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About This Chapter

eMLPP

18.1 Overview Enhanced Multi-Level Precedence and Pre-emption service (eMLPP) is a supplementary service offered by the GSM system. 18.2 Availability The realization of eMLPP depends on the cooperation of the proper network elements, software, configuration parameters, and license. 18.3 Impact The impact of eMLPP mainly refers to the impact on system performance. 18.4 Technical Description When a high-priority MS initiates a call, the MSC sets the parameters related to the A interface based on the user class information that is received from the HLR. The high-priority call is established based on these parameters. 18.5 Capabilities None. 18.6 Implementation The eMLPP implementation consists of configuring eMLPP, verifying eMLPP, and disabling eMLPP. 18.7 Maintenance Information The eMLPP maintenance information is alarm information and performance counter information. 18.8 References

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18.1 Overview
Enhanced Multi-Level Precedence and Pre-emption service (eMLPP) is a supplementary service offered by the GSM system.

Definition
When the eMLPP is available, the MSs with a high priority have obvious advantages in terms of the call setup rate, call completion capability, and service continuity. When TCHs are insufficient, for example, in peak working hours, the calls with a higher priority can preempt the resources of the calls with a lower priority. The eMLPP service consists of the following:
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Fast Call Setup A call with a certain priority can uses the fast call setup procedure. In the fast call setup procedure, authentication, encryption, and TMSI reassignment are omitted. This can reduce the call setup time.

Queuing and preemption When network resources, including trunk circuits, signaling channels, and traffic channels, are insufficient, the calls with a higher priority are not released, but wait in a queue or even preempt the resources of the calls with a lower priority.

Purposes
The eMLPP service is used to classify calls into groups with different priorities. The calls with a higher priority can enjoy better services, such as channel preemption and fast call setup. The eMLPP service offers a segmentation function for operators. Using this function, operators can provide different levels of services for users with different priorities.

Terms
Terms eMLPP PL PCI PVI QA PREC QRI PIE License
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Definition enhanced multi-level precedence and preemption service Priority level Preemption capability indicator Preemption vulnerability indicator Queuing allowed indicator Preemption recommendation indicator Queuing recommendation indicator Priority information element License for equipment running
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Abbreviation
Abbreviation eMLPP PCI PVI PL QA PIE PREC QRI LMT TCH TCHF TCHH SDCCH Full Spelling enhanced Multi-Level Precedence and Preemption service Preemption Capability Indicator Preemption Vulnerability Indicator Priority Level Queuing Allowed indicator Priority Information Element Preemption Recommendation Queuing Recommendation Indicator Local Maintenance Terminal Traffic CHannel Traffic CHannel Full rate Traffic CHannel Half rate Stand-alone Dedicated Control Channel

18.2 Availability
The realization of eMLPP depends on the cooperation of the proper network elements, software, configuration parameters, and license.

Network Elements Involved

Table 18-1 lists the network elements involved in eMLPP. Table 18-1 Network elements involved in eMLPP MS NOTE
l : not involved l : involved

BTS

BSC

MSC

MGW -

SGSN -

GGSN -

HLR

Software Releases
Table 18-2 lists the versions of GBSS products that support eMLPP.

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Table 18-2 GBSS products and related versions Product BSC BTS BSC6000 BTS3X BTS3002C BTS3001C BTS24 BTS23 BTS22C BTS3012 BTS3012AE BTS3006C Version V900R001C01 and later releases G3BTS32.30000.01.1130 and later releases G3BTS36.30000.03.0820 and later releases G3BTS34.30000.07.0301 and later releases G3BTS24.20000.07.1111 and later releases No releases No releases BTS3000V100R001C01 and later releases BTS3000V100R001C04 and later releases BTS3000V100R002C01 and later releases

Miscellaneous
In addition, the eMLPP service is available under the following conditions:
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A proper license for eMLPP is obtained and the license is enabled. Among Basic Call Control Parameters, Allow EMLPP is set to Yes, as shown in Figure 18-1.

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Figure 18-1 Setting Allow EMLPP

18.3 Impact
The impact of eMLPP mainly refers to the impact on system performance.

Impact on System Performance

When resources are insufficient, the eMLPP service ensures that the MSs with a high priority use resources first. If the preempted MSs are not handed over to other channels, for example, if the site is an isolated one, the TCH resources in neighbor cells are also insufficient, or the handovers are timeout, the measurement values of performance counters related to Call Drop Ratio on TCH increase.

Impact on Other Features

None.

