BG96 PSM

Application Note

LTE Module Series

Rev. BG96_PSM_Application_Note_V1.0

Date: 2018-04-23

Status: Released

www.quectel.com
 LTE Module Series
BG96 PSM Application Note

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Copyright © Quectel Wireless Solutions Co., Ltd. 2018. All rights reserved.

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About the Document

History

Revision Date Author Description

Walker HAN/
Elvis SUN/
1.0 2018-04-23 Initial
Hyman DING/
Lyndon LIU

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Contents

About the Document ................................................................................................................................... 2

Contents ....................................................................................................................................................... 3
Table Index ................................................................................................................................................... 4
Figure Index ................................................................................................................................................. 5

1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 6

2 General Overview of PSM ................................................................................................................... 7

3 PSM Setting .......................................................................................................................................... 8

3.1. AT+CPSMS Power Saving Mode Setting ............................................................................. 8
3.2. AT+QPSMS Extended Power Saving Mode Setting .......................................................... 10
3.3. AT+QPSMCFG PSM Feature and Minimum Threshold Value Setting .............................. 12
3.4. AT+QPSMEXTCFG Modem Optimization .......................................................................... 14
3.5. AT+QCFG="psm/urc" Enable/Disable PSM Entering Indication ........................................ 15
3.6. “+QPSMTIMER:” URC to Indicate the TAU Duration and Active Time Duration .................. 16

4 Wake up from PSM ............................................................................................................................ 17

4.1. Manually Wake up from PSM ................................................................................................ 17
4.2. Automatically Wake up from PSM ......................................................................................... 18

5 Typical Power Consumption Cycle .................................................................................................. 19

6 Appendix A References..................................................................................................................... 20

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Table Index

TABLE 1: RELATED DOCUMENTS .................................................................................................................. 20

TABLE 2: TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ........................................................................................................ 20

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Figure Index

FIGURE 1: MANUALLY WAKE UP MODULE FROM PSM .............................................................................. 17

FIGURE 2: AUTOMATICALLY WAKE UP MODULE FROM PSM .................................................................... 18
FIGURE 3: AUTOMATICALLY WAKE UP MODULE FROM PSM .................................................................... 19

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1 Introduction
Power Saving Mode (PSM) is a key feature for eMTC/NB-IoT devices and applications with the following
requirements:

 Infrequently active
 Short duration of active communication
 Data transmission is mainly originated by eMTC/NB-IoT devices, but also possible to engage in DL
receive during the active duration
 Power constraint, running on battery
 Requires long battery life

The objective of PSM is to make an IoT device inactive or power-down most of time to save power and
wake up the device only for a short time of data transmission.

This document mainly introduces PSM feature and also describes how to use PSM function of Quectel
BG96 module.

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2 General Overview of PSM

3GPP R12 defined PSM mode is similar to power-off, but the UE (BG96 module) remains registered with
the network and there is no need to re-attach or re-establish PDN connections. Therefore, UE in PSM is
not immediately reachable for mobile terminating services. The UE using PSM is available for mobile
terminating services only during the time it is in connected mode and for the period of an Active Time that
is after the connected mode. The connected mode is caused by a mobile originated event like data
transfer or signalling, e.g. after a periodic TAU/RAU procedure. PSM is therefore intended for UE that is
expecting only infrequent mobile originating and terminating services and that can accept a
corresponding latency in the mobile terminating communication.

NOTE

For more detailed description of 3GPP R12 defined PSM mode, please refer to 3GPP TS 23.682 clause
4.5.4 UE Power Saving Mode.

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3 PSM Setting
Customers can configure the PSM capability using the following commands.

3.1. AT+CPSMS Power Saving Mode Setting

The Write Command controls the setting of BG96’s power saving mode (PSM) parameters. The
command controls whether the module wants to apply PSM or not, as well as the requested extended
periodic RAU value and the requested GPRS READY timer value in GERAN, the requested extended
periodic TAU value in E-UTRAN and the requested Active Time value. See the unsolicited result codes
provided by commands AT+CGREG for the Active Time value, the extended periodic RAU value and the
GPRS READY timer value that are allocated to the module by the network in GERAN and AT+CEREG for
the Active Time value and the extended periodic TAU value that are allocated to the module by the
network in E-UTRAN.

