Signalling And Call Processing

GSM Functional Planes

operator user
MSC VLR

BTS

BSC

HLR

GMSC

CM

OAM CM
MM

GMSC

MM
RR

HLR

RR
trans

MS

BTS

BSC

transmission

MSC/ VLR

GSM Signaling Protocol Architecture

MS BSC MSC
M CM A MM P BSSAP TCAP

CM
MM RRM BTS RRM BTSM LAPDm LAPD
Signaling Signaling Layer1 Layer1

LAPDm
Signaling Layer1

Relay BSSAP RRM SCCP BTSM LAPD Signaling MTP

Layer1

I S U P

SCCP MTP

SCCP MTP

Um

Abis

B/C/D/E/F

GSM System Model Signaling View

VLR MAP/G VLR PSTN/ ISDN PLMN MAP / ISUP MAP / ISUP MAP/ D HLR MAP AUC MSC MAP/E / ISUP MSC MAP/F EIR

MAP/B

MAP/C

BSSAP / Q.931
BSC BSS LAPD / Q.931 BTS LAPDm / Q.931 MS

What Are RRM Functions?

RRM functions cover all activities related to physical layer (air interface) These relate functions like
Channel assignment Channel release Channel change and handover Change of channel frequencies, hopping sequences (algorithms) and frequency tables Measurement reports from the MS Power control and Time Advance Modification of channel modes (speech and

Some RRM Messages

Name of Message Sent by & sent to Assignment Command Assignment Complete BSC to MS MS to BSC Carried on Channel SDCCH SDCCH Purpose of Message Allocation of TCH (ARFCN & TS#) Acknowledge for Assignment Command

Channel Request
Channel Release Cipher Mode Command

MS to BSC
BSC to MS BSC to MS

RACH
SDCCH or TCH SDCCH

Request for channel

Release of SDCCH or TCH To indicate to MS that ciphering will start

Some RRM Messages (Contd.)

Name of Message Cipher Mode Complete Immediate Assignment Command Paging Request Paging Response Sent by & sent to MS to BSC BSC to MS Carried on Channel SDCCH AGCH Purpose of Message Acknowledge that MS will also start ciphering Allocation of TCH (ARFCN & TS#) To inform MS about incoming call / SMS To respond to paging by revealing MS identity (TMSI)

BSC to MS MS to BSC

PCH SDCCH

System Information BSC to all Messages MSs

BCCH

To broadcast CGI, System information, neighbouring cell description

Some RRM Messages (Contd.)

Name of Message Measurement Report Handover Command Handover Access Sent by & sent to MS to BSC BSC to MS Carried on Channel SACCH FACCH / SACCH FACCH / SACCH FACCH / SACCH SACCH / FACCH Purpose of Message MS reporting on signal strength measurement Change of MS channel allocation (will include new ARFCN & TS#) Initial message sent on the new TCH about presence of MS MS informs new BSC that handover has been completed MS indicates that handover has failed

MS to BSC (new) MS to BSC (new) MS to BSC (old)

Handover Complete Handover Failure

What Are MM Functions?

All activities connected with mobility of MS are MM functions
Location updating Periodic registration Authentication procedure IMSI attach procedure (on power up a MS will present its IMSI to network and get a TMSI) IMSI detach ( on power off of a MS, detach procedure to tell network it is no longer in service.

Some MM Messages
Name of Message Authentication Request Sent by & sent to Carried on Channel Purpose of Message Sending RAND for authenticating MS MSC to MS SDCCH

Authentication Response
Authentication Reject Location Updating Request Location Update Accept Command

MS to MSC SDCCH
MSC to MS SDCCH MS to MSC SDCCH MSC to MS SDCCH

MS response by sending SRES

MSC informing MS that authentication has failed To update location by including TMSI and LAI To indicate that location updating has been done

Some MM Messages (Contd.)

Name of Message TMSI Reallocation Command TMSI Reallocation Complete Sent by & sent to MSC to MS Carried on Channel SDCCH Purpose of Message To indicate that location updating has been done and will include new TMSI Acknowledgement of TMSI Reallocation Command by MS

MS to MSC

SDCCH

IMSI Detach Indication

IMSI Attach Command Identity Request Identity Response

MS to MSC

SDCCH

Indication to MSC that its identity be removed from MSC/VLR

To inform MSC that MS is again powered up MSC requesting MS to send its identity (IMSI) MS sends its identity (IMSI)

MS to MSC MSC to MS MS to MSC

SDCCH SDCCH SDCCH

What are CM Functions?

