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Introduction
In this chapter a number of traffic cases will be described. We will follow the mobile
station in different situations. Normal calls (speech) as well as data calls and sending of
short messages (textual messages) will be described. We will also look at what
happens while the mobile is roaming (moving around, but no traffic going on), and when
the mobile changes cell during a call. Before looking at the different cases some
definitions have to be clarified.
MS turned off
The mobile station does not answer paging messages, therefore there is no contact
between the MS and the network. The network does not get any information on where
the MS is. This state is considered as MS detached.
MS turned on
MS idle
While moving around - roaming - the mobile listens to the ”best” cell for paging
messages. The MS decides by itself which cell is the best one. This is done by
comparing own cell to neighboring cells. If a neighboring cell is considered better the
MS will change cells and, if necessary, inform the system about the new Location Area.
This is called location updating. In idle state the MS can receive short messages or
cell broadcast messages.
MS active
MS is considered active (or busy) when there is a call (speech, fax or data), or a call set
up procedure, going on. In this state the MS does not decide by itself if it is necessary to
change cell. Based on measurements provided by the MS and the BTS, the BSC makes
the decision on change of cell. The decision making is considered as locating, while
the actual change of cells is considered as handover. In active state the MS can at the
same time receive short messages, but not cell broadcast messages.
MS in idle mode
In Figure 86 we can see what different cases can occur while the MS is turned on and
roaming, listening for paging messages, measuring in order to be connected to the best
cell etc. We will describe the different traffic cases in more detail in the following
sections. (See also chapter Digital radio - air interface).
Roaming
The ability to move around, changing cells and connections over the air interface for
quality reasons is called roaming.
As long as the mobile changes cells belonging to the same Location Area (LA), as in
case 1 in Figure 86, the network will not be informed. The most accurate location which
is stored in the VLR is the Location Area.
If the mobile changes cells belonging to different Location Areas the network has to be
informed. This is done via the procedure Location updating type normal.
But how does the MS know that the ”new” cell belongs to a different LA?
The mobile will only notice the change of Location Areas. It will have no idea if the LAs
in turn belongs to a different MSC/VLR or the same MSC/VLR.
When the mobile sends the Location updating message the MSC/VLR will realize
whether this is a known MS, already registered, or if it is a new visitor.
1. MS listens to BCCH in the new cell to find out the Location Area Identity, LAI. The
new LAI is compared to the old one. If they differ an update of the location needs to take
place.
4. Location Updating is acknowledged by the system, and BTS and MS are requested
to release the signalling channel.
IMSI detach
The IMSI detach procedure enables the mobile station to indicate to the network that
the mobile subscriber will switch off the phone. After this no paging is done in order to
find this mobile subscriber.
As mentioned earlier, a mobile in active state is marked attached (IMSI flag). At “Power
off”, the MS sends a last message to the network, containing a request for the detach
procedure. On reception of the IMSI detach message, the MSC/VLR marks the
corresponding IMSI flag detached.
As shown in Figure 88, HLR is not informed. Only the VLR is updated with the IMSI
detach information.
The IMSI attach procedure is performed only when the MS is turned on in the same LA
as it was when it sent the detach message. Otherwise the location updating procedure
must be performed. (See Figure 87).
If the MS sends an “IMSI detach” to the system, and the radio link quality is too bad, the
system might not be able to decode the information. Since no acknowledgment is sent
to the MS, no further attempt is made. This means that the system still will regard the
MS as attached.
Therefore, the MS is forced to register for example every 30 minutes. This is called
periodic registration. Periodic registration has an acknowledgment message, so that the
MS will try to register until it receives this message. The MS will be informed on the
BCCH how often periodic registration must be performed.
Implicit detach
What happens if the system does not receive the detach message, for example if the
MS is turned off outside the radio coverage area or while in radio shadow, case 6 in
Figure 86. Since the system will wait for the Location updating type periodic registration,
and it does not receive it within a certain time, the MS will be marked as detached in the
VLR. This case is known as Implicit detach.
MS in busy mode
In Figure 89 we can see some of the cases when MS is put in busy mode and cases
when MS is in busy mode.
The different cases will be described in more detail in the following sections. In all cases
described we assume that the MS is attached and roaming.
Call from MS
This section describes what happens when a mobile subscriber wants to set up a voice
call. Data call and sending of a short message will be described separately, since they
involve other elements in the network.
Let us look at the signalling used for setting up the voice call.
1. MS uses RACH (Random Access channel) to ask for a signalling channel, SDCCH
(Stand alone Dedicated Control channel).
3. MS sends a call set up request via SDCCH to the MSC/VLR. Over SDCCH all
signalling preceding a call takes place. This includes marking the MS ”busy” in
MSC/VLR, authentication procedure, start ciphering equipment identification, sending
the B–number (the number to the called subscriber, in this case a PSTN subscriber)
and checking if the subscriber has the service ”Barring of outgoing calls” activated.
