Dual Transfer Mode and CS paging coordination in Releases B10 and B11

Functional Feature Description

Dual Transfer Mode and

CS paging coordination
in Releases B10 and B11

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Dual Transfer Mode and CS paging coordination in Releases B10 and B11

Contents

1. SCOPE ............................................................................................................. 3
2. DEFINITION ....................................................................................................... 4
3. RATIONALE ....................................................................................................... 4
4. DUAL TRANSSFER MODE ........................................................................................ 5
4.1

Supported radio configurations ....................................................................... 5

4.2

Radio resource allocation.............................................................................. 5

4.2.1

Reminder Of Radio Resource Allocation Principles In Alcatel-Lucent BSS ........... 5

4.2.2

Radio Resource Allocation Principles for DTM calls ..................................... 7

4.3

Allowed transitions from and to Dual Transfer mode. ............................................ 8

4.4

Sharing of IMSI knowledge in the BSS ................................................................ 9

4.5

MS DTM capability ....................................................................................... 9

4.5.1

Broadcast of support of BSS DTM capability in the cell................................10

4.6

Transfer of GMM messages in dedicated mode....................................................10

4.7

DTM scenarios...........................................................................................11
4.7.1

DTM call request from dedicated mode ..................................................11

4.7.2

DTM call request during a PS transfer ....................................................12

4.7.3

DTM Release ...................................................................................13

4.8

Handover.................................................................................................13

4.9

Other mobility procedures............................................................................15

4.10 Interaction of DTM with other BSS features .......................................................15

4.10.1 Radio Resource Re-allocation. .............................................................15
4.10.2 DTM and support QoS for PS traffic .......................................................15
4.10.3 DTM compatibility with voice codecs .....................................................16
4.10.4 DTM specific rules with Power control ...................................................16
5. CS PAGING COORDINATION ...................................................................................17
5.1

CS paging coordination by the Core Network .....................................................17

5.2

CS paging coordination by the BSS ..................................................................18

5.3

CS paging coordination by the BSS for MS in packet transfer...................................18

6. ACTIVATION .....................................................................................................21
7. INTERNAL DEPENDENCIES .....................................................................................21
8. EXTERNAL DEPENDENCIES.....................................................................................21
9. REFERENCES .....................................................................................................22

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Dual Transfer Mode and CS paging coordination in Releases B10 and B11

1. SCOPE
The present functional feature description provides detailed information concerning the implementation of the Dual Transfer Mode (DTM) feature, introduced from the B11 BSS release.
It also explains CS paging coordination aspects and the related B11 addition: CS paging coordination by the BSS for MS in Packet transfer.
30 02 40

Dual Transfer Mode (Introduced in B10)

30 10 59

Support of DTM Multislot Class 11 (Introduced in B10)

30 02 20

Coordination of CS and GPRS services via Gs interface (Introduced in B6)

30 02 22

CS Paging coordination by the BSS (Introduced in B11)

DTM is enhanced by the following features:

30 10 57

Extended Dynamic Allocation (Introduced in B10

30 10 59

Support of DTM Multislot class 11 (Introduced in B10

30 10 70

Support of the 30-33 Multislot classes (Introduced in B10)

These last three features are described in the document: Functional Feature Description Extended Dynamic Allocation and High Multislot Classes in Release B10.

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Dual Transfer Mode and CS paging coordination in Releases B10 and B11

2. DEFINITION
Dedicated Mode: The MS is in dedicated mode when a SDCCH or a TCH has been established for a
CS call.
Idle Mode: The mobile is in idle mode when not engaged in a connection for PS nor CS.
Packet Transfer Mode: The mobile is in packet transfer mode (PTM) when a PS transaction is established. Contrarily to dedicated mode, the packet transfer mode allows multiplexing several MS
on one or several radio channels.
Dual transfer mode: Combination of packet transfer mode and dedicated mode described in this
document.
GTTP: GPRS Transparent Transport Protocol. GTTP allows the transport of GMM signaling (GPRS
Mobility Management) between the MS and the SGSN while the MS is in dedicated mode.

