BSSPAR1: Chapter 11

Voice and Channel Coding

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Module Objectives
Understand the difference between full rate (FR), Enhanced Full Rate (EFR) and
half rate (HR)
List the parameters that are used for allocation of HR and FR channels by the BSC
Discuss the parameters that are used to control channel rate changes during
handover
Brief introduction to AMR Codecs

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Half Rate Support - Overview

HR is a Phase 2 GSM feature. Ph 1 MS do not support HR

HR utilises 8kbit/s signalling on BTS-BSC (A-bis) interface to maximise capacity
Can also be used on BSC-transcoder (A-ter) interface if BSS and MS both support HR
Requires modifications to the TCH channel allocation procedure in BSC
FR TCH always allocated for emergency calls (MS HR capabilities not known at point of
set-up)
Introduction of HR increases the load in measurement reporting when 16kbit/s signalling
on A-bis is used need (i) 32kbit/s or (ii) use of BTSMeasAver (pre-processing of
measurement reports in BTS, prior to sending to BSC)
When using HR with FH, random hopping should be used to maximise FH benefits

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HR Support
TCH Channel Type Requirements

TCH channel rate determined by;

Initial channel type requirement received from an MS
MS sends indication of whether HR or FR channel is required as part of establishment
cause indication (Ph2 MSs in MOC when network supports new establishment causes,
NECI on) in channel request message
On establishing RR connection, MS notifies network of its HR capabilities on main DCCH
using Bearer Capability IE, which contains;
FR only (Ph1 MS) or FR/HR (Ph2 & prerferred rate)
Permitted Speech Version Indicator (supported speech codecs in order of preference)
Information received by BSC in Channel Type IE in Assignment or Handover Request message
(in handover case information on source TCH can also be used in TCh channel type decision)
Most cases (Ph2 MSs) MSC can leave decision of TCH type to BSC (MSC just states preference)
BSC decision depends on speech codec rates supported by BTS

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HR Support
Interfaces

TCH Configuration on BTS-BSC Interface

BTS can contain 3 types of TCH resources (configurable at BSC by operator)
Permanent FR TCH - serves only FR traffic channels (each RTSL = 1 logical FR TCh channel)
Permanent HR TCH - serves only HR traffic channels (each RTSL = 2 logical HR TCH
channels)
Dual Rate (DR) TCH - can serve both FR and HR (idle DR RTSL = either 1 FR TCH or 2 HR
TCH) (FR or HR TCHs can be dynamically configured from idle DR resources on call basis)

Circuit Configuration on BSC-MSC Interface

When allocating an A interface circuit, MSC simultaneously chooses transcoder to be used
An A interface circuit pool is a group of A interface circuits that have the same transcoding
capabilities
BSC supports different speech-codec specific circuit pools (including FR, HR, EFR and AMR)
A interface circuit allocated by MSC must enable BSC to allocate resource of the requested
type (in mismatch situation, BSC sends appropriate failure message to MSC)

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HR Support
TCH Allocation Based on Cell Load

Upper limit for free FR TCHs

- btsSpLoadDepTCHRate BTS level
- btsLoadDepTChRate BSC level

Free FR TCHs based on

ratio of available to
working FR TCHs
Process is disabled by
setting lower limit > upper
limit
Enabling load analysis at
BTS level automatically
disables it at a BSC level
To disable at BTS level
must be disabled at both
BTS and BSC level

Lower limit for free FR TCHs

- btsSpLoadDepTCHRate BTS level
- btsLoadDepTChRate BSC level

Allocation
of FR
TCHs
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Allocation
of HR
TCHs

Allocation
of FR
TCHs

HR Support
Parameters

MO
Class

Abbreviated
Name

Range And
Step

Description

Default
value

BSC - MML
Name

BSC

btsLoadDepTchRat
eLower

0...100 %,
step 1 %

Lower limit for the percentage of free full rate resources. Full rate
TCHs are allocated until the number of free full rate resources is
reduced below the value of the parameter. The half rate resources
are then allocated. (BSC Level)

40 %

HRL

BSC

btsLoadDepTchRat
eUpper

0...100 %,
step 1 %

Upper limit for the percentage of free full rate resources. Full rate
TCHs are allocated when the number of free full rate resources
exceeds the value of the parameter. (BSC Level)

60 %

HRU

BTS

btsSpLoadDepTch
RateLower

0...100 %,
step 1 %

Lower limit for the percentage of free full rate resources. Full rate
TCHs are allocated until the number of free full rate resources is
reduced below the value of the parameter. The half rate resources
are then allocated. (BTS Level)

100%

FRL

BTS

btsSpLoadDepTch
RateUpper

0...100 %,
step 1 %

Upper limit for the percentage of free full rate resources. Full rate
TCHs are allocated when the number of free full rate resources
exceeds the value of the parameter. (BTS Level)

0%

FRU

TRX

halfRateSupport

Y, N

With this parameter you define whether the TRX hardware supports
half rate. The parameter is a flag for statistics.

HRS

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HR Support
CS TCH Allocation Calculation
Defines how the GPRS territory is seen when calculating FR resources.

