Chapter 5 - GSM
Chapter 5 - GSM
Chapter 5 - GSM
1
Overview of
Cellular communication Systems
• 1G: Basic mobile telephony service
– Based on analog cellular technology
– American Mobile Phone (AMPS) and NMT in Europe
• 2G: mobile telephony services for mass users with
encryption and efficient utilization of the radio spectrum
– Digital cellular technology
– GSM and CDMA
• 2.5G: Mobile Internet/data services together with voice
services
– Packet switching technology adding into 2G
– Providing mobile data services over 2G networks
– GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) and EDGE
• 3G: enhanced 2.5G services with improved mobile
internet services and emerging new applications
– CDMA2000 and UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System)
2
GSM Overview
• Formerly: Groupe Spéciale Mobile (founded 1982)
• Now: Global System for Mobile Communication
• Pan-European standard (ETSI, European Telecommunications
Standardization Institute)
• Goal : was to provide a mobile phone system that allows users
to roam throughout Europe and provides voice services
compatible to ISDN and other PSTN systems.
• Today many providers all over the world use GSM
(219 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, Australia, America)
– more than 4 billion subscribers in more than 700 networks
– more than 80% of all digital mobile phones use GSM
• Today more people use mobile phone system than the fixed
telephones!
3
GSM Technologies
• A 2G cellular network (a digital network for voice communication)
• Circuit switching for voice (mainly)/data (limited)
transmission rate
– Connection-oriented service: establish a communication path (channel) for
point-to-point communication
• Multiplexing
– Frequency division multiplexing (FDM) plus Time division multiplexing
(TDM)
– Uses 124 channels per cell, each channel can support 8 users through TDM
(992 users max)
– Some channels are used for control signals, etc
• Mobility management
– Two-tier architecture: HLR and VLR
– Location area for location update together with paging for searching
• Services
– Mainly for voice communication
– Data communication is very limited (i.e., 9.6kbit/s) and supporting SMS
4
Performance Characteristics of GSM
Comparing with 1G cellular network
• Communication
– Mobile communication for voice and data services
• Total mobility
– International access, chip-card enables use of access points of different
providers (roaming services)
• Worldwide connectivity
– One number, the network handles localization and interoperability
• High capacity
– Better frequency efficiency (frequency reuses), smaller cells, more customers
per cell
• High transmission quality
– High audio quality and reliability for wireless, uninterrupted phone calls at
higher speeds (e.g., from cars, trains)
• Security functions
– encryption, authentication via chip-card and PIN 5
GSM Services
Voice
Messaging
Entertainment
Location based
Video
6
GSM Services : Voice
• Voicemail- like a traditional answer machine.
• Call Waiting
• Call Hold
• Call Forwarding
– the option of diverting incoming calls to another number.
• Call Barring /Restrictions
– to restrict incoming or outgoing calls
• Call conference
• Push-to-Talk over Cellular(PoC/PTT)
– allow people to use their phones as walkie-talkies, merely
pushing a button to talk to another user or group of users.
7
GSM Services : Messaging
• SMS (Short Messaging Service)
– up to 160 characters long
– Billions of text messages are sent worldwide every week.
– It is estimated that a worldwide total of 1 trillion text
messages were sent in 2005.
– users subscribe to services that send news, sport and
entertainment content to a mobile phone in the form of an
SMS.
• MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service)
– additional media types: text, picture, audio, video, or a
combination of all four.
– phone that is running over a GPRS or 3GSM network is
required.
8
GSM Services : Messaging
• Instant Messaging
– an IP-based (Internet Protocol) application that can
provide real-time written communication between people
using a PC or Laptop.
• Email
– 2.5G (GPRS) and 3G network
– There are a wide variety of handsets available today that
support wireless push email services.
– With push email, emails are sent directly to the mobile
device as soon as the email server receives them rather
than waiting for the user or email client to request the
email.
9
GSM Services : Entertainment
• TV/Video
– real-time streaming over 3G networks
– dedicated mobile broadcast networks. (common in Asia)
• Music
• Gaming
– Games Downloaded
2005: 75.9 million
2007: 162.5 million
2009: 262.7 million
2010: 299.4 million
– Java already has over 88% of the market
• Mobile Internet access
– 2G provides limited text-based web browsing services with
low-resolution graphics. 3G is better
– .mobi top-level domain
• used by Sites intended for mobile device use. 10
GSM Services : Location Based Services
• LBS provide personalized services to the user on request, based
on their current position nearby restaurants, hotels or other
location-specific content such as maps.