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18.4 Technical Description

When a high-priority MS initiates a call, the MSC sets the parameters related to the A interface based on the user class information that is received from the HLR. The high-priority call is established based on these parameters. 18.4.1 A Interface Parameters Involved in eMLPP The A interface parameters that the BSC obtains from the MSC determines the eMLPP. 18.4.2 Call Establishment Procedure This topic describes the procedure for assigning a TCH by the BSC. The BSC assigns a TCH when an MS with a high priority initiates a call or receives a call in a congested cell.

18.4.1 A Interface Parameters Involved in eMLPP

The A interface parameters that the BSC obtains from the MSC determines the eMLPP. Table 18-3 lists the A interface parameters involved in eMLPP. Table 18-3 A interface parameters involved in eMLPP Parameter PCI Meaning Flag bit of preemption Description If PCI allows preemption, that is, PCI = 1, the call can preempt the radio resources of the call with a lower priority. If PVI allows being preempted, that is, PVI = 1, the radio resources of the call can be preempted by the call with a higher priority. According to the GSM PHASE2+ protocol, PL has 14 levels. Level 1 represents the highest priority and level 14 represents the lowest priority. If QA allows queuing, that is, QA = 1, the call can queue. PIE consists of PCI, PVI, PL, and QA.

PVI

Flag bit of being preempted

PL

Priority level

QA PIE

Queuing indicator -

18.4.2 Call Establishment Procedure

This topic describes the procedure for assigning a TCH by the BSC. The BSC assigns a TCH when an MS with a high priority initiates a call or receives a call in a congested cell.
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1.

The BSC determines whether the cell has an idle TCH.

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If the cell has an idle TCH, the BSC assigns the TCH to the high-priority MS. The procedure is complete. If the cell does not have an idle TCH, go to 2. If PCI = 1, go to 3. If PCI is not 1, the procedure is complete. If such an MS is found, go to 4. If No such MS is found, go to 5. If the handover succeeds, go to 6. If the handover fails, go to 7. If QA = 1, the high-priority MS queues. Go to 8. If QA is not 1, the high-priority MS cannot queue. The procedure is complete.

2.

The BSC determines the PCI of the high-priority MS.

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3.

The BSC searches for the lowest-priority MS whose PVI is 1.

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4.

The BSC triggers the handover of the MS with the lowest priority.
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5.

The BSC determines the QA of the high-priority MS.

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6.

The high-priority MS seizes the channel released by the MS that is handed over to a neighbor cell. The procedure is complete.
NOTE

After the low-priority MS is handed over to a neighbor cell, it cannot preempt the resources of an MS with an even lower priority in the neighbor cell.

7. 8.

The channel used by the low-priority MS is released and the high-priority MS seizes this channel. The procedure is complete. The high-priority MS waits in the queue for channel assignment.
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If an idle channel is available before half of the timing length of the queue timer, the high-priority MS seizures the channel. The procedure is complete. If the MS waits in the queue for half of the timing length of the queue timer and the BSC allows directed retry, a directed retry is triggered. If the directed retry fails, the call is released. The procedure is complete. If the MS waits in the queue for half of the timing length of the queue timer and the BSC does not allow directed retry, the call is released when the queue timer expires. The procedure is complete.

18.5 Capabilities
None.

18.6 Implementation
The eMLPP implementation consists of configuring eMLPP, verifying eMLPP, and disabling eMLPP. 18.6.1 Configuring eMLPP
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This topic describes how to enable and configure eMLPP on the BSC6000 Local Maintenance Terminal. 18.6.2 Verifying eMLPP This topic describes how to verify eMLPP on the BSC6000 Local Maintenance Terminal. 18.6.3 Disabling eMLPP This topic describes how to disable eMLPP on the BSC6000 Local Maintenance Terminal.

18.6.1 Configuring eMLPP

This topic describes how to enable and configure eMLPP on the BSC6000 Local Maintenance Terminal.

Procedure
Step 1 Apply for and activate the license. 1. When applying for the eMLPP license, ensure that Support Emlpp under License control items in BSC6000V900R001 (None) Commercial License Application Template is set to 1. Value 1 indicates that this function should be enabled. Enable the license on the BSC6000 Local Maintenance Terminal. For details, refer to Activating License. After the license is activated, the BSC supports eMLPP, but eMLPP is disabled by default. You have to enable it on the BSC6000 Local Maintenance Terminal. Step 2 On the BSC6000 Local Maintenance Terminal, right-click a cell on the Management Tree tab page, and choose Configure Cell Attributes from the shortcut menu. A dialog box is displayed, as shown in Figure 18-2. Figure 18-2 Selecting a cell

2.

