Broadcast Control Channel

The Broadcast Control Channel is transmitted by the BTS at all times. The RF carrier used to transmit the BCCH is referred to as the BCCH carrier. The MS monitors the information carried on the BCCH periodically (at least every 3 secs!" #hen it is s#itched on and not in a call. The BCCH Consists of$ a. Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH!$ Carries the follo#in% information$

&ocation 'rea (dentity (&'(!. &ist of nei%hborin% cells that should be monitored by the MS. &ist of fre)uencies used in the cell. Cell identity. *o#er control indicator. +T, permitted. 'ccess control (i.e." emer%ency calls" call barrin% ... etc.!. CBCH description.

The BCCH is transmitted at constant po#er at all times" and all MS that may see- to use it to measure its si%nal stren%th. .+ummy/ bursts are transmitted to ensure continuity #hen there is no BCCH carrier traffic. b. Fre)uency Correction Channel (FCCH!$ This is transmitted fre)uently on the BCCH timeslot and allo#s the mobile to synchroni0e its o#n fre)uency to that of the transmittin% base site. The FCCH may only be sent durin% timeslot on the BCCH carrier fre)uency and therefore it acts as a fla% to the mobile to identify Timeslot . c. Synchroni0ation Channel (SCH! The SCH carries the information to enable the MS to synchroni0e to the T+M' frame structure and -no# the timin% of the individual timeslots. The follo#in% parameters are sent$

Frame number. Base Site (dentity Code (BS(C!.

The MS #ill monitor BCCH information from surroundin% cells and store the information from the best si1 cells. The SCH information on these cells is also stored so that the MS may )uic-ly resynchroni0e #hen it enters a ne# cell.

Common Control Channels

The Common Control Channel (CCCH! is responsible for transferrin% control information bet#een all mobiles and the BTS. This is necessary for the implementation of .call ori%ination/ and .call pa%in%/ functions. (t consists of the follo#in%$ a. Random 'ccess Channel (R'CH! 2sed by the mobile #hen it re)uires %ainin% access to the system. This occurs #hen the mobile initiates a call or responds to a pa%e. b. *a%in% Channel (*CH! 2sed by the BTS to pa%e MS" (pa%in% can be performed by an (MS(" TMS( or (M3(!. c. 'ccess 4rant Control Channel ('4CH! 2sed by the BTS to assi%n a dedicated control channel to a MS in response to an access messa%e received on the Random 'ccess Channel. The MS #ill move to the dedicated channel in order to proceed #ith either a call setup" response to a pa%in% messa%e" &ocation 'rea 2pdate or Short Messa%e Service. d. Cell Broadcast Channel (CBCH! This channel is used to transmit messa%es to be broadcast to all MS5s #ithin a cell. The CBCH uses a dedicated control channel to send its messa%es" ho#ever it is considered a common channel because all mobiles in the cell can receive the messa%es. 'ctive MS5s must fre)uently monitor both BCCH and CCCH. The CCCH #ill be transmitted on the RF carrier #ith the BCCH.

Dedicated Control Channels

The +CCH is a sin%le timeslot on an RF carrier that is used to convey ei%ht Stand6alone +edicated Control Channels (S+CCH!. ' sin%le MS for call setup" authentication" location updatin% and SMS point to point use a S+CCH. 's #e #ill see later" S+CCH can also be found on a BCCH7CCCH timeslot" this confi%uration only allo#s four S+CCHs. b. Slo# 'ssociated Control Channel (S'CCH! Conveys po#er control and timin% information in the do#nlin- direction (to#ards the MS! and Receive Si%nal Stren%th (ndicator (RSS(!" and lin)uality reports in the uplin- direction. c. Fast 'ssociated Control Channel (F'CCH! The F'CCH is transmitted instead of a TCH. The F'CCH 88steals/ the TCH burst and inserts its o#n information. The F'CCH is used to carry out user authentication" handovers and immediate assi%nment.

'll of the control channels are re)uired for system operation" ho#ever" in the same #ay that #e allo# different users to share the radio channel by usin% different timeslots to carry the conversation data" the control channels share timeslots on the radio channel at different times. This allo#s efficient passin% of control information #ithout #astin% capacity that could be used for call traffic. To do this #e must or%ani0e the timeslots bet#een those" #hich #ill be used for traffic" and those" #hich #ill carry control si%nalin%.

Channel Combination
The different lo%ical channel types mentioned are %rouped into #hat are called channel combination. The four most common channel combination are listed belo#$ 9. Full Rate Traffic Channel Combination : TCH;7F'CCH < S'CCH =. Broadcast Channel Combination : BCCH < CCCH 3. +edicated Channel Combination : S+CCH; < S'CCH; >. Combined Channel Combination : BCCH<CCCH<S+CCH><S'CCH> ?. Half Rate Traffic Channel Combination : TCH9@7F'CCH < S'CCH The Half Rate Channel Combination (#hen introduced! #ill be very similar to the Full Rate Traffic Combination.