• Cell-ID
– identifying which base station the user is currently connected
– is accurate to an area of between 200 meters and 1 kilometer.
• GPS
– needs a chip inside the phone, adding to cost, weight and power
requirement, suffer delays (sometimes more than a minute)
11
GSM Services…
• Video phone
– Built-in video camera for capturing videos in 3G
– Full interoperability of various video phones.
• Emergency number
– common number throughout Europe (112)
– mandatory for all service providers; free of charge;
– connection with the highest priority (preemption
of other connections is possible)
12
Architecture of the GSM System
• GSM is a PLMN (Public Land Mobile Network)
– Main components
• MS (mobile station)
• BS (base station)
• MSC (mobile switching center)
• LR (location register)
– Subsystems
• RSS (radio subsystem): covers all radio aspects
• NSS (network and switching subsystem): call forwarding, handover,
switching
• OSS (operation subsystem): management of the network
13
Components
Mobile
Station
switching Database
center
Base Management
Transceiver
Station
14
GSM: overview
OMC, EIR,
AUC
HLR GMSC
NSS fixed network
with OSS
BSC
BSC
RSS
15
GSM: system architecture
radio network and fixed
subsystem switching subsystem partner networks
MS MS
ISDN
PSTN
Um MSC
BTS Abis
BSC EIR
BTS
SS7
HLR
BTS VLR
BSC ISDN
BTS MSC PSTN
A
BSS IWF
PSPDN
CSPDN
16
System architecture: radio subsystem
radio network and switching
subsystem subsystem • Components
MS MS – MS (Mobile Station)
– BSS (Base Station Subsystem):
consisting of
Um • BTS (Base Transceiver Station):
sender and receiver
BTS Abis
• BSC (Base Station Controller):
BSC MSC controlling several transceivers
BTS
• Interfaces
– Um : radio interface
– Abis : standardized, open interface
with 16 kbit/s user channels
A
BTS – A: standardized, open interface with
BSC MSC 64 kbit/s user channels
BTS
BSS
17
Radio subsystem
• The Radio Subsystem (RSS) comprises the cellular
mobile network up to the switching centers
• Components
– Base Station Subsystem (BSS):
• Base Transceiver Station (BTS):
– radio components including sender, receiver, antenna
– if directed antennas are used one BTS can cover several cells
• Base Station Controller (BSC):
– switching between BTSs, controlling BTSs,
– mapping of radio channels (Um) onto terrestrial channels (A
interface)
• BSS = BSC + sum(BTS)
– Mobile Stations (MS)
• MS=ME(mobile Equipment ) + SIM( subscriber identity module)
18
Mobile station
• Terminal for the use of GSM services
• Mobile Equipment (ME)
– represents physical terminals, such as a mobile or PDA.
• Subscribers identity module (SIM)
– Stores all user specific data(Static)
– i.e Card-type, subscribed service, personal identity
number(PIN) ,PIN unblocking key (PUK), International
mobile subscriber identity(IMSI) ,phone book.
• MS=ME + SIM
19
GSM frequency bands
Type Channels Uplink [MHz] Downlink [MHz]
21
ETMTN (GSM-900) Ethiopia
22
GSM: cellular network
segmentation of the area into cells
•Databases
SS7
24
Network and switching subsystem
• NSS is the main component of the public mobile network GSM
– Switching, Hand over
– mobility management ( localization )
• Components
– Mobile Services Switching Center (MSC)
• controls all connections via a separated network to/from a mobile terminal
within the domain of the MSC - several BSC can belong to a MSC
– Databases (important: scalability, high capacity, low delay)
• Home Location Register (HLR)
central master database containing user data, permanent and semi-permanent
data of all subscribers assigned to the HLR (one provider can have several
HLRs)
• Visitor Location Register (VLR)
local database for a subset of user data, including data about all user currently
in the domain of the VLR
25
Mobile Services Switching Center
• The MSC (mobile services switching center) plays a central
role in GSM
– switching functions ( b/n BSC)
– Hand over functions for mobility support
– management of network resources
– interworking functions via Gateway MSC (GMSC)
– integration of several databases.