EGPRS
used/default

MBCCHC

TCHD

TCHD

TCHD

TCHD

TCHD

TCHD

5 CS calls
CTC 0
Free FR TCH resources

EGPRS
downgraded

CTC1

CTC2

Working FR TCH resources 6

% of free FR resources

16.7%

14.3%

28.6%

HR Preferred?

MBCCHC

TCHD

TCHD

TCHD

TCHD

TCHD

TCHD

6 CS calls

CTC Value
0 = Only CSW used RTSLs
are used to calculate
CDEF
resources
1 = CSW and PSW used
RTSLs are used. PSW used
RTSLs are seen as occupied
resource when calculating
Territory
downgrade due to PSW RTSLs
CS traffic
2 = CSW used and PSW
used RTSLs are used. PSW
used RTSLs are seen as idle
resource when calculating
resources
downgrad
ed

FRL = relative amounts of

free FR TCH resources in
proportion to working FR TCH
resources
FRL = 15% in this example

Free FR TCH resources

Working FR TCH resources 7

% of free FR resources

14.3%

14.3%

14.3%

HR Preferred?

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HR Support
TCH Channel Rate Control in Handovers

Channel rate (from FR to HR and visa versa) and speech codec version can change in handover
Can be applied to inter and intra cell handovers
Process controlled using tchRateInternalHO (HRI) and tchRateIntraCellHO (TRIH)
Operator has 5 alternatives;
In the handover, the best candidate cell in which the same type of TCH and the same speech
version can be used as in the source cell will be selected for a target cell. If such a cell does not
exist, the other speech version can be used or finally the other type of TCH can be allocated
from the best possible cell
During the speech connection the call serving type of the traffic channel is allocated primarily
and the original speech version is used. In the case of data connection, the TCH is allocated
from the best cell in the candidate list, regardless of the type of the source
TCH Channel rate and speech version changes are denied totally
The traffic channel is allocated from the best handover candidate cell in which the call can use
the type of TCH and the speech version which the MSC has set to be the preferred ones in the
initial radio resource request
The TCH has to be allocated from the best BTS of the handover candidate list

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HR Support
TCH Channel Rate Control in Handovers
TCH in handover (HRI)
Range 15, Default = 1

TCH Rate Intra-Cell Handover (TRIH)

Range 04, Default = 0

Defines the traffic channel allocation during BSS internal

or external handovers.
The parameter controls the target cell selection and the
TCH channel rate and speech codec determination in
traffic channel allocation.

Controls the TCH channel rate determination in TCH

allocation and the TCH speech codec to be allocated during
internal intra-cell handover.

1 ... The call serving type of TCH has to be primarily

allocated. The call serving type of speech codec inside the
call serving type of TCH can change.
2 ... The call serving type of TCH and the call serving type
of speech codec are preferred to be primarily allocated
during the speech connection. The channel rate change is
possible during data connection, if necessary, and if the
radio interface data rate allows it.
3 ... The channel rate and speech codec changes are
totally denied.
4 ... The preferred channel rate of TCH and preferred
speech codec have to be primarily allocated.
5 ... TCH has to be primarily allocated from the best BTS
of the handover candidate list.

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0 (No constraints - follow HRI settings)

1 (the call serving type of TCH and the call serving type of
speech codec are preferred to be primarily allocated)
2 (the call serving type of TCH and the call serving type of
speech codec are preferred to be primarily allocated during
the speech connection. The channel rate change is possible
during data connection when needed if the radio interface
data rate allows it)
3 (the channel rate and speech codec changes are totally
denied. The call serving type of channel is the only
alternative in TCH allocation)
4 (the preferred channel rate of TCH and preferred speech
codec have to be primarily allocated)

Adaptive Multi Rate (AMR)

Overview
New GSM standard based voice coding in phone and network. Implementation in radio
network and phone is needed to get benefit out.

AMR has Full Rate and Half Rate options. When network has high load it uses
dynamically AMR Half Rate code and accommodates two calls to one time slot.

AMR increases network voice capacity because AMR half rate has same radio
performance as normal full rate.

Network chooses optimum AMR Speech and Channel coding

Base Station Cell Coverage

Current Full Rate &
AMR Half Rate

25

HO
12.2

7.4
5.9
5.15

7.95

Channel bit-rate (kbit/s)

AMR Full Rate

HO

Channel coding
20

Speech coding

15

10

4.75
0

5.9
4.75

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HO

FR

FR

FR

12.2

10.2

7.95

FR 7.4

FR 6.7 FR 5.9

FR

FR

HR

5.15

4.75

7.95

HR 7.4 HR 6.7 HR 5.9

AMR codec mode

HR

HR

5.15

4.75

Adaptive Multi Rate (AMR)

Overview
AMR offers flexible speech codecs:

AMR full rate codec (TCH/AFS)

AMR half rate codec (TCH/AHS)

12.2 kbit/s (GSM EFR)

-----------

10.2 kbit/s

-----------

7.95 kbit/s

7.95 kbit/s

7.40 kbit/s (IS-136 EFR)

7.40 kbit/s (IS-136 EFR)

6.70 kbit/s

6.70 kbit/s

5.90 kbit/s

5.90 kbit/s

5.15 kbit/s

5.15 kbit/s

4.75 kbit/s

4.75 kbit/s

In-band signalling used for codec mode adaptation during call

Channel mode can be changed during call

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