3. RATIONALE
DTM allows establishing simultaneously within one single GSM mobile station a packet transaction
and a circuit switched call, without the need for class A mobiles (see mobile classes definition further below).
With the DTM feature, sending a photo during a voice call, or browsing through emails while talking with a work colleague become possible. The feature is also the basis for the support of IMS applications in 2G.
As simultaneous CS/PS traffic capability is natively offered by UMTS, the DTM feature is particularly interesting for 2G Operators being in competition with 3G operators, or for 2G/3G Operators
for 3G services continuity purpose in areas where 3G services are not offered.
3GPP Standard have defined 3 classes of (E-)GPRS mobiles : class A, class B and class C.
- Class A mobiles are capable of simultaneous circuit and packet calls.
- Class B mobiles support simultaneous attach but simultaneous traffic is not supported. The
mobile user can establish or receive calls on either of the two services sequentially but not
simultaneously.
- Class C mobiles only support non-simultaneous attach (alternate use only).
The definition of GPRS class A mode of operation assumes a total independence between the Circuit switched and Packet Switched domains, which implies 2 radio chains in handsets. As this is a
too costly solution, there is no class A GPRS mobiles on the market.

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Dual Transfer Mode and CS paging coordination in Releases B10 and B11

The 3GPP DTM feature has impact on BSS and MS software and some Core Network dependencies,
but has the great advantage to allow for class A service without requiring two radio chains in the
handsets: DTM is a feature for Class B MS.

4. DUAL TRANSSFER MODE

4.1 Supported radio configurations
The Alcatel-Lucent BSS supports the Release 99 and Release 4 DTM mobiles.
DTM calls are supported by one TCH and up to 4 PDCH. The TCH is always activated as full rate.
The supported radio configuration for the PDCH can be different in uplink (UL) and downlink (DL),
depending on the DTM multislot class capability of the mobiles and of the activation of the Extended Dynamic Allocation (EDA) feature1. Alcatel Lucent supports the following DTM multislot
classes (for GPRS and EDGE) and radio configurations:
- DTM Multislot class 5:

1 TCH + 1 DL PDCH and 1 UL PDCH

- DTM Multislot class 9:

1 TCH + up to 2 DL PDCH and 1 UL PDCH

- DTM Multislot class 11:

1 TCH + up to 2 DL PDCH and 1 UL PDCH

1 TCH + 1 DL PDCH and up to 2 UL PDCH (*)

- DTM Multislot class 31:

1 TCH + up to 3 PDCH DL and 1 UL PDCH.

- DTM Multislot classes 32,33:

-

1 TCH + up to 3 PDCH DL and 1 UL PDCH.

1 TCH + up to 2 PDCH DL and 2 PDCH UL (*)

(*) These configurations require the activation of the EDA feature.

The TCH is always full rate. DTM multislot classes 6 and 10 are not supported in TCH/HR allocation.

4.2 Radio resource allocation

4.2.1 Reminder Of Radio Resource Allocation Principles In Alcatel-Lucent BSS
In the Alcatel BSS, the operator can statically reserve in each cell a number of timeslots for GPRS
or circuit-switched services, whilst another number of timeslots can be dynamically shared between GPRS and CS according to the demand.

See reference document Functional Feature Description Extended Dynamic Allocation and High Multislot

Classes in Release B10.

