMSI. The TLDN
is then released for reuse.
7. Using the mobile stations IMSI, the serving MSC identifies the
location area in which the phone is situated.
8. The mobile station is sent an alert order.
9. When the mobile station responds to the alert order message,
authentication and ciphering mode setting are carried out.
10. If the authentication is confirmed and ciphering is
successful, then the call is connected from the serving
MSC to the BSC and the serving BTS.
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(1) Origination message
(2) Service request
(3) Assignement request
(4)
(5)
Call set-up
Ring back tone
(IMSI, ESN)
(CIC)
(1)
(5)
(2)
(3)
(4)
Figure 2-5 Call from a Mobile Subscriber
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CALL FROM A MOBILE SUBSCRIBER
The following procedure for a call from a mobile subscriber is
illustrated in Figure 2-5.
1. The originating mobile subscriber call starts with a request for an
access channel. The mobile station indicates that it wants to set up
a call.
2. The MSC receives a setup message from the mobile station.
Included in this information is the type of service the mobile
station wants and the number (called B-number) dialed by the
mobile subscriber. The identity of its IMSI is analyzed in the
MSC, and the mobile station is marked as busy in the VLR.
Authentication is performed by the MSC. The MSC checks that
the mobile subscriber does not have services like barring of
outgoing calls activated. (Barring can be activated either by the
subscriber or by the operator.) If the mobile subscriber is not
barred, the setup of the call proceeds.
3. A link is established between the MSC and the BSC. Within the
link, the following occurs:
The MSC sends a request to the BSC to assign a traffic channel.
The BSC checks if there is an idle traffic channel, assigns it to
this call, and tells the BTS to activate the channel.
The BTS sends an acknowledgment back to the BSC when the
activation is complete.
4. The BSC informs the MSC when the assignment is complete.
The traffic control subsystem in the MSC analyzes the called
digits and sets up the connection to the called subscriber.
5. A ring back tone is sent to the mobile station, indicating that a
ringing tone has been generated on the B-subscriber side. The
tone generated in the exchange at the B-subscriber side is sent to
the mobile station via the group switch in the MSC. This means
that it is sent over the air, not generated in the mobile station.
When the B-subscriber answers, the network sends a connect
message to the mobile station to indicate that the call is accepted.
The mobile station returns a connect acknowledgment, which
completes the call setup.
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Figure 2-6 Measurement Report
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HANDOFF
During a call and during call setup, the mobile station continuously
measures the frequencies of neighboring cells, compiles a
measurement report, and sends this via the BTS. The BTS adds its
own measurements to the BSC. Figure 2-6 shows what the mobile
station and the BTS add to the measurement report.
In the BSC, the measurements are evaluated in the Locating
Procedure. The BSC initiates the handoff procedure if it finds that
one of the neighboring cells has a noticeably better signal strength
than the serving cell or that, for the serving cell, the bit error rate or
the timing advance reaches a certain threshold.
How a handoff is handled depends on which functional entities the
involved cells belong to. Two different cases must be examined:
Intra-MSC handoff both cells belong to the same MSC. There
are two types of Intra-MSC handoff defined:
Intra-BSC handoff both cells belong to the same BSC. In this
case, the BSC manages most of the handoff procedures.
Inter-BSC handoff the two cells belong to different BSCs, but to the
same MSC. In this case, the MSC is involved in the handoff procedure.
Inter-MSC handoff the two cells belong to different MSCs. In this
case, at least two MSCs are involved. This case has some sub-cases,
which are covered later. Inter-MSC handoff is defined as national
handoff only. According to CDMA, it works within one network only.
That is, MSCs belonging to one operator.
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( 7 )
Figure 2-7 Intra-BSC Handoff (Soft Handoff Intra-BSC)
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INTRA-BSC HANDOFF
The sequence involved in Intra-BSC handoff, illustrated in Figure 2-
7, is as follows:
1. During a call, the mobile station measures the signal strength and
the signal strength of the neighboring cells. The mobile station
evaluates an average value for each of the cells. Approximately
twice per second (every 480ms) the mobile station sends a
measurement report to the BTS with measurements from the best
neighboring cells.
2. The BTS adds its own measurements and sends the report to the
BSC. In the BSC, the locating function is activated in order to
decide if it is necessary to perform a handoff to another cell.
