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About This Chapter
30.1 Overview This topic describes the application of the TFO in improving voice quality.

TFO

30.2 Availability This topic describes the availability of TFO. The realization of TFO depends on the cooperation of relevant NEs, software releases, and speech coding schemes. 30.3 Impact The topic describes the impact of the TFO on system performance and other features. 30.4 Technical Description Once a call connection is established, a TRAU frame is used to activate a traffic channel so that the TFO message response mechanism is established. The rearranged speech frames form TFO frames and the transcoding process is reduced to such a level that the speech quality is significantly improved. 30.5 Capabilities This topic describes the TFO capabilities in different services. 30.6 Implementation The implementation of TFO refer to configuring and verifying TFO. 30.7 Maintenance Information There is no maintenance information related to TFO. 30.8 References

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30.1 Overview
This topic describes the application of the TFO in improving voice quality.

Definition
There is a symptom called the Tandem Operation during the calling process in which the speech is transcoded two times. Speech signals are degraded due to Tandem Operation, as shown in Figure 30-1. Figure 30-1 Tandem Operation
Speech frame BTS BSC (TC) PCM MSC PCM BSC (TC) BTS Speech frame

Encoding

Speech compression

Decoding

A-law/u-law PCM

Encoding

Speech compression

Decoding

Figure 30-2 shows the Tandem Free Operation in which the speech signals are transparently transmitted between two MSs. Figure 30-2 TFO
Speech frame BTS BSC (TC) PCM MSC PCM BSC (TC) BTS Speech frame

Disable Tandem operation

TFO

Disable Disable Tandem Tandem operation operation

TFO

Disable Tandem operation

Endcoding

Speech compression

Decoding

Purposes
TFO eliminates one encoding/decoding process to improve the speech quality.

Terms
Terms TFO Definition Tandem Free Operation eliminates one encoding/decoding process during an MS-MS call.

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Terms IPE

Definition The in-path equipment in a network is classified into echo canceller, digital communication multiplexer equipment (DCME), dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) generator, A-law/u-law converter, and so on. TFO MESSAGE is the in-band signaling used for TFO negotiation between TCs. As shown in Figure 30-2, TRAU frame is the speech data format used between the MS and the TC. TFO frame is the speech data format used between the TCs once the TFO is established.

TFO MESSAGE TFO FRAME

Abbreviation
Abbreviation AEC ALC EFR FR HR IPE MOS TFO TRAU Full Spelling Acoustic Echo Cancellation Adaptive Level Control Enhance Full Rate speech codec Full Rate speech codec Half Rate speech codec In Path Equipment Mean Opinion Score Tandem Free Operation Transcoding and Rate Adaptation Unit

30.2 Availability
This topic describes the availability of TFO. The realization of TFO depends on the cooperation of relevant NEs, software releases, and speech coding schemes.

Network Elements Involved

Table 30-1 lists the network elements involved in TFO. Table 30-1 NEs involved in TFO MS
NOTE
l : not involved l : involved

BTS

BSC

MSC

MGW

SGSN

GGSN

HLR

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Software Releases
Table 30-2 lists the software versions of GBSS products that support TFO. Table 30-2 GBSS products and related versions Product BSC BSC6000 Version V900R001C01 and later releases

Miscellaneous
The BSC6000 supports the TFO in the FR, HR, EFR coding schemes. It dos not support the TFO in the AMR HR and AMR FR coding schemes.

30.3 Impact
The topic describes the impact of the TFO on system performance and other features.

Impact on System Performance

None.

Impact on Other Features

Once TFO is enabled, the system disables the AEC/ALC in the FR/EFR/HR services.

30.4 Technical Description

Once a call connection is established, a TRAU frame is used to activate a traffic channel so that the TFO message response mechanism is established. The rearranged speech frames form TFO frames and the transcoding process is reduced to such a level that the speech quality is significantly improved. 30.4.1 TFO Messages This topic describes the TFO messages. There are three types of TFO messages: TFO_REQ, TFO_ACK, and IS_IPE. 30.4.2 TFO Frame This part describes the TFO frame, which is equivalent to the TRAU frame (see GSM Rec. 08.60). Actually, the TFO frame is a bit conversion format of the TRAU frame. 30.4.3 TRAU Operating Process in TFO Mode This topic describes the TRAU operating process in ideal and abnormal cases. 30.4.4 Realization of TFO This topic describes the realization of TFO. The TRAU implements the TFO by activating a channel on the Abis interface, transferring TFO messages, and establishing acknowledgement mechanism.

