Dar es Salaam institute of Technology

(DIT)
ETU 07420
Switching Systems
Ally, J
jumannea@gmail.com

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Mobile Core Network

Overview

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GSM system overview

The GSM system is a frequency- and time-division

cellular system, each physical channel is characterized
by a carrier frequency and a time slot number
Cellular systems are designed to operate with groups of
low-power radios spread out over the geographical
service area. Each group of radios serve MSs presently
located near them. The area served by each group of
radios is called a CELL
Uplink and downlink signals for one user are assigned
different frequencies, this kind of technique is called
Frequency Division Duplex (FDD)
Data for different users is conveyed in time intervals
called slots , several slots make up a frame. This kind of
technique is called Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA)

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GSM Development
1989

Standard Protocol for GSM take effect

1991

GSM system began to provide service in Europe(2G)

1992

System was named as Global System for

Mobile Communication

1994

Provide services for the whole world

1996

Micro Cell Technique is used in GSM system

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GSM-GPRS Network
Component
MSC/VLR

PSTN
ISDN

GMSC

GSM /GPRS BSS

MS

BSC
HLR/AUC

BTS
PCU

SS7

BSC

MS

SMS system

BTS
Internet,
Intranet

GPRS Backbone

SGSN
OMC

CG

GGSN
BG
Other PLMN

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Mobile StationMS
MS=ME+SIM

International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI)

Mobile Equipment

International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI)

Subscriber Identity Module

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Subscriber Identity
Module SIM
International Mobile Subscriber
Identity (IMSI)

Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity

SIM

(TMSI)

Location Area Identity (LAI)

Subscriber Authentication Key (Ki)

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Base Station Subsystem

BSS

MSC

The Base Station

Controller BSC

The Base Transceiver

Station BTS

BSS
TC/SM
TC/SM

The Trans-coder TC
BSC
BSC

and Sub multiplexer

(SM)

BTS
BTS

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Packet Control Unit-----PCU

MSC

Packet data
switching

Bridge between
SGSN and BSC

Provide Pb and Gb
interface

BSS
TC/SM
TC/SM
BSC
BSC
BTS
BTS

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GPRS
Backbone

PCU
PCU

SGSN
SGSN

The Network Switching

System
NSS
OMC

AUC
AUC
HLR
HLR
EIR
EIR
MSC/VLR
MSC/VLR

Mobile-service Switching Center

Home Location Register
Visitor Location Register
Equipment Identity Register
Authentication Center
Echo Cancellor

MSC
HLR
VLR
EIR
AUC
EC

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BSS

EC
EC

PSTN

Mobile-Service Switching
Call Processing
Center MSC

Operations and Maintenance Support

Interface management

Inter-network & Inter-working

Inter-network: communication between GSM network
and other network
Inter-working : communication between different
entities inside the GSM network

Billing

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Home Location Register

HLR

Subscriber ID (IMSI and MSISDN)

Current subscriber VLR (current location)

Supplementary service information

Subscriber status (registered/deregistered)

Authentication key and AuC functionality

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Visitor Location Register

Mobile Status (IMSI attached / detached /
VLR
busy / idle etc.)

Location Area Identity (LAI)

Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity (TMSI)

Allocating the Roaming Number

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Equipment Identity
Register EIR

White List
Black List
Grey List

IMEI is Checked In White List

If NOT found
EIR focus on the
equipment , not the
subscriber!!

IMEI is Checked in Black/Grey List

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OMC Functional
Architecture
Security
Management

Event/Alarm
Management

MMI
OS

DB

Fault
Management

Configuration
Management
Performance
Management

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Service Area
Service Area
PLMN service area
PLMN service area

PLMN service area

MSC service area...

MSC service area...

Location area...

Location area...

cell

cell

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......

LAI
MCC

MNC

LAC

Location Area Identification

The LAI is the international code for a location area.

MCC: Mobile Country Code It consists of 3 digits .
For example: The MCC of Tanzania is 640"
MNC: Mobile Network Code It consists of 2 digits .
For example: The MNC of Vodacom is "03"
LAC: Location Area Code It is a two bytes hex code.
The value 0000 and FFFF is invalid.
For example: 640-03-0011

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CGI
CGI: Cell Global Identification

The CGI is a unique international identification for a cell

The format is LAI+CI
LAI: Location Area Identification
CI: Cell Identity. This code uses two bytes hex code to
identify the cells within an LAI.
For example : 640-03-0011-0001

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BSIC
BSIC Base Station Identification Color Code)

NCC

BCC
BSIC

NCC: PLMN network color code. It comprises 3 bit. It

allows various neighboring PLMNs to be
distinguished.
BCC: BTS color code. It comprises 3 bit, used to
distinguish different cells assigned the same
frequency!

