GSM MESSAGE FLOWS

CALL FLOW NO MESSAGE FLOW 1 MESSAGE FLOW 2 MESSAGE FLOW 3 MESSAGE FLOW 4 MESSAGE FLOW 5 MESSAGE FLOW 6 MESSAGE FLOW 7 MESSAGE FLOW 8

DESCRIPTION OF CALL FLOW MS Registration Procedure MS Originating Call MS Terminating Call SMS Originating SMS Terminating Intra-MSC Handover Inter-MSC Handover Inter-RAT Handover

MESSAGE FLOW 1: MS Registration Process: MS

RR: Channel Request (RACH)
(Establishment Cause)

BTS

BSC

MSC/VLR

Channel Request
(Establishment Cause)

Channel Request
(Establishment Cause)

Channel Activation
(Asks BSC to activate SDCCH or TCH)

Channel Activation
(Asks BTS to activate SDCCH or TCH)

Channel Activation Acknowledgment Channel Activation Acknowledgment Immediate Assignment Immediate Assignment Command Immediate Assignment Command (AGCH)
() () (Channel Description, Mobile Allocation)

MM: Service Request (SDCCH)

(CM Service Type, MS Classmark, MS Identity)

SCCP: Connection Request MM: Service Request

(CM Service Type, MS Classmark, MS Identity)

RR: Unnumbered Acknowledgement RR: Unnumbered Acknowledgement

(TCH, SAPI) (TCH, SAPI)

RR: Location Update Request

(IMSI)

Location Update Request Location Update Request

Authentication Request
(RAND)

Authentication Request Authentication Request

(RAND) (RAND)

Authentication Response
(SRES)

Authentication Response
(SRES)

MM: Authentication Response

(SRES)

Cipher Mode Command

(mode = CLEAR)

MS

BTS
Cipher Mode Command
(mode = CLEAR)

BSC

MSC/VLR

RR: Cipher Mode Command

(mode = CLEAR)

RR: Cipher Mode Complete

(mode = CIPHERED)

Cipher Mode Complete

(mode = CIPHERED)

Cipher Mode Complete

(mode = CIPHERED)

Location Update Accept

(TMSI)

Location Update Accept

(TMSI)

Location Update Accept

(TMSI)

Clear Command Clear Command Channel Release Channel Release complete Clear Complete Clear Complete

MESSAGE FLOW 2: Mobile Originating Call: MS

RR: Channel Request (RACH)
(Establishment Cause)

BSS

MSC/VLR

PSTN

RR: Assignment Command (AGCH)

(Channel Description, Mobile Allocation)

MM: Service Request (SDCCH)

(CM Service Type, MS Classmark, MS Identity)

RR: Unnumbered Acknowledgement

(TCH, SAPI)

SCCP: Connection Request MM: Service Request

(CM Service Type, MS Classmark, MS Identity)

MM: Authentication Request

(RAND)

MM: Authentication Request

(RAND)

MM: Authentication Response

(SRES)

MM: Authentication Response

(SRES)

MM: Service Accept MM: Service Accept BSSMAP: Cipher Mode Command RR: Cipher Mode Command
(mode = CLEAR)

RR: Cipher Mode Complete

(mode = CIPHERED)

BSSMAP: Cipher Mode Complete CC: Call Setup

(MSISDN Number of Called Party)

CC: Call Setup

(MSISDN Number of Called Party)

CC: Call Proceeding

(Bearer Capabilities)

CC: Call Proceeding

(Indicates the call setup is being attempted)

MS

BSS

MSC/VLR
BSSMAP: Assignment Request
(Voice Circuit)

PSTN

RR: Channel Mode Modify

RR: Channel Mode Modify Acknowledgment BSSMAP: Assignment Complete ISUP: Initial Address Message
(SS7, Dialed Digits)

ISUP: Address Complete Message

(SS7)

CC: Call Alerting

(Ringing tone on handset)

