USSD - Rev F
USSD - Rev F
E DESCRIPTION 1 (22)
Uppgjord — Prepared Datum — Date Rev Dokumentnr — Document no
SG/ERA/FZ/BIFE Stefan Nilevi 2001-09-21 F 63/190 46-FAD 104 08 Uen
Godkänd — Approved Kontr — Checked Tillhör/referens — File/reference
ERA/FZ/BIFEC (Andreas Fredlund)
Abstract
Contents Page
1 Revision Information 2
2 Description 2
2.1 Abbreviations 2
2.2 Concerned Nodes 3
2.3 General 3
2.4 Prerequisites on the Network 4
2.5 Technical Solution 4
2.6 Traffic Cases 11
4 Miscellaneous Information 20
4.1 Class 20
4.2 Printout Descriptions 20
SEIF v2.3,
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1 Revision Information
2 Description
2.1 Abbreviations
HEX HEXadecimal
ID IDentity
IE Information Element
MS Mobile Station
NI Network Initiated
Ph Phase
SS Supplementary Service
TT Toll Ticketing
• MSC/VLR
• HLR
• EXTERNAL NODE
2.3 General
USSD is used when structured functional signalling isn’t available for a certain
SS. In this case the required signalling isn’t implemented in the MS, and a
proper IE isn’t sent. The protocol provides a container mechanism to transport
the USSD to a USSD application that is able to analyse and act upon the
requested service. Depending on the service invoked, the request is forwarded
to a USSD application located in the VLR, or to the HLR. In the latter case, the
invoked service is either sent to an external node or rejected by the HLR.
From the beginning only two features were using USSD. Today though, more
operator specific services has been developed. In some cases this is in
combination with SMS for further enhancement of the services provision. An
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By introducing USSD, the subscriber will benefit from services that are not
GSM specified. Also the mobile user can use these services independently of
mobile equipment. Both GSM Ph1 and Ph2 mobiles are supported. It has
to be said though, that in order to fully benefit from USSD, a Ph2 mobile
is needed.
This figure shows the data flow of USSD operations, independently of the
affected applications.
USSD APPL
USSD MAP
USSD
PLATFORM
PLATFORM
protocol
MAP
protocol
DTAP protocol CM LAYER
• Rejected
CM Layer
The CM layer in VLR controls the DTAP protocol which transports mobile and
NI operations between the VLR and MS.
• Rejected
TTEN
Transparent Transfer to/from External Node. TTEN is a USSD application,
which allows the MS to operate services in other nodes than the ones
specified by GSM. The interconnection between PLMN and the external node,
for example a message centre, is performed in the HLR through TTEN.
2 MUSTR MUSTRA
1. USSD application
3. USSD handler
MUDENY
Mobile telephony USSD denial application. Standard USSD application
invoked in case a service or procedure code has to be denied. Service and
procedure codes are described later in this document.
MUATAI
Mobile telephony USSD application tariff area indication. This block is involved
when TAI is invoked.
MUAACCT
Mobile telephony USSD application account codes. This block handles the
processing of account information.
MUSTR
Mobile telephony USSD string. MUSTR is used to translate a received
notification case into a USSD text string, which will be sent to the MS.
Notification cases are described later in this document.
MUSTRA
Mobile telephony USSD string administration. MUSTRA syntax checks the
commands and parameters related to USSD.
MUSSPAP
Mobile telephony unstructured supplementary services procedure MAP
interface. MUSSPAP establishes and maintains the communication between
the VLR and HLR.
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MUSSH
Mobile telephony USSD handler. MUSSH is the main block of the USSD
handler. It takes care of sending text strings to the CM layer block.
MUSSAN
Mobile telephony USSD analysis. MUSSAN identifies the USSD operation
invoked by the mobile subscriber. Based on the analysis result, the USSD
request is handled locally in the VLR, or forwarded to the HLR.
2
HSSUDAP HSUDAP2
HSSUDA
3 HUDEXAP HUEXAP2
HUDEXA
to ext.node to ext.node
1. Application blocks
2. USSD handler
3. TTEN
APP1....APPn
These blocks identify the different applications in the HLR using USSD.
HSSUDAP
Home supplementary service unstructured data MAP V1. HSSUDAP
establishes and maintains the communication between the VLR and the
USSD applications in HLR for MAP V1 mobile initiated USSD operations.
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HSSUDA
Home supplementary service unstructured data. This is a command handling
block for administrations of text strings. Text strings are described in this
document.
HSUDAP2
Home supplementary service unstructured data MAP V2. HSUDAP2
establishes and maintains the communication between the VLR and the USSD
applications in HLR for MAP V2 mobile and network initiated USSD operations.
HUDEXAP
Home USSD external node application MAP V1. HUDEXAP establishes and
maintains the communication between the HLR and the external node for
MAP V1 operations.
HUDEXA
Home USSD external node application. Among other things, this block stores
the external node address.
HUEXAP2
Home USSD external node application MAP V2. HUEXAP2 establishes and
maintains the communication between the HLR and the external node for
MAP V2 operations.
A NI USSD request could also be sent. The network then wants information
from the subscriber, for example a account code. After having received and
checked the code, another text string containing personal information could be
sent. This requires MAP V2 or MAP V3 and a Ph2 mobile.
Examples of service codes could be, *#41#, *#401# or *#41*8#. The service
codes associated with TAI are always preceded by *#.
