t Chapter 1 Basics of PCS and GSM What is PCS(Personal communications services)? Pe Si vices (Pt i i it ‘crsonal communications services (PCS) refers to a wide variety of wireless access and personal mobility Services provided through a small terminal, with the goal of enabling communications at any time, at any place, and in any form PCS technologies have grown rapidly in the telecommunications industry. Explain PCS architecture, Network aud Snitching Sulpysteaa SS) PCS architecture has mainly 3 types of Interfaces y paltet waded < Um interface The “ait” or radio interface standard that is used for exchanges between a mobile (NE) ada 1 base station (BTS / BSC). For signalling, a modified version of the ISDN LAPD, known as LAPDm is used. “\_Abis interface This is a BSS internal interface linking the BSC and a BTS, and it has not been totally 4.0" standardised. The Abis interface allows control of the radio equipment and radio frequency allocation in the BTS. A interface The A interface is used to provide communication between the BSS and the MSC.Stutlon Subsystem( BSS) Network Switching Subsystem Mobile station PCS nse mobile stations (MSs) to communicate with the base stations (BSs) in a PCS network, MBS is also cotoued 0 as handset, mobile phon subseriber unit, or portable, Maile stations (MS), mobile equipment (ME) or as they are most widely known, cel or mobile phones are the F section of'a GSM cellu network, Un rovent years theirsize tas tillew dramatically while the level of functionality has greatly increased. ‘There are a number af elements to the cell phone, although the two main elements are the main hardivas and the SIM, Wontains a number known as the Intemational Mobile Equipment Kdentty (IMEL) This is installed in the phone at manufacture unl Yeannot” be chingei, 1 is aecessed by the network during registration to check Antetier the equipment Is been reported as stolen, ‘The SIM or Subscriber Identity Module contains the information that provides the identity of the user to the network, It contains are variety of information including a number known as the International Mobile Subscriber Identity (MSI), Base Station Subsystem (BSS) jon (BSS) section of the GSM network architecture that is fundamentally associated ‘vith communicating with the mobiles on the network It consists of two elements: ver Station (BTS): The BTS used ina GSM network comprises the radio transmitter receivers, and their associated antennas that transmit and receive to directly communicate with the mobiles. The BTS is the defining clement tor each cel, The BIS communicates with the mobiles and the interface between the two is known as the Um interfice with its wssociated protocols. Base Transe Station Controller (BSC): The BSC forms the next stage back into the GSM network, It cor rol” a group ‘of BTSs, and is often co-located with one of the BTSs in its group. It manages the radio resources and controls items such as handover within the group of BTSs, allocates channels and the like. It communicates with the WHSs over what is termed the Abis interface. Network Switching Subsystem (NSS)ned the core network. It ISM system architecture contains a variety of different elements, and 1s often ter ides the main control and interfacing for the whole mobile network. The major elements within th cote iwork include: eral! GSM Mobile Services Switching Centre (MSC): The main clement within the core network area of the retwork architecture is the Mobile switching Services Centre (MSC). The MSC acts fike a norm node within a PSTN of ISDN, but also provides additional functionality to enable the r user to be supported.(These include registration, ication, call location, inter- MSC hands routing to a mobile subscriber, It also provides an interface to the PSTN so that calls can be raul mobile network to a phone connected to a landline. interfaces to other MSCs are provided to enable calls to be made to mobiles on different networks. with the ne relevant base station for the MS. When a user switches on their phone, the phone regis’ work and from this it is possible to determine which BTS it communicates with so that incoming calls can be routed appropriately. Even when the phone is not active (but switched on) it re-registers periodically to ensure that the network (HLR) is aware of its latest position. There is one HLR per network, although it may be distributed across various sub-centres to for