A special form of the command can be given as AT+CPSMS= (with all parameters omitted). In this form,
the parameter <mode> will be set to 0, the use of PSM will be disabled and data for all parameters in
AT+CPSMS will be removed or, if available, set to default values.

The Read Command returns the current parameter values.

The Test Command returns the supported <mode>s and the value ranges for the requested extended
periodic RAU value and the requested GPRS READY timer value in GERAN, the requested extended
periodic TAU value in E-UTRAN and the requested Active Time value as compound values.

AT+CPSMS Power Saving Mode Setting

Test Command Response
AT+CPSMS=? +CPSMS: (list of supported <mode>s),(list of supported
<Requested_Periodic-RAU>s),(list of supported
<Requested_GPRS-READY-timer>s),(list of supported
<Requested_Periodic-TAU>s),(list of supported
<Requested_Active-Time>s)

OK
Write Command Response
AT+CPSMS=[<mode>[,<Requested_P OK
eriodic-RAU>[,<Requested_GPRS-RE

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ADY-timer>[,<Requested_Periodic-TA If there is any error, response:

U>[,<Requested_Active-Time>]]]]] ERROR
Read Command Response
AT+CPSMS? +CPSMS: <mode>,[<Requested_Periodic-RAU>],[<Reque
sted_GPRS-READY-timer>],[<Requested_Periodic-TAU>]
,[<Requested_Active-Time>]

OK
Maximum Response Time 300ms
Reference
3GPP TS 27.007

Parameter

<mode> Integer type. Disable or enable the use of PSM in the UE.
0 Disable the use of PSM
1 Enable the use of PSM
<Requested_Periodic-RAU> String type. One byte in an 8 bit format. Requested extended
periodic RAU value (T3312) to be allocated to the UE in
GERAN. (e.g. "01000111" equals to 70 hours)
Bits 5 to 1 represent the binary coded timer value.
Bits 6 to 8 define the timer value unit as follows:
Bits 8 7 6
0 0 0 value is incremented in multiples of 10 minutes
0 0 1 value is incremented in multiples of 1 hour
0 1 0 value is incremented in multiples of 10 hours
0 1 1 value is incremented in multiples of 2 seconds
1 0 0 value is incremented in multiples of 30 seconds
1 0 1 value is incremented in multiples of 1 minute
<Requested_GPRS-READY-timer> String type. One byte in an 8 bit format. Requested GPRS
READY timer value (T3314) to be allocated to the UE in
GERAN. (e.g. "01001010" equals to 1 hours)
Bits 5 to 1 represent the binary coded timer value.
Bits 6 to 8 define the timer value unit as follows:
Bits 8 7 6
0 0 0 value is incremented in multiples of 2 seconds
0 0 1 value is incremented in multiples of 1 minute
0 1 0 value is incremented in multiples of decihours
1 1 1 value indicates that the timer is deactivated
<Requested_Periodic-TAU> String type. One byte in an 8 bit format. Requested extended
periodic TAU value (T3412) to be allocated to the UE in
E-UTRAN. (e.g. "00001010" equals to 100 minutes)
Bits 5 to 1 represent the binary coded timer value.

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Bits 6 to 8 define the timer value unit as follows:

Bits 8 7 6
0 0 0 value is incremented in multiples of 10 minutes
0 0 1 value is incremented in multiples of 1 hour
0 1 0 value is incremented in multiples of 10 hours
0 1 1 value is incremented in multiples of 2 seconds
1 0 0 value is incremented in multiples of 30 seconds
1 0 1 value is incremented in multiples of 1 minute
<Requested_Active-Time> String type. One byte in an 8 bit format. Requested Active Time
value (T3324) to be allocated to the UE. (e.g. "00001111"
equals to 1 minute)
Bits 5 to 1 represent the binary coded timer value.
Bits 6 to 8 define the timer value unit as follows:
Bits 8 7 6
0 0 0 value is incremented in multiples of 2 seconds
0 0 1 value is incremented in multiples of 1 minute
0 1 0 value is incremented in multiples of decihours
1 1 1 value indicates that the timer is deactivated.

Example
AT+CPSMS=1,,,"00000100","00001111" //Set the requested T3412 value to 40 minutes, and set the
OK requested T3324 value to 60 seconds.

