GSM overview

[ Introduction | Big LEO Overview | Big LEO Tables | GSM Overview | Acronyms |
References | Background
[ !reface | Arc"itecture | Interfaces | !rotocols | #"annels | T$%A
Preface
T"is &age discusses t"e '(% mobile tele&"ony system) w"ic" is
increasingly &o&ular and establis"ed t"roug"out t"e world* T"e term
GSM usually means t"e '(% standard and &rotocols in t"e fre+uency
s&ectrum around ,--%./* T"ere is also $#(01-- 2 '(% &rotocols but
at di3erent air fre+uencies around 01-- %./ 2 and in t"e 4nited (tates)
w"ere s&ectrum for !ersonal #ommunication (ervices 5!#(6 was
auctioned at around 0,--%./) o&erators using t"e a&tly2named
'(%0,-- are com&eting against a &let"ora of ot"er standards* As a
result of t"is) t"e original and most widely2used '(% fre+uency
im&lementation is also becoming known as '(%,--) and $#(01-- is
also known as '(%01--* .owever) alt"oug" t"e &"ysical fre+uencies
used di3er) t"e &rotocols and arc"itecture remain t"e same*
T"is &age is not an introduction to t"e basics of cellular tele&"ony*
5T"at article covers a number of standards &o&ular in t"e 4nited
(tates) as well as describing cells and fre+uency reuse*6
A detailed descri&tion of t"e '(% system can be found in [%O4,7 and
in [B84,9) in addition to t"e '(% recommendations* An inde: to '(%
information is available* T"is Overview Of T"e '(% (ystem and
!rotocol Arc"itecture is wort" reading) as is anot"er overview*
T"e following sections will brie;y describe t"e functional entities) t"e
radio interface signalling &rotocol) t"e logical and &"ysical c"annel
structure and t"e T$%A structure based on '(%*
<or '(% Location %anagement) its use of ##ITT (ignalling (ystem =o
>) '(% Identi?ers) (ignalling over t"e Radio Interface) %A! !rocedures)
and Location Registers in '(%) see Sudeep K. Palat's pages*
(ome '(% system &arameters are listed in t"e table below*
Multiple Access MethodT$%A @ <$%A
Uplink frequencies M!"#,AA2,B- 5basic '(%6
$ownlink frequencies M!"# 1,-2,09 5basic '(%6
$uple%ing<$$
&hannel spacing' k!"7--
Modulation'%(C
Porta(le )* power' +a%i+u+ ,
average +-#
0--- @ 079
Power control' handset and .SSDes
Speech coding and rate k(ps# R!E2LT! @ 0A
Speech &hannels per /0 channel1 1
&hannel rate k(ps#7>-*1AA
&hannel coding
Rate 0@7
convolutional
0ra+e duration +s#E*B09
S2ste+ architecture
0igure 3 below s"ows t"e '(% system arc"itecture) w"ic" consists of
t"e switc"ing system) t"e base station system and t"e user
e+ui&ment*
T"e functional entities are brie;y e:&lained as followsF
MS%obile (tation* T"e %( is t"e &"ysical e+ui&ment used by a
subscriber) most often a normal "and2"eld cellular tele&"one*
.)SBase Transceiver (tation* T"e BT( com&rises t"e radio
transmission and rece&tion devices) and also manages t"e
signal &rocessing related to t"e air interface*
)/AUT"e Transcoder Rate Ada&tor 4nit* T"e TRA4 5not s"own in t"e
above ?gure6 functionally belongs to t"e BT(* T"e TRA4 enables
t"e use of lower rates 5A7) 0B or 1 kb&s6 over t"e A2bis interface
instead of t"e BE kb&s I($= rate for w"ic" t"e %(# is designed*
T"e TRA4 can be located at t"e BT() t"e B(#) or 5immediately in
front of6 t"e %(#*
.S&Base (tation #ontroller* T"e B(# manages t"e radio interface)
mainly t"roug" t"e allocation) release and "andover of radio
c"annels*
.SSBase (tation (ystem* T"e B(( consists of a B(# and one or
more BT(s*
MS&%obile (witc"ing #entre* T"e %(# is basically an I($=2switc")