4. MSC/VLR asks the BSC to allocate a free TCH (traffic channel). This is forwarded to
the BTS and MS, which are told to activate the TCH.
Call to MS
The big difference between making a call to a mobile subscriber and making a call to
subscriber in PSTN is that we do not know the location of the mobile subscriber.
Therefore we must locate and page the MS before we can set up a connection.
Let us take a look at the call setup procedure from a PSTN–subscriber to a mobile
subscriber.
1. PSTN subscriber keys the MSISDN, (MS telephone number). MSISDN is analyzed in
the local exchange in PSTN, which realizes that this is a call to a subscriber in a GSM
network. A connection is set up to the GMSC (Gateway MSC).
2. GMSC analyses MSISDN to find out in which HLR the MS is registered, and
interrogates the HLR for information about how to route the call to the serving
MSC/VLR.
3. HLR translates MSISDN into IMSI, and finds out which MSC/VLR is currently serving
the MS. HLR also checks the service, ”Call forwarding to C–number”. If the service is
active the call is rerouted by the GMSC to that number, probably via PSTN.
4. HLR requests a roaming number, MSRN (Mobile Station Roaming Number), from the
serving MSC/VLR. MSRN identifies the MSC/VLR.
6. GMSC reroutes the call to the MSC/VLR, directly or via the PSTN.
7. The MSC/VLR knows in which Location area, LA, the MS is. A Paging message is
sent to the BSCs controlling the LA. (The information on which cells belong to which LA
is stored in the BSC, but according to the GSM specification it can as well be stored in
the MSC).
8. The BSCs distribute the Paging message to the BTSs in the wanted LA. The BTSs
transmit the message over the air interface using PCH (Paging channel). To page the
MS, IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity) or TMSI (Temporary Mobile
Subscriber Identity, valid only in the current MSC/VLR service area) is used.
9. When the MS detects the paging message it sends a request for a signalling channel,
SDCCH.
11. SDCCH is used for the call set up procedures, as in the case for ”Call from MS”, and
then a TCH is allocated. SDCCH is released.
The mobile phone rings, and when the subscriber answers the connection is completed.
See Figure 91.
Handover
The process of changing cells during a call is in GSM terms referred to as Handover. To
be able to choose the best target cell measurements are performed by the MS and the
BTS. The fact that MS contributes to the handover decision is called MAHO, Mobile
Assisted Handover.
The measurements from the MS and the BTS are processed in the BSC. This
evaluation process is called Locating.
Before we look at the different handover cases we will describe briefly what locating is.
Locating
From chapter Digital radio – problems and solutions we know that the MS continuously
measures signal strength and quality (Bit Error Rate, BER) on own cell, and signal
strength on the BCCH–carriers of the neighboring cells. This is made on the downlink
while MS is in busy mode. The measurement results are sent to the BTS on SACCH
(Slow Associated Control Channel) every 480 ms (see also Figure 92).
The serving BTS measures signal strength and quality on the uplink. The
measurements from the BTS and the ones from MS are sent to the BSC as
measurements reports.
On the basis of these reports the BSC decides if a handover is necessary and also to
which cell. This is known as locating. (See also chapter Base Station System).
As soon as one of the neighboring cells is considered better than the serving cell, a
handover is attempted.
Another reason for attempting a handover, besides signal strength and quality reasons,
is if the TA (Timing Advance) used by MS exceeds a threshold value set by the
operator. This is the case when the MS is moving over the cell border to another cell.
When the MS has changed cells the new BTS informs the MS on the new neighboring
BCCH–carriers, so the measurements can take place again. If the MS also has
changed Location Areas, a Location updating type normal will take place after the call
has been finished.
This is case 3 in Figure 89. When performing a handover between two cells controlled
by the same BSC the MSC/VLR is not involved. MSC/VLR will be informed though that
a handover has been performed. If the handover was performed between cells
belonging to different LAs the Location updating type normal procedure will take place,
but not until the call has been finished.
Based on the measurements received from BTS and MS, the BSC decides that a
handover is necessary and to which cell.
2. BSC sends a message to the MS via the old BTS containing information about the
frequency and time slot to change to, and also what output power to use. This
information is sent over FACCH (Fast Associated Control Channel).
3. MS tunes to the new frequency, and transmits Handover (HO) access bursts in the
correct time slot. Since MS has no information yet on the Timing Advance, the HO
bursts are very short (only 8 bits of information). The HO bursts are transmitted on
FACCH.
4. When the new BTS detects the HO bursts it sends information about timing advance.
This is sent on FACCH.
When we involve another BSC in the handover we have to involve the MSC/VLR for the
connection between the two BSCs. This is case 4 in Figure 89.
1. The serving (old) BSC sends a Handover required message to the MSC together with
the identity of the target cell.
2. MSC knows which BSC that controls this BTS and sends a Handover request to this
BSC.
