PCS Architecture in Wireless Communication

PCS Architecture

Wireless communication enables individuals to stay connected and communicate effectively,

regardless of location.

Understanding each component's role within the system allows us to design an efficient and
effective PCS architecture.

Additionally, the PCS network has two main components: the wireline transport network and the
radio network.

Wireline Transport Network

A wireline transport network transmits voice and data signals over physical cables.

This network also enables reliable and secure data communication, carrying large amounts of
information over long distances.

Radio Network

A radio network is a system that connects different radio stations, enabling them to share content
and broadcast to a larger audience.

Consequently, it allows stations to collaborate, exchange programming, and reach a wider range
of listeners.

Ultimately, it plays a crucial role in connecting people through radio waves, providing diverse
content.

PCS Architecture in Mobile Computing

PCS in Mobile Computing is a collection of components and services in which components
communicate via interfaces.

It includes base stations, mobile devices, network infrastructure, and signal protocols that work
together to ensure reliable and secure communication.

Components of PCS Architecture

Mobile Stations (MS)

MS refers to moveable devices in the radio network, such as cell phones, handsets, or portable
devices installed on cars.

Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) and Mobile Equipment (ME) or Mobile Terminal are two
components of MS (MT).

International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) is the unique identifier associated with the ME,
which manufacturers cannot modify after production.

When registering or subscribing to a network, SIM cards contain important information,

including the International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI), protected by a four-to-eight-digit
code (PIN).

Because it can't communicate with other MS in the network, an MS without a SIM is just an end
terminal.

MS communicates with BSS via the Um Interface.

Small and large equipment interact to form a wireless network in PCS architecture.
There are many types of mobile devices, including handsets, devices mounted on vehicles,
mobile towers, substations, and so on.

Base Station Subsystem (BSS)

The BSS communicates with the MS and the Network Switching Subsystem (NSS).

Two components divide the BSS:

 Base Transceiver Station (BTS)

The BTS comprises transceivers (transmitters and receivers) and signaling equipment, such as
cell antennas.

Subsequently, by transmitting power, each BTS determines the cell's radius by positioning itself
in the center.

Signals from MS are sent and received through the UM interface by the BTS.

 Base Station Controller (BSC)

The BSC administers the radio resources within the BTS group and performs handovers, radio
channel setup, exchange function, control of radio frequency power level, and frequency
hopping.

Moreover, BCS communicates with other BTS via the A-bis interface, which uses Integrated
Services Digital Network (ISDN) protocols.

Network Switching Subsystem (NSS)

NSS regulates the whole network by switching services and keeping the database of moving MS
within the network.

 Mobile Services Switching Center (MSC)

MSC serves as a PSTN or ISDN switching node.

The Equipment Identity Register (EIR) database, the Authentication Center (AUC) database, and
location register databases such as the HLR and VLR all contain information that MSC helps to
manage.

By their IMEI number, EIR holds information on all valid mobile equipment in the network.

When someone reports a stolen MS or personal device, the database marks the IMEI invalid.

MSC handles mobile subscribers by switching services based on their unique identifiers, such as
IMEI, by registering MS, authenticating MS, calling MS location, handover, and call routing.

 Home Location Register (HLR)

When an MS connects to a PCS network service, a record is made in the HLR database.

Even if MS is inactive, the HLR database includes MS's information, such as service
provisioning information, authentication data, current location, and last location.
MS's home network fixes and stores HLR data.

Additionally, the HLR database is designed to function as a distributed database.

Logically, there is only one HLR for each network.

VLR's signal address stores the MS location and regularly checks the MS location and relative
BTS while maintaining the database.

Furthermore, AUC is a password-protected database containing a copy of the secret key stored in
each MS SIM.

 Visitor Location Register (VLR)

The VLR database creates a record whenever an MS visits a PCS network other than their home
network.

VLR keeps a temporary record of chosen information from an MS's HLR and makes services
available to the MS at that place.

The system uses the VLR database to obtain MS information for call handling.

Operation And Support Subsystem (OSS)

It also controls the traffic load within BSS.

By establishing connections between different components of NSS and BCS, OSS controls and
monitors the architecture.

To establish a connection, one must follow a collection of rules known as protocols.

A cell is a radio coverage region that each BS in a radio network has.

MS can converse with one another both inside and outside the cell.

The BSC acts as an interface between the MSC of the Wireline Transport network and the BTS
of the radio network.

