CDMA Call Processing

The following is an example of a cellular call: set-up, progress and termination in a CDMA
system. The example describes:

Initial system access

Call initiation and setup,
Soft Handoff, and
Call termination.

Basic CDMA Network Architecture

Messages in CDMA

Initial System Access

When the mobile is first turns on, it must find the best base station with which to communicate. The
mobile unit tunes its receiver to a specified ``primary'' CDMA carrier frequency
The mobile then scans for available pilot signals, which are all on different time offsets of the same PN
short (2 ^ 15 chips) code
The mobile selects the strongest pilot sequence and establishes frequency and time reference with this
signal. If the mobile does not detect any pilot signals of adequate strength, the unit tunes its receive to
another specified CDMA carrier frequency
The mobile then demodulates the sync channel which is always transmitted on Walsh 32. The Sync
Channel provides master clock information by sending the state of the 42 bit shift register, which
generates the long (2 ^ 42 chips) code, 320 ms in the future. The long code, generated in conjunction
with a private user mask, is used for encryption and decryption
The mobile then starts listening to the paging channel and waits for a page directed to its phone number.

Find Strongest Pilot, Read Sync Channel

Pnone Operation on Access Channel

Registration

Call Initiation, Setup and Termination

The mobile user when decides to make a call, enters the desired phone number. This initiates an access
probe. The mobile uses the access channel and attempts to contact the serving base station
Since no traffic channel has been established, the mobile uses open loop power control. Multiple tries are
allowed at random times to avoid collisions that can occur on the access channel. Each successive attempt
is made at a higher power level. After each attempt, the mobile listens to the paging channel for a response
from the base stations.

Once the access request has been received by the base station, the base station responds with an assignment
to a traffic channel (Walsh code). The base station initiates the land link, and conversation takes place.
Call termination can be initiated either from the mobile or the land side. In either case the transmissions are
stopped, the Walsh code is freed, and the land line connection is broken. The mobile unit resumes
monitoring the page channel of the current serving cell.

Outgoing Call

Receiving Incoming Call

Ending Call