Training

GSM System Overview

Version 1.0
20
th
Oct 2005

GSM System Architecture

GSM System Architecture

The Network Switching System
Mobile Switching Center (MSC)
Setting up, routing and supervising calls to and from the mobile
subscriber
Collecting the charging data
Service provisioning
Gateway Mobile Switching Center (GMSC)
The !SC is an !SC serving as an interface bet"een the mobile
net"or# and other net"or#s such as the $ST% and &S'%.
!SC has functions for rerouting a call to the !S according to the
location information provided b( the )*+
Home ocation !egister (H!)
The )*+ database stores and manages all mobile subscriptions
belonging to a specific operator.
Subscriber identit(
, &nternational !obile Subscriber &dentit(
, !obile station &S'% number
Subscriber supplementar( services
*ocation information
,
Visitor *ocation +egister -ddress
Subscriber authentication information
)*+ can be implemented "ith the !SC or as a stand.alone database

The Network Switching System (")
#isitor ocation !egister (#!)
The V*+ contains information from a subscriber/s )*+
The V*+ temporaril( stores information about the !S currentl( visiting
its service area.
Status of !S 0attached or not1
Current *ocation -rea of !S
, The V*+ "ill then have enough information in order to assure the subscribed services
"ithout needing to as# the )*+ each time a communication is established.
2ach !SC has o"n V*+
Authentication Centre (A$C)
3sed to protect operators against fraud
Subscriber authentication
Ciphering transferred information in radio interface
%&ui'ment ()entity !egister (%(!)
3sed to detect stolen and unauthorised mobile
GSM (nterworking $nit (G(*$)
The &43 corresponds to an interface to various net"or#s for
data communications

+ase Station Subsystem
T!ansco)er Controller (T!C)
T+C is to multiple5 net"or# traffic channels from multiple 6SCs
onto one 78 9bit:s $C! channel, "hich reduces net"or#
transmission costs.
The T+C can be combined "ith the 6SC or e5ist as a stand.alone
node.
+ase Station Controller (+SC)
The 6SC controls a group of 6TS and manages their radio
resources.
- 6SC is principall( in charge of handovers, radio channel
assignment, fre;uenc( hopping, e5change functions and control of
the radio fre;uenc( po"er levels of the 6TSs.
!a)io +ase Station (!+S)
The +6S controls the radio interface to the !S.
The +6S comprises the radio e;uipment such as transceivers and
antennas, "hich are needed to serve each cell in the net"or#

O'eration an) Maintenance Center
Network Management Center (NMC)
Centrali<ed control of a net"or# is done at a %et"or# !anagement
Center
Onl( one %!C is re;uired for a net"or# and thiscontrols the
O!Cs.
O'eration an) Maintenance Center (OMC)
-n O!C is a computeri<ed monitoring center, "hich is connected to
other net"or# components such as !SCs and 6SCs via =.25 data
net"or# lin#s.
&n the O!C, the staff is presented "ith information about the status
of the net"or# and can monitor and control a variet( of s(stem
parameters.
O'eration an) Su''ort System (OSS)
Operation and Support S(stem 0OSS1 is 2ricsson>s product to
support the activities performed in an O!C and:or %!C.
The net"or# operator monitors and controls the net"or# through
OSS, "hich offers support for centrali<ed, regional and local
operations and maintenance activities.

()entity Numbers
&dentit( numbers allo" communications to ta#e place
loball(. The( relate to?
!obile Station 0S&! Card and !obile e;uipment1
%et"or# *ocation

