Level II Introduction to GSM Essentials and Basic Analysis

QoS Department

Overview
Introduction

to GSM Architecture Introduction to GSM Channels

What is GSM ?
Global System for Mobile (GSM) is a second generation cellular standard developed to cater voice services and data delivery using digital modulation .

GSM in World
Figures: March, 2005 3% 3% (INDIA) 4% 3% 3% 37% 4% Arab World Asia Pacific Africa East Central Asia Europe Russia 43% 1% India North America South America

GSM Services

Tele-services Bearer or Data Services Supplementary services

Tele Services
Telecommunication services that enable voice communication via mobile phones Offered services - Mobile telephony - Emergency calling

Bearer Services
Include various data services for information transfer between GSM and other networks like PSTN, ISDN etc at rates from 300 to 9600 bps Short Message Service (SMS) - up to 160 character alphanumeric data transmission to/from the mobile terminal Voice mailbox

Supplementary Services

Call related services : Call Waiting- Notification of an incoming call while on the handset Call Hold- Put a caller on hold to take another call Call Barring- All calls, outgoing calls, or incoming calls

Call Forwarding- Calls can be sent to various numbers defined by the user
Multi Party Call Conferencing - Link multiple calls together

GSM System Architecture

GSM System Architecture-I

Mobile Station (MS) Mobile Equipment (ME) Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Base Station Subsystem (BSS) Base Transceiver Station (BTS) Base Station Controller (BSC) Network Switching Subsystem(NSS) Mobile Switching Center (MSC) Home Location Register (HLR) Visitor Location Register (VLR) Authentication Center (AUC) Equipment Identity Register (EIR)

System Architecture Mobile Station (MS)

The Mobile Station is made up of two entities: 1. Mobile Equipment (ME) 2. Subscriber Identity Module (SIM)

Mobile Equipment

Portable, vehicle mounted, hand held device Uniquely identified by an IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) Voice and data transmission Monitoring power and signal quality of surrounding cells for optimum handover Power level : 0.8W 20 W 160 character long SMS.

Subscriber Identity Module(SIM)

Smart card contains the International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) Allows user to send and receive calls and receive other subscribed services Protected by a password or PIN Can be moved from phone to phone contains key information to activate the phone

System Architecture Base Station Subsystem (BSS)

Base Station Subsystem is composed of two parts that communicate across the standardized Abis interface allowing operation between components made by different suppliers
1. 2.

Base Transceiver Station (BTS) Base Station Controller (BSC)

Base Transceiver Station (BTS):

Encodes, encrypts, multiplexes, modulates and feeds the RF signals to the antenna. Communicates with Mobile station and BSC Consists of Transceivers (TRX) units

Base Station Controller (BSC)

Manages Radio resources for BTS Assigns Frequency and time slots for all MSs in its area Handles call set up Handover for each MS It communicates with MSC and BTS

Mobile Switching Center (MSC)

Heart of the network Manages communication between GSM and other networks Billing information and collection Mobility management - Registration - Location Updating - Inter BSS and inter MSC call handoff

Home Location Registers (HLR)

Stores information about each subscriber that belongs to it MSC in permanent and temporary fashion. As soon as mobile subscriber leaves its current local area, the information in the HLR is updated. database contains IMSI, MSISDN, prepaid/ postpaid, roaming restrictions, supplementary services.

Visitor Location Registers (VLR)

Temporary database which updates whenever new MS enters its area, by HLR database Assigns a TMSI to each MS entering the VLR area which keeps on changing. Controls those mobiles roaming in its area Database contains IMSI, MSISDN, Location Area, authentication key

Authentication Center (AUC)

Contains

the algorithms for authentication as well as the keys for encryption. Protects network operators from fraud. Situated in special protected part of the HLR.

Equipment Identity Register (EIR)

Stores

all devices identifications registered for this network. Database that is used to track handsets using the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) Prevents calls from stolen, unauthorised or defective mobile devices

Operation and maintenance centre (OMC)

The

centralized operation of the various units in the system and functions needed to maintain the subsystems. Dynamic monitoring and controlling of the network. Functions : - configuration management - fault report and alarm handling - performance supervision/management - storage of system software and data

Characteristics of GSM Standard

Fully

digital system using 900,1800 MHz frequency band. User/terminal authentication for fraud control. Full international roaming capability. Low speed data services (upto 9.6 Kb/s). Compatibility with ISDN. Support of Short Message Service (SMS).