operational reasons Visitor Location Register (VLR): This contains selected information from the HLR that enables the selected services for the individual subscriber to be provided. The VLR can be implemented as a separate entity, but it 1s commonly realised as an integral part of the MSC, rather than a separate entity. In this way access is made faster and more convenient, decides whether a given mobile equipment may smber known as the Intemational Mobile od in the equipment and is checked by the Equipment Identity Register be allowed onto the network, Equipment Identity. This number, as mentioned above, network during registration, Dependent upon the information held tn the EIR, the mobile may be allocated one of three states ~ allowed onto the network, barred access, of monitored tn case its problems Authentication Centre (AuC): The AuC is a protected database that contains the secret key also contained in the user's SIM card. It is used for authentication and for ciphering on the radio channel, Gateway Mobile Switching Centre (GMSC): The GMSC is the point to which a ME terminating call initially routed, without any knowledge of the MS’s location. The GMSC is thus in charge of obtaining the MSRN (Mobile Station Roaming Number) from the HLR based on the MSISDN (Mobile Station ISDN number, the “directory number” of a MS) and routing the call to the correct visited MSC. The “MSC” part of the terra GMSC is misleading, since the gateway operation does not require any linking to an MSCGSM Architecture The GSM architecture consists of three major interconnected subsystems that interact with themselves and with users through certain network interface. The subsystems are @ Base Ststion Subsystem (BSS), @ Network Switching Subsystem (NSS) and @ Operational Support Subsystem (OSS). @ Mobile Station (MS) is also a subsystem but it is considered as a part of BSS. Rago wt AD interface A interface ; ‘Cae ] (vir : Clot MSC if spx_] {\_ Data Netwosk OM : Cpemtional Support Subspitem | Mobile Station Bast Stuzon Network Switching Public Networks Fig: GSM Architecture 4. Mobile Station (MS): Mobile Station is made up of two entities. A. Mobile equipment (ME): Itis a portable, vehicle mounted, hand held device. Itis uniquely identified by an IMEI number. It is used for voice and data transmission. It also monitors power and signal quality of surrounding cells foe optimum handover. 160 characters long SMS can also be sent using Mobile Equipment. B. Subscriber Identity module (SIM): Itis a smart card that contains the International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMS!) number. © :allows users to sond and recelvo calls and rocolve other subscribor services. - Its protected by password or PIN, {contains oncoded network identification dotalls. It has koy information to activate the phone. It can be moved from one mobile to another, iso Statlon Subsystem (BSS): It Is also known as radio subsystom, provides and manages io transmission paths between the mobile station and the Mobile Switching Centre (MSC). BSS also manages Interface between the mobile station and all other subsystems of GSM, It consists of wo parts. A. Base Transceiver Station (BTS): Itencodes, encrypts, multiplexes, modulates and feeds the RF signal to the antenna. It consists of transceiver units. r | communicates with mobile stations via radio alr interface and also communicates with BSC via Abis interface. B. Base Station Controller (BSC): It manages radio resources for BTS. It assigns frequency and time slots for all mobile stations in its area. It handles call set up, transcoding and adaptation functionality handover for each MS radio power control. Itcommunicates with MSC via A interface and also with BTS. 3. Network Switching Subsystem (NSS): it manages the switching functions of the system and allows MSCs to communicate with other networks such as PSTN and ISDN. It consist of A. Mobile switching Centre: Itis a heart of the network, It manages communication between GSM and other networks. It manages call set up function, routing and basic switching. It performs mobility management including registration, location updating and inter BSS and inter MSC call handoff. It provides billing information. MSC does gateway function while its customers roam to other network by using HLR/VLR. B, Home Location Registers (HLR): - It is a permanent database about mobile subscriber in a large service area. - Its