Narayan Bhowmik, JTO(MSC), Agartala-1.

Page-1{3)
Location Updating (LU)
The Location Updating procedure occurs as follows:
1) IMSI Attach : When an MS is switched on in the same location area as it was previously registered
2) Normal LU : When an MS is roaming in a different VLR
3) Periodic Registration : When the MS is requested by the network to send a registration message at
predefined intervals
The VLR uses MAP signaling to communicate with the HLR to carry out a location update. All MAP signaling
uses SCCP and the SCCP nodes are addressed using a Global Title (GT).
To perform a Location Update, the MS sends the IMSI to the MSC/VLR, which is based on the E.212 series.
This is not a dialed number in the telephony network. For the VLR to communicate with the HLR, the IMSI
must be modified to a Mobile Global Title (MGT).
If mobile operators agree upon international roaming, Location Update messages will be sent between the
operator networks, using PSTN, which does not recognize the IMSI format (E.212) numbering plan and
therefore is unable to route the messages. It is therefore stated in the GSM specification that the MCC and
MNC are to be converted to CC and NDC creating the MGT. The CC and the NDC are parts of the
ISDN/PSTN numbering plan known in all Public Switched Telephone Networks. This new Mobile Global
Title (MGT) number series is based on the E.214 series, made up of the CC + NDC + MSIN. The CC
identifies the country code and NDC the network. The MGT is only ever used for Location Updating.
Normal Location Updating
When the MS is powered on in an MSC/VLR service area or when the MS detects that the broadcast location
area identity is different from the one stored in the SIM-card, it performs a Location Update.
If the IMSI is not recognized in the VLR, the VLR requests subscriber information from the HLR where the
MS’s subscription is held.
The MS sends the IMSI to the MSC/VLR. This is not a dialed number in the telephony network. For the
VLR to communicate with the HLR, the IMSI must be modified to an MGT. The MGT is then used to route
the MAP signal through the SCCP network from a VLR to the subscriber’s HLR.
Narayan Bhowmik, JTO(MSC), Agartala-1. Page-2{3)
The MSC/VLR Server receives a location update request from the MS. The IMSI is sent from the MS to the
MSC Server. Optionally, the MSC/VLR invokes authentication and ciphering. It is recommended to use
TMSI instead of IMSI whenever possible.
The VLR checks the validity of this IMSI and the availability of the subscriber data. As the MS is switched on
or as the MS has changed the MSC service area, the VLR has to request subscriber data from the HLR.
The MSC/VLR Server translates this IMSI into an MGT. This MGT enables the MSC/VLR Server to find
out the HLR where the subscriber data is held.
The MGT is analyzed in the GT translation table and in the GT routing table. In this example, the SP of the
HLR is pointed out.
The MTP function is then used to transport the Update Location Request MAP message to the HLR.
The HLR checks if the subscriber is roaming in a permitted area. If yes, the HLR stores the new MSC/VLR
address, fetches the subscription data and sends the “Insert Subscriber Data” message back to the MSC/VLR
Server using the same SS7 mechanism.
The HLR orders, if necessary, the old serving MSC/VLR to cancel all information about the subscriber since
the MS is now served by a new MSC/VLR.
The VLR stores the subscriber data and sends a Location Updating confirmation message to the MS.
Signaling in the MAP during Location Updating
Whenever a subscriber changes MSC/VLR service area, signaling towards his HLR must be performed to
retrieve his identity numbers, list of provided services, and authentication data. This is done so a list of
services that are subscribed to, are then made known to the Visitor Location Register (VLR) whilst the
subscriber is being serviced by the MSC.
This is a very similar procedure for WCDMA Systems, only the Authentication centre will be asked for
quintuplets not triplets.
1. When a subscriber requests a location update and the MSC/VLR cannot find him in the database, a
dialog to request authentication data from the HLR is initiated. In the diagram, MAP version 1
operation “Send Parameters” is shown.
2. The HLR sends one or several triplets, that is, sets of random number (RAND), signed response
(SRES) and ciphering key (Kc) and the dialog is ended.
3. After subscriber authentication and other possible security procedures (for example, an IMEI check), a
second dialog is started. The MAP version 2 operation “Update Location” is initiated towards the
HLR.
4. The HLR accepts the dialog request and initiates “Insert Subscriber Data” towards the MSC/VLR. All
relevant subscriber information is transferred to the VLR in one or several messages.
5. The VLR acknowledges the operation with an empty component (“Result #13” in the Figure).
6. At the end of the dialog, a confirmation of the “Update Location” operation is sent. The HLR address
is stored in the VLR and the MS gets an acknowledgement of the location updating. In addition, a
“Cancel Location” is initiated towards the “old” MSC/VLR.
Narayan Bhowmik, JTO(MSC), Agartala-1. Page-3{3)