Interfaces in PCS Architecture

The PCS architecture consists of four main types of interfaces.

Unified Message (UM) Interface

The first interface, Um, is essential for wireless communication between the mobile device and
the base station.

Abis Interface

The second interface, called Abis, is crucial for connecting the base station and the base station
controller, ensuring the seamless transmission of data and control signals.

A-Interface
The third interface, known as the A-interface, acts as a bridge between the base station controller
and the mobile switching center, facilitating the efficient exchange of voice and data traffic.

Signalling System 7 (SS7) / Service User Part (SUP)

Lastly, the Signaling System 7 (SS7) / Service User Part (SUP) interface is significant for
signaling and control purposes, enabling smooth communication between the mobile switching
center and the signaling system.

GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication)

It is a digital mobile network commonly utilized by mobile phone users in Europe and around
the world. GSM, the most popular of the three digital wireless telephony systems (TDMA,
GSM, and CDMA), is a version of time division multiple access (TDMA). GSM converts and
compresses data before sending it along a channel with two other streams of user data, each
with its time slot.
What is GSM?
GSM stands for Global System for Mobile Communication . GSM is an open and digital
cellular technology used for mobile communication. It uses 4 different frequency bands 850
MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, and 1900 MHz. It uses the combination of FDMA and TDMA.

GSM is having 4 different sizes of cells

 Macro: In this size of the cell, a Base Station antenna is installed.
 Micro: In this size of cell, antenna height is less than the average roof level.
 Pico: Small cells’ diameter of a few meters.
 Umbrella: It covers the shadowed (Fills the gaps between cells) regions.

Features of GSM
 Supports international roaming
 Clear voice clarity
 Ability to support multiple handheld devices.
 Spectral / frequency efficiency
 Low powered handheld devices.
 Ease of accessing network
 International ISDN compatibility.
 Low service cost.
 New features and services.

The Architecture of GSM

 BSS : BSS stands for Base Station Subsystem . BSS handles traffic and signaling between a
mobile phone and the network switching subsystem. BSS having two
components BTS and BSC.
 NSS : NSS stands for Network and Switching Subsystem. NSS is the core network of
GSM. That carried out call and mobility management functions for mobile phone present in
network. NSS have different components like VLR, HLR and EIR.
 OSS : OSS stands for Operating Subsystem. OSS is a functional entity which the network
operator monitor and control the system. OMC is the part of OSS. Purpose of OSS is to
offer the customer cost-effective support for all GSM related maintenance services.
 MS : MS stands for Mobile System. MS comprises user equipment and software needed for
communication with a mobile network. Mobile Station (MS) = Mobile Equipment(ME) +
Subscriber Identity Module (SIM). Now, these mobile stations are connected to tower and
that tower connected with BTS through TRX. TRX is a transceiver which comprises
transmitter and receiver. Transceiver has two performance of sending and receiving.
 BTS : BTS stands for Base Transceiver Station which facilitates wireless
communication between user equipment and a network. Every tower has BTS.
 BSC : BSC stands for Base Station Controller. BSC has multiple BTS. You can consider
the BSC as a local exchange of your area which has multiple towers and multiple towers
have BTS.
 MSC : MSC stands for Mobile Switching Center. MSC is associated with communication
switching functions such as call setup, call release and routing. Call tracing, call forwarding
all functions are performed at the MSC level. MSC is having further components like
VLR, HLR, AUC, EIR and PSTN.
o VLR : VLR stands for Visitor Location Register. VLR is a database which
contains the exact location of all mobile subscribers currently present in the
service area of MSC. If you are going from one state to another state then your
entry is marked into the database of VLR.
o HLR : HLR stands for Home Location Register. HLR is a database containing
pertinent data regarding subscribers authorized to use a GSM network. If you
purchase SIM card from in the HLR. HLR is like a home which contains all data
like your ID proof, which plan you are taking, which caller tune you are using
etc.
o AUC : AUC stands for Authentication Center. AUC authenticates the mobile
subscriber that wants to connect in the network.
o EIR : EIR stands for Equipment Identity Register. EIR is a database that keeps
the record of all allowed or banned in the network. If you are banned in the
network then you can’t enter the network, and you can’t make the calls.
o PSTN : PSTN stands for Public Switched Telephone Network. PSTN connects
with MSC. PSTN originally a network of fixed line analog telephone systems.
Now almost entirely digital in its core network and includes mobile and other
networks as well as fixed telephones. The earlier landline phones which places
at our home is nothing but PSTN.
 OMC : OMC stands for Operation Maintenance Center. OMC monitor and maintain the
performance of each MS, BSC and MSC within a GSM system.
Three subsystem BSS, NSS and OSS are connected with each other via some interfaces. Total
three interfaces are there:
 Air Interface : Air interface is also known as UM interface. Interface between MS and
BTS is called as UM interface because it is mobile analog to the U interface of ISDN.
 Abis Interface : It is a BSS internal interface linking with BTS and BSC.
 A interface : It provides communication between BSS and MSC.

