GSM Events

IMSI Attach IMSI Detach Location Update Mobile-Originated Call Mobile-Terminated Call

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Location Update
A MS will need to update its location whenever it moves to a tower that is
serviced by a different VLR then the one it is currently on. An MS c an
move from BTS to BTS without ever telling the network, as long as it is
within the same location area. Once it moves to a new location area, it is
required to inform the network.

The MS moves to another Location Area

As a MS moves
around it is constantly
monitoring the signal
strength of the BCCH
of its current BTS, as
well as neighboring
BTS's to determine if
the neighbors have a
stronger signal. When
the MS is in idle
mode (not in a call), it
will determine for
itself when to move
from its current BTS
to a more attractive
one. When the MS
switches from a BTS
in one VLR to a BTS
in a different VLR, it
must do an location
update, so the
network knows which
MSC/VLR the MS is
currently using.

In the diagram on the

right, we see two
different location
areas serviced by two
different VLR's. The
MS is currently
sitting on BTS-2 in
Location Area 1. As
the MS moves
towards the edge of
the location area, it
measures BTS-3 as
being stronger and
decides to switch to
that BTS. Since BTS-
3 is in another
location area, it will
need to do a location
update.

Channel Request
Just like the IMSI
Attach, and every
other time the MS
requests access, it
goes through the
same procedures.

1. The MS requests a
channel by sending a
Channel Request
(CHAN_REQ)
message on the
RACH.

2. The BTS responds

by sending an
Immediate
Assignment
Command message
(IMM_ASS_CMD)
on the AGCH.

3. The MS switches
to the assigned
SDCCH and replies
with a Location
Update Request
(LOC_UPD_REQ).
Included in the
LOC_UPD_REQ is
the TMSI the MS is
currently using as
well as the Location
Area Identifier (LAI)
of the VLR it is
leaving.

4. The BTS
acknowledges receipt
of the message.

Gaining VLR requests data from Losing VLR

5. The BSS forwards
the Location Update
Request to the
gaining MSC/VLR.

6. The gaining
MSC/VLR does not
recognize the
TMSI/IMSI of the
MS, so it contacts the
losing MSC/VLR that
corresponds to the
LAI that was
provided by the MS.
The new MSC/VLR
requests the
subscriber data for the
given TMSI.

7. The gaining
MSC/VLR will then
authenticate the MS.
There are two ways
this could occur.
First, the losing
MSC/VLR may have
forwarded any sets of
triplets that it was
retaining for the MS.
The gaining
MSC/VLR would
then just use the next
set of triplets. Second,
the gaining
MSC/VLR could
contact the HLR and
request authentication
triplets from the AuC
and proceed with
authentication that
way.
The authentication and
encryption process is not
shown here. It occurs the
same way as in the IMSI
Attach. For more
information, see the
Encryption and
Authentication Tutorial.

Location Update
8. Once the MS has
been authenticated
and is in Cipher
Mode, the MSC/VLR
sends a Location
Update Accept
message
(LOC_UPD_ACC)
through the BSS to
the MS. The
LOC_UPD_ACC
may have a TMSI
assignment in it,
otherwise the TMSI
will be assigned in a
TMSI_REAL_CMD
message.

9. The MS will
respond with a TMSI
Reallocation
Complete message
(TMSI_REAL_COM)
indicating it has
received the TMSI.

10. The BSS then

sends the MS a
Channel Release
message
(CHAN_REL)
instructing it to go
into idle mode. The
BSS then unassigns
the SDCCH. As far as
the MS is concerned,
the location update
has been completed.

Updating the Registers

The Gaining
MSC/VLR sends an
Update Location
message to the HLR.
The HLR updates its
records to point to the
gaining MSC/VLR
when it is asked for
its location. It also
passes on subscriber
information for the
MS to the gaining
MSC/VLR.

The HLR sends a

Cancel Location
message to the losing
MSC/VLR. The
losing MSC/VLR
deletes the MS's
record and also
releases the TMSI for
reassignment. The
losing MSC/VLR
sends a Cancel
Location Result
message back to the
HLR, confirming the
cancellation.

IMSI Attach IMSI Detach Location Update Mobile-Originated Call Mobile-Terminated Call

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