CM functions relate to establishing, releasing call and status indication
Call establishment for mobile-originated calls Call establishment for mobile-terminated calls Indication of status Changes of transmission mode during an ongoing call Call reestablishment after interruption of an

Flow of CM Messages
Interface

between MS and MSC is called User to Network Interface (UNI) Q.931 messages are used in this interface Interface between MSC / GMSC and external network is called Network to Network Interface (NNI) ISUP messages are used in this interface

UNI
Q.931 messages
MS A

MSC / GMSC

NNI
ISUP messages

PSTN / PLMN

Call Management Messages

Message name Transmitted by

Starting a call
SETUP EMERGENCY SETUP CALL PROCEEDING PROGRESS CALL CONFIRMED ALERTING CONNECT During a call MS/MSC MS MSC MSC MS MS/MSC MS/MSC

START DTMF STOP DTMF MODIFY USER INFORMATION Ending a call

DISCONNECT RELEASE RELEASE COMPLET

MS MS MS/MSC MS/MSC
MS/MSC MS/MSC MS/MSC

Abnormal conditions
STATUS STATUS ENQUIRY CONGESTION CONROL MS/MSC MS/MSC MS/MSC

Important ISUP Messages

There are 3 important ISDN User Part (ISUP) messages
IAM (Initial Address Message) is sent by the calling network to initiate a call sending complete information about the call calling number, called number, type of call and other information ACM (Address Complete Message) is sent by terminating network to confirm that the called number is free and is being alerted ANM (ANswer with Metering) is sent by terminating network once the called

Important Q.931 Messages

There are 3 important ISDN User Part (ISUP) messages
Setup message is sent by user or network (originating side) to initiate a call by sending information about the call calling number, called number, type of call and other information this is equivalent to IAM Alerting is sent by the other side (terminating side) to confirm that the called number is free and is being alerted this is equivalent to ACM

Mobile Originated Call

MS BSC MSC VLR PSTN

1 2 3

Setup (dialled digits + encryption)

Send info for Outgoing Call (call restriction query)l Complete Call

Call Proceed (on SDCCH)

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
ringback heard by MS Alerting Assignment of trunk on A channel

Assignment of TCH (SDCCH)

Assignment Complete Assignment Complete (voice path from MS to MSC)

Call Establishment to PSTN no.

(IAM) (ACM) (ANM)

Route Establishment

Answer
Connect Connect Acknowledge

13
14

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

When user dials the number and presses ok button MS sends Setup message transferring this info to MSC MSC sends a message to VLR for accessing subscription information of MS VLR checks the database of MS to determine whether the call can be allowed or not and returns a message MSC send Call Proceeding message to MS MSC allocates a trunk between BSC &MSC and asks BSC to assign TCH for MS BSC allocates TCH, sends Assignment message to MS MS tunes to the TCH and sends Assignment Complete message to BSC

Messages In Mobile Originated Call

Messages In Mobile Originated Call

8. BSC deallocates SDCCH, connects TCH to the trunk and sends Assignment Complete message to MSC 9. MSC sends Initial Address Message (IAM) to PSTN containing the digits dialed 10. PSTN sets up the call and returns Address Complete Message(ACM) 11. MSC informs MS that destination number is being alerted, subscriber hears ringing tone 12. When called subscriber answers PSTN sends Answer message 13. MSC informs MS that connection has been established through the Connect message 14. MS returns a Connect Acknowledge message and conversation can proceed

Mobile Terminated Call

GMSC
MS BSC MSC VLR HLR PSTN Call Establishment Message Send Routing Information (VLR) Routing Information Send info for Incoming Call Page LA & TMSI

1 2 3 4 5 6 Page Request (TMSI) 7 Channel Request (on RACH) 8 9 SDCCH Assignment (on AGCH) 10 Page Response on SDCCH 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
Page Message to appropriate BSCs

(IAM)

Page Response Process Access Request Complete Call

Setup Call Confirmed

Alerting
Connect

Setup Complete

(ACM)

18 19 Connect Acknowledge 20 21

Answer end of MSC-VLR dialogue

(ANM)

Messages In Mobile Terminated Call

1.

2.
3. 4. 5.

GMSC receives IAM for an incoming call from PSTN to MS with directory no MSISDN MSC requests routing information from HLR through Routing Information Message by including MSISDN HLR acknowledges by returning MSRN / MSISDN and address of serving VLR MSC queries VLR with Send Info for Incoming Call message VLR responds with a Page message that specifies the LAI & TMSI of MS If incoming calls are barred VLR will inform the MSC and MSC would connect to an appropriate announcement

6. MSC determines the BSCs covering LAI and sends the Page message to each of the BSCs 7. Each BSC broadcasts TMSI of MS in Page Request message in PCH 8. MS responds with Channel Request message in RACH 9. BSC allocates SDCCH, sends Channel Assignment message to MS over AGCH 10. MS sends Page Response message (containing MSs TMSI & LAI) over SDCCH

Messages In Mobile Terminated Call (Contd.)

Messages In Mobile Terminated Call (Contd.) 13. VLR responds with a Complete Call
message 14. MSC sends Setup message to MS 15. MS responds with Call Confirmed message 16. MS sends Alerting message to MSC indicating the subscriber is being alerted about incoming call 17. MSC returns ACM to PSTN 18. When user answers, MS sends Connect message to MSC 19. MSC returns Connect Acknowledge