How Does GSM Work?

GSM is a globally recognised digital cellular communication protocol. The GSM standard was
developed by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute to describe the procedures
for second-generation digital mobile networks, such as those used by mobile phones. It is a
broad-area communications technology programme that uses digital radio channelling to
provide audio, information, and multimedia communication systems. Every GSM radio
channel is 200 kHz broad and is further divided into frames of eight time slots. The GSM
system consists of mobile stations, base stations, and interweaving switching systems.
The GSM programme allows 8 to 16 audio users to share a single radio channel, and each radio
transmission station can have numerous radio channels. Because of its simplicity, cost, and
accessibility, GSM is now the most often utilised network technology in the Internet of Things
(IoT).

What is GSM frequency spectrum?

For GSM- 1800 the frequency spectrum of the 75 MHz bandwidth is divided into 374 carrier
frequencies spaced 200 KHz. One or more frequencies are assigned to each BTS. Each of these
carrier frequencies is then divided in time, using a TDMA scheme to increase the number of
channels per carrier frequency. GSM networks use multiple frequency bands, including 900
MHz, 1800 MHz, 850 MHz and 1900 MHz. The 900 MHz/1800 MHz combination is primarily
used in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Australia, whereas the 850 MHz/1900 MHz
combination is used mainly in North and South America.
GSM services
GSM Services are classified as either teleservices or data services. Teleservices include standard
mobile telephony and mobile-originated traffic. Data services include computer to computer
communication and packet switched traffic. User services may be divided into three major
categories.
1.Telephone services: These include emergency calling and facsimile. GSM also supports
Videotex and Teletex.
Voice Calls
The most basic Teleservice supported by GSM is telephony. This includes full-rate speech at 13
kbps and emergency calls, where the nearest emergency-service provider is notified by dialing
three digits.
Videotext and Facsmile
Another group of teleservices includes Videotext access, Teletex transmission, Facsmile
alternate speech and Facsmile Group 3, Automatic Facsmile Group, 3 etc.
Short Text Messages
Short Messaging Service (SMS) service is a text messaging service that allows sending and
receiving text messages on your GSM mobile phone. In addition to simple text messages, other
text data including news, sports, financial, language, and location-based data can also be
transmitted.

2. Bearer services or data services: These are limited to layer 1,2 and 3 of the open system
interconnection (OSI) reference model. Supported services include packet switched protocols
 and data rates from 300bps to 9.6 kbps. Data may be transmitted using transparent or non
transparent mode.

GSM Supplementary services

GSM Supplementary services are provided on top of teleservices or bearer services, and include
features such as caller identification, call forwarding, call waiting, multi-party conversations, and
barring of outgoing (international) calls, among others. A brief description of supplementary
services is given here:
· Conferencing: The multiparty service allows a mobile subscriber to establish a multiparty
conversation, i.e., a simultaneous conversation between three or more subscribers to setup a
conference call. This service is only applicable to normal telephony.

· Call Waiting: This service allows a mobile subscriber to be notified of an incoming call
during a conversation. The subscriber can answer, reject, or ignore the incoming call. Call
waiting is applicable to all GSM telecommunications services using a circuit-switched
connection.

· Call Hold: This service allows a subscriber to put an incoming call on hold and then resume
this call. The call hold service is only applicable to normal telephony.

· Call Forwarding: The Call Forwarding Supplementary Service is used to divert calls from
the original recipient to another number, and is normally set up by the subscriber himself. It can
be used by the subscriber to divert calls from the Mobile Station when the subscriber is not
available, and so to ensure that calls are not lost. A typical scenario would be a salesperson turns
off his mobile phone during a meeting with customers, but does not with to lose potential sales
leads while he is unavailable.