coordinating and setting u& calls to and from %(s* An Inter2
Gorking <unction 5IG<6 may be re+uired to ada&t '(% s&eci?c
rates to t"at used in a &articular !(T=@ !L%=*
45/Hisitor Location Register* T"e HLR contains all t"e subscriber
data) bot" &ermanent and tem&orary) w"ic" are necessary to
control a %( in t"e %(#s coverage area* T"e HLR is commonly
realised as an integral &art of t"e %(#) rat"er t"an a se&arate
entity*
Au&Aut"entication #entre* T"e Au# database contains t"e
subscriber aut"entication keys and t"e algorit"m re+uired to
calculate t"e aut"entication &arameters to be transferred to t"e
.LR*
!5/.ome Location Register* T"e .LR database is used to store
&ermanent and semi2&ermanent subscriber dataI as suc") t"e
.LR will always know in w"ic" location area t"e %( is 5assuming
t"e %( is in a coverage area6) and t"is data is used to locate an
%( in t"e event of a %( terminating call set2u&*
67/E+ui&ment Identity Register* T"e EIR database contains
information on t"e %( and its ca&abilities* T"e I%EI
5International %obile (ubscriber Identity6 is used to interrogate
t"e EIR*
GMS&'ateway %obile (witc"ing #entre* T"e '%(# is t"e &oint to
w"ic" a %( terminating call is initially routed) wit"out any
knowledge of t"e %(Js location* T"e '%(# is t"us in c"arge of
obtaining t"e %(R= 5%obile (tation Roaming =umber6 from t"e
.LR based on t"e %(I($= 5%obile (tation I($= number) t"e
Kdirectory numberK of a %(6 and routing t"e call to t"e correct
visited %(#* T"e K%(#K &art of t"e term '%(# is misleading)
since t"e gateway o&eration does not re+uire any linking to a
%(#*
SMS8
G
T"is is t"e term used by [%O4,7 to collectively describe t"e
two ("ort %essage (ervices 'ateways described in t"e '(%
recommendations* T"e (%(2'%(# 5("ort %essage (ervice
'ateway %obile (witc"ing #entre6 is for mobile terminating
s"ort messages) and (%(2IG%(# 5("ort %essage (ervice Inter2
Gorking %obile (witc"ing #entre6 for mobile originating s"ort
messages* T"e (%(2'%(# role is similar to t"at of t"e '%(#)
w"ereas t"e (%(2IG%(# &rovides a ?:ed access &oint to t"e
("ort %essage (ervice #entre*
7nterfaces
T"e &revious ?gure also s"ows t"e '(% interfacesI t"ey are brie;y
e:&lained below*
U+T"e air interface is used for e:c"anges between a %( and a B((*
LA!$m) a modi?ed version of t"e I($= LA!$) is used for
signalling*
A(isT"is is a B(( internal interface linking t"e B(# and a BT() and it
"as not been standardised* T"e Abis interface allows control of t"e
radio e+ui&ment and radio fre+uency allocation in t"e BT(*
AT"e A interface is between t"e B(( and t"e %(#* T"e A interface
manages t"e allocation of suitable radio resources to t"e %(s and
mobility management*
.T"e B interface between t"e %(# and t"e HLR uses t"e %A!@B
&rotocol* %ost %(#s are associated wit" a HLR) making t"e B
interface KinternalK* G"enever t"e %(# needs access to data
regarding a %( located in its area) it interrogates t"e HLR using
t"e %A!@B &rotocol over t"e B interface*
&T"e # interface is between t"e .LR and a '%(# or a (%(2'* Eac"
call originating outside of '(% 5i*e*) a %( terminating call from t"e
!(T=6 "as to go t"roug" a 'ateway to obtain t"e routing
information re+uired to com&lete t"e call) and t"e %A!@# &rotocol
over t"e # interface is used for t"is &ur&ose* Also) t"e %(# may
o&tionally forward billing information to t"e .LR after call clearing*
$T"e $ interface is between t"e HLR and .LR) and uses t"e %A!@$
