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Signaling Analysis Manual

Contents

Contents
7 Mobile Originated Call Establishment Procedure ..............................................................7-1
7.1 Overview.......................................................................................................................................................7-2
7.2 Normal Procedure .........................................................................................................................................7-2
7.2.1 Mobile Originated Call Establishment without OACSU (Early Assignment) .....................................7-2
7.2.2 Mobile Originated Call Establishment with OACSU (Late Assignment) ............................................7-6
7.2.3 Mobile Originated Call Establishment with OACSU (Very Early Assignment)..................................7-8
7.3 Internal Handling of BSC..............................................................................................................................7-9
7.4 Abnormal Procedures ....................................................................................................................................7-9
7.4.1 Abnormal Random Access/Immediate Assignment Procedure ..........................................................7-10
7.4.2 MSC directly delivers Disconnect to clear the call, instead of delivering the Assignment Request .. 7-11
7.4.3 Abnormal Assignment Procedure....................................................................................................... 7-11
7.4.4 Abnormal Procedure Cause by Call Interruption ...............................................................................7-12
7.4.5 Abnormal Procedure Caused by Hangup ...........................................................................................7-12
7.4.6 Abnormal Procedure Caused by MSC Clearing.................................................................................7-12

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Figures

Figures
Figure 7-1 Mobile originated call establishment without OACSU (early assignment) ......................................7-3
Figure 7-2 Mobile originated call establishment with OACSU (late assignment) .............................................7-6
Figure 7-3 Mobile originated call establishment with OACSU (very early assignment) ...................................7-8

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Mobile Originated Call Establishment

Procedure

About This Chapter

The following table lists the contents of this chapter.
Title

Description

7.1 Overview

Introduces the scope of the mobile originated call

services.

7.2 Normal Procedure

Describes normal mobile originated call establishment

procedures.

7.3 Internal Handling of BSC

Describes the BSC internal handling in mobile originated

call establishment procedures.

7.4 Abnormal Procedures

Describes common abnormal mobile originated call

establishment procedures and offers guidance to
troubleshooting.

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7.1 Overview
Mobile originated call services include (excluding mobile-originated SMS)
z

MS calls MS

MS calls fixed telephone

7.2 Normal Procedure

As per assignment type, the mobile originated call establishment procedure can be classified
into three types, early assignment, late assignment and very early assignment. The selection of
early assignment and late assignment is determined by MSC. The selection of very early
assignment is determined by BSS as per the status of radio resources.

7.2.1 Mobile Originated Call Establishment without OACSU

(Early Assignment)
OACSU denotes "Off-Air-Call-Set-Up".

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Signaling procedure
Figure 7-1 Mobile originated call establishment without OACSU (early assignment)
BTS

MS

BSC

MSC

Channel REQ (1)

Channel RQD (2)
Channel ACT

(3)

Channel ACT ACK (4)

IMM ASS CMD (5)
SABM

(6)

UA (7)

EST IND( CM Service REQ) (8)

CR(CMP L3 information)

(9)

CC (10)
CM Service Accepted

(11)

Setup (12)
Call Proceeding (13)
Channel ACT (15)

ASS REQ (14)

Channel ACT ACK (16)

ASS CMD (17)
SABM

(18)

UA (19)

EST IND (20)

ASS CMP (21)

ASS CMP (22)

Alerting (23)
Connect

(24)

Connect ACK (25)

Talking (26)
DISC (27)
REL (28)
REL CMP (29)

Channel REL (31)

Clear CMD (30)

Clear CMP (38)
RLSD (39)

DISC (32)

RLSD CMP

UA (33)

(40)

Deactive SACCH (34)

REL IND (35)
RF Channel REL (36)
RF Channel REL ACK (37)

Step 1 MS sends a Channel Request message to BTS on the access channel (RACH) of Um interface.
The message contains the cause value "MOC", but that value is not completely accurate,