Mobile Station ()entity Numbers
MS(S,N? !obile Station &S'% 0%umber dialed to reach a mobile
station1
MS(S,N- CC . N,C . SN
CC @ Countr( code
%'C @ %ational 'estination %umber
S% @ Subscriber %umber
%umber is in national or international format?
012 ABB78A8
C 70 12 ABB78A8
(MS(? &nternational !obile Subscriber &dentit( 0%umber that identifies a
subscriber1
&!S& @ !CC C !%C C !S&%
!CC @ !obile Countr( Code 0three digits1
!%C @ !obile %et"or# Code 0t"o digits1
!S&% @ !obile Subscriber &dentification %umber 0ten digits1
(M%(? &nternational !obile Station 2;uipment &dentit( 0Verifies !S is t(pe
approved and not stolen1
MS!N? !obile Station +oaming %umber 03sed to route a call to the serving
!SC:V*+ service area1
CC @ of the currentl( visited net"or#
%'C @ of the visited net"or#
S% @ in the current mobile net"or#
TMS(? Temporar( !obile Subscriber &dentit( 09eeps the subscriber>s &!S&
confidential1

ocation ()entity Numbers
Three t(pes of *ocation %umbers are used b( some of the nodes
to perform different actions?
+S(C? 6ase Station &dentit( Code
&n order to distinguish neighboring base stations, a uni;ue 6S&C is used
"hich consists t"o components?
, %et"or# Color Code 0%CC1? color code "ithin a $*!% 0A bits1
,
6ase Station Color Code 06CC1? 6S color code 0A bits1
The 6S&C is broadcast periodicall( b( the 6TS on the SC).
A(? *ocation -rea &dentit(
2ach location area of a $*!% has its o"n identifier. The *-& is also
structured hierarchicall( and internationall( uni;ue?
, Countr( Code 0CC1? A decimal digits
, !obile %et"or# Code 0!%C1? 2 decimal digits
, *ocation -rea Code 0*-C1 ma5imum 5 decimal digits, or ma5imum t"ice D
bits, coded in he5
CG(? Cell lobal &dentit(
Cells are uni;uel( identified "ith a Cell &dentifier
Together "ith the *-&, cells are internationall( defined in a uni;ue "a(

Subscriber ,ata in GSM
&dentit( %umbers and %et"or# 2lements

!a)io (nter/ace
Ere;uencies?
S!F00
S!1D00
EG+= @ 1B10.2 C 0n.5121 H 0.2 in !)I , n @512 to DD5.
EGT= @ EG+= C F5 !)I
!odulation?
S! uses !S9 0aussian !inimum Shift 9e(ing1 for
modulation on the radio channel
Transmission on the +adio Channels
- S! fre;uenc( channel subdivided into D different time
slots numbered from 0 to B. The length of a TS is 0.5BBms
2ach of the D time slots is assigned to an individual user
T'!- frame @ D time slots. The length is 8.715 ms

+ursts an) 0rames

+ursts
Normal +urst (N+)
used to transmit information on traffic
and control channels
0re&uency Correction +urst (0+)
used for the fre;uenc(
s(nchroni<ation of an !S
Synchroni1ation +urst (S+)
used to transmit information "hich
allo"s the !S to s(nchroni<e time.
"ise "ith the 6TS.
,ummy +urst (,+)
This ensures that 6CC) transmits a
burst in each time slot "hich enables
the !S to perform signal po"er
measurements of the 6CC)
Access +urst (A+)
used b( 6TS to ma#e a preliminar(
rough estimate on timing advance
setting

ogical Channels
- logical channel carries signaling data or a user>s data
Classification of logical channels in S!

0rame Structures
"2 T,MA /rames
multi/rame
use) mainly /or
'ayloa) 3 s'eech
an) )ata
(TCH4 SACCH4 0ACCH)
56 T,MA
/rames
multi/rame
mainly use) /or
signaling
(+CCH4 CCCH4
S,CCH4 SACCH4
0CCH4SCH)
A su'er/rame
consists o/
67"2
consecutive
T,MA /rames
hy'er/rame is
)ivi)e) into
"89:
su'er/rames

+eginning o/ ,igital Communication
The analog speech signal at
the transmitter is sampled at
a rate of D000 samples per
second

;uanti1ation
The D000 samples per second, are ;uanti<ed "ith a resolution
of 1A bits.
This corresponds to a bit rate of 108 9bps for the speech signal.
-t the input to the speech codec, a speech frame containing
170 samples of 1A bits arrives ever( 20ms