3.2. AT+QPSMS Extended Power Saving Mode Setting

Quectel extended AT command for PSM setting. The Write Command controls the setting of BG96’s
power saving mode (PSM) parameters. It is similar with AT+CPSMS.

AT+QPSMS Extended Power Saving Mode Setting

Test Command Response
AT+QPSMS=? +QPSMS: (list of supported <mode>s),(list of supported
<Requested_Periodic-RAU>s),(list of supported
<Requested_GPRS-READY-timer>s),(list of supported
<Requested_Periodic-TAU>s),(list of supported
<Requested_Active-Time>s)

OK
Write Command Response
AT+QPSMS=[<mode>[,<Requested_P OK
eriodic-RAU>[,<Requested_GPRS-RE
ADY-timer>[,<Requested_Periodic-TA If there is any error, response:

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U>[,<Requested_Active-Time>]]]]] ERROR
Read Command Response
AT+QPSMS? +QPSMS: <mode>,[<Network_Periodic-RAU>],[<Network
_GPRS-READY-timer>],[<Network_Periodic-TAU>],[<Net
work_Active-Time>]

OK
Maximum Response Time 300ms
Reference
3GPP TS 27.007

Parameter

<mode> Integer type. Disable or enable the use of PSM in the UE.
0 Disable the use of PSM
1 Enable the use of PSM
<Requested_Periodic-RAU> String type. One byte in an 8 bit format. Requested extended
periodic RAU value (T3312) to be allocated to the UE in
GERAN. (e.g. "01000111" equals to 70 hours)
Bits 5 to 1 represent the binary coded timer value.
Bits 6 to 8 define the timer value unit as follows:
Bits 8 7 6
0 0 0 value is incremented in multiples of 10 minutes
0 0 1 value is incremented in multiples of 1 hour
0 1 0 value is incremented in multiples of 10 hours
0 1 1 value is incremented in multiples of 2 seconds
1 0 0 value is incremented in multiples of 30 seconds
1 0 1 value is incremented in multiples of 1 minute
<Requested_GPRS-READY-timer> String type. One byte in an 8 bit format. Requested GPRS
READY timer value (T3314) to be allocated to the UE in
GERAN. (e.g. "01001010" equals to 1 hours)
Bits 5 to 1 represent the binary coded timer value.
Bits 6 to 8 define the timer value unit as follows:
Bits 8 7 6
0 0 0 value is incremented in multiples of 2 seconds
0 0 1 value is incremented in multiples of 1 minute
0 1 0 value is incremented in multiples of decihours
1 1 1 value indicates that the timer is deactivated.
<Requested_Periodic-TAU> String type. One byte in an 8 bit format. Requested extended
periodic TAU value (T3412) to be allocated to the UE in
E-UTRAN. (e.g. "00001010" equals to 100 minutes)
Bits 5 to 1 represent the binary coded timer value.
Bits 6 to 8 define the timer value unit as follows:

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Bits 8 7 6
000 value is incremented in multiples of 10 minutes
001 value is incremented in multiples of 1 hour
010 value is incremented in multiples of 10 hours
011 value is incremented in multiples of 2 seconds
100 value is incremented in multiples of 30 seconds
101 value is incremented in multiples of 1 minute
<Requested_Active-Time> String type. One byte in an 8 bit format. Requested Active Time
value (T3324) to be allocated to the UE. (e.g. "00001111"
equals to 1 minute)
Bits 5 to 1 represent the binary coded timer value.
Bits 6 to 8 define the timer value unit as follows:
Bits 8 7 6
0 0 0 value is incremented in multiples of 2 seconds
0 0 1 value is incremented in multiples of 1 minute
0 1 0 value is incremented in multiples of decihours
1 1 1 value indicates that the timer is deactivated.
<Network_Periodic-RAU> Integer type. Extended periodic RAU value (T3312) to be
allocated to the UE in GERAN, and the value is specified by
network.
<Network_GPRS-READY-timer> Integer type. GPRS READY timer value (T3314) to be allocated
to the UE in GERAN, and the value is specified by network.
<Network_Periodic-TAU> Integer type. Extended periodic TAU value (T3412) to be
allocated to the UE in E-UTRAN, and the value is specified by
network.
<Network_Active-Time> Integer type. Active timer value (T3324) to be allocated to the
UE in E-UTRAN, and the value is specified by network.

