GSM Channels

Contents
Channel Concepts

Call Setup
Burst & Multi Frames Mapping of Logical Channels Definitions of SDCCH Call Set up

Logical Channels

Broadcast Channels (BCH)

Frequency Correction Channel (FCCH)

Downlink Channel
BTS: Transmits a carrier frequency (Pure sine wave of 67.7 Khz) This Solve 2 purpose : a> Make sure that this is BCCH Carrier b> To allow the MS to synchronize to the frequency MS: After Switch on MS Scan for this channel, since it has no information to which frequency to use. FCCH carrier enables a mobile to tune its frequency to that being broadcast by the BTS.

Broadcast Channels (BCH)

Syncronization Channel (SCH) Downlink Channels

BTS: Transmits TDMA Frame number + Base Station Identity Code (BSIC= NCC + BCC )
MS: MS decodes the BSIC if the chosen BTS is GSM Base station within a cell

Broadcast Channels (BCH)

Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH) Downlink Channels BCCH contains the detailed Network and cell specific information such as : Frequency used by Cell and its Neighboring cells. Frequency HSN Paging Groups

LAI
Max output power allowed in the cell

Common Control Channels (CCCH)

Paging Channel (PCH) Downlink Channels BTS: Broadcast the paging message to indicate the Incoming Calls or Incoming SMS. Paging message also includes the MSs identity number IMSI/TMSI MS: MS listens to the PCH. If it identifies its own mobile subscriber identity number on the PCH, it will respond.

Common Control Channels (CCCH)

Random Access Channel (RACH)
RACH is transmitted Uplink only

When mobile is paged , it replies on RACH requesting a signaling channel. RACH can also used if the MS wants to make a contact the NW/ Originating calls

Common Control Channels (CCCH)

Access Grant Channel (AGCH) Downlink channel AGCH is answer to the RACH

NW assigns a signaling channel (SDCCH) to the MS. This assignment is performed on the AGCH

Dedicated Control Channels (DCCH)

Stand Alone Dedicated Control Channel (SDCCH) SDCCH is bi-directional Channel

System Signaling
Call Setup

Authentication
Location Update Assignment of Traffic channels and Transmission of Short messages

Dedicated Control Channels (DCCH)

Slow Associated Control Channel (SACCH)

SACCH is transmitted in both Uplink and Downlink directions

SACCH is associated with each SDCCH and also with TCH Uplink : MS Sends the averaged measurement on its own BTS and neighboring BTSs

Downlink: MS receives information regarding information concerning Transmit power to use Instructions on Timing Advance

Dedicated Control Channels (DCCH)

Fast Associated Control Channel (FACCH)

While Calls in progress and HO is required FACCH is used

FACCH works in Stealing mode meaning that one 20ms segment of speech is exchanged for signaling information necessary for the HO

Cell Broadcast Channel (CBCH) CBCH is used in Downlink only It is used to carry Short Message Service Cell Broadcast (SMSCB) and uses the same physical channel as the SDCCH

April 25, 2007

Traffic Channels (TCH)

Traffic channels are Bi-directional logical channel that transfer the user speech or data. Full Rate TCH ( TCH/F) :

This channel carries information at a gross rate at 13Kbit/s * * Now it is 22.8 Kbit/s with latest R9.1
Half Rate TCH (TCH/H) : This Channel carried information at a gross rate at 6.5Kbit/s* * Now it is 11.4 Kbit/s with latest R9.1 Enhance Full Rate : The speech coding in EFR is still done at 13Kbit/s, but the coding mechanism is different that is used for normal FR. EFR gives better speech quality at the same bit rate than normal FR.

Call to an MS

More..

Relationship Between Burst & Frame

Burst : Physical content of a TS is called Burst.There are 5 types of Bursts each having 15/26 ms duration and 156.25 Bits.

Hyperframe: In GSM system every TDMA frame is assigned a fixed number, which repeats itself in a time period of 3 HOURS 28 MINUTES 53 SECONDS 760 MILLISECONDS. This time period is referred to as Hyperframe. Superframe : =51x26 Multiframes. So, Duration =51x26x8x15/26=6Sec 120ms Multiframe :There are two types of multiframe. 26 TDMA Frame Multiframe :Used to carry TCH, SACCH and FACCH

Duration =26 x 8 x 15/26 =120ms 51 TDMA Frame Multiframe : Used to carry BCCH,CCCH,SDCCH and SACCH. Duration =51 x 8 x 15/26 =235.38ms

TDMA frames with Common and Dedicated Channels

Bursts
Normal Bursts: This burst is used to carry information on
Traffic channel SDCCH Channel Broadcast Control Channel Paging Channel :

Access Grant Channel

SACCH & FACCH Channel
1 Time slot = 156.25 bits durations (15/26 = 0.577 ms ) TB Encrypted bits 3 57 F Training Sequence F 26 Encrypted bits TB 57 3 GP 8.25

F : One Stealing Bit:=0 Indicates 57bit packet contains user data or speech :=1 Indicates burst stolen for FACCH Signalling RxQual derived from the 26 bit midable from the TDMA frame