3. In case a handoff is required, the BSC checks if a channel is
available in the desired cell and, if so, tells the BTS in the new cell
to activate.
4. The BSC then orders the old BTS to send a message to the mobile
station with information about the frequency and Pseudo Number
(PN) to change to.
5. The mobile station tunes to the new frequency and sends handoff
access bursts on the appropriate PN.
6. When the mobile station sends a handoff complete message, the
BTS sends the BSC a message that the handoff was successful.
7. Finally, the old BTS is told to deactivate.
In the Intra-BSC handoff procedure, the BSC manages everything
without any involvement from the MSC. However, the BSC
informs the MSC that a handoff was performed.
CDMA Data Transcript MSC-BSC ERlC55DN@
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(7)
(8)
(12)
(6)
(9)
(5)
(1)
(11)
(4)
(2)
(10)
(3)
(6)
Fgure 2-8 Inter-BSC Handoff
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INTER-BSC HANDOFF (HARD HANDOFF INTER BSC)
If the mobile station moves to an area covered by a cell belonging to
another BSC and a handoff is required, an inter-BSC handoff takes
place. The procedure, illustrated in Figure 2-8, is as follows:
1. The old BSC has decided from the measurement reports that a call
is to be handed over to the cell belonging to the new BSC. The
serving (old) BSC sends a handoff-required message to the MSC,
with the identity of the new cell.
2. The MSC knows which BSC controls the BTS and sends a
handoff request to this BSC.
3. The new BSC now orders the BTS to activate a traffic channel if
there is one idle.
4. When the BTS is activated, the new BSC sends information about
the PN and frequency to the MSC.
5. The MSC passes this information to the old BSC.
6. The mobile station is told to change to the new BTS.
7. The mobile station sends a handoff burst on the new BTS.
8. As soon as the BTS detects the handoff burst, it sends physical
information containing timing advance and output power to the
mobile station.
9. The new BSC receives confirmation that the BTS has received the
handoff burst.
10. This information is passed on to the MSC by the BSC, which
changes the path in the Group Switch.
11. The MSC informs the old BSC that the old channel is not needed
anymore.
12. The link with the old BTS is deactivated.
If the cell belongs to a new LAI, the mobile station must perform
a normal location update after the call is released.
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Ba s ic ha ndof f
S ubs e que nt ha ndof f ba ck
S ubs e que nt ha ndof f to
a third MS C
Figure 2-9 Different Types of Inter-MSC Handoff
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INTER-MSC HANDOFF (HARD HANDOFF INTER MSC)
During a call, a mobile station might move between several different
MSCs. This is shown in Figure 2-9. The following cases must be
noted, where the anchor MSC is the first-serving MSC:
Basic handoff
Subsequent handoff back to the anchor MSC
Subsequent handoff to a third MSC
The three sub-cases have one point in common. The originating MSC
(anchor MSC) keeps the main control (e.g., charging) for the whole
duration of the call. The serving MSC can change, so it has only the
radio control.
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Figure 2-10 Basic Inter-MSC Handoff of a Call
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Basic Handoff
The following is an overview of the basic inter-MSC handoff at
CDMA node level (see Figure 2-10). The subsequent handoff
procedures are not discussed but can be derived from the basic
handoff procedure.
1. The serving BSC sends a handoff-required message to the MSC,
as in the former cases.
2. The Anchor MSC sends a handoff request to the target MSC.
3. The target MSC sends a handoff request to the new BSC.
4. The BSC tells the new BTS to activate.
5. The target MSC receives the information about the new traffic
channel from the new BSC.
6. The target MSC passes this information back to the anchor MSC.
7. A speech path is reserved between the target MSC and the Anchor
MSC.
8. A handoff command message is sent to the mobile station with
information about which frequency and PN to use in the new cell.
9. The mobile station sends handoff bursts. BSC sends timing
advance and output power to the mobile station.
10. The target MSC is informed that the handoff has succeeded and
passes this information back to the anchor MSC.
11. A new path in the Group Switch is set up in the anchor MSC, and
the call is switched through, to the target MSC.
The originating Anchor MSC retains control of the call until the call
is cleared.
The mobile station must perform a location update when the call is
released. The HLR is updated and sends a message to the old MSC
telling the old MSC to remove all stored information about the
mobile subscriber.
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SELF TEST
Event 2.1
In the space below describe a mobile to mobile call.
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