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30.4.1 TFO Messages

This topic describes the TFO messages. There are three types of TFO messages: TFO_REQ, TFO_ACK, and IS_IPE.

Transmission of TFO Messages

TFO messages are transmitted in bit spacing schemes. In other words, the least significant bit in the first sample of the 16 PCM samples is replaced. This reduces the impact of bit replacing to a minimum level.

Classification of TFO Messages

l

TFO_REQ This command requests for activating the TFO feature. TFO_ACK This command responses to the TFO_REQ commands. IS_IPE The IS_IPE is classified into FO_TRANS and TFO_NORMAL.

TFO_TRANS is used to activate and maintain the ability of the IPE equipment to support the TFO feature. TFO_NORMAL is used to revert the IPEs to normal operation.
NOTE

TFO_FILL does not belong to IS_IPE in terms of classification. Its enables the IPEs to synchronize with the TFO message in short. The TFO_FILL is mainly used to re-synchronize the IPEs in abnormal cases.
l

Other commands

TFO_DUP is mainly used in intra-cell and inter-cell handovers. It enables the newly activated TRAU channel to establish a TFO connection with the original TRAU channel. TFO_SYL reports that the synchronization information of the TFO frame is lost. It is mainly used for channel handover.

30.4.2 TFO Frame

This part describes the TFO frame, which is equivalent to the TRAU frame (see GSM Rec. 08.60). Actually, the TFO frame is a bit conversion format of the TRAU frame. The TFO frame occupies the two least significant bits of the 8-bit PCM frame. The remaining six bits are still used to transmit the decoded speech signals. In other words, when the TFO is activated, the decoder of the TRAU is still in work. On receiving the TRAU frame through the Abis interface, the decoder performs decoding and A-law conversion of the TRAU frame, and generates a new PCM frame by combining the six most significant bits of the TRAU frame with the TFO frame.

30.4.3 TRAU Operating Process in TFO Mode

This topic describes the TRAU operating process in ideal and abnormal cases.
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TRAU Operating Process in Idea Case (Simple Mode)

1. 2. On receiving a speech frame, the TRAU is activated. The TRAU also activates the encoder and decoder. The TRAU activates the TFO protocol processor, sends the TFO_REQ on the A interface, and monitors the TFO messages on the A interface (check whether there is TFO_REQ or TFO_ACK sent from the remote end). If the coding format of the TRAUs matches at two ends, the TRAU initiates the uplink TFO and begins to send TFO frames. The TRAU also embeds TFO_TRANS messages into the TFO frames to maintain the "direct pass-through" function of the IPEs. On receiving the remote TFO frames through the A interface, the TRAU initiates the downlink TFO and deactivates the encoder. The TFO protocol processor is then responsible for the construction and transmission of downlink TRAU frames. If the synchronization with the BTS fails in 10 successive frames, the current channel is regarded being released. The TRAU deactivates the decoder and the TFO protocol processor.

3.

4.

5.

Handling in Abnormal Cases

l

After a channel is activated, the TRAU sends consecutive TFO_REQ commands. If no response is received when the number of TFO_REQ commands has exceeded the threshold, the TRAU stops sending TFO messages but keeps monitoring the TFO messages on the A interface until the channel is released. If the coding format of the TRAUs does not match at two ends, the TRAU aborts the establishment of TFO links and returns to normal operation. Bit errors occur during the transmission of TFO frames and TFO messages. Bit errors are detected through comparison between synchronization bits and Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC). The TFO messages can do certain error correction of the bit errors. However, the bits to be corrected differ. For details, refer to the protocols listed in 30.8 References. If the TFO frames cannot be normally received due to bit errors, only synchronization bit errors are allowed based on the DTX status. If there are error parameters, the current frame should be discarded and replaced with the preceding good one.