Bursts
Frequency Bursts:
All 148 bits(142+6) are coded with 0. The output of GMSK Modulator is a fixed frequency signal exactly 67.7 Khz above the BCCH carrier frequency. Thus the MS on receiving this fixed frequency signal fine tunes to the BCCH frequency and waits for the Sync burst to arrive after 1 TDMA Frame .i.e =15/26*8=4.615ms
1 Time slot = 156.25 bits durations (15/26 = 0.577 ms ) TB 3 ALL ZERO 142 BITS TB 3 GP 8.25

Bursts
Synchronization Bursts:
This burst is used for time synchronization of the MS

1 Time slot = 156.25 bits durations (15/26 = 0.577 ms ) TB 3 SCH DATA 39 Bits Extended Training Sequence 64 Bits SCH DATA 39 Bits TB 3 GP 8.25

39Bit x 2=78 Bits :Are decoded to arrive 25-SCH control bits and that contains the information of the NCC ,BCC & TDMA FN

64 Bits : Long training seq. of 64 Bits are identical for all BTS

Bursts
Access Bursts:
This burst is used only for initial access by the MS to the BTS which applies 2 cases : For connection setup when idle state where a CHAN_REQ message is sent using access burst For HO when MS send HND_ACC message.

1 Time slot = 156.25 bits durations (15/26 = 0.577 ms ) TB 8 SCH Sequence 41 Bits RACH Data 36 Bits TB 3 Guard Band 68.25 Bits

36Bit Contains : BSIC+CHAN_REQ or HND_ACC 41Bit Contains : Fixed bit sequence allow BTS to recognize it is Access Burst 86.25 bits GP: Long GP enables BTS to get Propagation delay information.

Bursts
Dummy Bursts:
To enable the BCCH frequency to be transmitted with a constant power level, dummy burst are inserted. This burst is transmitted on CHGR=0 when no other type of burst is to be sent. Thus it makes possible for MS to perform the power measurement on the BTS in order to determine which BTS to use for initial access or which to use for HO

CCCH is replaced by the dummy page, when there is no paging message to transmit.
1 Time slot = 156.25 bits durations (15/26 = 0.577 ms ) TB 3 Mixed Bits 58 Training Sequence 26 Mixed Bits 58 TB Guard Band 3 8.25

58Bits: Coded with pseudo random bit seq. to prevent confusion with Freq correction burst

Call Setup-Mobile Terminating Call

MS
PCH 3>Paging Req(Imsi on PCH) RACH 4>Channel Req(On RACH) 5>Channel Reqd (Access Delay) 6>Channel Actn (MSPwr,BSPwr,TA) 7>Channel Activation Ack AGCH 8>Immediate Assign SABM (Paging Resp:IMSI/MS Class) UA(Paging Resp) Unnumbered Ack Frame which confirms only 1 MS is using Sig Channel 10>Auth Req (128 bit RAND+3bitCKSN) SDCCH 11>Auth Response (MS Calculate SRES & Kc with its own Ki stored in SIM by appling algorithm A3&A8) 9>Estblish Ind (Paging Resp) IMSI+MS Class 10>Auth Req (128 bit RAND+3bitCKSN) 9>Conn Req (Paging Resp: BSC add CGI) 10>Auth Req (128 bit RAND+ 3bit CKSN) 8>Imm Assign Cmd(On AGCH , Freq +TS+ SDCCH SubChannel No+TA

BTS
2>Paging Command Imsi/Tmsi+PG+TRX+CG+TN

BSC
1>Paging(LAI+IMSI/TMSI)

MSC

SDCCH

11>Auth Response (SRES)

11>Auth Response (SRES)

Next..

Call Setup-Mobile Terminating Call

MS
SDCCH SDCCH 14>Setup 15>Call Confirmed

BTS
14>Setup 15>Call Confirmed 17>Channel Activation (BSC Allocated Idle TS for Traffic)

BSC

MSC

14>Setup (Req for Services I.e. Speech/Data/Fax etc) 15>Call Confirmed 16>Assignment Req (MSC send CIC to BSC)

SDCCH

19>Assignment Cmnd (BSC send message on SDCCH to MS telling to go TCH)

18>Channel Activation Ack 19>Assignment Cmnd (BSC send message on SDCCH to MS telling to go TCH)

TCH 20>Assign Comp (MS tune to TCH and send Ind that Chan is Seized) 20>Assign Comp (MS tune to TCH and send Ind that Chan is Seized) 21>RF Chann Realease 21>RF Chann Realease Ack 22>Alert (MS Send Alert to MSC as soon as the ringing is started in MS) 23>Connect (When MS Sub Answer the Conn message sent to MSC) 24>Connect Ack 20>Assign Comp (MS tune to TCH and send Ind that Chan is Seized)

TCH 22>Alert (MS Send Alert to MSC as soon as the ringing is started in MS) TCH 23>Connect (When MS Sub Answer the Conn message sent to MSC) 24>Connect Ack

22>Alert (MS Send Alert to MSC as soon as the ringing is started in MS)
23>Connect (When MS Sub Answer the Conn message sent to MSC) 24>Connect Ack

TCH

Exit..

Know More - SDCCH

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