Call Management in GSM

Overview

Mobile to Land Call Scenario

Land to Mobile Call Scenario

Mobile to Mobile Call Scenario

Handover Overview

Detailed Intra-MSC Handover Scenario

Detailed Inter-MSC Handover Scenario

Objectives
Recognise and describe the phases of a mobile originated call. Recognise and describe the phases of a mobile terminated call. Describe the need for handover in GSM and typical handover causes. Explain the different types of handover in the GSM system. Recognise and describe the phases of different types of handovers.

Mobile-to-Land Call Scenario

Required Facilities for a Mobile-to-Land Call

Public Land Mobile Network Fixed Public Land Network Voice Trunk to PSTN Line PSTN

MSC

Radio Channel BSC Voice Trunk

MSC Voice Trunk

BTS Mobile Station

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

BSC

Radio channel between Mobile Station and BTS selected by the BSC BSC BTS voice trunk selected by the BSC MSC BSC voice trunk selected by the MSC MSC PSTN voice trunk selected by the MSC Line from PSTN end switching office to Fixed Station (permanent link) Base Station Controller Base Transceiver Station Mobile Switching Centre Public Switched Telephone Network

BSC BTS MSC PSTN

Phases of a Mobile-to-Land Call

Request for Service Authentication*

Ciphering*
Equipment Validation* Call Set-up Handover(s)* Release
* Phase might not occur Note: Detail for authentication and ciphering is not shown. It is the same as in the location registration update scenario.

Mobile-to-Land Call Request for Service

Um MS BSS A MSC B New VLR

Channel Request

1
Dedicated Signalling Channel Assignment

Service Request TMSI, LAI

Service Request TMSI, LAI

Service Request TMSI, LAI

Mobile-to-Land Call Equipment Validation

MS MSC EIR

IMEI Request

IMEI Response

Check IMEI

8
(IMEI)

IMEI Check Results

Mobile-to-Land Call Set-up

Um MS
Call Setup Request Dialled DN

A BSS MSC

B VLR

10

11

Access Subscriber Data

12
Call Proceeding

Subscriber Data

13

14
Assign Radio Channel TCH Radio Assignment Complete (on TCH)

Assign Trunk & Radio Trunk No.

15

16

17

Trunk & Radio Assignment Complete TCH

Mobile-to-Land Call Set-up Continued

MS MSC PSTN

18

Network Set-up (Dialled DN, Trunk No.)

19

Network Alerting

20

Alerting

21

Connect (answer)

22

Connect

Connect Acknowledgement

23 Note: Network Set-up, Network Alerting and Connect are generic terms. For SS7, the network set-up message would be Initial Assignment Message (IAM).

Mobile-to-Land Call Mobile Initiated Release

Um MS BSS A MSC PSTN

Disconnect

2
Release

Network Release

3
Release Complete

5
Channel Release

Clear Command

Clear Complete

Land-to-Mobile Call Scenario

Phases of a Land-to-Mobile Call

Routing Analysis Paging Authentication* Ciphering* Equipment Validation* Call Set-up Handover(s)* Release

*Phase might not occur Note:: Detail for authentication, ciphering and equipment validation is not shown. It is the same as in location registration update and mobile-to-land call scenarios.

Land-to-Mobile Call Routing Analysis

B C HLR VLR PSTN MSC

Incoming Call MSISDN

Get Route MSISDN

Routing Information MSRN

Incoming Call MSRN

5
TMSI, LAI

Perform Page

Land-to-Mobile Call Paging

Um MS BSS A MSC B VLR

6
Page TMSI (on PCH)

Perform Page TMSI

Channel Request (on RACH)

Dedicated Signalling Channel Assignment (on AGCH) Page Response TMSI, LAI (on SDCH)

10

11

Page Response TMSI, LAI

12

Page Response TMSI, LAI

Land-to-Mobile Call Set-up

Um
MS BSS

A
MSC

Call Set-up

13

14

Call Set-up Confirm

15
Assign Radio Channel TCH

Assign Trunk & Radio Channel TRUNK

16

Radio Assignment Complete

17
Trunk & Radio Assignment Complete

18

Land-to-Mobile Call Set-up Continued

MS MSC PSTN

19

Mobile Alerting

20

Network Alerting

21

Connect (off-hook)