Synchronization lost of the TFO frames Synchronization lost of the TFO frames is normally caused by sudden channel handover. As far as the TRAU is concerned, the synchronization lost of the TFO frames occurs when no channel handover information is available for the TRAU. Therefore, if there is synchronization lost of TFO frames, the TRAU does not quit the TFO activation status but tries to establish a connection with the remote TRAU through the TFO_SYL. The remote TRAU response with the TFO_DUP. If the connection is established within a predefined period, the current status of the call remains; if the connection is not established within the predefined period, the local TRAU quits the TFO status.

30.4.4 Realization of TFO

This topic describes the realization of TFO. The TRAU implements the TFO by activating a channel on the Abis interface, transferring TFO messages, and establishing acknowledgement mechanism.

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1. 2.
l

During the call setup process, the TRAU searches for valid TRAU frames on the Abis interface to activate the current channel. When the channel is activated, the TRAU activates the encoder and decoder, and inserts TFO messages in the PCM samples on the A interface by using the bit stealing scheme. If the TFO message acknowledgment mechanism is not established within a predefined period, the TRAU performs transcoding in a normal way. If the TFO message acknowledgment mechanism is established, the TRAU rearranges the speech frames received on the Abis interface, forms the TFO frames, and then transmits the TFO frames to the remote TRAU. On receiving the TFO frames, the remote TRAU processes the bits that constitute the TFO frames, forms the TRAU frames, and then transmits the TRAU frames to the Abis interface. As the speech signals are encoded and decoded only in the MS, this prevents repeated transcoding and can thus improve speech quality.

30.5 Capabilities
This topic describes the TFO capabilities in different services. In the TFO, the Mean Opinion Score (MOS) of the HR services increases by 0.30.5, the FR services by 0.20.4, and the EFR services by 0.10.3.

30.6 Implementation
The implementation of TFO refer to configuring and verifying TFO. 30.6.1 Configuring TFO This topic describes how to configure TFO through the BSC6000 Local Maintenance Terminal. 30.6.2 Verifying TFO This topic describes how to verify TFO through the BSC6000 Local Maintenance Terminal.

30.6.1 Configuring TFO

This topic describes how to configure TFO through the BSC6000 Local Maintenance Terminal.

Procedure
Step 1 Right-click a GDPUC on the BSC Device Panel of the BSC6000 Local Maintenance Terminal and select Configure Board Attributes on the short-cut menu. A dialog box is displayed, as shown in Figure 30-3.

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Figure 30-3 Configure the attributes for the GDPUC

Step 2 Click Next. A dialog box is displayed, as shown in Figure 30-4. Figure 30-4 Configuring the TFO feature

Step 3 Select Configure All, and set the TFO Switch to Open, as shown inFigure 30-5.

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Figure 30-5 Configuring the TFO switch

Step 4 Click Finish. The TFO is activated. ----End

30.6.2 Verifying TFO

This topic describes how to verify TFO through the BSC6000 Local Maintenance Terminal.

Procedure
Step 1 Right-click a GDPUC on the BSC Device Panel of the BSC6000 Local Maintenance Terminal and select Query TC Resources on the short-cut menu. A dialog box is displayed, as shown in Figure 30-6.

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Figure 30-6 Querying TC resources

Step 2 Click the DSP state tab. The DSP State page is displayed, as shown in Figure 30-7.

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Figure 30-7 Querying DSP state

Step 3 Select the corresponding Subrack No., Slot No., and DSP No., and then click Query. As shown in Figure 30-8, all the channels with TFO activated are displayed. The TFO verification succeeds.

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Figure 30-8 Querying TFO state

----End

30.7 Maintenance Information

There is no maintenance information related to TFO.

Alarms
None.

Counters
None.

30.8 References
l

3GPP 02.53: "Digital cellular telecommunication system (Phase 2+); Tandem Free Operation (TFO) of Speech Codecs; Service Description; Stage 1"
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3GPP 03.53: "Digital cellular telecommunication system (Phase 2+); Tandem Free Operation (TFO) of Speech Codecs; Service Description; Stage 2" 3GPP 08.62: "Inband Tandem Free Operation (TFO) of Speech Codecs; Service Description; Stage 3"

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