Procedures in Basic Call

The procedures of the Basic Call are described in the following sections :
Paging procedure
Channel required procedure
Channel reservation procedure
Channel activation procedure
Immediate assignment procedure
SCCP connection establishment procedure
Transmission of transparent L3 messages procedure
Ciphering procedure
ssignment procedure
Channel release procedure
S!stem information broadcasting procedure
Paging procedure
The paging procedure offers the networ" the means to start the establishment of a mobile
terminating call with a given #S$
The BSC is able to handle all cell identifier t!pes within the PAGING message$
The BSC requires parameters for calculating the paging group$
The paging procedure is presented in the following figures$
Figure: Paging procedure when paging comes from MSC
Figure: Paging procedure when paging comes from SGSN
In networ"s with %P&S capabilit!' the PAGING message can also be routed through the
S%S($ %P&S)related paging is used when paging an #S for a Circuit Switched or a
Pac"et Switched call on a paging subchannel$ The paging subgroup is calculated b! the
BTS$ *hen the BSC receives paging from the S%S(' the BSC sends a CS-PAGING
COMMAND or a PS-PAGING COMMAND +for pac"et data, to the BTS$ -or more
information' see +.,%P&S in BSC$
If the BTS does not support %P&S' the BSC sends a PAGING COMMAND to the BTS$
The BTS builds paging request messages and sends them on the radio path$
If the #S does not answer within a given time limit' the #SC repeats the PAGING
COMMAND message$
PAGING message
If the BSC receives the PAGING message from the #SC +a,' the PAGING message
includes the following data:
message t!pe
#S identit! I. +I#SI,
temporar! #S identit! +T#SI, +optional,
cell identifier list +optional,
channel needed +optional,$
The cell identifier list identifies the cells where the PAGING message is sent$ The BSC is
able to handle all cell identifier t!pes$ If no cell identifier is included' the BSC pages the
mobile in all cells it controls$
The Channel (eeded information element is used to indicate to the mobile station which
channel will be needed for the transaction lin"ed to the paging procedure$ The inclusion of
the channel needed element depends on the #SC$
Figure: Channel needed information element
The Channel -ield +bits /)0 of octet 0, indicates the further combination of channel which
will be needed$ It is coded as follows:
Figure: Values of Channel Field bits
PAGING COMMAND message
The PAGING COMMAND message includes the following data:
message header
paging group
#S identit!
channel needed +optional,$
The BSC uses the I#SI value received in the PAGING message to calculate the mobile1s
paging group and sends the PAGING COMMAND +b, message to the BTS$ Consequentl!'
the BTS uses the paging group element included in the PAGING COMMAND message
to calculate which 2&3 paging bloc" to use to transmit the paging request message +c, to
the #S$
The CCC4 has two alternative configurations that are described below$ The CCC4
configuration affects the value of the paging group information element that is included in
the PAGING COMMAND message$ The ma5imum value of the paging group element is
6/$
i BCC4 7 CCC4 in a 8/)frame multiframe 9 CCC4 bloc"
ii
BCC4 7 CCC4 7 : S2CC4 +stand)alone dedicated control channel,
: in a 8/)frame multiframe 3 CCC4 bloc"
Paging %p; ++I#SI mod /<<<, mod +BS=CC=C4(S5 (,, mod (
(;
number of paging bloc"s available in one 8/)frame multiframe on
one CCC4 5 BS=P=#-&#S
BS=P=#-&#S; number of multiframes
BS=CC=C4(S; number of CCC4 channels in a T&3
BS=%=BL>S=&.S;
number of bloc"s reserved for access grant' ranges from <)? in
configuration +i,' <)0 in configuration +ii,
(;
+9)BS=%=BL>S=&.S,@BS=P=#-&S' if CCC4=CA(-;<
configuration +i,
(;
+3)BS=%=BL>S=&.S,@BS=P=#-&S' if CCC4=CA(-;/
configuration +ii,
The value of the BS_CC_CHANS parameter varies according to the value of the
CCCH_CONF parameter' as shown in the following figure$
Figure: Relation of BCCCC!"NS and CCC!C#NF $alues
If the PAGING message includes both a T#SI and I#SI' the T#SI is used$ The T#SI is a
locall! used number inside one Location rea which replaces the I#SI number in call
setup$ The T#SI improves securit! and ensures that an! significant subscriber information'
such as the I#SI' cannot be discovered during call setup$
The channel needed element is optional: if the channel needed element is not present'
its value is assumed to be << +an! channel,$
CS-PAGING COMMAND message
The CS-PAGING COMMAND message includes the following data:
message header
#S identit!