CC: Call Alerting

(Ringing tone on handset)

ISUP: Answer CC: Connect

(Indicates UE that the end user has answered the call) (SS7)

CC: Connect Acknowledgment

Active Conversation between Calling and Called Party

CC: Disconnect
(Either of the Users disconnects the call)

ISUP: Release
(SS7)

CC: Release

ISUP: Released
(SS7)

ISUP: Release Complete

(SS7)

CC: Release Complete

BSSMAP: Clear Command RR: Channel Release BSSMAP: Clear Complete

MESSAGE FLOW 3: Mobile Terminating Call: MS BSS MSC/VLR

ISUP: Initial Address Message
(MSISDN)

PSTN

BSSMAP: Paging
(Paging Cause, TMSI)

RR: Paging Type 3

(Paging Cause, TMSI)

RR: Channel Request (RACH)

(Establishment Cause)

RR: Immediate Assignment (AGCH)

(Channel Description, Mobile Allocation)

RR: Paging Response (SDCCH)

(TMSI, LAI, Classmark)

BSSMAP: Paging Response

(TMSI, LAI, Classmark)

SCCP: Connection Request

()

MM: Authentication Request

(RAND)

RR: Authentication Request

(RAND)

RR: Authentication Response

(SRES)

MM: Authentication Response

(SRES)

MM: Cipher Mode Command RR: Cipher Mode Command

(mode = CLEAR)

RR: Cipher Mode Complete

(mode = CIPHERED)

MM: Cipher Mode Complete

CC: Call Setup

(Parameters required for Voice Calls, Called Party Mobile Number)

CC: Call Confirmed

(Bearer Capabilities)

CC: Alerting
(Facility, Progress Indicator, User-User Data)

ISUP: Address Complete Message

MS

BSS
CC: Call Connect
(Indicates MSC that the End User has answered the call)

MSC/VLR

PSTN

CC: Call Connect Acknowledgment ISUP: Answer

Active Conversation between Calling and Called Party

CC: Call Disconnect

(MS initiates Call Release by hitting END button)

ISUP: Release

CC: Call Release

(Cause, Facility, User- User Data)

ISUP: Released

ISUP: Release Complete

CC: Call Release Complete

(Indicates the phone is ringing)

BSSMAP: Clear Command

RR: Channel Release

BSSMAP: Clear Complete

MESSAGE FLOW 4: MOBILE ORIGINATED SMS: MS

Access Request
(IMSI, IMEI, TMSI, LAI, MSISDN Number)

BSS

MSC/VLR

SMS-IWMSC

SMSC

Access Request
(IMSI, IMEI, TMSI, LAI, MSISDN Number)

Authentication Request
(RAND)

Authentication Request
(RAND)

Authentication Response
(SRES)

Authentication Response
(SRES)

Cipher mode Command Cipher mode Command

(mode = CLEAR)

Cipher mode Complete

(mode = CIPHERED)

Cipher mode Complete

Message Transfer
()

Forward Short Message

()

Message Transfer
()

Delivery Report
()

Delivery Report
()

Delivery Report
()

MESSAGE FLOW 5: MOBILE TERMINATED SMS: MS BSS MSC/VLR GMSC

Message Transfer
()

SMSC

Forward Short Message Paging Message

(Paging Info, TMSI) (IMSI, MS-ISDN No, destination address user info)

Paging Message
(Paging Info, TMSI)

Paging Response
(TMSI, LAI)

Paging Response
(TMSI, LAI)

Authentication Request
(RAND)

Authentication Request
(RAND)

Authentication Response
(SRES)

Authentication Response
(SRES)

Cipher mode Command Cipher mode Command

(mode = CLEAR)

Cipher mode Complete

(mode = CIPHERED)

Cipher mode Complete Message Transfer

()

Delivery Report
(MS-ISDN Number)

Delivery Report
(MS-ISDN Number)

Delivery Report Status Delivery Report

()

