12Marks

Personal Communication Services

PCS stands for Personal Communication System. The objective of PCS is

to enable communication with a person at any time, at any place & in any
form. It also manages their individual call services according to their need
by providing unlimited reachability & accessibility.
 Key factors of PCS are:
 1. Reachability with respect to Location (Home, office, in public, in
transit)
 1. Accessibility with respect to Device (Cellular phone, wired phone, fax
etc.)
 2. Management of Service
PCS network Architecture
Architecture
 Architecture consists of two parts
 Radio Network
 PCS users carry mobile stations (MS) to communicate with a BS in a PCS n/w.
 MS is also referred to as handset or mobile phone. The radio coverage of a base
station is called cell. In GSM n/w each cell is controlled by BSC(Base Station
Controller) which are connected to MS through BS. The BSCs are connected to MSC
by landlines.
 Wireline Transport Network
 An MSC is a telephone exchange configured specially for mobile applications. It
interfaces the MSC (via BS) with PSTN.
 MSCs are also connected with mobility database to track the location of MS and
roaming management. The databases are HLR & VLR (Home Location Register and
Visitor Location Register).
 HLR contains the authentication information like IMSI (International Mobile
Subscriber Identity), identification information like name, address of the subscriber,
billing information like prepaid or postpaid, operator selection, denial of service to a
subscriber etc.
 VLR gives information about the location area of the subscriber while on roaming
and power off status of the handset.
ROAMING
 ROAMING: When a mobile user moves from one PCS system to
another, then the system should be informed of the current location of
the user. Otherwise it is impossible to deliver services.
 Two basic operations are performed under roaming management.
1. Registration (location update): Where MS informs the system its current
location.
2. Location tracking: Process during which a system locates MS. Location
tracking is required when n/w attempts to deliver call to a mobile user.
Global system for Mobile Communication
 GSM is the most popular standard for mobile phones in the world. GSM (Global System
for Mobile communication) is a digital mobile telephony system
 GSM uses a combination of FDMA and TDMA. The GSM system has an allocation of 50
MHz bandwidth in the 900 MHz frequency band. Using FMA, this band is divided into
124 channels each with a carrier bandwidth of 200 KHz.
 Using TDMA, each of these channels is further divided into 8 time slots. Therefore with
combination of FDMA and TDMA we can realize a maximum of 992 channels for
transmit and receive.

 Cell: Cell is the basic service area

 BTS: A base transceiver station (BTS) is a fixed radio transceiver in any mobile
network. The BTS connects mobile devices to the network.One BTS covers one cell.
Each cell is given a Cell Global Identity (CGI), a number that uniquely identifies the cell.

 Location Area: A group of cells form a Location Area. This is the area that is paged when
a subscriber gets an incoming call. Each Location Area is assigned a Location Area
Identity (LAI). Each Location Area is served by one or more BSCs
GSM Architecture

 Abbreviations
 MSC : Mobile switching center
 BSC : Base station controller
 BTS : Base transceiver station
 TRX : Transceiver.
 MS : Mobile station
 OMC : Operations and
Maintenance centre.
 PSTN : Public switched
telephone network.
 BSS : Base station sub-system.
 HLR : Home location register
 VLR : Visitor locations register
 AUC : Authentication centre
 EIR : Equipment Identity
Register.
GSM network can be divided into 4 groups.

