M900/M1800 Base Station Subsystem

Signaling Analysis Manual

Contents

Contents
8 TMSI Reallocation Procedure..................................................................................................8-1
8.1 Overview of TMSI Reallocation Procedure ..................................................................................................8-2
8.2 TMSI Reallocation Procedure .......................................................................................................................8-2
8.3 Signaling Procedure in the BSC....................................................................................................................8-3
8.4 Abnormal Cases and Troubleshooting...........................................................................................................8-3
8.4.1 Network Side .......................................................................................................................................8-3
8.4.2 Expiry of Timer T3250 ........................................................................................................................8-3

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Figures

Figures
Figure 8-1 TMSI reallocation procedure ............................................................................................................8-2

ii

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8 TMSI Reallocation Procedure

TMSI Reallocation Procedure

About This Chapter

The following table lists the contents of this chapter.
Section

Describes

8.1 Overview of TMSI Reallocation

Procedure

An overview of the TMSI reallocation

procedure.

8.2 TMSI Reallocation Procedure

The TMSI reallocation procedure.

8.3 Signaling Procedure in the BSC

The internal processing procedure of the BSC.

8.4 Abnormal Cases and

Troubleshooting

The abnormal cases when the TMSI reallocation

procedure fails and how to troubleshoot them.

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Signaling Analysis Manual

8 TMSI Reallocation Procedure

8.1 Overview of TMSI Reallocation Procedure

The TMSI reallocation takes place in conjunction with another procedure, such as at location
updating or at call setup. It is performed in ciphered mode.
The purpose of the TMSI reallocation is to provide identity confidentiality for an MS, such as,
to protect the MS against being identified or located by an intruder. If the identity
confidentiality service is applied for an IMSI, a TMSI is used for the identification within the
radio interface signaling procedures.
Usually the TMSI reallocation is performed at least at each change of a location area. The
network can initiate the TMSI reallocation at any time if an RR connection exists between the
network and an MS.
For the TMSI reallocation procedure, refer to the GSM protocol 24008.

8.2 TMSI Reallocation Procedure

Figure 8-1 TMSI reallocation procedure
MS

BTS

BSC

MSC

TMSI Reallocation Command(1)

SDCCH
Start T3250
TMSI Reallocation Complete(2)
SDCCH
Stop T3250

The network initiates the TMSI reallocation procedure by sending a TMSI Reallocation
Command message to the MS and starts the timer T3250. The TMSI Reallocation Command
message contains a new combination of TMSI and LAI allocated by the network or a
combination of a LAI and the IMSI if the used TMSI is deleted. Usually the TMSI
Reallocation Command message is sent to the MS through an RR connection in ciphered
mode. :

8-2

Upon receipt of the TMSI Reallocation Command message, the MS stores the LAI in the
SIM. If the received identity is the IMSI of the relevant MS, the MS deletes any TMSI. If
the received identity is a TMSI, the MS stores the TMSI in the SIM. In the previous two
cases, the MS sends a TMSI Reallocation Complete message to the network.

Upon receipt of the TMSI Reallocation Complete message, the network stops the timer
T3250. If a TMSI was sent to the MS, the network considers the new TMSI as valid. If
an IMSI was sent to the MS, the network considers the old TMSI as deleted.

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8 TMSI Reallocation Procedure

8.3 Signaling Procedure in the BSC

The TMSI reallocation is initiated and controlled by the network and has no special
processing on the BSC side.

8.4 Abnormal Cases and Troubleshooting

8.4.1 Network Side
Case Description
RR connection fails.

Probable Causes
If the RR connection is lost before the TMSI Reallocation Complete message is received, all
MM connections should be released, and both the old and the new TMSIs should be
considered as occupied for a certain recovery time. :
During this period, the network can:
z

Use the IMSI for paging if the MS is the called party. Upon response from the MS, the
TMSI reallocation is restarted.

Consider the new TMSI as valid if the MS is used as calling party.

Use the identification procedure followed by a new TMSI reallocation if the MS uses the
old TMSI.

Troubleshooting
No special processing is needed by the BSC.

8.4.2 Expiry of Timer T3250

Case Description
The network releases the RR connection.

Probable Causes
In the network, the timer T3250 detects the TMSI reallocation procedure. When the timer
T3250 expires for the first time, the network releases the RR connection. In this case, the
network shall abort the reallocation procedure and release all MM connections. You need to
follow the rules described for RR connection failure.

Troubleshooting
No special processing is required by the BSC.

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