Future Of GSM

2nd Generation GSM -9.6 Kbps (data rate) 2.5 Generation ( Future of GSM) HSCSD (High Speed ckt Switched data)

Data rate : 76.8 Kbps (9.6 x 8 kbps)

GPRS (General Packet Radio service)

Data rate: 14.4 - 115.2 Kbps

EDGE (Enhanced data rate for GSM Evolution)

Data rate: 547.2 Kbps (max)

3 Generation WCDMA(Wide band CDMA)

Data rate : 0.348 2.0 Mbps

High level network architecture (1/2)

Services / Applications

Access Network (AN) SIM ME:

Mobile equipment

Core Network (CN)

Ext. network

UE: User equipment

High level network architecture (2/2)

The network contains functionally of: User Equipment (UE), Access Network (AN), and Core Network (CN)

User equipment: Interfaces the user, handles radio functionality Access network: Communication to and from the user equipment, handles all radio related functionality in the network Core network: Communication between access network and external networks, handles all switching and routing

Services and applications lie above the network

Frequency bands:

GSM radio interface Main characteristics

GSM 900:

GSM 1800:

890 915 MHz: Uplink (MS transmit) 935 - 960 MHz: Downlink (MS receive) 1710 - 1885 MHz: Uplink 1805 - 1880 MHz: Downlink

Carrier bandwidth: Channels / carrier: Multiple access: Duplex: Gross bit rate pr carrier: Modulation: Spectrum efficiency:

200 kHz 8 TDMA / FDMA FDD 270,833 kbit/s GMSK 1.35 bps/Hz

Radio parameters:
MS: Sensitivity: -104 (-102) dBm Typical 106 dBm Max. output power: 33 (30) dBm BTS: Sensitivity: -104 (-104) dBm Typical: 107 dBm Max. output power: 43 dBm

Numbers in parenthesis for GSM-1800

Channels in GSM900
45 MHz
8 8 7 7 6 6 45 45 23 23 4 1 1 4 123 124

1 2

123124

200 kHz 890 MHz MS transmit 915 MHz 935 MHz MS receive 960 MHz

TDMA - principle

GSM uses TDMA within each carrier Each user occupies the entire carrier one time slot pr. time frame

8 slots per frame

GSM Channel structure

25 MHz 124 carriers
Burst period
Time slot 1 Time slot 2 ..

Logical channels built up of physical channels

577 s
=Physical channel

Control channels Traffic channels

Logical channels divided between:

Dedicated channels Common channels

TDMA frame

= 4.615 ms
Time slot 8

GSM traffic channels

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 frame length: 120 ms

BP0 BP1 BP2 BP3 BP4 BP5 BP6 BP7 TDMA frame length: 4.6 ms

3 57 Data bit

1 26 Training sequence

1 57

3 8.25

Data bit
Normal burst

Traffic channels (TCH) are used to carry voice or data

Typically uses one time slot per frame Gross data rate per TCH: 22 kbps

Effective data rate lower because of forward error correction

Some GSM control channels

BCCH FCCH SCH RACH AGCH PCH
Broadcast Control CHannel Continuously transmitted from the BTS. Contains information about cell identity, frequency etc. Frequency Correction CHannel / Synchronisation CHannel Used to correct/synchronise the frequency (FCCH) + time synchronise to the frame structure. Each cell has a FCCH and a SCH Random Access CHannel Used by the mobile to send a request to the network for access. This is a slotted Aloha channel, no pre-allocation possible Access Grant CHannel Used by the network to inform the mobile that access has been granted and information about which channel to use Paging CHannel Used by the network to notify users about incoming calls.

GSM Channels

Traffic Channels (TCH) Control Channels (CCH) Common Control Channels (CCCH) Paging Channel (PCH): Used by the BTS to inform the MS about an incoming call. Broadcast channel. Random Access Channel (RACH): Used by the MS for call establishment. Shared by all MS in cell. Slotted-ALOHA random access. Access Grant Channel (AGCH): Used to indicate the slot assignment.