Example
AT+QPSMS=1,,,"00000100","00001111" //Set the requested T3412 value to 40 minutes, and set the
requested T3324 value to 30 seconds.
OK
AT+QPSMS? //Query the PSM mode and the timer from network.
+QPSMS:1,,,"86400","2"

OK

3.3. AT+QPSMCFG PSM Feature and Minimum Threshold Value Setting

Quectel extended AT command for PSM setting. Customers can use this AT command to enable or
disable PSM function and set the minimum threshold value to enter PSM.

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AT+QPSMCFG PSM Feature and Minimum Threshold Value Setting

Test Command Response
AT+QPSMCFG=? +QPSMCFG: (list of supported <threshold>s),(list of
supported <psm_version>s)

OK
Write Command Response
AT+QPSMCFG=[<threshold>[,<psm_ OK
version>]]
If there is any error, response:
ERROR
Read Command Response
AT+QPSMCFG? +QPSMCFG: <threshold>,<psm_version>

OK

Parameter

<threshold> Minimum threshold value to enter PSM. Range: 60-4294967295. Unit:

second.
<psm_version> Bitmask to indicate PSM modes (1 – Enable/0 – Disable). Each bit is
configured independently. Range: 0-4-15.
Bit 0 – PSM without network coordination
Bit 1 – Rel 12 PSM without context retention
Bit 2 – Rel 12 PSM with context retention
Bit 3 – PSM in between eDRX cycles

Example
AT+QPSMCFG=100 //Set the threshold to 100 seconds.

OK
AT+QPSMCFG? //Query the threshold value and PSM mode.
+QPSMCFG: 100,5

OK

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3.4. AT+QPSMEXTCFG Modem Optimization

Quectel extended AT command for PSM setting. This command is used to set extended parameters for
modem optimizations.

AT+QPSMEXTCFG Modem Optimization

Test Command Response
AT+QPSMEXTCFG=? +QPSMEXTCFG: (list of supported <psm_opt_mask>s),(li
st of supported <max_oos_full_scans>s),(list of supporte
d <psm_duration_due_to_oos>s),(list of supported <psm
_randomization_window>s),(list of supported <max_oos_
time>s),(list of supported <early_wake_up_time>s)

OK
Write Command Response
AT+QPSMEXTCFG=[<psm_opt_mask OK
>[,<max_oos_full_scans>[,<psm_dur
ation_due_to_oos>[,<psm_randomiz If there is any error, response:
ation_window>[,<max_oos_time>[,<e ERROR
arly_wake_up_time>]]]]]]
Read Command Response
AT+QPSMEXTCFG? +QPSMEXTCFG: <psm_opt_mask>,<max_oos_full_scans
>,<psm_duration_due_to_oos>,<psm_randomization_wi
ndow>,<max_oos_time>,<early_wake_up_time>

OK

Parameter

<psm_opt_mask> Numeric type. Range: 0-14-15.

1st bit of the parameter is used to enable/disable PSM ENTER
request without sending PSM_READY_REQ to NAS. This is a
quick PSM operation.
2nd bit of the parameter is used to enable/disable Out of Service
(OoS) status indication from Modem to AP.
3rd bit of the parameter is used to enable/disable limited service
status indication from Modem to AP.
4th bit the parameter is used to enable/disable deep-sleep mode
if PSM duration is less than the threshold value. If enabled, it
puts the device in deep-sleep mode, if PSM is not entered due to
not meeting threshold value.
<max_oos_full_scans> Maximum number of full scans to wait before modem declares

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SYS_PSM_STATUS_OOS to clients. Range: 1-2-100.

<psm_duration_due_to_oos> PSM duration used by PSM daemon upon OOS/Limited Service
indication, due to service outage. Range: 120-4294967295.
Unit: second.
<psm_randomization_window> PSM wakeup randomization window to avoid network
congestion due to all the PSM devices waking up at the same
time. Range: 1-5-1000. Unit: second.
<max_oos_time> Maximum time in seconds to wait before declaring
SYS_PSM_STATUS_OOS to clients. Range: 1-120-65535. Unit:
second.
<early_wakeup_time> Device wakes up early to account for boot-up and acquisition
delay. While programming PMIC, PSM daemon reduces PSM
duration by this duration. Range: 1-3-1000. Unit: second.