S'eech < Channel Co)ing
Speech Coding
The speech signal is divided into bloc#s of 20
ms.
The speech codec compresses this speech
signal into a source.coded speech signal of
270.bit bloc#s at a bit rate of 1A 9bps.
Thus the S! speech coder achieves a
compression ratio of 1 to D.
Channel Coding
adds redundanc( bits to the original information
in order to detect and correct, if possible, errors
occurred during the transmission
The 62+ of the mobile radio channel is often
ver( high, in the order of 10J.A to 10J.1
Suitable error correction procedures are
therefore necessar( to reduce the bit error
probabilit( into an acceptable range of about
10J.5 to 10J.7.
-n output bloc# of 857 bits is finall( obtained
b( the convolutional code and is then passed
to the interleaver

Channel Co)ing
Example: $+S Throughput Calculations
Co)ing Scheme N (number o/ bytes) !C =ayloa) )ata block si1e
CS.1 2A 20
CS.2 AA A0
CS.A AF A7
CS.8 5A 50
Table 2. The size of the Radio Block for each Coding Scheme
Co)ing !a)io S'are +i)s $S0 !a)io+lock si1e =reco)e) +CS Tail !a)io+lock Total
Scheme +lock Si1e A))e) e>cl? $S0 $S0 number o/ bits
CS.1 2AHD 0 A 2AHDC0.A@1D1 A 80 8 1D1CAC80C8@22D
CS.2 AAHD B A AAHDCB.A@27D 7 17 8 27DC7C17C8@2F8
CS.A AFHD A A AFHDCA.A@A12 7 17 8 A12C7C17C8@AAD
CS.8 5AHD B A 5AHDCB.A@82D 12 17 0 82DC12C17@857
Table 3. Structure of Radio Block prior to Channel Coding
Co)ing !a)io+lock Total Total no o/ bits =uncture) No o/ bits to
Scheme number o/ bits a/ter co)ing bits Sen)
CS.1 22D 22DH2@857 0 857.0@857
CS.2 2F8 2F8H2@5DD 1A2 5DD.1A2@857
CS.A AAD AADH2@7B7 220 7B7.220@857
CS.8 857 857H1@857 0 857.0@857
Table 4. Channel Coding Radio Blocks, each 4! bits in length
CS"#,"2,"3 use the same channel coder as $S% signaling &BCC', S(CC', )(CC' etc.
CS"4 *ea+es ,ncoded
%&uivale
nt to
s'eech

(nterleaving
&nterleaving is the processes of rearranging the bits.
&t allo"s the error correction algorithms to correct more of the errors
that could have occurred during transmission.
6( interleaving the code, there is less possibilit( that a "hole chuc# of
code can be lost.
&nterleaving 25ample
4e need to transmit 20 bits.
Eurthermore, 10 bits can be transmitted
in one transmission burst, and the error
correcting mechanism can correct A
errors per 10 bits.
4e need to transmit 20 bits.
Eurthermore, 10 bits can be transmitted
in one transmission burst, and the error
correcting mechanism can correct A
errors per 10 bits. Ta#e a loo# at the
follo"ing t"o scenarios?
4ith interleaving the receiver is able to
get all 20 bits correctl( but "ithout
interleaving "e lose 1 complete burst.

(nterleaving ((()
&n S! the interleaving is much more complicated
The 857 bits outputed b( the convolutional encoder are divided into 5B
bit bloc#s
Selects?
the 0th, Dth, 17th through 88Dth bits in the first bloc#,
the 1st, Fth 1Bth through 88Fth bits in the 2nd bloc#
and so on to have D bloc#s
Then the bits in the first 8 bloc#s are placed in the even bit positions for
the total bloc# of 857 bits,
and the bits in the second set of 8 bloc#s are placed in the odd
positions
One 'isadvantage for speech and data communication code "ords are
spread across several bursts.
Eor a complete reconstruction of a code "ord, one has to "ait for the
complete transmission of several bursts.
This forces a transmission dela(, "hich is a function of the interleaving
depth.
&n S!, "ith a ma5imal interleaving depth of 1F, this can lead to dela(s
of up to A70 ms.