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Dual Transfer Mode and CS paging coordination in Releases B10 and B11

The following paragraph summarizes the general principles needed to understand DTM allocation
strategy. The reader who wants to know the details of the radio resource allocation mechanism
can refer to the document Functional Feature Description GPRS Radio Resource Management In
Release B7
The following principles apply
- The operator sets MIN_PDCH radio time slots in the cell, defining a static pool of radio time
slots reserved for PS services only. No CS call can be allocated in this pool.
- The operator sets MAX_PDCH radio time slots in the cell, defining the maximum number of
radio time slots, which can be allocated for PS services. The remaining time slots in the cell
are reserved for CS traffic only2. In case of high load in the cell, another limit is used:
MAX_PDCH_HIGH_LOAD parameter, also set by the operator. MAX_PDCH_HIGH_LOAD defines the non pre-emptable PS pool.
- The BSS dynamically sets MAX_PDCH_DYN radio time slots in the cell, defining at a given
time the pool of radio time slots, which can be allocated to PS services. The value of
MAX_PDCH_DYN is set dynamically by the BSS, depending on CS and PS load. The range
[MAX_PDCH_HIGH_LOAD, MAX_PDCH_DYN] defines the pre-emptable PS pool.
- The PS-pool is the union of the pre-emptable pool with the non-pre-emptable pool. The remaining radio time slots constitutes the CS-pool, as illustrated in the following figure.

Including signaling time slots

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Dual Transfer Mode and CS paging coordination in Releases B10 and B11

reserved for PS

priority for PS

priority for CS

reserved for CS

MIN_PDCH
MAX_PDCH_HIGH_LOAD
MAX_PDCH_DYN
MAX_PDCH

Non pre-emptable
PS pool

CS pool

pre-emptable
PS pool

PS pool

Figure 1: Definition of CS and PS pools

4.2.2 Radio Resource Allocation Principles for DTM calls

To support the radio configurations described in section 4.1, a minimum of two and a maximum of
four radio time slots can be allocated to a DTM call. These time slots (TCH and PDCH) must all be
contiguous.
This contiguity constraint conflicts with the principles of PS pools and CS pools described in section 4.2.1, therefore an exception must be made for DTM call: The TCH for the CS connection of a
DTM call will be established in the PS pool.

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Dual Transfer Mode and CS paging coordination in Releases B10 and B11

The reason why the PS pool is chosen is to allow the best possible throughput for the PS transaction. Indeed, within the PS pool, there is a higher chance that the DTM call is allocated on an Edge
capable TRX. Choosing the PS pool allows multiplexing of other PS transactions with the PS part of
a DTM call over radio and terrestrial resources. Finally, allocation of the DTM call in the PS pool
also allows keeping the benefit from previous PS optimization features from Alcatel Lucent, such
as Abis dynamic allocation and Statistical GCH Multiplexing3.
Within the PS pool, the radio time slots for a DTM call are allocated preferably in the non-preemptable part, so as to guaranty that the CS call will not be pre-empted later on. The suitable radio time slots for the CS call and the PS transactions are allocated simultaneously.
In most case, we expect that the CS call is established prior to the DTM call, and so a TCH is already allocated for the MS in the CS pool when the DTM request is received. In this case, a new
TCH is allocated in the PS pool, according to the above rules. The CS call is moved to the new TCH
during DTM call establishment.
Due to the pre-emption mechanism, the TCH of the CS call may also have already been allocated
in the PS pool. In this case, if a DTM establishment is requested, the TCH allocation can be kept,
even if in the pre-emptable pool.
For the PS part of the DTM call, the maximum number of contiguous PDCH corresponding to the
DTM multislot class is searched. It is allowed that these radio time slots already carry PS traffic,
and the usual rules for multiplexing several PS connections apply to the PS transaction of a DTM
call. However radio time slots with no traffic of with the minimum possible load are preferred.
In case no proper resources4 are found, then the CS call is kept going and the DTM request is rejected.

4.3 Allowed transitions from and to Dual Transfer mode.

According to 3GPP release 4, the general principle for establishing a DTM call is that the system
adds packet on top of a circuit call, whatever the initial situation. Direct transition from idle mode
to dual transfer mode is not possible.

See reference document xxx

For example if only one radio time slot is found, which can be used for TCH but without any contiguous

time slot for the PDCH.

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Dual Transfer Mode and CS paging coordination in Releases B10 and B11

In case of an existing PS transaction the establishment of the DTM call starts by releasing this PS
transaction. When the CS call establishment phase is completed, the PS transaction can be reestablished.

