Control of Network Mode of Operation I behaviour

Description
NMO-I (Network Mode of Operation I) enables a device to perform combined attach towards the
packet switched domain. Otherwise, the device will perform individual attaches to the circuit
switched and packet switched domains.
The use of combined attach reduces the signalling load on the serving network. However, this
might not be beneficial for the operator to apply for all categories of devices.

[3gpp] Network operation mode

http://bruceKIM.egloos.com/3379009

[ref: 3gpp TS 23.060]

[ref: 3gpp TS 24.008]
NMO1
- Use combined GPRS attach and periodic RAU procedures instead of IMSI attach, normal and
periodic LAU procedure
- RAU and LU are performed at the same time
NMO2
- CS paging and PS paging sent using the same channel(CCCH)
- GPRS attach/RAU and LU are performed independently
NMO3
- CS and PS paging are sent independently on their own physical channels (CCCH-PCH and PCCHPPCH)

-6.3.3.1 Paging Co-ordination in A/Gb mode

The network may provide co-ordination of paging for circuit-switched and packet-switched services. Paging
co-ordination means that the network sends paging messages for circuit-switched services on the same
channel as used for packet-switched services, i.e. on the GPRS paging channel oron the GPRS traffic
channel, and the MS needs only to monitor that channel. Three network operation modes are defined:
- Network operation mode I: the network sends a CS paging message for a GPRS-attached MS, either on
the same channel as the GPRS paging channel (i.e. the packet paging channel or the CCCH paging
channel), or on a GPRS traffic channel. This means that the MS needs only to monitor one paging channel,

and that it receives CS paging messages on the packet data channel when it has been assigned a packet
data channel.
- Network operation mode II: the network sends a CS paging message for a GPRS-attached MS on the
CCCH paging channel, and this channel is also used for GPRS paging. This means that the MS needs only
to monitor the CCCH paging channel, but that e.g. CS paging continues on this paging channel even if the
MS has been assigned a packet data channel, unless BSS paging co-ordination as described in 8.1.6 is
active.
- Network operation mode III: the network sends a CS paging message for a GPRS-attached MS on the
CCCH paging channel, and sends a GPRS paging message on either the packet paging channel (if
allocated in the cell) or on the CCCH paging channel. This means that anMS that wants to receive pages
for both circuit-switched and packet-switched services shall monitor both paging channels in the cell, if the
packet-paging channel is allocated. The core network performs no paging co-ordination. See, however, also
8.1.6 for description of paging co-ordination on BSS level.

------2012 Oct 5 04:44:48.039 [00] 0x412F WCDMA Signaling Messages -- Complete SIB (254)
Channel Type = Complete SIB (254), Radio Bearer ID = 40, Message Length = 23
Interpreted PDU:
value SysInfoType1 ::=
{
cn-CommonGSM-MAP-NAS-SysInfo '0003'H,
cn-DomainSysInfoList
{
{
cn-DomainIdentity cs-domain,
cn-Type gsm-MAP : '0A01'H,
cn-DRX-CycleLengthCoeff 7
},
{
cn-DomainIdentity ps-domain,
cn-Type gsm-MAP : '0501'H,
cn-DRX-CycleLengthCoeff 7
}
},

---

10.5.1.12.3

PS domain specific system information

The purpose of the CN domain specific GSM-MAP NAS system information element, whenused for the PS domain,
is to provide the MS with actual parameter settings ofparameters relevant only for GMM functionality. The coding
of the information element identifier and lengthinformation is defined in the 3GPP TS 25.331 [23c]. Only the coding
of thecontent is in the scope of the present document.
For PS domain, the content of the CN domain specific GSM-MAP NAS systeminformation element is coded as
shown in figure 10.5.1.12.3/3GPP TS24.008 and table 10.5.1.12.3/3GPP TS 24.008. The length of this
elementcontent is two octets. The MS shall ignore any additional octets received.

8
RAC
Spare

1
octet 1

NMO
I

NMO octet 2

Figure 10.5.1.12.3/3GPP TS 24.008 PS domain specific system informationelement

Table 10.5.1.12.3/3GPP TS 24.008: PS domain specific system informationelement
RAC, Routing Area Code (8 bit field)
This field is the binary representation of the Routing Area Code, see 3GPP TS 23.003 [10]. Bit 8 in octet
1 is the most significant bit and bit 1 in octet 1 is the least significant bit.
NMO, Network Mode of Operation (1 bit field)
This field is the binary representation of the Network Mode of Operation, see 3GPP TS 23.060 [74]
Bit
1
0
Network Mode of Operation I
1
Network Mode of Operation II
NMO I, Network Mode of Operation I (1 bit field)
This field is the binary representation of whether the Network Mode of Operation I is applicable for the
MS configured for NMO_I_Behaviour, see 3GPP TS 24.368 [135] or 3GPP TS 31.102 [112]
Bit
2
0
Network Mode of Operation indicated in Bit 1 (NMO, Network Mode of Operation)
is used for MS configured for NMO_I_Behaviour
1
Network Mode of Operation I is used for MS configured for NMO_I_Behaviour
The bits 3 8 of octet 2 are spare and shall be coded all zeros.