The application identifier (APP) in the RES parameter in ANGSI states what to
do with the different codes. Four different possibilities exist.
between VLR and HLR is prevented. There are however a lot of unused
codes, so this would be time consuming.
On the reference dump, text strings for application 1, 2 and 3 are already
defined. They can however be changed with the command MGUSC. In order
to print the text strings, command MGUSP is used. For application 2 and 3,
different notification cases (NOC) are defined. They are generated depending
on the service or procedure More information about NOCs can be found in
Application information for concerned block, MUATAI for Tarrif Area Indication
and block MUAACCT for Account Codes. For every NOC, two text strings are
defined, one for SMD and the other for IA5. SMD and IA5 are two different
alphabets used. SMD is generated for USSD operations initiated from Ph2 MS
when MAP V2 or MAP V3 is used, while IA5 is generated for Ph1 MS (MAP
V1 , MAP V2 or MAP V3).
When defining or changing a text string, the command MGUSC is used. If the
text string sent to the MS is to be shown only with upper case letters, this text
string is entered in the STRING parameter in MGUSC. If the text string sent to
the MS is to be shown with lower case letters, these letters have to be defined
in the STRING parameter with their HEX values preceded by an escape
code. Which escape code to use is defined with AXE paremeter USSESC
(% is default). An example of a text string where lower case letters are used
is, STRING=”C%68%65%61%70 %61%72%65%61. In this case, when the
string is printed with MGUSP, "Cheap area" will appear.
The General number series analysis consists of a pre analysis (HGPAI), and
a main analysis (HGNSI). Depending on USRF, NAPI and NAI in HGPAI,
branching is done to a certain origin in the main analysis where the NS is
analysed. The result is returned to the calling function block. At least two
different USRFs have to be defined with HGPAI.
The USSD service code (USSDSC) is forwarded to tree 6 in HGNSI for further
analysis. External node address profile 2 digits service code (ENAP2SC), is
forwarded to tree 7 in HGNSI for further analysis. NAPI and NAI are always
set to zero, which means "unspecified".
HGXAI:ENAP=4, EADD=4-46707500000;
HGXAI specifies the external node address in international format for the
external node address profile 4 (input from HGNSI). The external node
address could then be defined in the SCCP analysis. Several different
external nodes can be defined if applicable. The service code 50 together with
the MSISDN number and the HLR address is sent to the external node for
analysis. If stated in HGXAI, the IMSI number is also sent. Depending on the
code sent, a text string is generated in the external node and sent to the MS.
As said earlier, no USSD services are available in the external node today.
2.5.4 Charging
For each local USSD application, application parameters decide whether
charging is to be performed or not. One TT record will be output for the entire
transaction. For all USSD operations, mobile and network initiated, charging
will be performed equally. The same charging principle will be used as already
exists for call independent SS procedures in block MSS. This way of charging
must, for USSD be copied to the traffic blocks MTA and MTB.
HGEPC:PROP=USSDTEXTESCAPE-0;
HGUSC:APPL=0,NOC=0,ALPH=IA5,
STRING=UNKNOWN APPLICATION;
3.1 General
In order to enable USSD in the switch, new commands, SAEs and exchange
properties are introduced. In this document DT for the USSD based functions
“Account codes” and “TAI” are omitted. The latter function is covered in the
document: 69/190 46-FAD 104 08. A few things have to be said concerning
some commands.
When defining a text string for an application in VLR, the command MGUSC
on its own will sufficent as long as the text string contains less than 42
characters, space and escape codes included. If the text string to be defined
contains more than 41 characters, several MGUSC commands are needed.
Then a procedure starting with MGUPI and ended with MGUPE has to
be used. MGUAI is given in order to activate the text string when using
procedures. When MGUSC on its own is used, the text string is activated
automatically. The same rules as above apply for commands used when
defining strings in the HLR.
The Data Transcript commands are divided into different chapters depending
on where in the loading sequence they belong to.
All subfiles that are affected by the function USSD, excluding “TAI” and
“Account codes” are mentioned in this document.
!**********************!
!*** Definition of ***!
!*** AXE parameters ***!
!**********************!
DBTRI;
DBTSC:TAB=AXEPARS, SETNAME=GSMMSSC, NAME=USSDHA1, VALUE=0;
! 0-1 Handling of GSM Phase 1 USSD !
! requests. The parameter is optional. !
! 0 = GSM Phase 1 mobile originating !
! USSD requests will always be !
! forwarded to the HLR. !
! 1 = GSM Phase 1 mobile originating !
! USSD requests can be handled !
! locally by MSC/VLR. !
! Default value = 0 !
! The parameter is owned by the !
! block MUSSAN. !
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DBTRE:COM;
MGEPC:PROP= SSEM2-0;
MGEPC:PROP= SSLOC-0;
HGEPC:PROP= USSDTEXTESCAPE-0;
HGXAI:ENAP=4, EADD=4-46707500000;
4 Miscellaneous Information
4.1 Class
• MGUSP:APPL=ALL, NOC=ALL;
• HGUSP:APPL=ALL, NOC=ALL;
• HGXAP:ENAP=ALL;
References
11746/FF-1/APT 210 15/6 USSD traffic cases on access side
Uen A
2/155 18-ANT 238 01 Uen Home Location Register. Changeable Exchange Adaptation
PG8