2&3 parameter +optional,
temporar! #S identit! +optional,
channel needed +optional,$
#S identit! I. +I#SI, is a mandator! element$ The 2&3 parameter and the temporar! #S
identit! +T#SI, elements are optional$ The channel needed element is also optional: its
inclusion depends on the #SC$ If the channel needed element is not present' its value is
assumed to be << +an! channel,$
PS-PAGING COMMAND message
The PS-PAGING COMMAND message includes the following data:
message header
#S identit!
2&3 parameter +optional,
+temporar!, #S identit! +optional,$
Channel required procedure
The channel required procedure offers the #S the means to start the establishment of a
mobile originating call or to answer the PAGING REQUEST message$
The channel required procedure is presented in the following figure$
Figure: Channel re%uired procedure
CHANNEL REQUEST message
The #S uses the CHANNEL REQUEST message to request for a dedicated signalling
channel S2CC4$ It sends the CHANNEL REQUEST message +a, to the BTS on the
&C4 $ The message is sent in random mode and it consists of two different information
elements that are coded as follows:
Figure: CHANNEL REQUEST message& onl' one octet long
The establisment cause information field indicates the reason for requesting the
establishment of a connection$ This field has a variable length +from 3 bits up to B bits,$ The
random reference is an unformatted field with variable length +from 8 bits down to 0 bits,$
The establisment cause information field length is 3 when the #S is %S# phase / level or
when the #S is %S# phase 0 level and the (.CI +(ew establishment causes support,
parameter is set to A--$
The following establishment causes are supported +the random reference field is mar"ed
with ( s,:
Figure: N)C* parameter is set to #FF
Figure: N)C* parameter is set to #N
The networ" uses the random reference and the #S access slot number to identif! and to
address the #S$
The #S starts the %S# timer T3/0< and waits for its access acceptance' which is an
IMMEDIATE ASSIGNMENT message on the %C4$
If the #S access is not granted within the time limit defined b! T3/0<' the #S ma"es a
second attempt and sends another CHANNEL REQUEST message with a new random
reference on the ne5t time slot$ new value of the %S# timer T3/0< is computed and used$
The #S repeats this procedure either until it is granted access or until the number of
repetitions reaches the set ma5imum$
CHANNEL REQUIRED message
*hen the #S requests a dedicated resource b! sending a random access' the BSC verifies
that the distance between the #S and the BTS is not too long$ B! verif!ing this distance the
BSC can detect some random accesses which are caused b! white noise or co)channel
interference' and therefore the BSC can also reCect these accesses$ This is a general
functionalit! in the BSC$
fter receiving the proper CHANNEL REQUIRED message +b, from the BTS' the BSC
starts to allocate an S2CC4 channel$
The CHANNEL REQUIRED message includes the following data:
message discriminator: common channel management
message t!pe: channel required
channel number: uplin" CCC4 +&C4,
request reference: establishment cause' random reference received in the access
request and the frame number on which it was received
access dela!: dela! of the access burst as measured b! the BTS$
Channel reservation procedure
fter receiving the CHANNEL REQUIRED message from the BTS or the ASSIGNMENT
REQUEST message from the #SC' the BSC starts searching for a relevant channel:
fter receiving the CHANNEL REQUIRED message' the BSC starts to search
for a dedicated channel$ If a channel is available in the cell where the original
access came from' the BSC reserves it and starts the immediate assignment
procedure$ In a normal instance of a Basic Call the target channel is the S2CC4$
fter receiving the ASSIGNMENT REQUEST message from the #SC' the BSC
starts to search for a TC4 channel$ If one is available in the cell comprising the
S2CC4 connection' the BSC reserves it and starts the assignment procedure$ If
no TC4 channels are available' the TC4 channel request is queued and when
an! one of the TC4 channels in this cell is released' the BSC reserves it for the
assignment procedure$