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because it is indicated both in the mobile originated call establishment procedure and IMSI
detach procedure.
Step 2 BTS sends a Channel Required message to BSC.
Step 3 Upon receipt of the Channel Required message, BSC allocates a signaling channel and sends
a Channel Activation message to BTS.
Step 4 If the channel type is correct, upon receipt of the Channel Activation message, BTS opens the
power amplifier on the specified channel, and sends a Channel Activation Acknowledge
message to BSC.
Step 5 BSC sends an Immediate Assignment Command message to MS via BTS. The message is
sent on AGCH on Um interface.
Step 6 MS sends an SABM frame on SDCCH to BTS to access the network.
Step 7 BTS returns a UA frame on SDCCH for acknowledgement.
Step 8 BTS sends an Establishment Indication message to BSC (This message contains the accurate
causes for MS access. For example, different cause values are indicated in the mobile
originated call establishment procedure and IMSI detach procedure). This message contains
the contents of the CM Service Request message.
Step 9 BSC establishes the SCCP link connection on A interface, and sends a CM Service Request
message to MSC.
Step 10 MSC returns a message to BSC to acknowledge the link connection.
Step 11 MSC sends a CM Service Accepted message to MS. The message is sent on SDCCH on Um
interface.
Step 12 The calling MS sends a Setup message on SDCCH.
Step 13 MSC sends a Call Proceeding message to the calling MS. The message is sent on SDCCH on
Um interface.
Step 14 MSC sends an Assignment Request message to BSC, which contains the CIC allocated to A
interface.
Step 15 BSC allocates a TCH, and sends a Channel Activation message to BTS.
Step 16 If the channel type is correct, upon receipt of the Channel Activation message, BTS opens the
power amplifier on the specified channel, starts to receive the uplink information and sends a
Channel Activation Acknowledge message to BSC.
Step 17 BSC sends an Assignment Command message to MS via BTS on SDCCH.
Step 18 MS sends an SABM frame to BTS, to access the network on FACCH indicated in the
Assignment Command message.
Step 19 BTS sends a UA frame for acknowledgement on FACCH.
Step 20 BTS sends an Establishment Indication message to BSC.
Step 21 After accessing the TCH, MS sends an Assignment Complete message to BSC on FACCH.
Step 22 After the radio traffic channel and terrestrial circuit are both successfully connected, BSC
sends an Assignment Complete message to MSC, and regards this call in session state.
Step 23 MSC sends an Altering message to the calling MS. The calling MS will hear the ringback
tone. The message is sent on FACCH on Um interface.

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Step 24 MSC sends a Connect message to MS. The message is sent on FACCH on Um interface.
Step 25 The calling MS returns a Connect Acknowledge message on FACCH to MSC.
Step 26 The calling MS and called MS enters the session state.
Step 27 After the conversation is over, the calling MS hangs up and sends a Disconnect message on
FACCH.
Step 28 MSC sends a Release message to MS. The message is sent on FACCH on Um interface.
Step 29 MS returns a Release Complete message. The message is sent on FACCH on Um interface.
Step 30 MSC sends a Clear Command message to BSC. Upon receipt of the message, BSC initiates
the release procedure. See Chapter 5 for the description of the subsequent release procedure.
Step 31 BSC sends a Channel Release message to MS through BTS, The message is sent on FACCH
on Um interface.
Step 32 MS sends DISC frame on FACCH.
Step 33 BTS returns UA frame on FACCH.
----End

Procedure explanation
Step 1 In Figure 7-1, 1~8 refer to the random access procedure and immediate assignment procedure.
In the two procedures, BSS allocates signaling channels to MS.
Step 2 Between 10~11, there may exist an authentication procedure, ciphering mode setting
procedure and classmark interrogation procedure (updating procedure).
Step 3 As per different data configuration of MSC, after the link connection is established on A
interface, MSC may not immediately deliver the CM Service Accepted message. Instead, it
may proceed as follows.
Step 4 Initiate the ciphering mode setting procedure by delivering a Cipher Mode Command (In that
case, MSC shall not deliver the CM Service Accepted message again).
Step 5 Initiate the authentication procedure by delivering an Authentication Request message.
Step 6 Initiate the classmark updating procedure by delivering a Classmark Update message.
Step 7 In addition, if [ECSC] in BSC data configuration is set to "Yes", the dual-band MS shall
report a Classmark Change message after it reports an Establishment Indication message.
Step 8 14~22 refer to the TCH assignment procedure.
In this procedure, BSS allocates the resources such as TCHs, A interface circuit, etc. to MS.
Step 9 30~40 refer to the release procedure.
The procedure shown in Figure 7-1 is a release procedure in which the calling MS first hangs
up. The logical channels on Um interface are released prior to the physical channels.
----End

