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This feature is: OPTIONAL
Specification: 04.08 04.21 04.22 07.01 08.08 09.02 09.07 09.10
Implemented in: MSC/VLR (GSM)
Commercial Attention: This feature version includes NF 179 Half Rate Charging which
has been cancelled.
Only GSM.
General:
This feature enables use of half rate traffic channels for speech and data calls.
The Radio Channel Requirement (RCR, parameter included in the Bear Capability
Information Element) received from the MS will be able to have one of the following
values.
Full rate channel
Half rate channel
Dual rate/full rate preferred
Dual rate/half rate preferred
The selection of the channel type, in MSC/VLR, is based on the preference of the mobile
subscriber and the capability of the mobile station, the selection per service of the operator
and the capability of the BSS.
If MSC/VLR indicates a preference to the BSS, the channel type is selected by the BSS.
The channel type may be changed at handover or in connection with a new assignment.
The DTI (or GIWU) is informed about changes in the channel type in order to be able to
adapt to the change.
The Half Rate channel is only applied for calls with a user rate that is less than 4.8 kbit/s.
Benefit:
The EndUser
By using Half Rate of Dual Rate mobile the subscriber may get a lower tariff.
The Operator
The network capacity is increased since two users can share the same physical channel.
The Operator will be able to differentiate tariffs for the users requesting full rate, half rate or
dual rate. A low tariff for half rate will motivate the mobile subscribers to use half rate of
Dual Rate mobiles, which will increase the capacity of the network.
Description:
Concepts used in the description.
Radio Channel Requirement (RCR)
Parameter of the Bearer Capability Information Element (BCIE). It is sent by the MS to the
MSC/VLR in the SETUP, EMERGENCY SETUP and CALL CONFIRMED messages. It
can have one of the following values:
Full rate channel
Half rate channel
Dual rate/full rate preferred
Dual rate/half rate preferred
Channel Rate and Type
Parameter of the Channel Type information element sent by the MSC/VLR to the BSS to
determine the radio resource that is required. The MSC/VLR can either completely specify
the request or give the BSS some freedom in the selection. It is sent by the MSC/VLR in
ASSIGNMENT REQUEST AND HANDOVER REQUEST.
Chosen Channel
Information element which is received by the MSC/VLR, indicating which channel has been
allocated by the BSS.
Assigned Channel Rate and Type
It describes the channel type that is assigned at a given time for the ongoing call.
Full rate channel
Half rate channel
Abbreviations:
RCR: Radio Channel Requirement
BCIE: Bearer Capability Information Element
Mobile Originating Call Establishment
At reception of the SETUP message from the MS, the MSC/VLR will analyse the bearer
capabilities and in particular the radio channel requirement.
The resulting channel rate and type will be adapted according to the BSC capabilities,
regarding half rate support, and sent in the channel assignment request to the BSC.
The BSC capabilities regarding half rate are administered per BSC by the operator.
The assigned channel rate and type are set to the chosen channel if received from the BSC.
If not received, they will be set to the channel rate and type sent in the channel assignment.
The channel rate and type are further used by the MSC/VLR for deciding whether to
perform subsequent channel assignement for the same connection(enquiry call, multi party
call...).
If a GIWU is connected to the call, the MSC/VLR will send the assigned channel rate and
type as RCR parameter together with the other parameters of the BCIE.
Mobile Terminating Call Establishment
MSC/VLR sends SETUP message to MS with the BCIE. The RCR is not significant in this
direction. For data calls, the parameters from the BCIE depending on the RCR value
(Intermediate Rate) will be set according to:
a The Operator preference regarding the support of half rate for the service.
b The channel type in which the service can be supported
The MS will send back the CALL CONFIRMED message. If no BCIE is included in the
message, the MSC/VLR will set the RCR:
to full rate for speech calls
according to the parameters depending on the RCR(Intermediate Rate) sent in the
SETUP message for data calls.
If BCIE is included in the CALL CONFIRMED message, the MSC/VLR will proceed with
the same BCIE analysis as described in mobile originating call and determine the Channel
Rate and Type to be sent in channel assignement request, taking into account the BSC
capabilities.
The GIWU (if connected to the call) will be informed about the assigned channel rate and
type as described in chapter mobile originating call.
Channel Type changes
If the operator has determined during the analysis that changes of channel type were allowed
after first channel allocation, a change of channel type can occur at handover. The DTI (or
GIWU) (if connected to the call ) will be informed by the MSC/VLR to be able to adapt to
the changes.
Charging
It is possible to charge depending on the channel type that the MS requests at call setup or
depending on the channel type that is actually used for the call.
In the first case, the Radio Channel Requirement (RCR) value received from the MS is used
as input to the charging analysis. The RCR value can be Half Rate, or any other type of
supported channel type.
In the second case, the channel type that is first assigned at call setup, is output in the Call
Data Record (CDR), which then can be used for tariff determination in the billing system.
Thus, the CDR will include information on if Half Rate was used or not, on a per call basis.
Advice of Charge is supported in combination with Half Rate.