· Call Barring: The concept of barring certain types of calls might seem to be a supplementary
disservice rather than service. However, there are times when the subscriber is not the actual user
of the Mobile Station, and as a consequence may wish to limit its functionality, so as to limit the
charges incurred. Alternatively, if the subscriber and user are one and the same, the Call Barring
may be useful to stop calls being routed to international destinations when they are routed. The
reason for this is because it is expected that the roaming subscriber will pay the charges incurred
for international re-routing of calls. So, GSM devised some flexible services that enable the
subscriber to conditionally bar calls.

GSM Channel
1.Signaling/Control Channels
2.Traffic Channels (TCH)

 Signaling/Control Channels
These are the main types of signaling Channels:

Broadcast Channels (BCH)

- Transmitted by the BTS to the MS. This channel carries system parameters needed to identify
the network, synchronize time and frequency with the network,and gain access to the network.

Common Control Channels (CCH)

- Used for signaling between the BTS and the MS and to request and grant access to the network

Standalone Dedicated Control Channels (SDCCH)

- Used for call setup

Associated Control Channels (ACCH)

- Used for signaling associated with calls and call-setup. An ACCH is always allocated in
conjunction with a TCH or a SDCCH.

Above Categories explain as follows in detail

1) Broadcast channels
These broadcast channels are intended to be seen by mobiles that are enteringt he network. They
provide an initial point of entry.

 Frequency Control CHannel - FCCH: The Frequency Correction Channel is a broadcast

channel used by the base stations. It acts as a beacon within the control channel and the
mobile will first search for this when trying to access a base station.
The burst provided by the FCCH is first logical channel int he control sequence. It consists of
a string of 48 zeros and when transmitted on GMSK, it manifests itself as a sine wave at a
specific frequency - in the case of GSM it appears at a frequency of 67.7 kHz.

The FCCH is sent in the first time slot, and the mobile can wait for seven time slots and then
expect the first slot of the second frame which is the synchronisation channel.

 Synchronisation CHannel - SCH: The Synchronisation Channel is a downlink broadcast

channel, i.e. sent by the base stations. The SCH provides information to the mobile phones
needed to search for base stations, identify them and synchronise with them.
The SCH has a unique burst structure, as does the BCCH, but it sends a training sequence that
is the same through all GSM networks and it allows the mobile to gain exact synchronisation.
Also included within the SCH is the BSIC and the current frame location in relation to the
hyperframe.

 Broadcast Control CHannel - BCCH : The Broadcast Control Channel is a logical

broadcast channel that is used by the basestation to send information about the identity of the
network. This information is used by a mobile station to get access to the network. Essentially
it contains all the parameters used by all mobiles in the cell to set up and receive calls. This
can include the access parameters and configurations required. One broadcast control channel
segment occupies four frames per multiframe.
2) Common control channels
Common Control Channels support common procedures required to establish a dedicated link
with the Global System for Mobile Communications network.

Paging Channel - PCH: The paging channel is used to inform the mobile that it has an
incoming call.

PCHs can also be organised to allow for a sleep mode - this will save battery life. To achieve this
the mobile can be given a specific group of PCHs to monitor and it will awake just in time to
receive them and check if the mobile is being paged.

Access Grant CHannel - AGCH: After the PCH has informed the mobile that it has an
incoming call, the mobile needs to be directed to a form of control channel called the Standalone
Dedicated Control CHannel, SDCCH.

Random Access CHannel - RACH: This channel originates from the mobile. It is sued when a
mobile wants to make a call. To achieve this it needs to gain access to the base station to tell it
that it wants to originate a call.

3) Dedicated control channels

Standalone Dedicated Control CHannel - SDCCH : The SDCCH is a two way logical
channel that consists of four time slots in every multiframe. Each mobile on the network is
assigned to one of these channels.

Although the make-up of the SDCCH results in slow data transmission speeds, it is nevertheless
sufficient for the information that needs to be sent.

The SDCCH is used for carrying most of the access messaging and it is associated with an
SACCH to relay signalling information

Slow Associated Control Channel - SACCH: The SACCH is a signalling channel that
provides a relatively slow signalling connection. The SACCH is associated with either a traffic
or dedicated channel.

Although originally intended for engineering communications, the SACCH soon became the
bearer for SMS, Short Message Service transfers.

Traffic channels
Apart from the control, it is also very important to carry the payload data as well. Once the link
has been set up using the control channels, then the payload data including speech or other data
can be sent in both the uplink and downlink directions.