The BSC can allocate S2CC4 or TC4 channels as follows$ The number of the TC4 and
S2CC4 channels depends on the radio configuration$
S2CC4' TC4D- or TC4D4 channel in case of a CHANNEL REQUIRED
message$ -or more information' see 4alf &ate in BSC$
TC4D- or TC4D4 channel in case of an ASSIGNMENT REQUEST message$
S2CC4' TC4D- or TC4D4 channel in case of a handover$
Ep to four TC4D- channels in case of a high speed circuit switched data call$ -or
more information' see 4SCS2 and /:$: "bitDs 2ata Services in BSC$
Channel activation procedure
fter a successful reservation of a new S2CC4 channel' the BSC activates it b! sending the
CHANNEL ACTIVATION message to the BTS$ The %S# timer T9/<3 is used to
supervise the channel activation procedure$
The BTS ac"nowledges a successful channel activation with the CHANNEL ACTIVATION
ACK message$ If the BTS refuses to activate the new channel' it sends a CHANNEL
ACTIVATION NACK message to the BSC' including the reason for the failure$
If the BSC does not receive a CHANNEL ACTIVATION ACK or CHANNEL
ACTIVATION NACK message within the time limit defined b! the %S# timer T9/<3' it
releases the dedicated radio channel b! sending a RF CHANNEL RELEASE message to
the BTS$ The same applies also when the BSC receives the CHANNEL ACTIVATION
NACK.
The channel activation procedure is presented in the following figure$
Figure: Channel acti$ation procedure
CHANNEL ACTIVATION message
The BSC sends the CHANNEL ACTIVATION message to the BTS in order to activate the
new S2CC4 channel$
The CHANNEL ACTIVATION message includes the following data:
message discriminator: dedicated channel management
message t!pe: channel activation
channel number
activation t!pe
channel mode: 2T3 control and channel t!pe
BS power: ma5imum BS power level authorised in the cell +optional,
#S power: ma5imum #S power level authorised in the cell +optional,
timing advance to be used b! #S in subsequent communications +optional,
SCC4 information +optional,$
The SCC4 information is used in dual band cell or when I#SI Based 4andover is enabled
in the BSC$ The other optional elements are alwa!s present$ -or more information' see 2ual
Band (etwor" Aperation or I#SI)Based 4andover$
CHANNEL ACTIVATION ACK message
The BTS ac"nowledges a successful channel activation with the CHANNEL ACTIVATION
ACK message$ The BTS starts the transmission and reception on the associated SCC4
using the power levels and the timing advance received in the CHANNEL ACTIVATION
message$
The BTS ac"nowledges a failure with the CHANNEL ACTIVATION NACK message$ The
possible causes for a failure are listed below:
radio resource not available
radio channel alread! activatedDallocated
protocol error and subclause' such as mandator! information error
A F # intervention in cases when the channel cannot be used for A F # reasons
ciphering algorithm not supported
equipment failure
service or option not available
not implemented unspecified
mandator! I. error
general I. error$
-or more information' see )+S ,-- ./0 1igital cellular telecommunications s'stem
2Phase 345 Base Station Controller 6 Base +ranscei$er Station 2BSC 6 B+S4 interface
7a'er , specification8
Immediate assignment procedure
The IMMEDIATE ASSIGN message facilitates the assignment of the #S onto an S2CC4
channel$ Correspondingl!' the IMMEDIATE ASSIGN REJECT message facilitates the
refusal of the access: if the S2CC4 channel reservation or activation fails' the BSC sends
the IMMEDIATE ASSIGN REJECT message to the #S$ The %S# timer T3/</
supervises the immediate assignment procedure$
The immediate assignment procedure is presented in the following figure:
Figure: *mmediate assignment procedure
IMMEDIATE ASSIGN COMMAND message
fter a successful S2CC4 channel activation' the BSC sends the IMMEDIATE ASSIGN
COMMAND message +a, to the BTS$ This message contains the IMMEDIATE ASSIGN
message which the BTS sends to the #S$
The IMMEDIATE ASSIGN COMMAND message includes the following data:
message header
message t!pe
channel number
immediate assign information$
The immediate assign information contains the complete IMMEDIATE ASSIGN message:
pseudo length
message header
page mode: normal paging
channel description of the allocated S2CC4' the associated SCC4 and hopping
frequenc!
