GSM Signaling System

Objectives
At the end of this course, you will be able to:
Know GSM system signaling model
State various types of GSM protocol messages
Understand GSM system basic signaling procedure
Content
GSM System Signaling Model
GSM protocol message
Basic Signaling Procedure
GSM Interface
SGSN
Abis Um
BTS
BSC
TRAU
GGSN
MSC/VLR/GMSC
NSMU FSMU
Ater A
OMC
Qx
HLR/AUC
EIR SMC
PSTN / PLMN /
PSPDN / ISDN
BTS
BTS
BTS
Gb
GSM System Signaling Model
GSM system signaling model adopts the lowest three
layer of OSI seven layer protocol model, from low to
high:
Application layer
Link layer/Network layer
Physical layer
Physical Layer
The physical layer provides error protection
transmission. It defines the electric parameters of
transmission.
In ZTE-GSM digital mobile communication
systems, The physical layer of Um interface
between MS and BTS is Radio link. Abis interface
physical layer adopts 75-ohm coaxial cable or
120-ohm symmetrical twisted pair whose rate is
2Mbit/s.
Data Link Layer
The data link layer major functions: frame
transmissionerror-free transmission and realize
end-to-end bits transfer between two connective
entities. Openmaintenance and close the
connection of two connective entities.
The link layer protocol used by the GSM system at
the radio interface is the LAPDmprotocol (Dm
channel link access procedure). The data link
layer of Abis interface between BTS and BSC is
LAPD (D channel link access procedure).
Application Layer
Application Layer
CM MM RR
CC SS SMS
Application Layer
Radio Resources (RR) management handles the
establishment, maintenance and release of physical
channels. Its major functions are performed by BSC. Part
of functions are performed by BTS.
Mobility Management (MM) deals with the mobile stations
register and the identify of the mobile subscriber, The
function are performed by MSC.
The CM Layer is composed of three functional entities:
Call Control (CC), deals with the functions to establish
maintenance and release the callShort Message Service
support (SMS) and Supplementary Service support (SS).
Mobile
Switching
Centre
(MSC)
)
)
)
)
)
)
Base
Transceiver
Station
(BTS)
Base
Station
Controller
(BSC)
Equipment
ID
Register
(EIR)
Visitor
Location
Register
(VLR)
Home
Location
Register
(HLR)
Authenti-
cation
Centre
(AUC)
Mobile
Switching
Centre
(MSC)
Public Switched
Telephone Network
(PSTN)
MAP/TCAP +ISUP/TUP
To other VLR
ISUP/TUP
DTAP +BSSMAP
MAP/TCAP
MAP/TCAP MAP/TCAP
BTSM
A-bis interface
A interface
GSM protocol
DTAP
DTAP Direct Transfer Application Part
BSSMAP BSS Management Application Part
CM Call Management
MM Mobile Management
RR Radio Resource Management
SCCP Signalling Connection Control Part
MAP Mobile Application Part
TCAP Transaction Capability Application Part
ISUP ISDN User Part
MTP Message Transfer Part
CM
MM
RR
Sig. layer 2
Layer 1 (air)
Sig. layer 2
Sig. layer 1
MTP
SCCP
BSSMAP
RR
(CM+MM)
MS BSC
MTP MTP
SCCP SCCP
CM
MM
BSSMAP
TCAP
MAP
I
S
U
P
MSC
Sig. layer 2
Layer 1 (air)
BTS
(CM)
(MM)
(RR)
(CM)
(MM)
(RR)
(CM)
(MM)
(LAPDm) (LAPDm) (LAPD)
Sig. layer 2
Sig. layer 1
(LAPD)
BTSM
BTSM
RR'
BTSM BTS Management
Um Interface Abis Interface A Interface Inter-MSC
Interface
GSM Protocol Architecture
Content
GSM System Signaling Model
GSM protocol message
Basic Signaling Procedure
Um interface protocol stack
CM
MM
RR
LAPDm
Layer1 Layer1
LAPDm
RR
MS
BTS
Um interface
LAPDm frame format
The address field contains the service
access point identifier (SAPI).
SAPI = 0 represents the signaling link
SAPI = 3 represents the short message link
In the control field,
N (S) represents the sending serial number
N (R) represents the receiving serial number
Address
Control Information
SAPI N(S) N(R)
Operation mode
Acknowledged mode: Requires the confirmation
from the receiver. This mode provides a whole set
of control mechanism for error recovering and flow
control, the establishment mechanism and release
mechanism for multi-frame operations.
Unacknowledged mode: The receiver is not
required to send a confirmation upon reception of
a UI frame. This operation mode does not provide
flow control or error recovering mechanism.