Dual Transfer
Mode
Paket Transfer
Mode

Dedicated
Mode
Idle Mode

The following figure illustrates the allowed transitions between the different modes.

Figure 2: Allowed transition between DTM and other mode in 3GPP R4.

4.4 Sharing of IMSI knowledge in the BSS

The BSC provides the MFS with the IMSI of all the DTM MS in dedicated mode through the GSL (BSCMFS interface) at regular intervals.
The MFS has knowledge of MS IMSI in the first DL DU. It can also request if from the SGSN with the
message RA CAPABILITY update.
Then, at reception of this PDU, when the MS is DTM capable, the MFS is able to launch the relevant
scenario:
- TBF establishment in case the MS is in Idle Mode,
- DTM establishment when the MS is in dedicated mode.
The IMSI is provided to the BSC by the MSC:
- At call establishment, through the Common Id procedure,
- During inter BSS handover, in the Handover Request message.

4.5 MS DTM capability

The BSC is aware of the DTM capability of the MS in the Classmark3 Information element received
at call establishment, or during an in-coming handover in the Handover Request Message.

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Dual Transfer Mode and CS paging coordination in Releases B10 and B11

4.5.1 Broadcast of support of BSS DTM capability in the cell.

A DTM MS is aware that the dual transfer mode of operation is supported in the cell by the
DTM_SUPPORT bit sent in the following (packet) system information messages:
- In System Information Type 13 message (sent on BCCH) in idle mode.
- In Packet System Information Type 1 message on PACCH in packet transfer mode.
- In System Information Type 6 message (sent on SACCH), when the MS is in dedicated mode
or in dual transfer mode.
- In DTM Information message (sent on FACCH) when the MS is in dedicated mode, at handover time in the target cell, so as to re-establish the DTM mode as soon as possible after a
handover. This allows reducing the interruption of GPRS services.
In Packet System Information Type 13 message (sent on PACCH) when the MS is in packet
transfer mode.
- In Packet System Information Type 14 message (sent on PACCH) when the MS is in dual
transfer mode.

4.6 Transfer of GMM messages in dedicated mode.

The transfer of GMM management messages must be possible for DTM-capable MS in dedicated
mode, so as to allow further establishment of DTM calls.
GPRS Transparent Transport Protocol (GTTP) allows the transport of GMM signaling (GPRS Mobility
Management) between the MS and the SGSN while the MS is in dedicated mode.
With GTTP the GMM messages are conveyed on the main DCCH5, with the LAPDm protocol.
GTTP may be used only when
-

The MD is DTM capable and in dedicated mode

DTM is enabled in the cell

The T-bit of the PDU is positioned to signaling

The LLC PDU length does not exceed the maximum LAPDm6 frame length.

Main DCCH is SDCCH in SDCCH phase, and FACCH in TCH phase.

The Alcatel Lucent BSS implements the maximum Max LAPDm frame allowed in the 3GPP standard. This

value is broadcast in the cell. The MS then applies it or a possibly lower value depending on its own constraint. In the case where GMM cannot be used, the dedicated mode must be aborted and a TBF directly established.

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Dual Transfer Mode and CS paging coordination in Releases B10 and B11

In the Alcatel Lucent architecture with remote PCU in the MFS, The GMM messages for GTTP are
exchanged between BSC and MFS through the GSL.