MESSAGE FLOW 6: Intra MSC Handover: MS Serving BSS

RR Connection Establishment RR Connection Establishment

MSC

Target BSS

Location Update / TMSI TMSI Reallocation Location Update / Relocation Procedure

Authentication and Cipher Procedure Authentication / Ciphering Procedure

Active voice exchange from MS to to the Core Network Active voice exchange from MS the Core Network

Inter HandoverMSC Handover (Serving BSS to Target BSS within a MSC MSC Area) Intra (Handover between serving BSS to Target BSS within a Area)

RR: Measurement Report

(Intra Frequency Measurements)

Handover Request
(Rank Ordered list of Target BSS)

Handover Request
(Cell Area Info, cell identity, Encryption key, K)

Handover Request Acknowledgment

(Radio Channel Identification)

Handover Command
(New Radio Channel Identification)

Handover Command
(New Radio Channel Identification)

Handover Access
(MS uses the new Radio Channel)

Physical Information

Handover Detected
(Informs MSC about the detection of Handover)

Handover Completed
(Time Synchronization, Frame Synchronization)

Handover Completed

Release
(Release old radio TCH)

Release Complete
(Release all radio resources with MS)

MESSAGE FLOW 7: Inter MSC Handover: MS Serving BSS Serving MSC Target MSC Target BSS Target VLR

RR Connection Establishment

Location Update / TMSI Relocation Procedure

Authentication and Cipher Procedure

Active voice exchange from MS to the Core Network

Inter Handover (Handover between serving BSS to Target BSS under different MSC Area)

RR: Measurement Report

(Inter Frequency Measurements)

SCCP: Handover Request

(Rank ordered list of Target BSS)

Prepare Handover
(Informs Target MSC about handover)

Allocate Handover Number

(Requests for TMSI)

Send Handover Request

(Allocates new TMSI)

Handover Request
(Cell Area Info, cell identity, Encryption key, Ki)

Handover Report Acknowledge Prepare Handover (Acknowledgement)

(Radio Channel Identification)

Handover Command
(New Radio Channel Identification)

Send Handover Acknowledgement

Handover Command
(New Radio Channel Identification)

Handover Access
(MS uses the new radio channel)

Physical Information Message Handover Detect Handover Completed

(Time Synchronization, Frame Synchronization)

Handover Completed

MS

Serving BSS

Serving MSC

Target MSC

Target BSS

Target VLR

Process Access Signaling

Send End Signal Release

(Release old radio TCH)

Release Complete
(Release all radio resources with MS)

Send End Signal

MESSAGE FLOW 8: INTER-RADIO ACCESS TECHNOLOGY HANDOVER (GSM AREA 2G TO UMTS AREA 3G): MS BTS BSS MSC UTRAN

RR Connection Establishment

Location Update / TMSI Relocation Procedure

Authentication and Security Command

Active voice exchange from MS to the GSM Core Network

Inter RAT Handover (BSS in MSC of GSM N/W to UTRAN in MSC of UMTS N/W)
RR: Measurement Reporting
(Inter Frequency Measurements, Intra Frequency Measurements, Traffic Volume Info, QoS)

Handover Required
(Cell Identifier List Preferred)

Relocation Request
(Reason for Relocation, Target RNC Id, UE Classmark Info)

Transport Channel Allocation

Relocation Request Acknowledgment Handover Command RR: Inter System to UTRAN Handover Command
(Indicates about new channel that MS must tune) (Indicates about new channel that BSS must tune) (Indicates that UTRAN can support relocation request)

RRC: Handover Access

()

Relocation Detect
(Indicates that the UE has accessed the target cell)

RRC: Physical Information

(Information to start using the GSM Radio Link, Channel Descriptions)

RRC: Handover to UTRAN Complete Relocation Complete Clear Command

() (Indicates that the UE has accessed the target cell)

Clear Complete

Active voice exchange from MS to the UMTS Core Network