RR messages
Type Message
Channel establishment message Immediate assignment
Immediate assignment reject
Ciphering message Ciphering mode command
Ciphering mode complete
Handover message
Handover command
Handover complete
Handover failure
Handover access
Channel release message Channel release
Paging message Paging request
Paging response
System info System info:18
MM messages
Type Message
Registration messages
IMSI detach indication
Location updating accept
Location updating reject
Location updating request
Security messages
Authentication reject
Authentication request
Authentication response
Identity request
Identity response
TMSI reallocation command
TMSI reallocation complete
Connection-management messages
CM service accept
CM service reject
CM service request
CC messages
Type Message
Call establishment messages
Alerting
Call confirmed
Call proceeding
Connect
Call clearing messages
Disconnect
Release
Release complete
Miscellaneous messages
Congestion control notify
Start DTMF
Stop DTMF
Abis Interface Protocol stack
Abis
BTS
BTSM
LAPD
Layer1
BSC
interface
Layer1
LAPD
BTSM
RR
LAPD Protocol
SAPI = 0 represents the signaling link,
SAPI = 62 represents the O&M link, and
SAPI = 63 represents the management link of the LapDlayer.
A interface protocol stack
BSC
MTP3
MTP2
Layer1
MSC
A interface
Layer1
MTP2
MTP3
RR
SCCP
SCCP
BSSAP BSSAP
MM
CM
Relationship between SCCP and OSI model
MTP-1
MTP-2
MTP-3
SCCP
ISP
TCAP
INAP OMAP MAP BSSAP ISUP TUP
HLR VLR
Layer1
Layer2
Layer3
46
Layer 7
BSSAP
MTP
SCCP
Distribution
BSSMAP DTAP
BSSAP
RR
MM
CC
MTP
SCCP
Distribution
BSSMAP DTAP
BSSAP
L1
LAPDm
RR
CC
MM
RR
LAPDm
L1
MSC
BSS
MS
DTAP
BSSMAP DTAP
SCCP message
CRConnection request
CCConnection confirm
CREF Connection refused
RLSD Released
RLC Release complete
DT1 Data form 1
UDT Unit data
UDTS Unit data service
BSSMAP Message -1
Assignment messages (setup of traffic channels)
Assignment request
Assignment complete
Assignment failure
Handover messages
Handover request (to BSC: request for handover to that BSC)
Handover required (to MSC: inter BSC/MSC handover required)
Handover request ack. (to MSC: acknowledge of handover request)
Handover command (to BSC: contains new radio channel/BTS for the
MS)
Handover complete (to MSC: commanded handover successful)
Handover failure (to MSC: commanded handover unsuccessful)
Handover performed (to MSC: BSC has performed internal handover)
Handover candidate enquiry (to BSC: MSC requests list of MS that could be
handed
over to another cell)
Handover candidate response (to MSC: answer to handover candidate enquiry)
Handover required reject (to BSC: required handover unsuccessful)
Handover detect (to MSC: commanded handover successful)
BSSMAP Message -2
Release messages
Clear command (release of traffic channel)
Clear complete
Clear request
SAPI nclear command (control of layer 2 SAPI non the radio interface)
SAPI nclear complete
SAPI nreject
General messages
Reset (initialisation of BSS or MSC due to failure)
Reset acknowledge
Overload (processor or CCCH overload)
Trace invocation (start production of trace record
Reset circuit (initialisation of single circuit due to failure)
Terrestrial resource messages
Block (management of circuits/time slots between MSC and
BTS)
Blocking acknowledge
Unblock
Unblocking acknowledge
BSSMAP Message -2
Radio resource messages
Resource request (available radio channels in
BSS cells)
Resource indication
Paging (paging of MS)
Cipher mode command (start encryption)
Classmark update (change of MS power class)
Cipher mode complete
Queuing indication (indicates delay in
assignment of tch)
Content
GSM System Signaling Model
GSM protocol message
Basic Signaling Procedure
Mobile Originating Call Establishment Procedure -1
Mobile Originating Call Establishment Procedure -2
Mobile Originating Call Establishment Procedure -3
Mobile Terminating Call Establishment Procedure -1
Mobile Terminating Call Establishment Procedure -2
Mobile Terminating Call Establishment Procedure -3
Location Update Procedure -1
Location Update Procedure -2
Intra Cell Handover Procedure
Intra BSC Handover Procedure
Inter BSC Handover Procedure
Call Re-establishment Procedure
Directed Retry Procedure
Short Message Procedure On SDCCH When MS Is
Calling -1
Short Message Procedure On SDCCH When MS Is
Calling -2
Short Message Procedure On SDCCH When MS Is
Called -1
Short Message Procedure On SDCCH When MS Is
Called -2
Short Message Procedure On SACCH When
MS Is Calling
Short Message Procedure On SACCH When
MS Is Called
SABM(3)
UA(4)
EST CNF(SAPI3)(5)
CP DATA(8)
CP ACK(9)
CP DATA(6)
CP ACK(7)
ACTIVE CALL
ACTIVE CALL
CP DATA(1)
EST REQ(SAPI3)(2)