Example
AT+QPSMEXTCFG=14,2,120
OK
AT+QPSMEXTCFG?
+QPSMEXTCFG: 14,2,120,5,120,15

OK

3.5. AT+QCFG="psm/urc" Enable/Disable PSM Entering Indication

Quectel extended AT command to indicate PSM entered. When PSM function is enabled and RRC
connection release is received, the active timer (T3324) will be started, and the indication URC will be
reported.

AT+QCFG="psm/urc" Enable/Disable PSM Entering Indication

Write Command Response
AT+QCFG="psm/urc",<mode> OK

If there is any error, response:

ERROR
Read Command Response
AT+QCFG="psm/urc" +QCFG="psm/urc",<mode>

OK

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Parameter

<mode> Numeric type.

0 Disable QPSMTIMER URC report
1 Enable QPSMTIMER URC report

3.6. “+QPSMTIMER:” URC to Indicate the TAU Duration and Active Time

Duration

The URC is used to indicate the TAU duration and Active time duration for the module’s PSM. The URC is
disabled by default, and can be enabled by AT+QCFG="psm/urc",1.

“+QPSMTIMER:” URC to Indicate the TAU Duration and Active Time Duration
URC Format: Indicate the TAU duration and Active time duration of UE’s
+QPSMTIMER: <TAU_duration>,<Act PSM.
ive_duration>

Parameter
<TAU_duration> TAU duration of PSM. Unit: second.
<Active_duration> Active time duration of PSM. Unit: second.

Example
AT+QCFG="psm/urc"
+QCFG: "psm/urc",0

OK
AT+QCFG="psm/urc",1
OK

+QPSMTIMER: 86400,2 //TAU Timer and Active Timer value.

POWER DOWN

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4 Wake up from PSM

Either of the following methods will wake up the module from PSM:

 Drive PWRKEY pin to low level will wake up the module.

 When the T3412 timer expires, the module will be automatically woken up.

4.1. Manually Wake up from PSM

The following steps can be used to wake up the module from PSM and then realize communication
between the module and the network.

Step 1: Drive PWRKEY pin to low level, and then check the power on status of BG96.

Step 2: Active communication (UL and/or DL).

The following figure shows the procedure of manually waking up the module from PSM.

MCU/PC BG96 Network

1. Drive PWRKEY to low level and

check power-on status

2. Active communication (UL and/or DL)

Figure 1: Manually Wake up Module from PSM

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4.2. Automatically Wake up from PSM

When the T3412 (Extended TAU timer) expires, the module will be automatically woken up.

The following figure illustrates the automatic procedure of waking up module from PSM.

UE NW
<Attach Request>
T3324 and/or T3412 Extended Value
<RRC Setup>

<Authentication/Security>
Attach Accept
T3324 and/or T3412 Extended Value

RRC Release

T3324

T3412

PSM

Tracking Area Update Request

T3324 and/or T3412 Extended Value
<RRC Setup>

Tracking Area Update Accept

T3324 and/or T3412 Extended Value

<Data Traffic>

RRC Release

Figure 2: Automatically Wake up Module from PSM

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5 Typical Power Consumption Cycle

The following figure shows the typical power consumption cycle of BG96 module.

Power
Consumption Level

TAU Cycle

The module is powered

on or exits from PSM
mode (“wake up”). This
could be “the first time” or
BG96 exits from PSM
“subsequent” power-on.
mode (“wake up”)

Standy State Standy State

Paging Cycle Paging Cycle

PSM PSM

Time

Figure 3: Automatically Wake up Module from PSM

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6 Appendix A References

Table 1: Related Documents

SN Document Name Remark

[1] Quectel_BG96_AT_Commands_Manual BG96 AT Commands Manual

[2] 3GPP TS 23.401 3GPP Specification

[3] 3GPP TS 23.682 3GPP Specification

Table 2: Terms and Abbreviations

Abbreviation Description

DRX Discontinuous Reception

eDRX Extended Discontinuous Reception

E-UTRAN Evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network

GERAN GSM EDGE Radio Access Network

GPRS General Packet Radio Service

PDN Packet Data Network Gateway

PSM Power Saving Mode

RAU Routing Area Update

RRC Radio Resource Control

TAU Tracking Area Update

UE User Equipment (typically the module)

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