Paging procedure Explanation

The paging procedure offers the network the means to start the establishment of a mobile
terminating call with a given MS.
The BSC is able to handle all cell identifier types within the PAGING message.
The BSC requires parameters for calculating the Paging Group.
In networks with GPRS capability, the PAGING message can also be routed through the SGSN.
GPRS-related paging is used when paging an MS for a Circuit Switched or a Packet Switched
call on a paging subchannel. The paging subgroup is calculated by the BTS. When the BSC
receives paging from the SGSN, the BSC sends a CS-PAGING COMMAND or a PS-PAGING
COMMAND (for packet data) to the BTS.
If the MS does not answer within a given time limit, the MSC repeats the PAGING COMMAND
message.
PAGING message:The PAGING message received from MSC includes the following data:

Message type

MS identity (IMSI)

Temporary MS identity (TMSI) (optional)

cell identifier list (optional)

channel needed (optional)

The cell identifier list identifies the cells where the PAGING message is sent. The BSC is able
to handle all cell identifier types. If no cell identifier is included, the BSC pages the mobile in all
cells it controls.
The channel needed information element (Any channel, SDCCH, TCH/F, TCH/F or TCH/H) is
used to indicate to the MS which channel will be needed for the transaction linked to the paging
procedure. The inclusion of the channel needed element depends on the MSC.
PAGING COMMAND message

The PAGING COMMAND message includes the following data.

message header

paging group

MS identity

channel needed (optional)

The BSC uses the IMSI value received in the PAGING message to calculate the mobile's paging
group and sends the PAGING COMMAND (b) message to the BTS. Consequently, the BTS uses
the paging group element included in the PAGING COMMAND message to calculate which
DRX paging block to use to transmit the PAGING REQUEST MESSAGE (c) to the MS.
The CCCH has two alternative configurations that are described below. The CCCH configuration
affects the value of the paging group information element that is included in the PAGING
COMMAND message.The maximum value of the paging group element is 81.
1. BCCH + CCCH in a 51-frame multiframe 9 CCCH block.
2. BCCH + BCCH + CCCH + 4 SDCCH (stand-alone dedicated control channel) 4 in a 51-frame
multiframe 3 CCCH block.
paging group = ((IMSI mod 1000) mod (BS_CC_CHANS x N)) mod N
Where,
N = number of paging blocks available in one 51-frame multiframe on one CCCH x
BS_PA_MFRMS
BS_PA_MFRMS = number of multiframes between paging
BS_CC_CHANS = number of CCCH channels in a TRX
BS_AG_BLKS_RES = number of blocks reserved for access grant, ranges from 0-7 in
configuration (i) and 0-2 in configuration (ii)
So,
N = (9-BS_AG_BLKS_RES)*BS_PA_MFRMS, if CCCH_CONF=0 configuration (i)
N = (3-BS_AG_BLKS_RES)*BS_PA_MFRMS, if CCCH_CONF=1 configuration (ii)
If the PAGING message includes both a TMSI and IMSI, the TMSI is used. The TMSI is a
locally used number inside one Location Area which replaces the IMSI number in call setup. The
TMSI improves security and ensures that any significant subscriber information, such as the
IMSI, cannot be discovered during call setup.

The channel needed element is optional: if the channel needed element is not present, its value is
assumed to be 00 (any channel).
CS-PAGING COMMAND message
The CS-PAGING COMMAND message includes the following data:

message header

MS identity

DRX parameter (optional)

temporary MS identity (optional)

channel needed (optional)

The MS identity (IMSI) is a mandatory information element. The DRX parameter and the
temporary MS identity (TMSI) elements are optional. The channel needed element is also
optional: its inclusion depends on the MSC. If the channel needed element is not present, its
value is assumed to be 00 (any channel).
PS-PAGING COMMAND message
The PS-PAGING COMMAND message includes the following data:

message header

MS identity

DRX parameter (optional)

temporary) MS identity (optional)