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7.2.2 Mobile Originated Call Establishment with OACSU (Late

Assignment)
Signaling procedure
Figure 7-2 Mobile originated call establishment with OACSU (late assignment)
MS

BSC

BTS

MSC

Channel RQD (1)

Channel ACT (2)
Channel ACT ACK (3)
IMM ASS CMD (4)
SABM

(5)

UA (6)

EST IND( CM Service REQ) (7)

CR(CMP L3 information) (8)

CC (9)

CM Service Accepted

(10)

Setup (11)
Call Proceeding (12)
Alerting

(13)

Channel ACT (15)

ASS REQ (14)

Channel ACT ACK (16)

ASS CMD (17)
SABM(18)
UA (19)
EST IND

(20)

ASS CMP (21)

ASS CMP
Connect

(22)

(23)

Connect ACK (24)

Talking (25)
DISC (26)
REL (27)
REL CMP (28)
Clear CMD (29)
Channel REL (30)
DISC (31)

Clear CMP (37)

RLSD (38)

UA (32)
Deactive SACCH (33)

RLSD CMP

(39)

REL IND (34)

RF Channel REL (35)
RF Channel REL ACK (36)

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Step 1 The difference between Figure 7-1 and Figure 7-2 is that late assignment takes place after the
Alerting indication is sent.
Step 2 The advantage of late assignment lies in that it can save the seizure time of TCHs.
Step 3 The disadvantage of late assignment is that if the subsequent assignment is unsuccessful, the
called MS can only hear the ring but cannot establish a connection, thus leading to user
complaints. Therefore, in actual application, this procedure is generally not adopted. Instead,
the procedure in Figure 7-1 is adopted.
----End

Procedure explanation
For relevant explanation, please refer to section 7.2.1 "Mobile Originated Call Establishment
without OACSU (Early Assignment)". The procedure in Figure 7-2 is a procedure in which
the calling MS first hangs up.

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7.2.3 Mobile Originated Call Establishment with OACSU (Very

Early Assignment)
Signaling procedure
Figure 7-3 Mobile originated call establishment with OACSU (very early assignment)
MS

BSC

BTS

MSC

Channel REQ (1)

Channel RQD (2)
Channel ACT (3)
Channel ACT ACK (4)
IMM ASS CMD (5)
SABM

(6)

UA (7)

EST IND( CM Service REQ)(8)

CR(CMP L3 information) (9)

CC (10)

CM Service Accepted (11)

Setup (12)
Call Proceeding(13)
Alerting (14)
ASS REQ (15)
Mode Modify (16)
Mode Modify ACK (17)
Channel Mode Modify (18)
Channel Mode Modify ACK (19)
ASS CMP (20)
Connect (21)
Connect ACK (22)
Talking (23)
DISC (24)
REL (25)
REL CMP (26)
Clear CMD (27)
Channel REL (28)
DISC (29)

Clear CMP (35)

RLSD (36)

UA (30)
Deactive SACCH(31)

RLSD CMP (37)

REL IND (32)

RF Channel REL (33)
RF Channel REL ACK (34)

Step 1 The difference between Figure 7-1 and Figure 7-3 is that the TCH allocated during the
immediate assignment in Figure 7-3 serves as a signaling channel. Therefore, no TCH need be
reallocated during the assignment procedure. Instead, the TCH allocated in the immediate
assignment procedure is adjusted as a TCH by using the Mode Modify message.

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Step 2 Very early assignment generally takes place if there is no free SDCCH for allocation during
immediate assignment, but there are free TCHs and immediate assignment of TCHs is
allowed in BSC data configuration.
----End

Procedure explanation
For relevant explanation, please refer to 7.2.1 "Mobile Originated Call Establishment
without OACSU (Early Assignment)." The procedure in Figure 7-3 is a procedure in which
the calling MS first hangs up.