(nterleaving (((()

GSM 'rotocol architecture /or signaling
$m
Abis
A
+
C

A an) Abis (nter/aces
The - interface? bet"een !SC and the 6SS.
The signaling is done according to the 6SS-$ protocol.
6SS-$ uses the !essage Transfer $art 0!T$1 and the
Signaling Connection Control $art 0SCC$1.
The 6SS-$ messages can be divided into t"o categories,
transparent messages sent to the !S and non transparent
sent to the 6SC. Eor more information see A$$ Technical Specification 8D.00D
The -bis interface? bet"een the 6SC and 6TS
The protocol *-$' is used on la(er 2.
-t la(er A some messages pass the 6TS transparentl(.
)o"ever, some +adio +esource management 0++1
messages are not handled transparentl( b( the 6TS, e.g.
ciphering and channel activation. Eor more information A$$ Technical
Specification 8D.05D
.

$m (nter/ace
The 3m interface? bet"een the 6TS and !S.
*a(er 2 protocol on 3m is called *-$'m and is a modified
*-$' protocol.
*a(er A is divided into three sub la(ers,
+adio +esource management 0++1,
!obilit( !anagement 0!!1
Connection !anagement 0C!1.
C! and !! messages are sent transparentl( bet"een the !SC
and the !S.

(!!) ayer 7 Messages (()
!!? +adio +esources !anagement
The role of the ++ function is to establish, maintain and release
communication lin#s bet"een !S and the !SC
Some of the main ++ procedures that assure its responsibilities
are?
Channel assignment, change and release.
)andover, 08T(pes1
, )andover of channels in the same cell.
, )andover of cells controlled b( the same 6SC.
, )andover of cells belonging to the same !SC but controlled b(
different 6SCs.
, )andover of cells controlled b( different !SCs.
K )andovers are mainl( controlled b( the !SC. )o"ever in order to
avoid unnecessar( signaling information, the first t"o t(pes of
handovers are managed b( the concerned 6SC 0in this case, the
!SC is onl( notified of the handover1.
Ere;uenc( hopping.
$o"er.level control.
'iscontinuous transmission and reception.
Timing advance.

(!!) ayer 7 Messages ((()
!!? +adio +esources !anagement
Some of the remaining ++ procedures that assure its
responsibilities are?
!onitoring of 6CC) and $C) 0readout of s(stem information
and paging messages1
+-C) administration? !S send their re;uests for connections
and replies to paging announcements to the 6SS
+e;uests for and assignments of data and signaling channels
$eriodic measurement of channel ;ualit( 0;ualit( monitoring1
Transmitter po"er control and s(nchroni<ation of the !S
)andover, al"a(s initiated b( the net"or#
S(nchroni<ation of encr(ption and decr(ption on the data
channel

(MM) ayer 7 Messages
MM@ !obilit( !anagement 0!!1.
The !! function is in charge of all the aspects related "ith
the mobilit( of the user
*ocation management
, *ocation 3pdates, message sent to ne" !SC:V*+
K &!S& -ttach
K %e" *ocation -rea
K $eriodic
K &!S& 'etach 0tell the net"or# that it is no longer connected 1
-uthentication and securit(
The authentication procedure involves the S&! card and the
-uthentication Center
The mobile station and the -uC compute a S+2S using the
secret #e(, the algorithm -A
&f the t"o computed S+2S are the same, the subscriber is
authenticated
The different services to "hich the subscriber has access are
also chec#ed

(CM) ayer 7 Messages
C!? Communication !anagement 0C!1. The C! function is
responsible for?
Call control. The CC is responsible for?
2stablishment of normal calls 0!S.originating and !S.terminating1
2stablishment of emergenc( calls 0onl( !S.originating1
Termination of calls
'ual.Tone !ultifre;uenc( 0'T!E1 signaling
Call routing functions, to reach a mobile subscriber, !S&S'%
Supplementar( Services management.
The mobile station and the )*+ are the onl( components involved "ith
this function?
, Call Eor"arding, Call 6arring, Call hold, Call 4aiting, -dvice of Charge,
!ultipart( service, Closed 3ser roup, Calling *ine &dentification
$resentation, etc..
Short !essage Services management.
&n order to support these services, a S! net"or# is in contact "ith a
Short !essage Service Center through the t"o follo"ing interfaces?
, The S!S.!SC for !obile Terminating Short !essages 0S!S.!T:$$1. &t
has the same role as the !SC.
,
The S!S.&4!SC for !obile Originating Short !essages 0S!S.!O:$$1.