4.7 DTM scenarios

4.7.1 DTM call request from dedicated mode
For following cases, the MFS is aware that the MS is in dedicated mode thanks to the shared DTM
context between MFS and BSC, as explained in section 4.4.
All needed transfer of messages between MFS and BSC is done through the GSL.
a) MS originated DTM request:
The MS sends the DTM request message on the main DCCH to the BSS while in dedicated mode,
with all needed information to establish a PS session.
The BSS performs the radio allocation for the DTM call according to the rules explained in 0, with
possible re-allocation of the TCH for the DTM call and PDCH for the PS transaction. The BSS sends
the DTM assignment command to the MS, while still in dedicated mode on main DCCH. This message contains the necessary information to establish an uplink TBF (radio allocation, TLLI, RLC
mode, etc.) and also the (possibly new) allocation for the TCH.
The MS establishes the UL TBF on the assigned PDCH and responds with DTM assignment complete
message on the main DCCH corresponding to the TCH assigned for the DTM call.
In case of change of TCH for the DTM call, the BSS releases the previous TCH used while in dedicated mode
b) MS terminated DTM request GMM ready state.
In GMM ready state, the BSS receives a downlink PDU for a MS in dedicated mode. The BSS performs the radio allocation for the DTM call according to the rules explained in 0, with possible reallocation of the TCH for the DTM call and PDCH for the PS transaction. The BSS sends DTM assignment command to the MS, while still in dedicated mode on main DCCH. This message contains
the necessary information to establish a downlink TBF and also the (possibly new) allocation for
the TCH.
The MS responds DTM assignment complete message on the main DCCH assigned for the DTM call.

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Dual Transfer Mode and CS paging coordination in Releases B10 and B11

In case of change of TCH for the DTM call, the BSS releases the previous TCH used while in dedicated mode.
The MFS starts transferring the downlink PDU.
b) MS terminated DTM request GMM Standby state
In GMM stand-by state, the BSS receives a PS paging on the Gb interface for a MS in dedicated
mode. The BSS sends a packet notification to the MS on the main DCCH. Upon receipt of this message, the MS responds with a cell update procedure. Two cases are possible:
-

if the uplink LLC frame which contains the MS Packet paging response is compatible with
GTTP length constraint, then the MS sends the response via GTTP on the main DCCH.

If the uplink LLC frame is too long to fit with GTTP, then the MS requests the establishment of an uplink TBF with DTM request messages, as in case a).

4.7.2 DTM call request during a PS transfer

a) Mobile terminated CS call during an Uplink PS transfer
The BSS receives a CS paging message on Gb interface (see assumption about Gs interface in section 5) for a MS in packet transfer mode. The MFS sends the CS paging to the MS in a Packet Paging
request on the PACCH.
On receipt of the CS paging the MS aborts the uplink TBF to accept the CS call, and starts establish
the connection in dedicated mode. The BSS initiates the establishment of the SCCP connection
with the MSC and transmits the Paging response received from the MS. The MS sends the DTM Request while still in SDCCH phase.
The BSS allocates the needed radio resource for a DTM call as explained in section 0. As the codec
supported for the DTM call is not yet known in the BSS, the BSS allocates the TCH in signaling
mode. The BSS sends the DTM assignment command message to the MS with all necessary information to establish an uplink TBF.
The MS answers with assignment complete on the FACCH and establishes an uplink TBF.
When the BSS receives the assignment request from the MSC, BSS then switches the TCH and inform the MS and the BTS of the change of the TCH to traffic mode.
b) Mobile originated CS call during an Uplink PS transfer

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Dual Transfer Mode and CS paging coordination in Releases B10 and B11

The MS aborts the uplink TBF before initiating the CS call. The scenario is similar as case a) except
that there is no paging message sent, and that the MS sends a CM service request message instead
of a Paging response to the BSS.
c) Mobile terminated CS call during a downlink PS transfer
The scenario is similar to case a), except that the BSS is responsible to re-establish the downlink
TBF so as to restart the PS transfer.
d) Mobile terminated CS call during a downlink PS transfer
The scenario is similar to case b), except that the BSS is responsible to re-establish the downlink
TBF so as to restart the PS transfer.

4.7.3 DTM Release

If the voice call is released first, the packet session is aborted. A new TBF has to be established to
continue the data session.
On the contrary, the release of the packet session does not break the CS call. The TCH may be reallocated in the CS pool through the intra-cell handover cause 30.