– location registration and forwarding of location information
– provision of new services (fax, data calls)
– support of short message service (SMS)
– generation and forwarding of accounting and billing information
26
GSM: elements and interfaces
radio cell
BSS
MS MS
Um radio cell
RSS BTS MS
BTS
Abis
BSC BSC
A
MSC MSC
NSS signaling
VLR VLR
ISDN, PSTN
HLR GMSC
PDN
IWF
O
OSS
EIR AUC OMC
27
Operation subsystem
• enables centralized management and maintenance of all
GSM subsystems
• Components
– Authentication Center (AUC)
• Used to protect user identity and data transmission.
• authentication parameters and Encryption keys are
generated and stored
• May be situated in special protected part of the HLR
– Equipment Identity Register (EIR)
• registers GSM mobile stations devices
• Black list(stolen or locked ), Gray list( malfunctioning MS)
• White list (Valid devices)
– Operation and Maintenance Center (OMC)
• control and monitor radio subsystem and the network
subsystem entities via the O interface .
• Traffic monitoring , status report of the network entities
28
Localization and calling
• To always know where a user currently is , GSM
performs periodic location updates even if the MS is
not in use( as long as it is logged on to the GSM
network ).
• HLR always contains info about the current location
• VLR of the MSC informs the HLR about the location
change
29
Localization…
• To locate the MS several numbers are needed
– Mobile subscriber international ISDN number (MSISDN)
• Phone number E.g. +251917111213
– country code (CC)……… (+251) Ethiopia
– National Destination code(NDC)…. ( 917 ) Tepi
– Subscriber number (SN)………………..(111213) individual
30
Mobile Terminated Call(MTC)
• 1: calling a GSM subscriber HLR
4
VLR
• 2: forwarding call to GMSC 5
8 9
3 6 14 15
• 3: signal call setup to HLR
calling 7
• 4, 5: request MSRN from VLR station 1
PSTN GMSC MSC
2
• 6: forward responsible 10 10 13 10
MSC to GMSC 16
• 7: forward call to BSS BSS BSS
11 11 11
• current MSC
• 8, 9: get current status of MS 11 12
17
• 10, 11: paging of MS
MS
• 12, 13: MS answers
• 14, 15: security checks
• 16, 17: set up connection
31
Mobile Originated Call(MOC)
• 1, 2: connection request
• 3, 4: security check
• 5-8: check resources (free circuit)
• 9-10: set up call VLR
3 4
6 5
PSTN GMSC MSC
7 8
2 9
1
MS BSS
10
MTC/MOC
MS MTC BTS MS MOC BTS
paging request
channel request channel request
immediate assignment immediate assignment
paging response service request
authentication request authentication request
authentication response authentication response
ciphering command ciphering command
ciphering complete ciphering complete
setup setup
call confirmed call confirmed
assignment command assignment command
assignment complete assignment complete
alerting alerting
connect connect
connect acknowledge connect acknowledge
data/speech exchange data/speech exchange
33
GSM Roaming
• the ability for a cellular customer to automatically
make and receive voice calls, send and receive
data, or access other services when travelling
outside the geographical coverage area of the
home network, by means of using a visited
network.
• Roaming Agreements between network operators
required .
– National Roaming(visited network in the same
country as the home network)
– International Roaming( visited network is outside the
home country)
34
How Roaming Works
• Subscribe for the roaming service
• roaming agreement is needed b/n operators .
• Phone support the radio frequency
– e.g. 850, 900, 1800 and 1900 MHz
• Switch on your phone in the foreign network.
• Note that when roaming you have to pay both
for calls that you make and receive.