ayer 7 Messages4 Summary
++ messages are mainl( e5changed bet"een !S
and 6SS.
C! and !! functions are handled e5clusivel(
bet"een !S and !SC.
++ messages have to be transported over the 3m
and -bis interfaces,
C! and !! messages need additional transport
mechanisms across the - interface.

Summary o/ ayer 7 Messages

Call =rocess 0low Charts
!! connection establishment
-aging Re.uest
-aging Command
-aging
Channel Re.uest
Channel Re.uired
Channel (cti+ation
Ch (ct
(ckno/ledge
0mm (ss
Command
0mmediate
(ssignment
MS BTS BSC MSC
RR (PCH)
RR (RACH)
RR (AGCH)

MS Originate)
Call
%stablishment

MS Call
Termination
Setu'

*ocation 3pdating, flo" chart
)*+ !SC:V*+ 6SC !S
SCC=3C!
(OC $=, !%;)
06SS!-$1
A$T !%;
0'T-$1
0'T-$1
A$T !%S
CHAN !%;?
(MM ASS(GN
OC $=, !%;
SCC=3CC
C(=H MO,% CM,
06SS!-$1
C(=H MO,% COM
06SS!-$1
TMS( !%AOCAT(ON CM,
0'T-$1
TMS( !%AOCAT(ON COM
0'T-$1
0'T-$1
C(=H MO,% CM,
C(=H MO,% COM
OCAT(ON $=,AT(NG ACC%=T%,
(NS%!T S$+ ,ATA
$=,AT% OCAT(ON
(NS%!T S$+ ,ATA
$=,AT% OCAT(ON
C%A! CM,
06SS!-$1
C%A! COM
06SS!-$1
CHAN !%%AS%
SCC= !C
SCC= !S,
0!-$1
0!-$1
0!-$1
0!-$1
0!-$1
0!-$1
(N0O!MAT(ON
S%N, A$TH?
(N0O!MAT(ON
S%N, A$TH?
*ocation 3pdating, flo" chart
)*+ !SC:V*+ 6SC !S
SCC=3C!
(OC $=, !%;)
SCC=3C!
(OC $=, !%;)
06SS!-$1
A$T !%;
0'T-$1
0'T-$1
A$T !%S
CHAN !%;?
(MM ASS(GN
OC $=, !%;
SCC=3CC
C(=H MO,% CM,
06SS!-$1
C(=H MO,% COM
06SS!-$1
TMS( !%AOCAT(ON CM, TMS( !%AOCAT(ON CM,
0'T-$1
TMS( !%AOCAT(ON COM TMS( !%AOCAT(ON COM
0'T-$1
0'T-$1
C(=H MO,% CM,
C(=H MO,% COM
OCAT(ON $=,AT(NG ACC%=T%, OCAT(ON $=,AT(NG ACC%=T%,
(NS%!T S$+ ,ATA
$=,AT% OCAT(ON
(NS%!T S$+ ,ATA
$=,AT% OCAT(ON
C%A! CM,
06SS!-$1
C%A! COM
06SS!-$1
CHAN !%%AS%
SCC= !C
SCC= !S,
0!-$1
0!-$1
0!-$1
0!-$1
0!-$1
0!-$1
(N0O!MAT(ON
S%N, A$TH?
(N0O!MAT(ON
S%N, A$TH?
(N0O!MAT(ON
S%N, A$TH?
(N0O!MAT(ON
S%N, A$TH?
ocation
$')ating

(ntra +SS
Han)over

(nter +SS
Han)over

G=!S
MS
Originate)
=acket
Trans/er

G=!S
MS
Terminate)
=acket
Trans/er

GSM <
$MTS
System
No)es <
(nter/aces