7.3 Internal Handling of BSC

The internal handling of the BSC is given below:
Step 1 Upon receipt of the CHANNEL REQUIRED message from the BTS, the BSC allocates a
signaling channel based on the channel type and channel allocation algorithm required by the
[Radio channel management control table], [HW II Channel Allocation table] and the TCH
immediate assignment field in the [Cell call control table].
Step 2 Upon receipt of the ESTABLISHMENT INDICATION message in the random access
procedure, the BSC adds the CGI of the current cell to the CM SERVICE REQUEST
message based on the [BSC Cell Table] and sends the message to the MSC.
Step 3 Upon receipt of the ASSIGNMENT REQUEST message from the MSC, the BSC checks the
channel type. Then it checks whether the data service is supported based on the Data Service
allowed field in the [Cell Configuration Table]. It returns an ASSIGNMENT FAILURE
message if the data service is not supported.
Step 4 The BSC checks the [Trunk Circuit Table] based on the CIC in the ASSIGNMENT
REQUEST message for whether the CIC exists. Then it checks whether the circuit pool, the
channel type in the ASSIGNMENT REQUEST message and the supporting capability of the
FTC board conflict. It returns an ASSIGNMENT FAILURE message to the MSC upon
conflict.
Step 5 Upon receipt of the ASSIGNMENT COMPLETE message from the MS, the BSC fills in the
ASSIGNMENT COMPLETE message over interface A interface based on the A-interface
Phase flag field in the [Local Office Information Table]. Then it sends the message to the
MSC.
----End

7.4 Abnormal Procedures

In the cases of loss of messages on Um interface, call interruption, hangup, abnormal
operation of transport/NSS/BSS equipment, the procedure may not be performed normally. In
addition, if MS resends multiple Channel Request messages during an access attempt, BSS
shall activate multiple signaling channels correspondingly. Actually, MS shall only seize 1
signaling channel. Because no Establish Indication message can be received from MS by
other channels, other channels shall be released upon timeout.

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Because there are various causes for abnormal procedures, here, merely the common cases are
described.

7.4.1 Abnormal Random Access/Immediate Assignment

Procedure
Establish Indication message cannot not be received after a channel is activated
Generally, there are the following causes for this problem.
Step 1 Due to defect design that does not comply with the protocols, MS resends multiple Channel
Request messages. As a result, BSS allocates and activates too many signaling channels.
Even if BSS runs normally, during an access attempt, MS may resend multiple Channel
Request messages. As a result, BSS activates multiple signaling channels. Actually, MS shall
only seize 1 signaling channel. Because no Establish Indication message can be received from
MS by other channels, other channels shall be released when the T3101 timer expires.
Step 2 On Um interface, uplink signals can be received normally, whereas, downlink signals cannot
be properly received by MS.
By tracing the Um interface on MS side, it may be found that MS cannot receive the relevant
information from BTS after it sends a Channel Request message.
In that case, the user should check whether the uplink/downlink Rx level and Rx quality are
normal. If MS is not far from BTS, but the signals are of low Rx level and poor Rx quality,
the user should check whether the antenna & feeder of BTS, the antenna of MS, battery, etc.
work normally.
Step 3 Tx-integer and CCCH are improperly configured in BSC data configuration.
The configuration mode of Tx-integer and CCCH has impact upon the retransmission interval
of MS's Channel Request message.
----End

BSC sends an Immediate Assignment Reject message

If BSC sends an Immediate Assignment Reject message to MS upon receipt of a Channel
Request message, generally, the causes may be as follows.
Step 1 BSC cannot find an appropriate signaling channel (Generally, the signaling channel is
SDCCH, but it can also be TCH) to allocate to the MS, generally, because no signaling
channel is available, e.g. all signaling channels are in busy state or the channels have been
blocked.
Step 2 BTS returns Channel Activation Negative Acknowledge messages to BSC after it delivers a
Channel Activation message to MS.
If BTS returns many Channel Activation Negative Acknowledge messages to BSC, the
problem generally lies in that the unstable transmission on Abis interface has lead to the
inconsistency between the channel states of BSC and BTS, or abnormality has occurred to a
board in BTS.
----End

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7.4.2 MSC directly delivers Disconnect to clear the call, instead of

delivering the Assignment Request
In the MS call procedure, after the immediate assignment procedure is finished, the following
procedure is assignment. Sometimes MSC doesn't send Assignment Request message, but
send Disconnect message to MS, and then disconnect the call. After this problem occurs,
usually, a large quantity of MSs shall complain that calls cannot be put through. In that case,
the following points should mainly be checked..
Step 1 The state of A interface circuit on MSC side.
Step 2 The consistency between A interface data of MSC and A interface data of BSC, especially
circuit pool data.
----End