database contains IMSI, IMSISDN, prepaid/post-paid, roaming restrictions, supplementary services. C. Visitor Location Registers (VLR): - It is a temporary database which updates whenever new MS enters its area by HLR database. - It controls mobiles roaming in its area. It reduces number of queries to HLR. - Its database contains IMSI, TMSI, IMSISDN, MSRN, location, area authentication key. D. Authentication Centre: - It provides protection against intruders in air interface. - It maintains authentication keys and algorithms and provides security triplets (RAND, SRES, Ki). E. Equipment Identity Registry (EIR):sa Brishose that is used to track handset using the IMEI number. | is made up of three sub classes- the white list, the black list and the gray list. | | fational Support Subsystem (OSS): It supports the operation and maintenance of GSM and gineers to monitor, diagnose and troubleshoot all aspects of GSM system. It s one or more ‘Operation Mainténanée Centres (OMC) which are used to monitor the ance of each MS, Bs, BSC and MSC within a GSM system. It has three main functions: To maintain all telecommunication hardware and network operations with a particular market. To manage all charging and billing procedures To manage all mobile equipment in the system. Interfaces used for GSM network : (ref fig 2) 1)UM Interface -Used to communicate between BTS with MS 2)Abis Interface— Used to communicate BSC TO BTS 3)A Interface-- Used to communicate BSC and MSC. 4) Singling protocol (SS 7)- Used to communicate MSC with other network . UE ors one as Msc network L_j Un Abid A SST interfaces used for Fig2 GSM network Interfaces GSM network areas Ina GSM network, the following areas are defined ~ © Cell ~ Cell is the basic service area; one BTS covers one cell. Each cell is given 2 Cell Global Identity (CGI), a number that uniquely identifies the cell. © Location Area ~ A group of cells form a Location Area (LA). This is the area that is paged when a subscriber gets an Incoming call. Each LA is assigned a Location Area Identity (LAI). Each LA Is served by one or more BSCs. MSCIVLR Service Area ~ The area covered by one MSC is called the MSC/VLR service area. @ PLMN ~The area covered by one network operator is called the Public Land Mobile Network (PLMAN). A PLM can contain one or more MSCs.Telephony services oF teleservices Data serviees or bearer services Supplementary services releservices abilities of a Bearer Service are used by a Teleservice to transport data, These services are further transited jnthe following ways: Voice Calls GSM is telephony. This includes full-rate speech at 13 kbps and The most basic Teleservice supported by doris notified by dialing three digits. emergency calls, where the nearest emergeney-service provi Videotext and Facsmile Another group of teleservices includes Vidcotext access, Teletex transmission, Facsmile Group 3, Automatic Facsmile Group, 3 etc. Facsmile alternate speech and Short Text Messages Short Messaging Service (SMS) service is a text messagi sessages on your GSM mobile phone. In addition to simple text messages, sports, financial, language, and location-based data can also be transmitted. ng service that allows sending and receiving text other text data including news, Bearer Services Data services or Bearer Services are used through a GSM phone. to receive and send data is the essential building block leading to widespread mobile Internet access and mobile data transfer. GSM currently has a data that will push up data transfer rates for GSM users are HSCSD (high transfer rate of 9,6k. New developments speed circuit switched data) and GPRS (general packet radio service) are now available.plementary Services are additional services that are provided in addition to teleservices and bearer services aller identification, call forwarding, call waiting, multi-party conversations, and barring rementary services ‘A brief description of supplementary services is given here: Supplevices include c Toes Fp itematona call, among others. , . . . a Itallows a mobile subseriber to establish a multiparty conversation, a simultaneous IL. This service is only Conferencin: conversation between ie or more subscribers to setup a conference cal ‘able to normal telephony. | aya 1g: This service notifies a mobile subscriber of an incoming call during a conversation. The subscriber can answer, reject, or ignore the incoming call. Gan Hold : This service