ZGB-02-02-005 Double BCCH

Allocation List Feature Guide

GERAN UR14
 ZGB-02-02-005 Double BCCH Allocation List Feature Guide

ZGB-02-02-005 Double BCCH Allocation List Feature

Guide
Version Date Author Reviewer Notes

Luo
V1.0 2015/04/27 Gu Yuhui First Release
Changqing

2016 ZTE Corporation. All rights reserved.

ZTE CONFIDENTIAL: This document contains proprietary information of ZTE and is not to be disclosed or used
without the prior written permission of ZTE.
Due to update and improvement of ZTE products and technologies, information in this document is subjected to
change without notice.

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 ZGB-02-02-005 Double BCCH Allocation List Feature Guide

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 Feature Attribute ............................................................................................... 4

2 Overview ............................................................................................................ 4
2.1 Feature Introduction ............................................................................................. 4
2.2 License Control .................................................................................................... 5
2.3 Correlation with Other Features ........................................................................... 5

3 Technical Description ....................................................................................... 5

4 Parameters......................................................................................................... 6

5 Related Counters and Alarms .......................................................................... 7

5.1 Related Counters ................................................................................................. 7
5.2 Related Alarms .................................................................................................... 7

6 Engineering Guide ............................................................................................ 8

6.1 Application Scenario ............................................................................................ 8
6.2 Feature Activation Procedure ............................................................................... 8
6.3 Feature Validation Procedure............................................................................. 11
6.3.1 Double BCCH Allocation List ............................................................................. 11
6.4 Feature Deactivation Procedure......................................................................... 12
6.5 Network Impact .................................................................................................. 13

7 Abbreviation .................................................................................................... 14

8 Reference Document....................................................................................... 15

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FIGURES

Figure 6-1 Neighboring GSM Cell Configuration-List Tab ................................................... 8

Figure 6-2 Creating a Neighboring GSM Cell for Handover and Reselection ...................... 9
Figure 6-3 Creating a Neighboring GSM Cell for Reselection ............................................10
Figure 6-4 Creating a Neighboring GSM Cell for Handover................................................11
Figure 6-5 Feature Deactivation .........................................................................................13

TABLES

Table 2-1 License Control List ............................................................................................ 5

Table 4-1 Parameters List ................................................................................................... 6

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1 Feature Attribute
BSC Version: [ZXG10 iBSC GSM (V6.30.30)]

BTS Version: [Independent of the BTS hardware platform]

Attribute: [Basic]

Related Network Element:

NE Name Related or Not Special Requirements

MS -

BTS -

BSC

iTC -

MSC -

MGW -

SGSN -

GGSN -

HLR -
: Related, -: Irrelative

2 Overview

2.1 Feature Introduction

A BCCH Allocation (BA) list is a frequency list that is broadcast on the network and used
by an MS. With this feature enabled, an MS is provided with double BA lists so that it can
use different BA lists for handover (in dedicated mode) and cell reselection (in idle
mode).

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2.2 License Control

Table 2-1 License Control List

License Configured Sales

Feature ID Feature Name
Control Item NE Unit

ZGB-02-02-005 Double BCCH

N/A N/A N/A
Allocation List

2.3 Correlation with Other Features

1. Required Features

None

2. Mutually Exclusive Features

None

3. Affected Features

4. ZGO-06-01-001 Automatic Adjusting of BA list

5. The Automatic Adjusting of BA list featue describes MR data-based automtic

frequency planning and neighbor cell optimization through automatic adjustment of
BA lists.

3 Technical Description
According to 3GPP TS 44.018, there are two ways to transmit BA lists to an MS. If the
transmission is over BCCH, the BA list is contained in the system information type 2, type
2bis, and type 2ter. If the transmission is over SACCH, the BA list is contained in the
system information type 5, type 5bis and type 5ter.

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The information contained in a BA list transmitted in these two different ways can be the
same or different; therefore, flexible network optimization configuration can be achieved.

The system generates two types of BA lists depending on the configuration of the
neighboring cells for reselection and handover. For the iBSC, if a neighboring cell is
configured to be a cell for reselection, the BCCH frequency point of the neighboring cell
is put into the BA list that is transmitted over BCCH. If the neighboring cell is configured
to be a cell for handover, the BCCH frequency point of the neighboring cell is put into the
BA list that is transmitted over SACCH. If the neighboring cell is configured to be a cell for
both handover and reselction, the BCCH frequency point of the neighboring cell is put
into both BA lists of BCCH and SACCH.