1. MS (Mobile Station)
 An MS is used by a mobile
subscriber to communicate
with the mobile network.
 Several types of MSs exist,
each allowing the subscriber
to make and receive calls.
 Manufacturers of MS offer a
variety of design and features
to meet the need of different
 market.
 Functions of MS
Function of MS is transmission of
signal from MS to BTS (using
uplink) and reception of
signal from BTS to MS (using down
link).
 The mobile station consists of:
 ME (Mobile Equipment)
 “Cellular phone without SIM card”
 The mobile equipment has a unique international mobile equipment identity (IMEI)
which is used by EIR. The numbers of GSM terminal types are defined within the
GSM specification. They are distinguished primarily by their power output rating.
 The range or coverage area of an MS is dependent on the output power capabilities
and consequently different ranges. For example, hand held MSs have a lower output
power and shorter range than car-installed MSs with a roof mounted antenna
 SIM (Subscriber Identity Module)
 SIM card used in phones are smart processor cards. It possesses a processor and a
small memory. The SIM stores permanent and temporary data about the mobile, the
subscriber and the network. It contains a serial no, PIN, PUK (Pin Unblocking
Key), an authentication key (Ki), IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber
Identity).
 The SIM can be plugged into any GSM mobile terminal. This brings the advantages
of security and portability for subscriber. Example: Subscriber A’s mobile terminal
may have been stolen. However, A’s own SIM can be used in another person’s mobile
terminal and the calls will be charged to subscriber A.
2. BSS (Base Station Subsystem)
 BSS contains two components:
 BTS
 BSC
 BTS (Base Transceiver Station)
 It comprises all radio equipment (e.g.:
antenna, signal processing & amplifier
required for transmission).It is placed in the
center of a cell. Its transmitting power defines
the size of a cell. It is connected to MS via Um
interface and connected to BSC via Abis
 Interface. It manages the radio resources for
BTSs. It handles & handover the radio
frequency, radio channel set up from one BTS
to other.
 BSC (Base Station Controller)
 It connects the BTS and MSC of NSS. It
manages radio resources for one or more BTS.
 It handles and Handover the radio frequency,
radio channel setup from one BTS to another.
3. NSS (Network Switching Subsystem)
 The NSS combines the call rotating switches (MSC and Gateway MSC) with data base registered
required to keep track of subscriber’s movements and use of the system. Key elements of NSS are:
1. MSC (Mobile Switching Centre)
The mobile-services switching center is an exchange which performs all the switching and signaling
functions for mobile stations located in a geographical area designated as the MSC area. These are
high performance digital ISDN switches. It is used for connection between mobile phone to mobile
phone within same network. It is used for connection between mobile phone to fixed phone within
a network. It manages BSC within a geographical area.
2. HLR (Home Location Register)
The HLR is a centralized network data base that stores and manages all mobile services belonging to
a specific operator. It acts as a permanent store for a person’s subscription information until that
subscription is cancelled. It provides call routing and roaming facility by combining with MSC and
VLR. It is considered as a Database which stores the information about the subscriber within
covering area of MSC. Information includes current location of the mobile & all the service
providing information, when a phone is powered off this information is stored in HLR. It is also a
database but contains a temporary copy of some of important information stored in HLR. If a new
MS user comes into location area, then VLR will provide relevant information by bringing it from
HLR.
3. VLR (Visitor Location Resister)
It is a temporary storage device of GSM network. It stores subscribers’ subscription information for
MS which are within the particular MSC service Area. There is one VLR for each MSC service area
4. OSS (Operation and Support Subsystem)
 It contains necessary function for network operation and maintenance.
 Key Elements are
 OMC (Operation and maintenance center)
It is connected to different components of NSS & to BSC. It controls the traffic load
of BSS.

 EIR (Equipment Identity Register)

A database that contains a list of all valid mobile equipment within the network
where each MS is identified by IMEI (International Mobile Equipment
Identity).EIR contains a list of IMEI of all valid terminals. An IMEI is marked
invalid if it is stolen. EIR allows the MSC to forbid calls from this stolen terminal.
The equipment identification procedure uses the identity of the equipment itself
(IMEI) to ensure that the MS terminal equipment is valid.

 AUC (Authentication Center)