allows a subscriber to put an incoming call on hold and resume after a while. ‘The call hold service is applicable to normal telephony. . Call Forwarding : Call Forwarding is used to divert calls from the original recipient to another number. Iris normally set up by the subscriber himself. It can be used by the subscriber to divert calls from the ‘Mobile Station when the subscriber is not available, and so to ensure that calls are not lost. Call Barring : Call Barring is useful to restrict certain types of outgoing calls such as ISD or stop incoming calls from undesired numbers. Call barring is a flexible service that enables the subscriber to conditionally bar calls. | Number Identification : There are following supplementary services related to number identification: > Calling Line Identification Presentation : This service displays the telephone number of the calling party on your screen. © Calling Line Identification Restriction : A person not wishing their number to be resented to others subscribes to this service. Connected Line Identification Presentation : This service is provided to give the calling party the telephone number of the person to whom they are connected. This service is useful in situations such as forwarding's where the number connected is not the number dialled. Connected Line Identification Restriction : There are times when the person called does not wish to have their number presented and so they would subscribe to this person. Normally, this overrides the presentation service. Malicious Call Identification : The malicious cal identification service was provided to combat | the spread of obscene or annoying calls, The victim should subscribe to this service, and then they could cause known malicious calls to be identified in the GSM network, using a simple | ‘command, | Advice of Charge (AoC) : This service was designed to give the subscriber an indication of the cost of | thserves as they ate use Furthemore, tose seve providers who wish to offer rental services to ‘cribers without cir own SIM can also utilize this service in a slightly diffe cals is provided onthe basis of time measurements. ail alerent Form. 0G cas losed User Groups (C +: This ice is il is sera ups (CUGS) : This service is meant for groups of subscribers who wish to cal only nstructured suppl vi a supplementary services data (USSD) : This allows operator-defined individual services.channels: -M Channel are divided into two types: affic channels (TCHs): The traffic channes are intended to carry encoded speech or user data. Traffic channels are intended to carry encoded speech and user data. Full rate traftic channels at a net bit rate of 22.8 Kb/s (TCH/F) Half rate traffic channels at a net bit rate of 11.4 Kb/s (TCH/H) Speech channels are defined for both full rate and half rate traffic channels. Data channels support a variety of data rates (2.4, 4.8 and 9.6 Kb/s) on both half channels, The 9.6 Kb/s data rate is only for full rate ‘and full rate traffic LOGICAL CHANNELS {CCH - FREQUENCY CORRECTION CEUNNEL ‘SCH ~ SYNCHRONISATION CHANNEL ‘BCCH - BROADCAST CONTHOL CANNEL RCE ~PAGING CHANEL — BACH ~RANDOMACCESS CHANNEL Goa) (AGCH ~ACCESS GRANTED CANNEL SDCCII~ STAND ALONE DEDICATED COSTROL CANNEL (> DOWNLINK a, SACCH LOW ASSOCLATED CONTROL GLANS HEI par soc TEDCONTROLCHUNEL — APLNKONLY SPONSES application. The traffic channels(TCH) support two types of information rates Full rate (TCH/F) and Half rate (TCH/H) When transmitted as full rate, the user data is occupied within TS per frame. When transmitted as half rate, the user data is occupied into the same time slot but sent in alternate frames. ‘The 26th frame contains idle bits if full rate TCHs are used and contains SACCH data if half rate TCHS are used - Full Rate TCH for data and speech channels:- A. Full - rate Speech Channel )TCH/Fs): At 16 kbps the full rate speech channel is digitized. The full rate speech channel caries 55.8kbps after adding the GSM channel coding to the digitized spee.h.pullrate Data Channel for 9600 bps (VCI/¥9.6): The full rate traffic data channel contains raw ata that is arancmitted ot &.6 Kbps. Aficr the application of additional forward error correction coding “Ahnahe GSM standards, 9600 Kips is transferred at 23 8 Kops cc Falt-rate Date Channel for 4800 bps(PCHVP4.8); The full rate traffic date channel contains data aut is tanemitied al 4.8 Kbps, After the application of additional forward