4.8 Handover
A DTM call can change of cell by means of handover only. In this case the PS transaction is released in the serving cell before the handover. When the handover is completed, the PS transaction is re-established in the new cell. We are then in the case of a DTM request for a call in dedicated mode (see section 4.7.1 for details).
Thus inter-cell handovers are limited to the strict necessary ones to avoid detrimental packet
transfer outage. The following tables show which handover causes are enabled/disabled for a MS
in dual transfer mode.

Family cause
Emergency inter-cell HO

Inter-cell Handover Cause

Too low quality on the uplink

HO Cause Number

Behavior when the

MS is in DTM

Cause 2

Enable

Emergency inter-cell HO

Too low level on the uplink

Cause 3

Enable

Emergency inter-cell HO

Too low quality on the downlink

Cause 4

Enable

Emergency inter-cell HO

Too low level on the downlink

Cause 5

Enable

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Dual Transfer Mode and CS paging coordination in Releases B10 and B11

Emergency inter-cell HO

Too long MS-BS distance

Cause 6

Enable

Emergency inter-cell HO

Too short MS-BS distance

Cause 22

Enable

Emergency inter-cell HO

Consecutive bad SACCH frames received

in a microcell

Cause 7

Enable

Emergency inter-cell HO

Too low level on the uplink in a microcell

compared to a high threshold

Cause 17

Enable

Emergency inter-cell HO

Too low level on the downlink in a microcell compared to a high threshold

Cause 18

Enable

Better conditions inter-cell HO Power budget

Cause 12

Enable

Better conditions inter-cell HO

High level in neighbour lower or indoor cell for

slow mobile

Cause 14

Disable

Better conditions inter-cell HO

High level in neighbour cell in the preferred

band

Cause 21

Disable

Better conditions inter-cell HO

Traffic handover

Cause 23

Disable

Better conditions inter-cell HO

General capture handover

Cause 24

Disable

Better conditions inter-cell HO

Fast traffic handover

Cause 28

Disable

Forced directed retry HO

Forced directed retry

Cause 20

Enable

InterRat HO

2G-3G handover

Cause 31

Enable

Table 1: Inter-cell handover causes.

2G to 3G handovers are allowed for DTM calls. Similarly to a 2G-2G handover, the PS transaction is
terminated by the BSS; then the CS call is handed over to the 3G RAN. The PS transaction can then
be re-established in 3G.
For the same reasons intra-cell handovers are also limited to high interference triggers, in order to
avoid PDCH re-allocation, which may fail due to scarce DTM radio resources.

Family cause

Intra-cell Handover Cause

HO Cause Number

Behavior when the

MS is in DTM

Emergency intra-cell HO

Too low level on the uplink, inner zone

Cause 10

Disable

Emergency intra-cell HO

Too low level on the downlink, inner zone

Cause 11

Disable

Emergency intra-cell HO

Too high interference level on the uplink

Cause 15

Enable

Emergency intra-cell HO

Too high interference level on the downlink Cause 16

Enable

Better condition intra-cell HO

Too high level on the uplink and downlink,

outer zone

Cause 13

Disable

Channel adaptation intra-cell HO HR-to-FR channel adaptation due to bad radio Cause 26
quality

Disable

Channel adaptation intra-cell HO FR-to-HR channel adaptation due to good

radio quality

Cause 27

Disable

Resource management intra-cell TFO handover

HO

Cause 29

Disable

Resource management intra-cell Move from PS to CS zone

HO

Cause 30

Disable

Table 2: Intra-cell handover causes.

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Dual Transfer Mode and CS paging coordination in Releases B10 and B11

When the MS leaves DTM mode and returns to dedicated mode after the release of the PS transaction, all the handover causes are allowed again.
This allows to possibly re-allocate the TCH in the CS pool ( see section 0 )through the intra-cell
handover cause 30.

4.9 Other mobility procedures

In Dual Transfer Mode, the MS will ignore any cell reselection in the packet domain so as to preserve the CS call.
Therefore, NC2 and NACC features are not allowed for any MS engaged in a DTM call. It is however
still possible to activate these features in a cell where DTM is enabled.