Network Mode of Operation (NMO)

Picture Source: Tektronix

The Network Mode of Operation (NMO) is also sometimes referred to as Network Operation Mode
(NOM). The Network Modes have different values and interpretation in UTRAN and GERAN

In both the cases the Operation modes is decided based on the Gs interface between the CS CN (core
network) a.k.a. MSC and the PS CN a.k.a. SGSN

In UTRAN:

Network Operation Mode I (NMO-I) is used when the Gs interface is present. In this case during the
registration a Combined Attach (includes GPRS Attach & IMSI Attach procedures) procedure can be
performed. A GMM Attach Request message with the attach type set to Combined Attach is used. Upon
completion of this procedure, MM Status is IMSI Attached and GMM State is Attached.

In Network Operation Mode II (NMO-II) the GS Interface is not present. So the GMM attach procedure
and the IMSI Attach (via Location Update) has to be performed seperately. This causes additional
signalling.

Basic air interface signalling in case of NMO2 is shown here.

In GERAN:

Network operation mode 1. A network which has the Gs interface implemented is referred to as being
in network operation mode 1. CS and PS paging is coordinated in this mode of operation on either the
GPRS or the GSM paging channel. If the mobile device has been assigned a data traffic channel then CS
paging will take place over this data channel rather than the paging channel (CS or PS).

Network operation mode 2. The Gs interface is not present and there is no GPRS paging channel
present. In this case, paging for CS and PS devices will be transferred over the standard GSM common
control channel (CCCH) paging channel. Even if the mobile device has been assigned a packet data
channel, CS paging will continue to take place over the CCCH paging channel and thus monitoring of
this channel is still required.

Network operation mode 3. The Gs interface is not present. CS paging will be transferred over the
CCCH paging channel. PS paging will be transferred over the packet CCCH (PCCCH) paging channel, if it
exists in the cell. In this case the mobile device needs to monitor both the paging channels.

The GERAN part above is extract from the book Convergence Technologies for 3G Networks.

From Martin Sauter's Blog:

The Gs interface, has a number of subtle but important advantages:

During an ongoing GPRS / EDGE data transfer (TBF established), mobiles can't detect incoming voice
calls and SMS messages as they are focused on receiving packets and thus can not observe the paging
channel. In NMO-1, the circuit switched part of the network forwards the paging message to the packet
switched side of the network which then forwards the paging message between the user data blocks
while a data transfer is ongoing. Mobiles can thus receive the paging message despite the ongoing data
transfer, interrupt the session and accept the voice call or SMS.

Location/Routing area updates when moving to a cell in a different location/routing area are
performed much faster as the mobile only communicates with the packet switched part of the
network. The packet switched network (the SGSN) then forwards the location update to the circuit
switched part of the network (to the MSC) which spares the mobile from doing it itself. This is
especially important for ongoing data transfers as these are interrupted for a shorter period of time.

Cell reselections from UMTS to GPRS can be executed much faster due to the same effect as described
in the previous bullet. Whithout NOM-1 an Inter RAT (Radio Access Technology) cell reselection with
Location and Routing Area update requires around 10 to 12 seconds. With NOM-1 the time is reduced to
around 5 to 6 seconds. An important difference as this reduces the chance to miss an incoming call
during the change of the radio network. Also, ongoing data transfers are interrupted for a shorter
time,an additional benefit that should not be underestimated.

Posted by Zahid Ghadialy at 09:15

Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest
Labels: GPRS, GSM, Network Architecture, Signalling, UMTS

Reaction
s:
2 comments:

Anonymous said...
"During an ongoing GPRS / EDGE data transfer (TBF established), mobiles can't detect
incoming voice calls and SMS messages as they are focused on receiving packets and thus
can not observe the paging channel. In NMO-1, the circuit switched part of the network

forwards the paging message to the packet switched side of the network which then
forwards the paging message between the user data blocks while a data transfer is
ongoing. Mobiles can thus receive the paging message despite the ongoing data transfer,
interrupt the session and accept the voice call or SMS."
This is not entirely true. Also in NMO2, devices in packet transfer mode can be provided
with the CS paging on the PS data channel. This is the case if DTM (Dual Transfer Mode) is
supported in the network.
As far as I know, DTM is supported e.g. by Vodafone UK and actually the main (but not the
only one) reason to upgrade the network to DTM was not simultaneous call and data (which
is nice, too) but instead to enable CS calls to come through during GPRS/EDGE data
transfer. This was due to increasing amount and frequency of data usage e.g. for
smartphones such as the iPhone.
19 July 2011 at 10:53

Anonymous said...
Look for bssPagingCoordination at system information type 13