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Step 3 Double-click the cell in the Cell view list box to add it to the Selected cells list box. Step 4 Click Next. A dialog box is displayed, as shown in Figure 18-3. Figure 18-3 Configuring cell attributes

Step 5 In the Cells to be set column, select the cell and click Set Cell Properties. A dialog box is displayed, as shown in Figure 18-4.

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Figure 18-4 Set Cells Attributes dialog box

Step 6 Click Call Control. A dialog box is displayed, as shown in Figure 18-5.

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Figure 18-5 Setting Allow EMLPP

Step 7 Set Allow EMLPP to Yes. Step 8 Click OK. A dialog box is displayed, as shown in Figure 18-6.

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Figure 18-6 Check the Compatibility of Parameters and Site Versions dialog box

NOTE

There is no information related to Allow EMLPP in the dialog box shown in Figure 18-6.

Step 9 Click Yes to return to the dialog box shown in Figure 18-4. Step 10 Click OK to return to the dialog box shown in Figure 18-3. Step 11 Click Finish. The configuration is complete. ----End

18.6.2 Verifying eMLPP

This topic describes how to verify eMLPP on the BSC6000 Local Maintenance Terminal.

Procedure
Step 1 Check whether the eMLPP license is in use. 1. Choose BSC Maintenance > Maintain License > Query License . A dialog box is displayed, as shown in Figure 18-7.

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Figure 18-7 Querying the license usage

2.

Click Query. The query result is displayed, as shown in Figure 18-8.

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Figure 18-8 Query result of the license usage

3.

Check SUPPORT eMLPP.

Step 2 Check Allow EMLPP shown in Figure 18-9. If the value is Yes, the eMLPP function is available.

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Figure 18-9 Setting Allow EMLPP

----End

18.6.3 Disabling eMLPP

This topic describes how to disable eMLPP on the BSC6000 Local Maintenance Terminal.

Context
If you want to disable eMLPP in the entire BSC, apply for the license that does not support eMLPP. Refer to Activating License to activate the license. If you want to disable eMLPP in a cell, modify the cell attributes. The procedure is as follows:

Procedure
Step 1 In the dialog box shown in Figure 18-10, set Allow EMLPP to No.

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Figure 18-10 Setting Allow EMLPP

Step 2 Click OK. A dialog box is displayed, as shown in Figure 18-11.

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Figure 18-11 Check the Compatibility of Parameters and Site Versions dialog box

Step 3 Click Yes to return to the dialog box shown in Figure 18-12.

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Figure 18-12 Set Cells Attributes dialog box

Step 4 Click OK to return to the dialog box shown in Figure 18-13.

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Figure 18-13 Configuring cell attributes

Step 5 Click Finish. The eMLPP is disabled. ----End

18.7 Maintenance Information

The eMLPP maintenance information is alarm information and performance counter information.

Alarms
None.

Performance Counters
After eMLPP is enabled, the call drop rate may increase because the high-priority MSs may preempt the resources of the low-priority MSs. The existing BSC6000 performance counters cover the measurement of preemption and queuing. Table 18-4 lists the counters involved in eMLPP. Table 18-4 Counters involved in eMLPP Counter R3134: Failed Queuing Attempts due to Queue Overflow Meaning This counter is measured when the queuing fails because the number of calls in the queue exceeds the maximum value supported by the BSC.
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Counter R3135: Queuing Requests

Meaning This counter is measured when there is no TCH available and the system supports queuing. If there is no TCH available in the cell and both the call and the BSC support preemption, the preemption starts. This counter is measured when the preemption fails. When there is no TCH available in a cell, call queuing is triggered if the system does not start the preemption procedure or the dynamic adjustment procedure and the system supports queuing. When call queuing is triggered, the related time is also triggered to wait for an idle TCH. This counter is measured when the timer expires. When there is no TCH available in a cell, the BSC starts dynamic channel adjustment if the system supports dynamic adjustment and the requirements for dynamic adjustment are met. If the system also supports queuing, the queuing procedure and the related timer are triggered to wait for an idle TCH. This counter is measured when the timer expires. In the outgoing external inter-cell handover procedure (including directed retry), the handover fails if the MSC sends a clear command message containing the cause value of preemption. This counter is measured in the serving cell when the handover fails. In the outgoing inter-RAT inter-cell handover procedure (including directed retry), the handover fails if the BSC receives a clear command message from the MSC. This counter is measured based on the cause value (preemption) contained in the message when the handover fails. After the BSC RR module receives a SDCCH request, it searches for an idle SDCCH in the channel resource table. This counter measures the number of times the RR module finds an idle SDCCH, including the number of times the RR module preempts an SDCCH.