22

Connect

23

Connect Acknowledge

Land-to-Mobile Call Network Initiated Call Release

Um A

MS

BSS

MSC

PSTN

1
Disconnect

Network Release

2
Release

Release Complete

5
Channel Release

Clear Command

Clear Complete

Mobile-to-Mobile Call Scenario

Phases of a Mobile-to-Mobile Call

Request for Service Authentication* Ciphering* Originating Mobile

Equipment Validation*
Call Setup

Routing Analysis Paging Authentication*

Ciphering*
Equipment Validation* Call Setup Handover(s)* Release

Terminating Mobile

*Phase might not occur

Mobile-to-Mobile Call Set-up & Release

Um A

MS-A
Channel Request

BSS

MSC VLR

A BSS

Um MS-B

Service Request

Authentication Ciphering

Equipment Validation
Routing Analysis With HLR

Paging and Response Authentication Ciphering Equipment Validation

Call Set-up Handover Release

Call Set-up Handover Release

Handover Overview

Handover
Maintains Call Continuity.

Controlled by BSS.

Based on RF subsystem criteria or traffic loading considerations.

Both MS and BTS provide RF link measurements to the handover process. Handover causes are prioritised: RXQUAL RXLEV DISTANCE POWER BUDGET

Handover Types
Four Levels
within same Base Transceiver Station (Intra-BTS)

between different BTSs served by same BSC (intra-BSS/inter-BTS)

between different BSSs within same MSC (intra-MSC/inter-BSS) between different MSCs (inter-MSC)

Intra-BTS Handover

MSC B

MSC A

PSTN

BSC1

BSC2

BSC3

Global Cell Identification Country Code Network Code Location Area Code Cell Identity

Intra-BSS/Inter-BTS Handover

MSC B

MSC A

PSTN

BSC1

BSC2

BSC3

Global Cell Identification Country Code Network Code Location Area Code Cell Identity

Intra-MSC, Inter-BSS Handover

MSC B

MSC A

PSTN

BSC1

BSC2

BSC3

Global Cell Identification Country Code Network Code Location Area Code Cell Identity

Intra-BSC, Inter-BTS Handover

MSC B

MSC A

PSTN

BSC1

BSC2

BSC3

Global Cell Identification Country Code Network Code Location Area Code Cell Identity

Detailed Intra-MSC/Inter-BSS Handover Scenario

Intra-MSC/Inter-BSS Handover Step 1

Step 1: Handover Request from BSS Present Voice Path BSS 1

PSTN

MSC BSS 2

Intra-MSC/Inter-BSS Handover Step 2

Step 2: Allocation of New Resources

BSS 1

PSTN

MSC BSS 2 Future Voice Path

Intra-MSC/Inter-BSS Handover Step 3

Step 3: Handover Execution Old Voice Path BSS 1

PSTN

MSC BSS 2 New Voice Path

Intra-MSC/Inter-BSS Handover Step 4

Step 4: Release of Old Resources BSS 1

PSTN

MSC BSS 2

Intra-MSC Handover Signalling

Um
MS BSS
Signal Strength Measurement SIG, MEAS Rank-ordered list of target BSSs HAND, REQ Kc, Identity of trunk, LAI HAND, REQ New Radio Channel ID HAND, REQ, ACK New Radio Channel ID HAND, REQ, ACK New Radio Channel ID HAND, REQ, ACK HAND, ACC

A
MSC

B
VLR

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

On New Radio Channel PHYS, INFO HAND, DET HAND, COMP HAND, COMP REL, RCH REL, RCH, COMP

10
11 12 13

Intra-MSC Handover Signalling (Continued)

Um
MS BSS
Signal Strength Measurement SIG, MEAS Rank-ordered list of target BSSs HAND, REQ Kc, Identity of trunk, LAI HAND, REQ New Radio Channel ID HAND, REQ, ACK New Radio Channel ID HAND, REQ, ACK New Radio Channel ID HAND, REQ, ACK HAND, ACC