GSM Channels

Control Channels (CCH) Dedicated Control Channels (DCCH): Used to control individual MS Standalone Dedicated Control Channel (SDCCH) : Two-way channel assigned to each MS for keeping track of movement and call establishment. Certain slots periodically. About 2Kbps per MS. Slow Associated Control Channel (SACCH): Two-way channel assigned to a TCH or SDCCH. Used to report parameters, such as signal power, to maintain the link. Fast Associated Control Channel (FACCH) : Two-way channel used to support fast transitions when SACCH is not adequate. FACCH steals the TCH.

GSM Channels

Control Channels (CCH) Broadcast Channels (BCH). Used to broadcast information to the MSs in the cell Frequency Correction Channel (FCCH) and Synchronization Channel (SCH): Keep the MS synchronized Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH): provides information such as cell ID, available services, Can also be used to keep track of signal strength for handoff

GSM Call Flow (Simplified)

When the MS wishes to make a phone call

1.

2.

3.

4. 5. 6. 7.

8. 9.

User enters the phone number and presses the send button. To set up the phone call, the MS needs to send information to the MSC. The MS sends Radio Resource Channel Request to the associated BSS on the Random Access Channel (RACH) according to ALOHA The phone then waits to hear from the BSS at the Access Grant Channel (AGCH). The BSS allocates a Traffic Channel (TCH), including the frequency and time slot, and broadcast it in the AGCH. It also contains information about time and frequency corrections. The MS applies the corrections and tune to the assigned TCH. MSC checks whether the MS is authenticated. The BSS enables ciphering with the phone. At this step the connection has been set up between the MS and MSC. The BSS just forwards the message. The MS sends a connection set up request to the MSC with the called phone number. The MSC connects to the PSTN and allocates the voice communication channel between the BSS. Make the conversation. User presses the end button. The MSC releases the voice channel with the BSS. The MSC informs the PTSN about the call release and the PTSN will inform the call has been released on its end. MSC informs the MS then releases the TCH.

GSM: indirect routing to mobile

HLR

2
home MSC consults HLR, gets roaming number of mobile in visited network

home network home Mobile Switching Center

correspondent

1 3
VLR
Mobile Switching Center

Public switched telephone network

call routed to home network

4
mobile user visited network
39

home MSC sets up 2nd leg of call to MSC in visited network MSC in visited network completes call through base station to mobile

GSM: handoff with common MSC

VLR

Mobile Switching Center new routing new BSS

Handoff goal: route call via new base station (without interruption) reasons for handoff:

old routing old BSS

stronger signal to/from new BSS (continuing connectivity, less battery drain) load balance: free up channel in current BSS GSM doesnt mandate why to perform handoff (policy), only how (mechanism)

handoff initiated by old BSS

40

GSM: handoff with common MSC

1. old BSS informs MSC of impending handoff, provides list of 1+ new BSSs 2. MSC sets up path (allocates resources) to new BSS 3. new BSS allocates radio channel for use by mobile 4. new BSS signals MSC, old BSS: ready 5. old BSS tells mobile: perform handoff to new BSS 6. mobile, new BSS signal to activate new channel 7. mobile signals via new BSS to MSC: handoff complete. MSC reroutes call 8 MSC-old-BSS resources released

VLR

Mobile Switching Center 2

1 8
old BSS

7 3 6
new BSS

41

General Packet Radio Service (GPRS)

General Packet Radio Service Supports data service. Use the same physical link between the network and the MS An MS maybe assigned with 1 or multiple time slots in a channel The number of time slot in uplink and downlink may be different Special network infrastructure added to support data traffic Serving GRPS Supporting Node (SGSN): a router serves a group of BSCs. Send and receive packets from the MS. Gateway GRPS Supporting Node (GGSN): interface to the Internet. Maintains routing information related to the MS, such that given an IP packet, it knows which SGSN to forward to.

GRPS
Multiple

Access

Users are assigned frequency channels and time slots. Packets are constant length, determined by the GSM slot. Downlink: first come first served Uplink: Slotted ALOHA for reserving, dynamic TDMA for data transmission

Thank You