Even though the link has been set up, the control data will stil be required to ensure that any
changes in the link can be reflected in the way it operates. Handover, changes in signal strength
and the like all need to be accommodated.

GSM has two types of traffic channels TCH/FS and TCH/HS and these are used in both the
uplink and downlink. These channels use a 26 frame multi frame structure.

 Traffic CHannel / Full Speed - TCH/FS: The TCH/FS carries full rate digitised speech at
13kbps data rate. After the channel coding had been applied the overall rate increased to
22.8kbps.
 There were also channels called TCH/F9.6, TCH/F4.8 and TCH/F2.4 that were used to carry
data at a speed of 9.6kbps,4.8kbps and 2.4kbps respectively. All these channels after channel
coding was applied is were transmitted at a data rate of 22.8kbps.

 Traffic CHannel/Half Speed - TCH/HS: This channel was defined to enable half rate speech
data to be carried. The advantage of this was to enable two GSM calls to be supported on the
same slot, and thereby increasing the capacity of the cell.

MOBILITY MANAGEMENT:

Mobility management is one of the major functions of a GSM or a UMTS network that allows
mobile phones to work. The aim of mobility management is to track where the subscribers are,
allowing calls, SMS and other mobile phone services to be delivered to them. Location update
procedure.

A GSM or UMTS network, like all cellular networks, is a radio network of individual cells,
known as base stations. Each base station covers a small geographical area which is part of a
uniquely identified location area. By integrating the coverage of each of these base stations, a
cellular network provides a radio coverage over a much wider area. A group of base stations is
named a location area, or a routing area.

TMSI (Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity)

The Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity (TMSI) is the identity that is most commonly sent
between the mobile and the network. TMSI is randomly assigned by the VLR to every mobile in
the area, the moment it is switched on. The number is local to a location area, and so it has to be
updated each time the mobile moves to a new geographical area.
The network can also change the TMSI of the mobile at any time. And it normally does so, in
order to avoid the subscriber from being identified, and tracked by eavesdroppers on the radio
interface. This makes it difficult to trace which mobile is which, except briefly, when the mobile
is just switched on, or when the data in the mobile becomes invalid for one reason or another. At
that point, the global "international mobile subscriber identity" (IMSI) must be sent to the
network. The IMSI is sent as rarely as possible, to avoid it being identified and tracked.
A key use of the TMSI is in paging a mobile. "Paging" is the one-to-one communication between
the mobile and the base station. The most important use of broadcast information is to set up
channels for "paging". Every cellular system has a broadcast mechanism to distribute such
information to a plurality of mobiles. Size of TMSI is 4 octet with full hex digits and can't be all
1 because the SIM uses 4 octets with all bits equal to 1 to indicate that no valid TMSI is
available.

ROAMING
Roaming is one of the fundamental mobility management procedures of all cellular networks.
Roaming is defined as the ability for a cellular customer to automatically make and receive voice
calls, send and receive data, or access other services, including home data services, when
travelling outside the geographical coverage area of the home network, by means of using a
visited network. This can be done by using a communication terminal or else just by using the
subscriber identity in the visited network. Roaming is technically supported by mobility
management, authentication, authorization and billing procedures.

LOCATION AREA
A "location area" is a set of base stations that are grouped together to optimise signalling.
Typically, tens or even hundreds of base stations share a single Base Station Controller (BSC) in
GSM, or a Radio Network Controller (RNC) in UMTS, the intelligence behind the base stations.
The BSC handles allocation of radio channels, receives measurements from the mobile phones,
controls handovers from base station to base station.
To each location area, a unique number called a "location area code" is assigned. The location
area code is broadcast by each base station, known as a "base transceiver station" BTS in GSM,
or a Node B in UMTS, at regular intervals. In GSM, the mobiles cannot communicate directly
with each other but, have to be channeled through the BTSs. In UMTS networks, if no Node B is
accessible to a mobile, it will not be able to make any connections at all.
If the location areas are very large, there will be many mobiles operating simultaneously,
resulting in very high paging traffic, as every paging request has to be broadcast to every base
station in the location area. This wastes bandwidth and power on the mobile, by requiring it to
listen for broadcast messages too much of the time. If on the other hand, there are too many
small location areas, the mobile must contact the network very often for changes of location,
which will also drain the mobile's battery. A balance has therefore to be struck.