It is defined to protect user identity & transmission. It is a protected database and
stores a copy of secret information stored in SIM card .These data help to verify
user’s identity.
GSM services
 Bearer services/ data services: GSM specifies different mechanism for data
transmission, The original GSM allowing for data rates of up to 9600 bits/s.
Bearer services permit transparent or non transparent data transmission.
 Transparent bearer services: Transparent bearer services only use the
physical layer to transmit data. Data transmission has a constant delay at
throughput if no transmission error occurs.
 Non-transparent bearer services: Non-transparent bearer services use
protocols of layer two and three to implement error correction and flow
control.(data link layer and network layer).
 Tele services: Tele services are nothing but we use now as at also Video calls.
 Video text and face emoji.
 Short text message(SMS).
 Supplementary services: Supplementary services it means advanced services.
 Conference calls.
 Call waiting.
 Call forwarding.
 GSM security: GSM offers several security using confidential information
stored in the AUC and in the individual SIM. The SIM stores personal secret
data and is protected with a pin against unauthorized use.
GSM Spectrum
GSM channel types
 GSM has been allocated an operational frequency from 890 MHz to
960 MHz.
 GSM uses the frequency band 890 MHz-915 MHz for uplink (reverse)
transmission, and for downlink (forward) transmission, it uses be
frequency band 935 MHz-960 MHz.
 The available 25-MHz spectrum for each direction is divided into 124
Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM) channels, each occupying 200
kHz with 100 kHz guard band at two edges of the spectrum as shown in
fig.
GSM channel types
 The Global System for Mobile Communications, GSM sends a lot of
data to and from the mobile phones. Typically each piece of data is very
short.
 Although it would be possible to have a different radio frequency
channel for each type of data, this would be a very inefficient way of
segregating the data.
 Instead the data can all be carried over the same radio frequency signal,
but they can be sorted into different messages that can be sent. These
messages are tagged in a way that the system or mobile knows what
they are.
 Although there is an overhead with this because the messages all need
to have labels, it is still far more efficient and effective than using a
different radio frequency signal or channel for each type of data.
 Channel Types
 One of the first definitions is to define the physical and logical channels that are
carried over the GSM system.
 Physical channels: The physical channels are determined by the fact that they
have a particular position within the time-slot. In this way, they are physical,
adopting a particular position within the signal. It can be further summarized by
saying that several recurring time-slots on a carrier constitute a physical channel.
 Logical channels: The logical channels are contained within the physical
channels The channels can also be defined by the purpose they perform. They can
be grouped according to their function.
1. Control channels: Control channels are those which give commands that are
needed for the operation of the link, etc.
Broadcast channels: The broadcast channels are channels which
provide data to all mobiles to enable them to provide tasks such as
registering and likewise.
Common channels: These channels are accessible by all users, i.e. they
are common to all users.
Dedicated channels: The dedicated channels are those that are
dedicated to a particular user and not accessible by others.
Traffic channels: Traffic channels are those which carry the payload data. Another
2.
way in which the channels are described is as common channels or dedicated channels.
Logical Channels in GSM
Mobility Management in GSM
 Mobility Management function handles the function that arises due to
mobility of the subscriber.
 Main objective of MM is location tracking & call set up. The current
location of an MS is maintained by a 2-level hierarchical strategy with
HLR & VLR.
 When an MS visits a new location it must register in the VLR of visited
location.
 The HLR must be informed about the registration. The registration
process of MS moving from one VLR to another VLR follows following
steps.
 Steps
 STEP-1.MS periodically listens to the BCCH (Broadcast
Control Channel) broadcast from BSS. If the MS
detects that it has entered into a new location
area, it sends a registration message to the new
VLR by using SDCCH (Standalone Dedicated
Control Channel) channel.
 SDCCH: Used only for signaling & short message.
 BCCH: Provides system information.
 STEP-2.The new VLR communicates with old VLR to
find HLR of MS. The new VLR then performs
authentication process.
 STEP-3.After MS is authenticated, new VLR sends a
registration message to HLR. If the registration
request is accepted, the HLR provides new VLR
with all relevant subscriber information.
 STEP-4.The new VLR informs the MS of successful
registration.
 STEP-5.Then the HLR sends a deregistration
Cancellation) message to old VLR. The
old VLR cancels the record for MS & sends an
acknowledgement to the HLR regarding
cancellation.
Mobile Subscriber Identity
 An International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) is a 15-digit number
for every user in a Global System for Mobile communication (GSM).
The IMSI is used by Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and is an
important part of the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) profile.
 The 15 digits of the IMSI number consist of three parts that help
identify the user:
 Mobile Country Code (MCC). The first 2 or 3 digits of the IMSI
identifies which country the user operates in.
 Mobile Network code (MNC). The next 1 to 3 digits identifies
which MNO the user is associated with, essentially someone’s SIM
provider.
 Mobile Subscription Identification Number. The last 9 or 10
digits of the IMSI is a unique combination of digits to identify the
SIM card user.
Example
 If your IMSI number was 310260000111222, you would be able to tell
that you operate in the United States and use T-Mobile. Here’s how
that IMSI breaks down:
 310 is the MCC for the United States of America.
 260 is one of the MNCs for T-Mobile.
 000111222 is the Mobile Subscription Identification Number and would
be unique to you.
Network Signaling
 Abbreviations
 LAPD Link Access Procedure
D-Channel Managed
 RR: Radio Resource
 MM: Mobility Management
 CM: Call Management
 BTSM: BTS Management
 BSSMAP: BSS Application
Protocol
 SCCP: Signaling Connection
Control Part
 The signaling protocol in
GSM is structured into 3
layers.
 Layer1 Physical Layer
 Layer2 Data Link Layer
 Layer3 Network Layer