R3136: Failed Queuings (Preemption)

R3137: Failed Queuings (Queuing Timer Expired)

R3138: Failed Queuings (Dynamic Adjustment Timed Out)

H332He: Failed Outgoing External InterCell Handovers (Clear Commands Sent by MSC) (Preemption)

H352He: Failed Outgoing Inter-RAT InterCell Handovers (Clear Commands Sent by MSC) (Preemption)

R4110A: Successful Channel Assignments in Immediate Assignment Procedure (SDCCH)

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Counter R4117A: Successful Channel Assignments in Immediate Assignment Procedure (TCHF)

Meaning After the BSC RR module receives a TCHF request, it searches for an idle TCHF in the channel resource table. This counter measures the number of times the RR module finds an idle TCHF, including the number of times the RR module preempts a TCHF. After the BSC RR module receives a TCHH request, it searches for an idle TCHH in the channel resource table. This counter measures the number of times the RR module finds an idle TCHH, including the number of times the RR module preempts a TCHH. After the BSC RR module receives a TCHF request, it searches for an idle TCHF in the channel resource table. This counter measures the number of times the RR module finds an idle TCHF, including the number of times the RR module successfully preempts a TCHF. After the BSC RR module receives a TCHH request, it searches for an idle TCHH in the channel resource table. This counter measures the number of times the RR module finds an idle TCHH, including the number of times the RR module successfully preempts a TCHH. This counter measures the number of times the queuing fails within a granularity period in a cell. The queuing failure may be caused by different reasons. After an MS seizes a channel, the BSC triggers a forced handover. If the handover fails, the BSC triggers a release procedure. This counter measure the number of release procedures triggered by the BSC. The channel involved in this counter is the SDCCH. After an MS seizes a channel, the BSC triggers a forced handover. If the handover fails, the BSC triggers a release procedure. This counter measure the number of release procedures triggered by the BSC. The channel involved in this counter is the TCHF and the service type is signaling.

R4118A: Successful Channel Assignments in Immediate Assignment Procedure (TCHH)

R4117B: Successful Channel Assignments in Assignment Procedure (TCHF)

R4118B: Successful Channel Assignments in Assignment Procedure (TCHH)

CR313C: Failed Queuing Attempts

M305: Call Drops due to Forced Handover (SDCCH)

M345: Call Drops due to Forced Handover (TCHF) (Signaling Channel)

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Counter M315: Call Drops due to Forced Handover (TCHF) (TCH)

Meaning After an MS seizes a channel, the BSC triggers a forced handover. If the handover fails, the BSC triggers a release procedure. This counter measure the number of release procedures triggered by the BSC. The channel involved in this counter is the TCHF and the service type is traffic. After an MS seizes a channel, the BSC triggers a forced handover. If the handover fails, the BSC triggers a release procedure. This counter measure the number of release procedures triggered by the BSC. The channel involved in this counter is the TCHH and the service type is signaling. After an MS seizes a channel, the BSC triggers a forced handover. If the handover fails, the BSC triggers a release procedure. This counter measure the number of release procedures triggered by the BSC. The channel involved in this counter is the TCHH and the service type is traffic.

M355: Call Drops due to Forced Handover (TCHH) (Signaling Channel)

M325: Call Drops due to Forced Handover (TCHH) (TCH)

18.8 References
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3GPP TS 23.067: "enhanced Multi-Level Precedence and Pre-emption service (eMLPP); Stage 2". 3GPP TR 21.905: "3G Vocabulary". 3GPP TS 22.101: "UMTS Service Principles". 3GPP TS 22.067: "enhanced Multi Level Precedence and Pre emption service (eMLPP) Stage 1". 3GPP TS 23.011:"Technical realization of supplementary services". 3GPP TS 23.068: "Voice Group Call Service (VGCS) Stage 2". 3GPP TS 23.069: "Voice Broadcast Service (VBS) Stage 2". 3GPP TS 48.008: "Mobile Switching Centre Base Station System (MSC BSS) interface Layer 3 specification". ITU-T Recommendation Q.85: "Stage 2 description for community of interest supplementary services (clause 3: Multi-Level Precedence and Pre-emption MLPP)". ITU-T Recommendation Q.735: "Stage 3 description for community of interest supplementary services using SS No. 7 (clause 3: Multi-Level Precedence and Pre-emption (MLPP)". 3GPP TS 25,331: "RRC Protocol Specification". 3GPP TS 25.431: "UTRAN Iu Interface RANAP Signalling". 3GPP TS 24.008: "Core Network Protocols - Stage 3".
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