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MSISDN
CC

NDC

SN

National (significant)
Mobile number
Mobile station international
ISDN number

CC: Country Code. For example: The CC of Tanzania is 255".

NDC: National Destination Code. For example: The NDC of
vodacomis 75 and 76.
SN: Subscriber Number. Format:H0 H1 H2 H3 ABCD
Example: 255-75-0666234

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IMSI
Not more than 15 digits
3 digits

2 digits

MCC

MNC

MSIN
NMSI

IMSI
MCC: Mobile Country Code It consists of 3 digits .
For example: The MCC of Tanzania is "640"
MNC: Mobile Network Code It consists of 2 digits .
For example: The MNC of Vodacom is "03"
MSIN: Mobile Subscriber Identification Number. H1H2H3 S ABCDEF
For example: 75-0666234
NMSI: National Mobile Subscriber Identification MNC and MSIN
form it together.
For Example of IMSI : 640-03-75-0777001

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TMSI
TMSI: Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identification)

The TMSI is assigned only after successful

subscriber authentication.
The VLR controls the allocation of new TMSI
numbers and notifies them to the HLR.
TMSI is used to ensure that the identity of the
mobile subscriber on the air interface is kept secret.
The TMSI consists of 4 bytes( 8 HEX numbers) and
determined by the operator.

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IMEI
IMEI: International Mobile Station Equipment Identification

TAC

FAC

SNR

SP

IMEI
TAC:
TAC: Type
TypeApproval
Approval Code,
Code, 66 bit,
bit, determined
determined by
by the
the type
type approval
approval
center
center
FAC:
FAC: Final
FinalAssembly
Assembly Code,
Code, 22 bit,
bit, ItIt isis determined
determined by
by the
the
manufacturer.
manufacturer.
SNR:
SNR: Serial
Serial number,
number,66 bits,
bits, ItIt isis issued
issued by
by the
the manufacturer
manufacturer of
of the
the
MS.
MS. SP:
SP: 11 bit
bit ,, Not
Not used.
used.

Check
Check the
the IMEI
IMEI in
in your
your MS
MS :: *#06#
*#06#

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UMTS R99 Network

Architecture
MSC/VLR

Other PLMN
PSTN,ISDN

GMSC

GSM /GPRS BSS

BSC
HLR/AUC

BTS
PCU

SCE

SS7

RNC
SMS

NodeB

UMTS
UTRAN

SGSN

CG

SCP

GPRS
backbone

Internet,
Intranet
GGSN
BG
Other PLMNs
GPRS network

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R99 CN Feature

Core Network is split into CS domain and PS domain.

CS domain is in charge of call control and mobility

management of circuit service.

PS domain is in charge of session management and mobility

management of Packet service.

Call control: ISUP/TUP

Mobility management: enhanced MAP
Physical node:MSC,GMSC,VLR

There are some change from GPRS: interfaces, flows, some

functions
Physical node: SGSN,GGSN,CG

Transcoders is placed in CN side

TFO: Tandem Free Operation
Supporting inter-system handover (UMTS/GSM)

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UMTS R4 Network
Architecture
IP/ATM Backbone
MGW