ROUTING AREA
The routing area is the PS domain equivalent of the location area. A "routing area" is normally a
subdivision of a "location area". Routing areas are used by mobiles which are GPRS-attached.
GPRS is optimized for "bursty" data communication services, such as wireless internet/intranet,
and multimedia services. It is also known as GSM-IP ("Internet Protocol") because it will
connect users directly to Internet Service Providers (ISP).
The bursty nature of packet traffic means that more paging messages are expected per mobile,
and so it is worth knowing the location of the mobile more accurately than it would be with
traditional circuit-switched traffic. A change from routing area to routing area (called a
"Routing Area Update") is done in an almost identical way to a change from location area to
location area. The main differences are that the "Serving GPRS Support Node" (SGSN) is the
element involved.

TRACKING AREA
The tracking area is the LTE counterpart of the location area and routing area. A tracking area is
a set of cells. Tracking areas can be grouped into lists of tracking areas (TA lists), which can be
configured on the User equipment. Tracking area updates are performed periodically or when the
UE moves to a tracking area that is not included in its TA list.
Operators can allocate different TA lists to different UEs. This can avoid signaling peaks in some
conditions: for instance, the UEs of passengers of a train may not perform tracking area updates
simultaneously. On the network side, the involved element is the Mobility Management Entity.
 UNIT-II

GPRS & Mobile data communication

What is GPRS?

GPRS stands for General Packet Radio Service. It is the modified version of GSM architecture.
GPRS is a packet-oriented mobile data mechanism. In GSM architecture, only voice signals can
be transported, so being an enhanced version GPRS can transmit voice as well as data packets. It
uses the same physical radio channel as GSM does, the only difference is it has a new logic
defined for the radio channel.

General packet radio service (GPRS) is essentially a packet-switching technology that allows
information to be transmitted via mobile networks. This is utilized for internet connectivity,
multimedia messaging service, and other types of data transmission. GPRS is supported by
GPRS cellphones, as well as laptops and handheld devices equipped with GPRS modems.
Subscribers have reported downstream bandwidths of up to 80 Kbps

GPRS could be employed to facilitate connections related to Internet protocols which provide a
set of functions including commercial and enterprise applications. Before the transmission, the
information is split into individual packets and routed through the core network and radio. At the
receiver’s end, the data is reattached.

GPRS Network Architecture

GPRS tries to make maximum use of the existing physical structure of GSM. It has introduced a
new entity named GPRS support nodes(GSN) whose responsibility is to route and deliver a data
packet. GSN is of two types:

 Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN)

 Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN)

Mobile Station (MS):- New Mobile Station is required to access GPRS services. These new
terminals will be backward compatible with GSM for voice calls.

BTS:- BTS stands for Base Transceiver Station which facilitates wireless communication
between user equipment and a network. Every tower has BTS.

BSC : BSC stands for Base Station Controller. BSC has multiple BTS. You can consider the
BSC as a local exchange of your area which has multiple towers and multiple towers have
BTS.
MSC : MSC stands for Mobile Switching Center. MSC is associated with communication
switching functions such as call setup, call release and routing. Call tracing, call forwarding all
functions are performed at the MSC level. MSC is having further components like VLR, HLR,
AUC, EIR and PSTN.

Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN):- The Serving GPRS Support Node is responsible for
authentication of GPRS mobiles, registration of mobiles in the network, mobility management,
and collecting information on charging for the use of the air interface.

Main Function of SGSN

1. Routing of data to & from mobile
2. Data compression
3. Verification & Charging the call (Authentication)
4. Tracking of location & register the mobile in network
5. Store the location & profile of user

Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN):- The GGSN is responsible for delivering an IP
address to the mobile terminals throughout the connection. It connects to external networks as
both a router and an interface. It comprises GPRS cellular routing information, which is used
to route packets through the IP-based internal backbone to the appropriate Serving GPRS
Support Node. The GGSN could also operate as a packet filter for incoming traffic and record
pricing data related to external internet services.
Key Point How GPRS Work:- GPRS networks can also allow for internet access. It suggests
that online services such as web surfing, email, chat, and file transfer protocol (FTP) could be
accessible via cell phones. The GPRS connection could be seen as a sub-network of the
Internet because it uses similar protocols, and GPRS phones could be regarded as mobile hosts
since they are using the same methods. GPRS operates on cell phones, laptops, and other
portable devices with a GPRS modem or a GPRS Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card. A
GPRS modem is ideal for sending and receiving messages from a computer.
This packet-based platform was one of the first to offer multimedia messaging and push-to-talk
features, similar to a walkie-talkie. However, GPRS devices are rarely capable of transmitting
longer voice recordings. GPRS technology, for instance, couldn’t allow individuals to send a
given text to a transcription system since the audio files became too huge to be transferred at
acceptable rates.