error correction coding with GSM standards, the 4.8 kbps is transferred at 22.8 Klos 1D. Full Rate Dats Channel for 2400 byps (TCH/F2.4): The full rate traffic data channel contains raw data that is transmitted at 2.4 kbps. After the application of additional forward error correction coding swith GSM standards, the 2.4 kbps data is transferred at 22.8 kbps. Half Rate TCH for data and speceh channels: A. Half Rate Speech Channels (TCH/US): The half tate speech channel can carry digitized speech that is sampled at a rate half that of full rate channel. GSM anticipates the availibility of speech coders. It can digitize speech at about 6.5 kbps. After adding GSM channel coding to the digitized speech, the half rate Speech channel will carry 11.4 kbps Cr carries raw B, Half Rate Data Channel for 4800 ps (TCH/14.8): The half rate traffic data channe data that is sentat 4800 bps. After the application of forward error correction using GSM standards, 4800 Lops data is sent at 11.4 kbps. C Hale Rate Data Channe for 2400 kbps (TCH/H 2.4): The half rate traffic data channel carries £94 user data that is sent at 2400 bps. After application of additional forward error corretion using GS standards, 2400 bps data is sent to 11.4 bps. Control Channel (CCH): Control channels carry signaling information between an MS and a BTS. 2) Broadcast control channel: J Broadcast contol channels are transmitted in downlink direction only ic. only transmitted by BT. (P&S AN) . The broadcast channels are used to broadcast synchronization and general network information to all the MSs within a cell. . It has three types: 2, FREQUENCY CORRECTION CHANNEL (FCCH): - Used for the frequency correction / synchronization of a mobile station. « The repeated (every 10 sec) transmission of Frequency Bursts is called FCCH. b. SYNCHRONISATION CHANNEL (SCI): - Allows the mobile station to synchronize time wise with the BTS. ~ Repeated broadcast (every 10 frames) of Synchronization Bursts is called (SCH).oc ast CONTROL CHANNEL (iC 10! xDCAST CONTROL CHANNEL, (CCH) is used to brondenst contol information ta e%6r7 us noOH 4 hie at the HES, a list oF nit ave: used bry th is information includes details of the control channel configuration uw Mr frequencies used at the neighboring BTSs and a number of paranetes ing the BTS. common Control Channel ‘rhe common control channels are used by an MS during the paging tnd access provedures. Cormmnion controy ghannels ae of three types. (PCH) PAGING CHANNEL: Within certain time intervals the MS will iston to the Paging channel, PCH, to see if the network wants 10 yet jin contact with the MS. call or an incoming Short Message . The reason could be an incomi 2.(RACH) RANDOM ACCESS CHANNEL: Iflistening to the PCH, the MS will realize itis being paged. ‘The MS answers, requesting a signalling channel, on the Random Access channel, RACH. RACH can also be used if the MS wants to get in contact with the network, c/g, when setting up mobile originated call. 3.(AGCH) ACCESS GRANTED CHANNEL: ‘The access grant channel (AGCH) is carried data which instructs the mobile to operate in 4 particular physical channel (Time slot or ARFCN). Ituses normal burst. C) Dedicated Control Channels (DCCHs): an MS and a BTS using associated and dedicated control Signaling information is carried between are of three types: channels during or not during a call, They A. (SDCCH STAND ALONE DEDICATED CONTROL CHANNEL: Non-urgent information, e.g. transmitter power control, is transmitted using the slow associated control channel (SACCH). Gn the uplink MS sends averaged measurements on own base station (signal strength and quality) ant neighboring base stations (signal strength). On the downlink the MS receives system information, which trans! advance to use. Itis transmitted at 13thFrame of TCH. As seen, SACCI downlink, point-to-point. Tt uses normal burst. ing power and what timing, 1 is transmitted on both up-and B.