GSM /GPRS BSS

BSC

Other PLMN
PSTN,ISDN

MGW

VMSC Server GMSC Server

HLR/AUC

BTS
PCU

SCE

SS7

RNC
SMS

NodeB

UMTS
UTRAN

SGSN

CG

SCP

GPRS
backbone

Internet,
Intranet
GGSN
BG
Other PLMNs
GPRS network

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R4 CN Feature

CS domain

Control is separated from bearer,MSC is split into MSC

server and MGW

Traffic bearer can be IP , ATM or TDM

Signaling bearer can be IP or TDM

TrFO: Transcoder Free Operation

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Difference Between R99

and
R4
CS domain evolution
SCP

HLR

CAP Over TDM

MSC

SCP

MAP Over TDM

TUP/ISUP
TDM

CAP Over TDM/IP

MSC

MSC Server

RAN

MAP Over TDM/IP

TUP/ISUP/BICC

H.248

CS-MGW

RAN

HLR

RAN

RAN

R99

H.248
TDM/ATM/IP

RAN

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CS-MGW

RAN

R4

Notes: PS domain structure remain unchanged

MSC Server

Interfaces in R99 network

MSC/VLR

PSTN
ISDN

GMSC

GSM /GPRS BSS

BSC

BTS
Iu-CS
PCU
RNC
NodeB

UMTS
UTRAN

SCE

SS7

Gb
Iu-PS

HLR/AUC

C/D/Gs

Gr/Gs/Gd/Ge

SGSN

SCP

GPRS
backbone

Gi

GGSN

Ga
CG

SMS

Gc

BG
Gp

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Internet,
Intranet

Other PLMN

Iu-CS Interface Protocol

Stack
MSC/VLR

RNC

Iub

GMSC

Iu-CS

PSTN

Node B
HLR/AuC

SS7
Control Plane

User Plane

RANAP

IuUP

SCCP

SCP

Iu-PS
SGSN

GGSN
GPRS
backbone

MTP3B
SSCF-NNI
SSCOP

CGF

AAL5

AAL2

BG

Inter-PLMN

ATM
L1 PHY

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SS7 Interface Protocol

Stack
Iub

MSC/VLR GMSC

RNC

PSTN

Node B
HLR/AuC

SS7
M
A
P

C
A
P

B
S
S
A
P+

TCAP

SCP

I
S
U
P

GGSN

SGSN
T
U
P

GPRS
backbone

SCCP

CGF

BG

Inter-PLMN

MTP3
MTP2
MTP1

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PS Domain Interface Protocol

Stack
MSC/VLR GMSC

RNC

Iub

PSTN

Node B
Iu-PS

HLR/AuC

Control Plane

User Plane

RANAP

GTP-U

SCCP

SS7
SCP

SGSN

GGSN
GPRS
backbone

MTP3B
SSCF-NNI

UDP

SSCOP

IP

AAL5

AAL5
ATM
L1 PHY

Gn/Gp/Ga

CGF

GTP(GTP')
UDP
IP
L2(MAC)
L1(PHY)

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BG

Inter-PLMN

New Interfaces in R4
IP/ATM Backbone
MGW

GSM /GPRS BSS

BSC

Nb

PSTN
ISDN

MGW

Mc
VMSC Server GMSC Server

BTS

HLR/AUC

Nc
PCU

SCE

SS7

RNC
SMS

NodeB

UMTS
UTRAN

SCP
SGSN

CG

Internet,
Intranet

GPRS
backbone

GGSN
BG
Other PLMN

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Interfaces in R4 CS
Domain

MSC
Server

Nc

Mc

GMSC
Server

Mc
Nb

MGW
RTP
UDP/IP

MGW
AAL2
ATM

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Voice
PCM

Wireless Intelligent Network

(WIN)

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Concept of Wireless Intelligent

Wireless Intelligent Network
(WIN) is a network in which the
Network
functional entities of the Intelligent Network (IN) are introduced to

the mobile network to realize the intelligent control to mobile calls.

It is the combination of the current mobile network and the
intelligent network.
The introduction of the mobile service switching point into the
mobile network has enabled the connection of the mobile network
at the lower layer with the intelligent network at the higher layer,
thus forming the wireless intelligent network.
As a high layer service network of the mobile network, WIN can
create and realize all kinds of new mobile services rapidly,
conveniently, flexibly, economically and efficiently, facilitating the
customers to get the required information.
The major characteristic of WIN is that it separates the switching
function from the control function of the network.
It processes the intelligent call with the support of Signaling System
No.7 (SS7) network and large centralized database, while the
original exchange only performs the basic connection functions.

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Features of Wireless
Extensively
using information processing
technology
Intelligent
Network

Effectively using network resources

Modularizing the network functions that can be used
repeatedly
Using the reusable modular network function to generate and
implement a new service
Network functions being flexibly distributed in physical entities
Portable network functions in a physical entity
Providing standard communications between network
functions through the service-independent interfaces
Service subscribers being able to control the service
properties defined by themselves
Service users being able to control the service properties
defined by themselves
Standardized management of service logic

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Target of Wireless Intelligent

WIN is aimed at providing
Network
the existing mobile network with

some additional abilities that facilitates the carriers to

provide new services.
It is required that the newly-provided service should be
independent from the network, i.e., the service is irrelevant
to the equipment running in the mobile network and does
not care about who provides the equipment.
The independent implementation of a service enables a
service provider to define his own service without relying
on the specific service products of the equipment vendor.
The independent implementation of the network enables a
network operator to allocate the functions and resources
within his network and manage his network effectively
without relying on the specific network implementation
mode of an equipment vendor.