To configure BA lists to be the same, all neighboring cells should be configured to be the
cells for both handover and reselection.

To configure BA lists to be different, the cells for reselection and the cells for handover
should be configured separately.

4 Parameters

Table 4-1 Parameters List

Recom
Defau
Parameter Value mende
Managed Object Logic Name Unit lt
Description Range d
Value
Value

Adjacent GSM Cell The DN of the

PARENTDN None None None None
Configuration serving cell

The DN of the
Adjacent GSM Cell
refGGsmCell intra-BSC adjacent None None None None
Configuration
GSM cell

The DN of the
Adjacent GSM Cell refGExternal
external adjacent None None None None
Configuration GsmCell
GSM cell

The type of the Handover Hand Handov

Adjacent GSM Cell
RelationType adjacent GSM cells, and None over er and
Configuration
including 3 types, reselect[0], and reselec

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Recom
Defau
Parameter Value mende
Managed Object Logic Name Unit lt
Description Range d
Value
Value
Handover, Reselect[1], resele t[0]
Reselect, and Handover[2] ct[0]
Handover and
reselect.
Handover and
reselect: The
adjacent GSM cell
will be used as the
adjacent cell both in
dedicated mode and
in idle mode.
Reselect: The
adjacent GSM cell
will be only used as
the adjacent cell in
idle mode.
Handover: The
adjacent GSM cell
will be only used as
the adjacent cell in
dedicated mode.

5 Related Counters and Alarms

5.1 Related Counters

This feature has no related counter.

5.2 Related Alarms

This feature has no related alarm.

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6 Engineering Guide

6.1 Application Scenario

This feature is applicable to most scenarios.

6.2 Feature Activation Procedure

Perform the following steps to configure the BA lists used for cell reselection and
handover to the same BA list.

1. In the configuration resource tree, select Modify Area > Managed Element > GSM
Logical Configuration > Cell Information Configuration > Adjacent Relation
Configuration, and double click Adjacent GSM Cell Configuration. The Adjacent
GSM Cell Configuration-List tab is displayed. Click the New button. The Adjacent
GSM Cell Configuration tab is displayed. Create a new adjacent GSM cell, see the
following figure.

Figure 6-1 Neighboring GSM Cell Configuration-List Tab

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2. Configure the following parameters:

DN: DN of the serving cell

DN of source Gsmcell: DN of the neighboring GSM cell, used for an intra-BSC

neighboring GSM cell

DN of source ExternalGsmCell: DN of the neighboring GSM cell, used for an external

neighboring GSM cell

Relation type: set to Handover and reselect[0]

See the following figure.

Figure 6-2 Creating a Neighboring GSM Cell for Handover and Reselection

Perform the following steps to configure the BA list for cell reselection and handover to
different BA lists, that is, two BA lists are configured.

1. In the configuration resource tree, select Modify Area > Managed Element > GSM
Logical Configuration > Cell Information Configuration > Adjacent Relation
Configuration, and double click Adjacent GSM Cell Configuration. The Adjacent
GSM Cell Configuration-List tab is displayed. Click the New button. The Adjacent

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GSM Cell Configuration tab is displayed. Create a new neighboring GSM cell, see
Figure 6-2.

2. Configure the following parameters:

DN: DN of the serving cell

DN of source Gsmcell: DN of the neighboring GSM cell, used for an intra-BSC

neighboring GSM cell

DN of source ExternalGsmCell: DN of the neighboring GSM cell, used for an external

neighboring GSM cell

Relation type:

If this parameter is set to Reselect[1], the neighboring cell for only cell reselection is
configured and the neighboring cell information is broadcast over BCCH (system
information 2, or 2bis, or 2ter). See the following figure.

Figure 6-3 Creating a Neighboring GSM Cell for Reselection

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If this parameter is set to Handover[2], the neighboring cell for only cell handover is
configured and the neighboring cell information is broadcast over SACCH (system
information 5, or 5bis, or 5ter). See the following figure.