request reference as sent b! the #S in the channel request
initial timing advance
mobile allocation' if frequenc! hopping is used
rest octet$
IMMEDIATE ASSIGN message& S"BM& 9" frame
fter receiving the IMMEDIATE ASSIGN message' the #S tunes to the assigned S2CC4
and starts to establish the signalling lin" across the networ"$ The #S sends the la!er 0
SB# to the BTS on the S2CC4$ The SB# +c, contains a la!er 3 service request
message$ The #S specifies the required service t!pe to the networ" with the service request
message$
The service request message includes one of the following:
/$ CM SERVICE REQUEST ) for mobile originated calls and mobile originated
S#Ss ) contains:
o header
o C# service t!pe: #A callDS#SDSSD emergenc! call
o ciphering "e! sequence number
o #S classmar" 0
o mobile identit!$
0$ LOCATION UPDATING REQUEST
3$ IMSI DETACH
:$ PAGING RESPONSE ) for mobile terminated calls and mobile terminated S#Ss
) contains:
o header
o ciphering "e! sequence number
o #S classmar" 0
o mobile identit!$
8$ CM RE-ESTABLISHMENT REQUEST
B$ .mergenc! setup
The BTS ac"nowledges the SB# b! sending the E frame +e, to the #S$ The #S e5pects
this ac"nowledgement within time TG otherwise it acts as described in *6)+S ,-- -336:
)uropean digital cellular telecommunications s'stem 2Phase :45 Mobile radio interface
la'er , specification8
ESTABLISH INDICATION message
The BTS forwards the #S service request to the BSC in the ESTABLISH INDICATION
message +d,' which includes the following data:
message discriminator: radio lin" la!er management
message t!pe: establishment indication
channel number: S2CC4 7 %C4
lin" identifier: main signalling channel S2CC4
L3 Information: complete L3 service request as received from the #S$
4aving received the ESTABLISH INDICATION message' the BSC starts the handover
algorithm for S2CC4 and starts to initiate the networ" connection for the #S$
"bnormal cases
If the S2CC4 channel reservation or activation fails' the BSC sends the IMMEDIATE
ASSIGN COMMAND message including an IMMEDIATE ASSIGNMENT REJECT
message to the #S+s,$ The BSC can reCect up to four mobiles with one IMMEDIATE
ASSIGNMENT REJECT message assuming that the CHANNEL REQUEST messages
have arrived within a fi5ed time limit$
The IMMEDIATE ASSIGN COMMAND message contains the complete IMMEDIATE
ASSIGNMENT REJECT message:
pseudo length
message header
page mode: normal paging
request reference as sent b! the #S in the channel request
rest octet$
If the BTS is for some reason unable to send the IMMEDIATE ASSIGNMENT message to
the #S' the BTS sends the DELETE INDICATION message to the BSC$ The DELETE
INDICATION message includes the following fields:
message t!pe
channel number
full immediate assign information$
fter receiving the DELETE INDICATION message' the BSC releases the dedicated
radio channel b! sending the RF CHANNEL RELEASE message to the BTS$
If the ESTABLISH INDICATION message received during call setup is either empt! or
corrupted' the call attempt will be cleared and all resources released$
SCCP connection establishment procedure
The BSC starts to initiate the SCCP connection for the #S after receiving the ESTABLISH
INDICATION message for the S2CC4 establishment from the BTS$ The %S# timer
T9/<8 is used to supervise this procedure$ If the SCCP lin" establishment fails' the BSC
