GSM Overview
] GSM is based on a modular ] Signaling protocols are
architecture to allow for inter- integrated and are
operability between internationally standardized.
elements.
] The switch signaling is
] All interfaces are specified to based on the SS7 standards,
allow different equipment adding two new user parts:
vendors. MAP and BSSAP.
] Billing standards are defined ] The BSS signaling is based
to allow for roaming. on an ISDN protocol called
] Advanced network LAPD.
management is provisioned
in the standards.
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System Architecture
Public Switched Air-interface
Telephone Network
(PSTN)
Authent Equip. Id
Center Register
(AUC) (EIR)
Mobile Station (MS)
Home Visitor Base
Location Location Station
Register Register Subsystem Base
Mobile (HLR) (VLR) Mobile (BSS) Transceiver
Switching Switching Station
(BTS)
Center Center
Base
(MSC) (MSC)
Station
Controller
BSC A-bis
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FDMA, TDMA and CDMA
FDMA (such as AMPS) uses one
user per frequency or radio channel
With CDMA, all users
share the same radio
channel, separate by
different code sequences
GSM combines FDMA with
TDMA, giving 8 users sharing
each frequency channel
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Base Station Timeslots
Base station radiates one BCCH frequency
and one TCH frequency
fBCCH
BCCH timeslot 0 carries GSM system
information, frequency and timing
fTCH
BCCH timeslot 1 carries SDCCH control
channel for call set up
Timeslot: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
BCCH Frequency BCCH SDCCH TCH TCH TCH TCH TCH TCH
Base station
Timeslot: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
TCH Frequency TCH TCH TCH TCH TCH TCH TCH TCH
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Timing Advance
Mobile 1 on timeslot 3 Mobile 2 on timeslot 2
The transmission from mobiles further from the base
station will arrive later than those near the BTS. The
mobiles further away are sent a TIMING ADVANCE so
they will transmit earlier and all signals will be received at
the base station in their correct timeslot.
Base station
Timeslot 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
MS2 MS1
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Mobile Timeslots
The mobile does not transmit and receive at the same time.
This means that it does not need a duplexor so will be smaller and cheaper.
The mobile receives the downlink information from the BTS on its timeslot.
It re-tunes, and waits two timeslots before powering up the transmitter.
The mobile transmits voice on the uplink and powers down.
The mobile then retunes its receiver to measure the signal strength of the neighbors.
f1 Rx Rx
f1 = MS receiving frequency
f2 = Adjacent cell frequency f2
Measure Measure
(MS monitoring)
f3 = MS transmitting frequency
(f1 minus 70 MHz)
f3 Tx Tx
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Call scenario
Base station has two frequencies:
BCCH and TCH Mobile 4 is IDLE
Mobile 1 has call on
BCCH traffic timeslot 2
Base station
Mobile 3 is on a call on TCH
Mobile 2 wants to set up a call timeslot 0
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Base Station: timeslot 0
BCCH frequency: Idle mobile 4
Downlink transmits system monitors BCCH
information Information on
downlink
TCH timeslot 0 sends
downlink voice channel to
mobile 3
Mobile 1 on BCCH traffic
timeslot 2 waits
Base station
Mobile 2 sends access Mobile 3 on TCH timeslot 0
request on Random Access sends uplink voice channel
Channel on uplink
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Base Station: timeslot 1
BCCH frequency:
Downlink: SDCCH call Idle mobile 4 waits
set up to mobile 2
Traffic channel timeslot 1 does
not transmit
Mobile on BCCH traffic
timeslot 2 waits
Base station
Mobile 2 sets up call on Mobile 3 on traffic channel
SDCCH on uplink timeslot 0 waits
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Base Station: timeslot 2
BCCH frequency: Idle mobile 4 waits
Downlink voice on traffic
channel on timeslot 2
Traffic channel
timeslot 2 transmits
voice on downlink to
mobile 2
Mobile sends voice
on BCCH traffic
timeslot 2 on uplink
Base station Mobile 3 on traffic channel
Mobile 2 transmits voice on timeslot 2 waits
traffic channel timeslot 2
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Base station Timeslots
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
BCCH Frequency
BCCH SDCCH Call mobile 1 Idle Idle Idle Idle Idle
BCCH set-up mobile 2 Call mobile 1 Idle Idle Idle Idle Idle
BCCH set-up mobile 2 Call mobile 1 Idle Idle Idle Idle Idle
Time BCCH set-up mobile 2 Call mobile 1 Idle Idle Idle Idle Idle
BCCH set-up mobile 2 Call mobile 1 Idle Idle Idle Idle Idle
BCCH SDCCH Call mobile 1 Idle Idle Idle Idle Idle
BCCH SDCCH Call mobile 1 Idle Idle Idle Idle Idle
BCCH SDCCH Call mobile 1 Idle Idle Idle Idle Idle
BCCH SDCCH Call mobile 1 Idle Idle Idle Idle Idle
BCCH SDCCH Call mobile 1 Idle Idle Idle Idle Idle
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
TCH Frequency
Call mobile 3 Idle Idle Idle Idle Idle Idle Idle
Call mobile 3 Idle Idle Idle Idle Idle Idle Idle
Call mobile 3 Idle Idle Idle Idle Idle Idle Idle
Time Call mobile 3 Idle Idle Idle Idle Idle Idle Idle
Call mobile 3 Idle Idle Idle Idle Idle Idle Idle
Call mobile 3 Idle Call mobile 2 Idle Idle Idle Idle Idle
Call mobile 3 Idle Call mobile 2 Idle Idle Idle Idle Idle
Call mobile 3 Idle Call mobile 2 Idle Idle Idle Idle Idle
Call mobile 3 Idle Call mobile 2 Idle Idle Idle Idle Idle
Call mobile 3 Idle Call mobile 2 Idle Idle Idle Idle Idle
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