4. New BSC sends a message to the MS via MSC, old BSC and old BTS containing
information about the frequency and time slot to change to, and what output power to
use. This information is sent over FACCH (Fast Associated Control Channel).
5. MS tunes to the new frequency, and transmits Handover (HO) access bursts in the
correct time slot. Since MS has no information yet on the Timing Advance, the HO
bursts are very short (only 8 bits of information). The HO bursts are transmitted on
FACCH.
6. When the new BTS detects the HO bursts it sends information about timing advance.
This is sent on FACCH.
8. The MSC sends an order to old BSC previously to release the old TCH.
9. The old BSC tells the old BTS to release the previously used TCH.
1. The serving (old) BSC sends a Handover required message to the serving MSC,
MSC–A, together with the identity of the target cell.
2. MSC–A realizes that this cell belongs to another MSC, MSC–B, and asks for help.
3. MSC–B allocates a handover number in order to reroute the call. A Handover request
is then sent to the new BSC.
5. MSC–B receives the information, and passes it on to MSC–A together with the
handover number.
7. MSC–A sends a HO command to MS, via old BSC containing information on which
frequency and time slot to use, and what output power to use. This information is sent
over FACCH (Fast Associated Control Channel).
8. MS tunes to the new frequency, and transmits Handover (HO) access bursts in the
correct time slot. The HO bursts are transmitted on FACCH.
9. When the new BTS detects the HO bursts it sends information about timing advance.
This is sent on FACCH.
10. MS sends Handover Complete message to old MSC via new BSC and new
MSC/VLR.
11. A new path in the group switch in MSC–A is established, and the call is switched
through.
The old MSC, MSC–A, will retain the main control of the call until the call is cleared.
After call release the MS must perform a location updating, since a Location Area never
belongs to more than one MSC/VLR Service Area.
The HLR will be updated by the VLR–B, and will in turn tell VLR–A to delete all
information about the MS.
The Short Message Service, SMS, provides a means of sending text messages,
containing up to 160 alpha numerical characters, to and from GSM mobile stations.
SMS makes use of a Service Centre, which acts a store and forward centre for short
messages.
In the two cases below, Mobile terminated and Mobile originated SMS, we assume that
the MS is in idle mode . If the MS is in busy mode the short message will be transmitted
on the SACCH (Slow Associated Control channel). No paging , call setup,
authentication etc. has to be performed in that case.
The mobile terminated SMS has the capability to transfer a short message from the
SMS–C to a mobile station. It also provides information about the delivery of the short
message. This information is either a delivery report, which confirms the delivery of the
message to a recipient, or a failure report, which informs the originator that the short
message was not delivered and the reason why. There is also the possibility to order
retransmission later.
1. A user sends a message to a SMS–C
6. MS is paged and a connection is set up between the MS and the network, as in the
normal call setup case. (This step is not performed if the MS is in busy mode. Then we
know where the MS is, and that it is allowed in the network).
7. If authentication was successful the MSC/VLR delivers the message to the MS. Short
messages are transmitted on the allocated signalling channel, SDCCH.
8. If the delivery was successful a delivery report is sent from MSC/VLR to the SMS–C.
If not, the HLR is informed by the MSC/VLR, and a failure report is sent to SMS–C.
In the case of an unsuccessful delivery the service Messages waiting will provide the
HLR and VLR with the information that there is a message in the originating SMS–C
waiting to be delivered to the MS. The information in HLR contains a list of SMS–C
addresses which have made unsuccessful delivery attempts. In VLR a flag indicates
whether the list is empty or not.
The mobile terminated SMS may be input to the SMS–C by a variety of sources, e.g.
speech, telex or facsimile.
2. If the authentication was successful MS sends the short message to the SMS–C via
MSC/VLR. The SMS–C in turn forwards the short message to its destination. This could
be a MS or a terminal in the fixed network.
Data call
With a bearer service the GSM network provides a transmission path between two
access points and also a user–network interface.
The network will be responsible to deliver in one network what was received in the
other. Interworking attributes may be defined for the support of bearer services over
transit networks.
We know that each MSC must have a dedicated GSM Interworking Unit, GIWU, in order
to handle a data call. The MSC is always in control of the data call and can execute
changes in the resources despite the MS mobility. This is also because no centralized
interworking function, IWF, exists in the GSM specification.
2. A connection between the MS and the network is set up, as in a normal call, and
authentication is performed.
3. MSC analyses the BC, and the B–number and the BC are transferred to the GIWU.
4. GIWU is configured to perform the required service, i.e. rate adaptation Fax or
Modem service.
Within the GSM network all connections are circuit switched. This does not, however,
prohibit packet services. In order to access a packet switched public data network,
PSPDN, a connection to PAD, Packet Assembly Disassembly, is needed. The PAD
transforms the bit stream from an asynchronous terminal to data packages.