4.10 Interaction of DTM with other BSS features

4.10.1 Radio Resource Re-allocation.
PDCH reallocation of a DTM TBF is not allowed, so as to avoid induced intra-cell handovers.
4.10.2 DTM and support QoS for PS traffic
The Alcatel Lucent can negotiate a given Quality of Service for the PS part of a DTM call through
packet Flow Context mechanisms7.
However it will not accept a request for streaming services together with a DTM call. Indeed the
throughput which can be allocated to the PS transaction of a DTM call is lower than the throughput
which can be allocated to a pure PS call, because one radio time slot is fully devoted to the CS
call. Hence, the chance to comply with the requested guarantied bit rate of a streaming request is
very low. Consequently, if a streaming quality of service is requested for a PS transaction associated to a DTM call, the BSS will propose to downgrade it to best effort.

See description of the feature QoS etc in doc..

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Dual Transfer Mode and CS paging coordination in Releases B10 and B11

4.10.3 DTM compatibility with voice codecs

DTM is compatible with all codec types supported in B10, including NB and WB-AMR codecs.

4.10.4 DTM specific rules with Power control

In uplink direction
On the MS side, the power control in different timeslots shall be independent and with no restriction for the difference of power transmitted in adjacent timeslots. Therefore, there is no specific
requirement in uplink direction.
In downlink direction
The 3GPP standard states that the BTS output power variation between all blocks addressed to a
particular MS within a TDMA frame shall never exceed 10 dB for MS operating in DTM. Moreover,
the power difference between contiguous CS and PS timeslots shall be in the same range of 10 dB.
The 3GPP constraints lead to only allow variation of downlink output power between
BS_TXPWR_MAX and (BS_TXPWR_MAX 10). Therefore, when a MS is operating in DTM, the BSC
computes the target output power so that it is in the range between BS_TXPWR_MAX and
max[(BS_TXPWR_MAX 10), BS_TXPWR_MIN].

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Dual Transfer Mode and CS paging coordination in Releases B10 and B11

5. CS PAGING COORDINATION
5.1 CS paging coordination by the Core Network
CS paging coordination by the core network relies on the Gs interface deployed between the MSC
and the SGSN. The network is said to work in network mode of operation 1 (NMO1).
As far as GPRS-attached MS are concerned, the BSS receives both PS and CS paging messages from
the Gb interface.
There is paging co-ordination because all paging messages towards GPRS-attached MS are sent on
the CCCH channel. In addition, whilst involved in a packet data transfer, MS receive CS paging
messages via the GPRS traffic channel currently used, in the PACCH.
This last point ensures that MS are able to catch paging messages even when performing a packet
transfer, which is not granted without paging coordination, as it is highly probable that most MS
are not able to listen to a GPRS channel and to a separate paging channel at the same time.
This brings benefits for both DTM and non-DTM cases. Indeed it can be ensured that the following
scenario will be possible in all cases, even for MS already in packet transfer:
-

Establishment of a CS terminating call, through the Suspend/Resume procedure.

Establishment of a DTM call, following the establishment of a CS terminating call.

CCCH

MSC/VLR

Gs

BSS

(a)

(b)

Um

SGSN
PACCH

Gb

CS paging for GPRS-attached MS in idle state (a), or in data transfer state (b)
CS paging for non GPRS-attached MS
GPRS paging

Figure 3: Paging coordination in NMO 1

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Dual Transfer Mode and CS paging coordination in Releases B10 and B11

5.2 CS paging coordination by the BSS

The network is said to work in network mode of operation 2 (NMO2). In NMO 2 the Gs interface is
not used.
There is however still paging coordination because all paging messages are sent on CCCH, both for
CS and PS services.
But whilst in a packet transfer, most MS cannot establish a CS terminating call since, as explained
before, they are not able to monitor packet channels and a separated paging channel at the same
time.