&rotocol to e:c"ange t"e data related to t"e location of t"e %(
and to t"e management of t"e subscriber*
6T"e E interface interconnects two %(#s* T"e E interface
e:c"anges data related to "andover between t"e anc"or and relay
%(#s using t"e %A!@E &rotocol*
0T"e < interface connects t"e %(# to t"e EIR) and uses t"e %A!@<
&rotocol to verify t"e status of t"e I%EI t"at t"e %(# "as retrieved
from t"e %(*
GT"e ' interface interconnects two HLRs of di3erent %(#s and uses
t"e %A!@' &rotocol to transfer subscriber information) during e*g*
a location u&date &rocedure*
!T"e . interface is between t"e %(# and t"e (%(2') and uses t"e
%A!@. &rotocol to su&&ort t"e transfer of s"ort messages*
7 T"e I interface 5not s"own in <igure 06 is t"e interface between t"e
%(# and t"e %(* %essages e:c"anged over t"e I interface are
relayed trans&arently t"roug" t"e B((*
Protocols over the A' A8.is and U+
interfaces
0igure 9 below s"ows t"e signalling &rotocols between t"e %( and
BT() between t"e BT( and B(#) and between t"e B(# and t"e %(#*
T"e #%) %% and RR layers toget"er corres&ond to layer t"ree in t"e
I(O O(I &rotocol suite) and layer two is com&osed of LA!$ and LA!$m*
#ustomarily) t"e lower t"ree layers terminate in t"e same node* =ot so
in '(%) w"ere t"e functionality is s&read over distinct functional
entities wit" standardised interfaces between t"em* <or instance) t"e
RR &art of layer t"ree is s&read over t"e %() BT() B(#) and %(#*
&MT"e #ommunication %anagement 5#%6 layer consists of setting
u& calls at t"e usersJ re+uest* Its functions are divided in t"reeF
#all control) w"ic" manages t"e circuit oriented servicesI
(u&&lementary services management) w"ic" allows
modi?cations and c"ecking of t"e su&&lementary services
con?gurationI ("ort %essage (ervices) w"ic" &rovides &oint2
to2&oint s"ort message services*
MMT"e %obility %anagement 5%%6 layer is in c"arge of
maintaining t"e location data) in addition to t"e aut"entication
and ci&"ering &rocedures*
//T"e Radio Resource 5RR6 %anagement layer is in c"arge of
establis"ing and maintaining a stable uninterru&ted
communications &at" between t"e %(# and %( over w"ic"
signalling and user data can be conveyed* .andovers are &art
of t"e RR layers res&onsibility* %ost of t"e functions are
controlled by t"e B(#) BT() and %() t"oug" some are
&erformed by t"e %(# 5in &articular for inter2%(# "andovers*6*
//' T"e RRJ layer is t"e &art of t"e RR functionality w"ic" is
managed by t"e BT(*
5AP$+T"e layer two &rotocol is &rovided for by LA!$m over t"e air2
interface* T"is &rotocol is a modi?ed version of t"e LA!$ 5Link
Access !rotocol for t"e I($= $2c"annel6 &rotocol* T"e main
modi?cations are due to t"e tig"t sync"ronisation re+uired in
T$%A and bit error &rotection mec"anism re+uired over t"e
air2interface 5and in '(% "andled by layer 06) making t"e
corres&onding functionality of t"e LA!$ &rotocol redundant
5and t"us wasteful over t"e air2interface6* T"e LA!$ frame
;ags are re&laced by a lengt" indicator) and t"e <E# ?eld is
removed*
.)SMT"e Base Transceiver (tation %anagement 5BT(%6 is
res&onsible for transferring t"e RR information 5not &rovided
for in t"e BT( by t"e RRJ &rotocol6 to t"e B(#*
5AP$T"is is t"e I($= LA!$ &rotocol 5Link Access !rotocol for t"e
I($= $2c"annel6 &roviding error2free transmission between t"e
B(# and %(#*
.SSAPT"e Base (tation (ystem A&&lication !art 5B((A!6 is s&lit into
two &arts) t"e B((%A! and t"e $TA! 5not s"own in t"e above