35
GSM coverage and network info
ETHIOPIA
• Network Information
• Operator: Ethiopian Telecommunications
Corporation Also known as: ETMTN
– Currently : Ethiotelecom
• Technology: GSM
• Frequency: 900
• Launch Date: APR 1999
• Services
– Short Message Service
Source :www.mobileworldlive .com
36
Roaming Partners: ETMTN
• A Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria,
Azerbaijan, B Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia Herzegovina,
Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, C Cameroon, Canada, Chad, China,
Comoros, Congo, Cote D Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, D Denmark, Djibouit
E Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, F Finland, France, G Gabon, Gambia, Georgia,
Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, H Hong Kong, Hungary, I Iceland
India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, J Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,
K Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea, Kuwait, L Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,
Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, M Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali ,Malta
Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, N Namibia, Netherlands,
Niger, Nigeria, Norway, O Oman, P Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea,
Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Q Qatar, R Romania, Russia, Rwanda,
S Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia,
Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland,
Syria,T Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan,
U Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay,
Uzbekistan, Y Yemen, Z Zambia, Zimbabwe.
37
Hand over
• Hand off is used to provide continuity of
services while a mobile unit moves from one
cell to another.
• hand off is necessary due to the limited power
of the MS and BTS
• Reason for hand over
– > Low signal strength ( out of cell range )
– > Load balancing (too high in one cell)
38
Hand over…
• Hand off parameters (measurements)
– word error indicator( WEI)
• Demodulation error
– Received signal strength indicator (RSSI)
– Quality indicator (QI)
• Quality with respect to interference
• The handoff algorithm will be based on the
value of this parameters .(threshold value )
39
Types of handover
• In general there are 3 types of handovers for
cellular network.
– Mobile controlled hand over (MCHO)
• Mobile unit measures the parameters and make handover
decision by itself .
– Network controlled hand over (NCHO)
• Base station measures the parameters and makes the
handover decision.
– Mobile Assisted hand over (MCHO)
• Mobile unit measures the parameters and sends the values
to the network.
• Then the base station makes the hand over decision.
• Used by GSM.
40
4 types of GSM handover
1
2 3 4
MS MS MS MS
3. Inter-BSC/Intra-MSC HO
4. Inter-MSC HO
41
Handover decision
HO_MARGIN
MS MS
BTSold BTSnew
42
Handover procedure
MS BTSold BSCold MSC BSCnew BTSnew
measurement measurement
report result
HO decision
HO required HO request
resource allocation
ch. activation
HO complete HO complete
clear command clear command
43
GSM Evolution review
44
High-speed circuit-switched data (HSCSD)
• is an enhancement to the original data
transmission mechanism of the GSM system,
• four times faster than GSM, up to 38.4 kbit/s.
• circuit-switched mode.
• Higher speeds are achieved as a result of
superior coding methods, and the ability to
use multiple time slots to increase data
throughput.
• Only requires a software change at GSM base
stations
45
High Speed Circuit Switched Data
(HSCSD)
46
General Packet Radio Service
(GPRS)
• 2.5G
• is a packet oriented mobile data service.
• usage charging is based on volume of data.
• Use packet switching method.
• provides data rates of 56-114 kbps
• GPRS extends the GSM Packet circuit switched data
capabilities and makes the following services possible:
– "Always on" internet access
– Multimedia messaging service (MMS)
– Push to talk over cellular (PoC/PTT)
– Instant messaging (IM)
47
Global Packet Radio Service
(GPRS)
48
Evolution of GSM…
• EDGE (Enhanced Data rate for GSM Evolution)
– 2.5 G , also known as Enhanced GPRS (EGPRS)
– 384 kbps is the maximum data rate
– designed for service providers that may or may not migrate to UMTS
– More advanced upgrade to GSM than GPRS.
• Additional new hardware and software at base
stations.
• Supports a technology path to 3G.
• Uses new modulation schemes (8-PSK) that is used in
addition to GSM’s standard (GMSK(Gaussian
minimum-shift keying) )
49
Evolution of GSM…
• UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications Systems)
– 3G
– 144kbps for vehicular access
– 384 kbps for wide-area coverage (pedestrian)
– 2 Mbps for local coverage (stationary)
– WCDMA (wideband CDMA)
– Adopted by Europe and Japan
50
Evolution of GSM…
• CDMA2000 1X
– 3G
– use CDMA channel access, to send voice, data, and
signaling data between mobile phones and cell sites.
– up to 153 kbps
• CDMA2000 1xEV-DO (Evolution-Data Optimized)
– 3G
– broadband Internet access
– Uses CDMA/TDMA
– up to 3Mbps
51