CCCH

MSC/VLR

BSS

(a)

Um

(b)

SGSN

Gb

CS paging for GPRS-attached MS in idle state (a), or in data transfer state (b)
CS paging for non GPRS-attached MS
GPRS paging

Figure 4: Network Mode of Operation 2

5.3 CS paging coordination by the BSS for MS in packet transfer

This is supported from the B11 release onwards (feature 30 02 22).
With this feature, CS paging coordination is possible in NMO2 even for MS performing a packet
transfer.
This provides flexibility to Operators who want to avoid deploying Gs.
However Gs is still the only solution allowing for the combined IMSI Attach/Detach and LA/RA Update procedures.

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Dual Transfer Mode and CS paging coordination in Releases B10 and B11

CCCH

MSC/VLR

BSS

(a)

(b)

SGSN

Um

PACCH

Gb

CS paging for GPRS-attached MS in idle state (a), or in data transfer state (b)
CS paging for non GPRS-attached MS
GPRS paging

Figure 5: Paging coordination in NMO2 (In B11, with CS paging coordination by the BSS for MS in PTM)
The feature can be summarized by the following scenario.

MFS

BSC

BTS

PAGING (MS)

MSC

PAGING COMMAND (on PCH)

CS paging to MFS(IMSI)

Packet paging request (GSL)

PACKET PAGING REQUEST (IMSI on PACCH)

Figure 5: Message flow for CS paging coordination by BSS

Step 1: A CS paging is sent from core network to BSC on A interface,
Step 2: The BSC sends the Paging message towards MS on PCH,
Step 3: The BSC send the CS paging request message over GSL towards MFS,
Step 4: The MFS retrieves the MS thanks to its IMSI. If the MS is in Packet Transfer, the Paging
command is sent on PACCH.

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Dual Transfer Mode and CS paging coordination in Releases B10 and B11

It may happen that MS receive 2 paging messages (on CCCH and PACCH) but this is not an issue.

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Dual Transfer Mode and CS paging coordination in Releases B10 and B11

Parameters

Parameter name
MAX_LAPDm

Definition

Instance

Maximum number of LAPDm frames on which

BSS

Range
5 to 12

a layer 3 can be segmented into and be sent

on the main DCCH (new parameter for DTM
feature)
EN_DTM

Enables/disables the support of dual transfer

Cell

mode (new parameter for DTM feature)

T_PSI_PACCH

Scheduling period of PSI1, PSI13 or PSI14 on

MAX_PDCH_HIGH_LOAD

New rule: MAX_PDCH_HIGH_LOAD > 2, so as

BSS

0 to 30 s

PACCH. (PSI14 introduced for DTM)

Cell

to preserve DTM calls in case of high load.

EN_BSS_PAGING_COORDINATION

Enables CS Paging Coordination managed in

BSS

NETWORK_MODE_OPERATION

the BSS for MS in Packet Transfer Mode

This parameter defines the Network Mode of
Operation

BSS

I, II, III

6. ACTIVATION
The DTM feature can be activated on a per cell basis, through the EN_DTM parameter.
DTM is an optional feature of the Alcatel-Lucent BSS.
CS paging coordination by BSS in PTM is activated at BSS level. NETWORK_MODE_OPERATION shall
be positioned to NMO 2 (Or NMO3) and BSS_PAGING_COORDINATION shall be enabled.

7. INTERNAL DEPENDENCIES
To activate the DTM feature, it is necessary that the parameter MAX_PDCH_HIGH_LOAD is greater
than or equal to 2 (minimum number of time slots for a DTM call).
DTM cannot be activated in Extended cells.
CS paging coordination by the BSS in PTM cannot be activated for Abis/Ater over satellite.

8. EXTERNAL DEPENDENCIES
For DTM:

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Dual Transfer Mode and CS paging coordination in Releases B10 and B11

- Adapted mobiles are required,

- The MSC must implement the COMMON_ID procedure,
- The MSC must include the IMSI in the Handover Request message, at least when the MS is
DTM capable for inter-BSS handover.

9. REFERENCES
3GPP TS 43.055: 3GPP TS Group GERAN, Dual Transfer Mode, Stage 2

End of Document

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