7.4.3 Abnormal Assignment Procedure

Assignment Failure
Upon receipt of an Assignment Request message, BSC returns an Assignment Failure
message, instead of an Assignment Complete message. The common causes are as follows.
Step 1 There is no appropriate TCH for allocation in BSC.
There is no appropriate TCH for allocation in BSC, possibly because all TCHs are in busy
state or have been blocked.
The Assignment Failure message returned by BSC contains the cause value "No radio
resource".
In that case, the user can solve the problem by BTS expansion (adding TRX), modifying the
access threshold and open the direct re-attempt permit switch.
Step 2 MS fails to access the TCH, and sends an Assignment Failure message on the signaling
channel.
Due to the particularity of the transmission on Um interface, this problem is actually the most
common problem in the network, and cannot be solved completely. If this problem occurs
frequently, it may lead to user complaints. The major points to be checked are the antenna &
feeder, the relevant boards in BTS, and access-related parameters in BSC data configuration.
Step 3 On BSC side, A interface circuit is found abnormal, e.g. The CIC contained in the
Assignment Request message is not available.
In that case, the user should check the A interfaces.
Step 4 Abnormality occurs to the relevant equipment in BSC.
The Assignment Failure message returned by BSC generally contains the cause value
"Equipment failure".
In that case, the major points to be checked are as follows.
z

The boards and their respective backplanes and optical fiber that are related to the
inter-module communication in BSC, such as GMC2, GMCC, GSNT, GOPT and GFBI.

The boards related to A interface, such as E3Ms, TCSMs and their backplanes

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Step 5 Abnormality occurs to the transmission on A interface.

----End

Directed Retry
Because there is no appropriate TCH for allocation, and the direct re-attempt permit switch is
set to "On" in BSC data configuration, upon receipt of an Assignment Request message from
MSC, BSC shall initiate handover (with the cause value "Directed retry) as per the actual
situation, so that MS can directly attempt to access other cells.

7.4.4 Abnormal Procedure Cause by Call Interruption

Call interruption might occur in any procedure to the calling/called MS, and as a result, the
subsequent procedures cannot be completed normally. For example, after BSC receives an
Assignment Request message from MSC, call interruption occurs to MS on signaling channel.
In that case, the assignment procedure probably is not be finished (For example, the channel is
just assigned and the Assignment Command is not sent) BSC probably shall not return an
Assignment Complete or Assignment Failure message to MSC. Instead, it shall send a Clear
Request message.

7.4.5 Abnormal Procedure Caused by Hangup

The calling/called MS may hang up in any procedure, and as a result, the subsequent
procedures cannot be completed normally. For example, after BSC receives an Assignment
Request message from MSC, MS suddenly hangs up. In that case, the call establishment may
be already terminated before BSC returns an Assignment Complete or Assignment Failure
message to MSC. As a result, the procedure is neither a successful assignment procedure
(BSC sends an Assignment Complete message), nor an unsuccessful assignment procedure
(BSC sends an Assignment Failure message).

7.4.6 Abnormal Procedure Caused by MSC Clearing

After the link connection on A interface is established, due to some causes, MSC may send a
Clear Command or Disconnect message to BSC, and as a result, the subsequent procedures
cannot be completed normally. For example, after BSC receives an Assignment Request
message from MSC, MS suddenly hangs up. In that case, the call establishment may be
already terminated before BSC returns an Assignment Complete or Assignment Failure
message to MSC. As a result, the procedure is neither a successful assignment procedure
(BSC sends an Assignment Complete message), nor an assignment failure procedure(BSC
sends an Assignment Failure message).
If this problem frequently occurs, the following points should be analyzed specially.
Step 1 The cause value contained in the Clear Command message
If a call terminates normally, the Clear Command message generally contains the cause value
"Call control". Otherwise, it may contain the cause value of "Protocol Error", or "Equipment
failure", etc.
Step 2 The time difference between the previous message and the Clear Command or Disconnect
message in the procedure
The user can analyze the time difference between the two successive messages, to see whether
there is possibility that the abnormal procedure has been triggered by timeout.
----End

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