releases all resources related to this transaction$
The SCCP connection establishment procedure is presented in the following figure:
Figure: SCCP connection establishment procedure
The BSC transfers the L3 information received in the ESTABLISH INDICATION
message transparentl! to the #SC in a CONNECTION REQUEST message +a,$ It starts
the %S# timer T9/<8 to supervise the procedure$
The #SC ac"nowledges the CONNECTION REQUEST message with the CONNECTION
CONFIRM message +b,$ This message can contain L3 information or CA##A( I2
information if I#SI Based 4andover is enabled$ In this case CA##A( I2 information
contains I#SI information$
If the #SC refuses the CONNECTION REQUEST ' it sends a CONNECTION REFUSE
message to the BSC$
Transmission of transparent L3 messages procedure
Transparent messages are used in communication between the #S and the #SC$ The BTS
and the BSC forward the transparent messages$
The transmission of transparent messages is presented in the following figure:
Figure: +ransmission of transparent 7, messages
+ransmission of transparent 7, messages from MSC to MS
The #SC sends the DATA FORM 1 (DT1) message +a, to the BSC$ This message
contains the complete la!er 3 information message to be sent to the #S$ If the transparent
bit equals one' the BSC forwards the complete la!er 3 information message to the BTS
inside the DATA REQUEST message +b,$ -or more information' see )+S ,-- .;/
)uropean digital cellular telecommunications s'stem 2Phase 345 Signalling transport
mechanism specification for the Base Station S'stem 6 Mobile6ser$ices Switching
Centre 2BSS 6 MSC4 interface8 The BTS forwards the L3 information to the #S in a relevant
message +c,$
+ransmission of transparent 7, messages from MS to MSC
The #S sends the L3 information message +d, to the BTS$ The BTS forwards the L3
information inside the DATA INDICATION +e, message to the BSC$ If the transparent bit
equals one' the BSC forwards the L3 message to the #SC inside the DT1 message +f,$ -or
more information' see )+S ,-- .;/ )uropean digital cellular telecommunications
s'stem 2Phase 345 Signalling transport mechanism specification for the Base Station
S'stem 6 Mobile6ser$ices Switching Centre 2BSS 6 MSC4 interface8
Ciphering procedure
Ciphering is one of the securit! procedures designed to protect the subscriber identit! and
data$ It is an optional procedure in %S#$ *hen ciphering is active' all information e5changed
between the mobile and the networ" on the dedicated radio channels is encr!pted$ The "e!
previousl! set between the networ" and the #S is used to encipher and to decipher the
encr!pted information$
The authentication procedure chec"s the #S identit! in order to prevent unauthorised use$
2uring the procedure the ciphering "e! >c is set between the networ" and the #S$ Ciphering
is initiated after the ciphering "e! is set on the dedicated signalling channel +S2CC4 or
-CC4 ,$
The %S# uses stream ciphering' which means that the data flow transmitted on the
S2CC4DTC4 is the binar! bit b! bit addition of the user data flow to a ciphering bit stream$
-or more information' see )+S ,-- .,< 1igital cellular telecommunications s'stem
2Phase 345 Securit' related networ= functions8
In an #SC)controlled handover' the #SC tells the new BSS whether encr!ption is required in
the HANDOVER REQUEST.