?gure6* T"e message e:c"anges are "andled by ((>* %essages
w"ic" are not trans&arent to t"e B(# are carried by t"e Base
(tation (ystem %anagement A&&lication !art 5B((%A!6) w"ic"
su&&orts all of t"e &rocedures between t"e %(# and t"e B((
t"at re+uire inter&retation and &rocessing of information
related to single calls) and resource management* T"e
messages between t"e %(# and %( w"ic" are trans&arent to
t"e B(# 5%% and #% messages6 are catered for by t"e $irect
Transfer A&&lication !art 5$TA!6*
S&&PT"e (ignalling #onnection #ontrol !art 5(##!6 from ((>*
M)PT"e %essage Trans&ort !art 5%T!6 of ((>*
5ogical and ph2sical channels
'(% distinguis"es between physical channels 5t"e timeslot6 and logical
channels 5t"e information carried by t"e &"ysical c"annels6* (everal
recurring timeslots on a carrier constitute a &"ysical c"annel) w"ic" are
used by di3erent logical c"annels to transfer information 2 bot" user
data and signalling* T"e '(% traLc and associated control c"annels
are illustrated in 0igure : below*
&o++on channels
T"e forward common c"annels are used for broadcasting bulletin
board information) &aging and res&onse to c"annel re+uests* T"e
return common c"annel is a slotted Alo"a ty&e random access
c"annel used by t"e %( to re+uest c"annel resources before
timing information is conveyed by t"e B(() and uses a burst wit"
an e:tended guard &eriod*
$edicated point8to8point channels.
T"e dedicated &oint2to2&oint c"annels are divided into two main
grou&s) t"e dedicated signalling c"annels and t"e traLc
c"annels* T"e dedicated signalling c"annels are used to set2u&
t"e connection) and t"e traLc c"annel of a variety of rates is
used to convey t"e user information once t"e session is
establis"ed* Bot" c"annel ty&es "ave in2band signallingF (A##.
for e*g* link monitoring) and <A##. for time2critical signalling
during e*g* a "andover* T"e <A##. KstealsK t"e entire traLc burst
for signalling*
T"ese logical c"annels are de?ned in '(%F
)&!f<ull rate traLc c"annel*
)&! h.alf rate traLc c"annel*
.&&!Broadcast =etwork information) e*g* for describing t"e current
control c"annel structure* T"e B##. is a &oint2to2multi&oint
c"annel 5B((2to2%(6*
S&!(ync"ronisation of t"e %(s*
0&!%( fre+uency correction*
AG&!Acknowledge c"annel re+uests from %( and allocate a
($##.*
P&!%( terminating call announcement*
/A&!%( access re+uests) res&onse to call announcement) location
u&date) etc*
0A&&!t<or time critical signalling over t"e T#. 5e*g* for "andover
signalling6* TraLc burst is stolen for a full signalling burst*
SA&&!tT#. in2band signalling) e*g* for link monitoring*
S$&&!<or signalling e:c"anges) e*g* during call setu&) registration @
location u&dates*
0A&&!s<A##. for t"e ($##.* T"e ($##. burst is stolen for a full
signalling burst* <unction not clear in t"e &resent version of
'(% 5could be used for e*g* "andover of an eig"t2rate
c"annel) i*e* using a K($##.2likeK c"annel for ot"er &ur&oses
t"an signalling6*
SA&&!s($##. in2band signalling) e*g* for link monitoring
)$MA structure and throughputs
0igure ; below s"ows a sim&li?ed diagram of t"e '(% T$%A format
and t"e structure of t"e =ormal burst*
T"e =ormal burst "as a t"roug"&ut after coding of 77*1 kb&s) and
o3ers full rate voice at a net bitrate of 0A kb&s and data at u& to ,*B
kb&s* '(% "as also s&eci?ed a "alf2rate service by time2multi&le:ing
two users onto t"e T$%A structure* T"is service o3ers a gross bitrate
of 00*E kb&s) and data at E*1 kb&s*