Figure 6-4 Creating a Neighboring GSM Cell for Handover

6.3 Feature Validation Procedure

6.3.1 Double BCCH Allocation List

Test Item Double BCCH Allocation List
Prerequisites 1. The CN is in good condition.
2. The BSC is operating properly.
3. The BTS is operating properly.
4. The MSs are ready for the test.
5. The radio environment is good.

Step 1. Trace the RSLCS signaling process of the testing cell

with an RCT tool.
2. On the Adjacent GSM Cell Configuration tab of the
testing cell, configure Relation type of cell 1 to
Reselect.

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Test Item Double BCCH Allocation List

3. On the Adjacent GSM Cell Configuration tab of the
testing cell, configure Relation type of cell 2 to
Handover.
4. On the Adjacent GSM Cell Configuration tab of the
testing cell, configure Relation type of cell 3 to
Handover and reselect.
5. Synchronize the data to the BSC.
6. Check system information 2, 2bis, and 2ter in the
RSLCS signaling tracing window.
7. Check system information 5, 5bis, and 5ter in the
RSLCS signaling tracing window.

Expected result 1. In step 2, the ARFCNs of the neighboring cells for

reselection should be included in Neighbor Cell
Description of system information 2/2bis/2ter.
2. In step 3, the ARFCNs of the neighboring cells for
handover should be included in Neighbor Cell
Description of system information 5/5bis/5ter.
3. In step 4, the ARFCNs of the neighboring cells for
handover and reselection should be included in
Neighbor Cell Description of system information
2/2bis/2ter and system information 5/5bis/5ter.

6.4 Feature Deactivation Procedure

If all neighboring cells of the serving cell are configured to Handover and reselect cells,
the BA list over BCCH and the BA list over SACCH are the same and the double BA list
function is disabled, as shown in the following figure.

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Figure 6-5 Feature Deactivation

6.5 Network Impact

Enabling of the double BA list feature has some impacts on the network performance.

When an MS is active, the BA list is transmitted over SACCH and used for cell handover
of the MS. When the MS is idle, the BA list is broadcast over BCCH and mainly used for
cell selection and reselection of the MS.

The MS periodically performs signal strength measurement. If there are a few

frequencies available for the measurement, more frequency sampling values can be
obtained, and therefore the higher precision of average values and in turn better
measurement reports can generate the location algorithm.

MS in active mode: A short BA list is better for handover implementation than a long BA
list. If a long BA list is used, there are comparatively few measurement sampling values
available for every cell, and therefore the measurement precision is low and the MS
takes more time to translate the BSIC code for unrelated cells. In addition, if the decoding
process fails, the MS takes extra time to attempt to decode the BSIC code for the cell

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again and the MS also waits longer before it can begin to decode the BSIC code for other
cells.

MS in idle mode: When an MS is powered on, it scans the most recently received BA list.
If the MS moves, it possilby measures the signal of a cell with very weak signal strength
and locks on the cell. If the list is very short and does not contain the best cell in the area
where the MS is located, the MS continues to lock on the bad cell. Such an
environment is in fact not good for setting up a call. Such a situation can be avoided if an
idle BA list contains many frequencies. Many frequencies existing in an idle BA list
means that there is few measurement sample values for each frequency, and therefore
the measurement precision is low in idle mode. This is also a serious problem worth
considering.

The enabled double BA list feature has no impact on the iBSC capacity and BTS
capacity.

It is suggested that in an urban area with densely distributed BTSs and population, the
double BA list feature should be enabled so that a short BA list is used for cell handover
in active mode and a long BA list is used for cell selection and reselection in idle mode. It
should be noted that a short BA list used for cell handover does not mean that the list is
too short. In fact, the list should at least contain the frequencies of the neighboring cells
that may be involved in a handover; otherwise degradation of network handover indexes
and call indexes is unavoidable.

7 Abbreviation
Abbreviation Full Name
rd
3GPP 3 Generation Partnership Project

BA BCCH Allocation

BCCH Broadcast Control Channel

BSC Base Station Controller

BTS Base Transceiver Station

CN Core Network

DN Distinguished Name

GSM Global System of Mobile Communication

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MS Mobile Station

SACCH Slow Associated Control Channel

8 Reference Document
ZXG10 iBSC (V6.30.30) Base Station Controller Performance Counter Reference

ZXG10 iBSC (V6.30.30) Base Station Controller Radio Parameter Reference

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