In a BSC)controlled handover' the BSC passes the encr!ption information to the target BTS
on the activation of the channels if the encr!ption information was received from the #SC$
The ciphering procedure is presented in the following figure:
Figure: Ciphering procedure
CIPHER MODE COMMAND message
The #SC sends the CIPHER MODE COMMAND message +a, to the BSC to indicate
whether ciphering is required and if so' to indicate the ciphering "e!$
The CIPHER MODE COMMAND message +from the #SC to the BSC, contains the
following data:
message t!pe
la!er 3 header information
encr!ption information: permitted algorithms and ciphering "e!
cipher response mode$
The message contains the encr!ption instruction and the L3 header information for the #S$
*hen ciphering is required' the encr!ption information element contains information for the
BTS to load the encr!ption device with the appropriate "e!$
ENCRYPTION COMMAND message
An receiving the CIPHER MODE COMMAND message' the BSC selects the algorithm to
be used according to the list of permitted algorithms included in the message and the
algorithms that are supported b! that particular BSS$ See Support for different ciphering
algorithms for details$
&egardless of whether ciphering is to be activated' the BSC stores the encr!ption
information' including the selected algorithm for possible subsequent handovers' and passes
the encr!ption information to the BTS in the ENCRPTION COMMAND message +b,$
The ENCRPTION COMMAND message contains the following data:
message header
encr!ption information: selected algorithm and ciphering "e!
lin" identifier
L3 ciphering mode command to #S
message header
cipher mode setting: no cipheringDstart ciphering
cipher response: the cipher response element is used if received from the #SC
+optional,$
The BTS anal!ses the ENCRPTION COMMAND $ If encr!ption is required' the BTS
activates the demodulator to decipher$ &egardless of whether ciphering is required' the BTS
sends the CIPHER MODE COMMAND message +c, to the #S$
CIPHER MODE COMPLETE message
The #S starts to decipher and to encipher using its available ciphering "e!$ It then returns to
the BTS' in encr!pted form' the CIPHER MODE COMPLETE message +d, or the ne5t
message it is due to send$ The message includes the I#.I' if required b! the #SC$
An receiving the CIPHER MODE COMPLETE message +or an! correctl! enciphered la!er
0 frame,' the BTS starts enciphering and forwards the message via the BSC to the #SC +f,$
-or more information' see *6)+S ,-- -336: )uropean digital cellular telecommunications
s'stem 2Phase :45 Mobile radio interface la'er , specification8
If the ciphering procedure fails' the #SC ta"es the appropriate action$
Support for different ciphering algorithms
The #SC ma! send a list of permitted ciphering algorithms to the BSC in the CIPHER
MODE COMMAND message$ The BSC selects the algorithm to be used from this list
according to those algorithms that are supported b! the BSS$ If the BSS can support several
algorithms' the BSC ma"es the selection according to the following preference:
/$ 8D/
0$ 8D0
3$ 8D< +no ciphering,$
lgorithms other than those mentioned above cannot be used$
If the BSS cannot support an! of the permitted algorithms' the BSC sends the CIPHER
MODE REJECT message to the #SC$ The #SC then decides on further action$
Assignment procedure
The assignment procedure is used to assign the #S to the correct TC4 channel$ The
selection of the TC4 channel is based on the information received from the #SC$
The assignment procedure is presented in the following figure:
Figure: "ssignment procedure
ASSIGNMENT REQUEST message
The #SC sends an ASSIGNMENT REQUEST +a, message to the BSC for the assignment
of channels on the interface and the radio interface$ The #SC also runs a supervisor!