(SAACH)SLOW ASSOCIATED CONTROL CHANNEL:xz J se situations, signaling information must flow between a network and an MS wh ‘when a cals notin This could be accommodated by allocating either a full-rate or half-1 is a CH or FACCH to carry the information. * helPrate TCH and by using ether the ogress ©. during a location update. \ i C (FACCH) FAST ASSOCIATED CONTROL CHANNEL: More urgent information, traffic channel. e.g. a handover command, is sent using time slots that are stolen’ from th Ye Tr suddenly, during the conversation a handover must be performed the Fast Associated Control channel mel, FACCH, is used. FACCH works in stealing mode, meaning that one 2. ms segment of speech is exchai i information necessary for the handover. ° eee| Radio Aspects In GSM the uplink (mobile-to-base) frequency band is 890-915 MHz and the corresponding downlink (base-to-mobile) band is 935-960 MHz, resulting in a. 45 MHZ spacing for du i M use: division multiple access (TDMA) and frequency division imlilsseoes (EDM), whereby the available 25 MHz spectrum is partitions into 124 carriers (carrier spacing = 200KHz ) , and each carrier in turn is divided into 8 time slots ( radio channels ). Each user transmits periodically in every zighth time slot in an uplink radio carrier & receives a corresponding time slot on the downlink carrier. Thus several conversations can takes place simultaneously at the same pair of tansmit/receive radio frequencies. The radio parameters for GSM are summerised in the following table = System Parameter [__Value(GSM) | [Multiple Access_____| TDMA/FDMA/FDD_| Uplink frequency (mobile-to-base) 890-915 MHz [Downlink frequency (base-to-mobile)[ 935-960 MHz Channel Bandwidth 200KHz Number of channels 124 Channels/carrier [g (full rate), 16 (half rate) Frame duration 4.6 ms Interleaving duration 40 ms GMSK Modulation Speech coding method RPE-LTE convolution Speech coder bit rate 13 kb/s (full rate) Associated control channel Extrea frame Handoff scheme Mobile-assisted 0.8, 2, 5,8 W Mobile station power levels Table - Radio parameters and characteristics for GSM In the GSM system a digitized speech is passed at 64 Kb/s through a speech coder ( transcoder ) , which compresses the 64 Kb/s PCM(pulse code modulated ) speech to a 13 Kb/s data rate.Wreope yy Oe 254) ‘Ss OPERATION “CALL PROCESSING IN GSM. Once a Mobile Station initiates call, a seri 5 P , into the operation ofthe GSM systen,. C7 OF EVeHts takes place, Analyzing these events ean give an insight Mobile Phone to Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) , . . rn mobile subscriber makes a call to a PSTN telephone subscriber, the following sequence of events takes The MSCIVLR receives the message of a call request, The MSC/VLR checks if the mobile station is authorized to access the network. If so, the mobile station is activated. If the mobile station is not authorized, then the service will be denied. MSCIVLR analyzes the number and initiates a call setup with the PSTN. MSCIVLR asks the corresponding BSC to allocate a traffic channel (a radio channel and a time slot). The BSC allocates the traffic channel and passes the information to the mobile station. The called party answers the call and the conversation takes place. The mobile station keeps on taking measurements of the radio channels in the present cell and the neighbouring cells and passes the information to the BSC. The BSC decides if a handover is required. If 80, a new traffic channel is allocated to the mobile station and the handover takes place. If handover is not required, the mobile station continues to transmit in the same frequency. PSTN to Mobile Phone When a PSTN subscriber calls a mobile station, the following sequence of events takes place: The Gateway MSC receives the call and queries the HLR for the information needed to route the call to the serving MSC/VLR. The GMSC routes the call to the MSC/VLR. The MSC checks the VLR for the location area of the MS. The MSC contacts the MS via the BSC through a broadcast message, that is, through a paging request. The MS responds to the page request. The BSC allocates a traffic channel and sends a message to the MS to tune to the channel. The 34S generates a ringing signal and, after the subscriber answers, the speech connection is established. Handover, if required, takes place, as discussed in the earlier case. To transmit the speech over the radio channel in the stipulated time, the MS codes it at the rate of 13 Kbps. The BSC transcodes the speech to 64 Kbps and sends it over a land link or a radio link to the MSC. The MSC then forwards the speech data to the PSTN. In the reverse direction, the speech is received at 64 Kbps at the BSC and the BSC transcodes it to 13 Kbps for radio transmission, GSM supports 9.6 Kbps data that can be channelled in one TDMA timeslot. To supply higher data rates, many enhancements were done to the GSM standards (GSM Phase 2 and GSM Phase 2+).