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Intelligent Network Layer

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Evolution and Development of

Wireless Intelligent Network

The study on WIN was started as early as 1995.

At first, there was no concrete standard protocol, and
different companies laid down their own standards and
have carried out a good deal of studies on such basis.
In January, 1998, European Telecommunications Standards
Institute (ETSI) introduced Customised Application for
Mobile network Enhanced Logic (CAMEL) in GSM Phase
2+. The version at that time is Phase 1.
With the accomplishment of CAMEL Phase 1 in GSM
Phase 2+, the development of WIN has entered a new
phase.
Thanks to the open interface provided by CAMEL Phase 1,
the equipment from different manufacturers can
interconnect with each other.

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Architecture of Wireless
Intelligent
Network
WIN is composed
of

Service Switching Point (SSP)

Service Control Point (SCP)

Intelligent Peripheral (IP)

Service Management System (SMS)

Service Creation Environment (SCE)

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Service Switching Point

SSP connects the mobile(SSP)
network to IN, providing IN access
function (IN call detection).
SSP contains the capability to detect requests for IN services and
communicate with SCP. It responds to the requirements from
SCP and enables SCP to affect the call flow with the service
logic.
SSP contains Call Control Function (CCF) and Service Switching
Function (SSF). If there is no independent IP established, SSP
should also has part of Specialized Resource Function (SRF).
CCF is responsible for basic connection functions such as
receiving user calls, performing call setup and call holding etc.
SSF can receive and identify the intelligent service call and report
to SCP, meanwhile it will accept the instruction from SCP as well.
SSP is generally based on Mobile Switching Center (MSC) and
provided with the necessary software and hardware, as well as
signaling No.7 network interface.

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Service Control Point

SCP is the core component
of the intelligent network, SCP
(SCP)
stores user data and service logic.
SCP is responsible for receiving the querying information
from SSP, querying the database, and encoding the
information in various ways.
SCP initiates different service logic according to call events
reported from SSP, and sends call control instructions to the
corresponding SSP according to service logic, that is the
implementation of various IN calls.
All the service control functions provided by WIN are
concentrated in SCP.
The communication between SCP and SSP is carried out
based on the standard interface protocols of WIN.
SCP, which must be highly reliable, comprises
minicomputers and large real-time high-speed databases.

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Intelligent Peripherals

IP is the special resource to consist the intelligent

service.
Usually it contains various voice manipulation functions,
like combining voice, playing recorded announcements,
receiving numbers sent in DTMF (Dual Tone MultiFrequency), performing voice identification, and so on.
As the standalone equipment or part of SSP, IP can
receive the control of SCP and perform the operation
specified by SCP service logic.
If IP is set individually in the network, it can be shared by
other switches, which is a cost cutting solution.
Meanwhile it is convenient for the uniform management
of voice resource and helpful for the deployment of
services whose voices are changed frequently.

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Service Management System

(SMS)
SMS is the manager
of WIN.

It has the following functions: service logic

management, service data management,
user data management, system data
management and the management of daily
operation and maintenance.
A new service logic created in SCE is
transferred to SMS, then loaded to SCP by
SMS to run the new service over the mobile
network.

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Service Creation
SCE has
the function of creating(SCE)
new service logic
Environment

according to the requirement from users.

SCE provides the service designer with the friendly
graphical editing interface.
Customer use the various standard graphical
elements to design the new service logic and define
the relevant data.
After the designing, the service should first pass the
strict verification and simulation, which is to ensure
that the new service will not bring any negative
influence to the existing services.
After that, SCE will transfer the service logic to SMS
which will load it to SCP for running.

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Creating and Loading a New

The procedures are described
as follows:
Service

Design a new service.

Transfer the designed service to SMS.
Load the logic program of the new service to SCP according to
the instruction of system administrator.
The customer begins to use the new service.

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Thanks!

Technology changes but communication lasts.

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