Advantages of GPRS
 Mobility: The capacity to keep up consistent voice and information interchanges while
moving.
 Cost Efficient: Communication via GPRS is cheaper than through the regular GSM
network.
 Immediacy: Allows customers to obtain connectivity when needed, regardless of location
and without a lengthy login session.
 Localization: Enables customers to acquire data applicable to their present area.
 Easy Billing: GPRS packet transmission offers an easier to use billing than that offered by
circuit switched administrations.
 GPRS Services QOS :-
Quality of Service (QoS) requirements of conventional mobile packet data applications are in
assorted forms. The QoS is a important
feature of GPRS services as there are different QoS support requirements for assorted GPRS
applications like realtime multimedia, web browsing, and e-mail transfer.

GPRS allows defining QoS profiles using the following parameters :

 Service Precedence
 Reliability
 Delay and
 Throughput

These parameters are described below:

Service Precedence

The preference given to a service when compared to another service is known as Service
Precedence.This level of priority is classified into three levels called:
 high
 normal
 low

When there is network congestion, the packets of low priority are discarded as compared to
high or normal priority packets.

Reliability

This parameter signifies the transmission characteristics required by an application.The

reliability classes are defined which guarantee certain maximum values for the probability of
loss, duplication, mis-sequencing, and corruption of packets.

Delay

The delay is defined as the end-to-end transfer time between two communicating mobile
stations or between a mobile station and the GI interface to an external packet data
network.This includes all delays within the GPRS network, e.g., the delay for request and
assignment of radio resources and the transit delay in the GPRS backbone network. Transfer
delays outside the GPRS network, e.g., in external transit networks, are not taken into account.

Throughput
The throughput specifies the maximum/peak bit rate and the mean bit rate.Using these QoS
classes, QoS profiles can be Contracted between the mobile user and the network for each
session, depending on the QoS demand and the available resources.

The billing of the service is then based on the transmitted data volume, the type of service, and
the chosen QoS profile.
Mobility management in GPRS:- The task of the GPRS-Mobility Management is
similar to that of the GSM-Mobility Management. Incoming Packet Data Units have to be
routed to the right Subscriber. The network has to trace the position of the subscriber and needs
to be informed if he is available or not.
Mobality management of GPRS is used to track the location of GPRS mobile handset as it
moves from one location to another
In the different regions to update the MS location the SGSN communicate with each other.
VLR stores the MS profile that is accessible to SGSN through the local MSC

Active State:-

Data is transmitted between an MS and the GPRS network only when the MS is in the active
state. In the active state, the SGSN knows the cell location of the MS.

Packet transmission to an active MS is initiated by packet paging to notify the MS of an

incoming data packet. The data transmission proceeds immediately after packet paging through
the channel indicated by the paging message. The purpose of the paging message is to simplify
the process of receiving packets. The MS listens to only the paging messages instead of to all
the data packets in the downlink channels. This reduces battery usage significantly.

When an MS has a packet to transmit, it must access the uplink channel (i.e., the channel to the
packet data network where services reside). The uplink channel is shared by a number of MSs,
and its use is allocated by a BSS. The MS requests use of the channel in a random access
message. The BSS allocates an unused channel to the MS and sends an access grant message in
reply to the random access message.

Standby State:-

In the standby state, only the routing area of the MS is known. (The routing area can consist of
one or more cells within a GSM location area).

When the SGSN sends a packet to an MS that is in the standby state, the MS must be paged.
Because the SGSN knows the routing area of the MS, a packet paging message is sent to the
routing area. On receiving the packet paging message, the MS relays its cell location to the
SGSN to establish the active state.

Idle State:-

In the idle state, the MS does not have a logical GPRS context activated or any Packet-
Switched Public Data Network (PSPDN) addresses allocated. In this state, the MS can receive
only those multicast messages that can be received by any GPRS MS. Because the GPRS
network infrastructure does not know the location of the MS, it is not possible to send
messages to the MS from external data networks.