A
MSC

B
VLR

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

On New Radio Channel PHYS, INFO HAND, DET HAND, COMP HAND, COMP REL, RCH REL, RCH, COMP

10
11 12 13

Detailed Inter-MSC Handover Scenario

Basic Inter-MSC Handover Steps

Step 1: Handover Request from BSS Present Talk Path Present Talk Path

BSS A

PSTN

MSC A BSS B MSC B

Step 2: Allocation of New Resources BSS A

PSTN

MSC A BSS B MSC B Future Talk Path

Basic Inter-MSC Handover Steps Continued

Step 3: Handover Execution Old Talk Path

BSS A

PSTN

MSC A BSS B MSC B New Talk Path

Step 4: Release of Old Resources BSS A

PSTN

MSC A BSS B MSC B

Inter-MSC Handover Voice Facilities

PSTN

MSC A

MSC C

MSC B

MSC D

Inter-MSC Trunks (dedicated)

PSTN Trunks

PSTN

MSC A

MSC C

MSC B

MSC D

MSC Directory Number Spectrum

Trunks Trunks MSC Local Exchange

PSTN
MSC

Directory Number Spectrum

MSISDN

MSRN

MSHN

Used to reference Inter-MSC handovers

Inter-MSC Signalling Two Signalling Paths

Mobile Application Part (MAP) (Defined in GSM Specification 09.02)

E SS7

MSC B

MSC A

Dedicated Trunk Group

or
PSTN

ISDN-UP TUP

ISDN User Part Telephone User Part

Inter-office Signalling such as ISDN-UP or TUP (Outside scope of GSM specification)

Basic Inter-MSC Handover Initial Condition

VLR B Dialled Number 720-1234

PSTN

Talk Path MSC B MSC A

BSS B Candidate Cell Global Cell ID 234-02-120-65

BSS A Serving Cell Global Cell ID 234-01-235-43

720-1234

Basic Inter-MSC Handover Handover Number Allocation

VLR B

PSTN
720-1234
SS7 Perform Handover (234-02-120-65, Kc) Perform Handover (234-02-120-65, Kc) MSC B E Interface MSC A

PSTN PSTN/ISDN Interface

BSS B Candidate Cell Global Cell ID 234-02-120-65

BSS A Serving Cell Global Cell ID 234-01-235-43

720-1234

Basic Inter-MSC Handover Inter-MSC Trunk Set-up

VLR B

PSTN
720-1234 SS7 E Interface

MSC B Network Set-up (219-9221) Set-up Complete

MSC A

BSS B Candidate Cell Global Cell ID 234-02-120-65

BSS A Serving Cell Global Cell ID 234-01-235-43

720-1234

Basic Inter-MSC Handover Events After Handover Command

VLR B

PSTN
720-1234

Send End Signal

MSC B
E Interface

MSC A

Answer

PSTN/ISDN Interface BSS B BSS A

New Talk Path 720-1234

Inter-MSC Handover Signalling

MS Serving BSS
Signal Strength Measurement SIG, MEAS Rank-ordered list of Target BSSs

Serving MSC

Target MSC

Target BSS

Target VLR

HAND, PER

HAND, NUM

HAND, NUM, COMP

HAND, REQ New Radio Channel ID HAND, REQ, ACK

HAND, PER, ACK

Inter-MSC Handover Signalling (Continued)

MS Serving BSS Serving MSC Target MSC Target BSS Target VLR

NET_SETUP

10
New Radio Channel ID HAND_COMP New Radio Channel ID HAND_COMP

SETUP_COMP

11

12

13

On New Radio Channel HAND_ACC

14

PHYS_INFO

15

HAND_DET

16

HAND_COMP

Inter-MSC Handover Signalling (Continued)

MS Serving BSS Serving MSC Target MSC Target BSS Target VLR

17

HAND_COMP

18

SEND_ENDSIG

19

ANSWER

20

REL_R CH

21

REL_RCH_COMP

22

END_SIGNAL

23

NET_REL

24

REL_HAND_NUM