timer for the assignment procedure$
The BSS responds b! sending the #SC the ASSIGNMENT COMPLETE ' ASSIGNMENT
FAILURE or the QUEUEING INDICATION message$ If the #SC fails to receive an! of
the messages within the time limit defined b! the timer' it clears the call with a CLEAR
COMMAND message$ The BSS releases the #S connection with the channel release
procedure$
The BSC e5pects to receive the following fields in the ASSIGNMENT REQUEST message:
channel t!pe: radio channel required for the call t!pe
L3 header info
priorit! +optional,
circuit identification code +CIC , indicating the channel to be used on the
interface
downlin" 2T3 flag +optional,
radio channel identit! +optional,
interference band to be used +optional,$
The #SC uses the priorit! element to define whether the request is allowed to be queued
and' if so' to define the queueing priorit! level$ If the priorit! element is not present' it is
assumed that the request can be queued if it cannot be served immediatel!$ -urthermore' if
the priorit! is not indicated' the message is queued according to the priorit! associated with
the request t!pe' which is defined internall! within the BSS$ If the request is queued' a
QUEUEING INDICATION message is returned to the #SC$
The downlin" 2T3 flag is also optional: it is present onl! when the #SC controls the downlin"
2T3 in a speech call$
If the BSC identifies an! of the following situations on anal!sing the ASSIGNMENT
REQUEST message' it reCects the request b! sending the ASSIGNMENT FAILURE
message to the #SC' without ta"ing an! action towards the BTS:
/$ If the BSC is not able to use the channel indicated in the CIC ' due to its being
in use for another call' the BSC reCects the request with the cause re%uested
terrestrial circuit alread' allocated8
0$ If the BSC is not able to use the channel indicated in the CIC' due to its being
mar"ed as undefined' the BSC reCects the request with the cause re%uested
terrestrial resource una$ailable8
3$ If the CIC is bloc"ed' the BSC reCects the request with the cause re%uested
terrestrial resource una$ailable and sends a BLOCK message to the #SC$ -or
reasons when a circuit is bloc"ed b! the BSC' see )+S ,-- ./- 1igital cellular
telecommunications s'stem 2Phase 345 Mobile6ser$ices Switching Centre 6
Base Station S'stem 2MSC 6 BSS4 interface 7a'er , specification8
:$ If there is no circuit pool on the interface that is able to support the requested
TC4 t!pe' the BSC reCects the request with the cause re%uested
transcoding>rate adaption not a$ailable8
8$ If there is a circuit pool on the interface that is able to support the requested
TC4 t!pe' but the pool implied b! the CIC is totall! contradictor! with the required
TC4 t!pe' the BSC reCects the request with the cause circuit pool mismatch8
B$ If the circuit pool implied b! the CIC is at least partiall! compliant with the
requested TC4 t!pe' change of the circuit pool ma! be required$ &easons for the
change include the actual traffic channel resource situation of the cell and the
attempt to allocate the resources in the most optimal wa!$ In this case the BSC
reCects the request with the cause switch circuit pool8
?$ If the requested speech coder versions are not supported' the BSC reCects the
request with the cause re%uested speech $ersion una$ailable8
6$ If the radio interface data rate requirement is totall! contradictor! with the
requested TC4 channel rate' the BSC reCects the request with the cause in$alid
message contents8
An receiving the ASSIGNMENT FAILURE message' the #SC can either issue a CLEAR
COMMAND or retr!$
If the #SC receives the ASSIGNMENT FAILURE message with a cause indicating a CIC
problem' the #SC ma! send another ASSIGNMENT REQUEST for the same call using a
different circuit$
+C! assignment procedure in the BSS
fter the ASSIGNMENT REQUEST ' the BSC proceeds to perform the TC4 assignment
procedure$
The BSC sends the PHSICAL CONTE!T REQUEST message +b, to the BTS$ In this
message it requests for the timing advance of mobile transmission$ The S2CC4 sends the
timing advance via the TC4 and the BTS to the #S' which requires it when moving onto a
new radio channel$
If the BSC fails to receive the PHSICAL CONTE!T CONFIRM message +c, within the
time limit defined b! the %S# timer T9/<6' the BSC returns an ASSIGNMENT FAILURE
message to the #SC with the cause radio interface message failure8 This applies also
when the PHSICAL CONTE!T CONFIRM message does not contain all the information
e5pected$ The #SC either aborts with a CLEAR COMMAND or retries$
An receiving the PHSICAL CONTE!T CONFIRM message' the BSC searches for the
relevant TC4 channel using the channel reservation procedure described in Channel
reservation procedure in Basic Call$
If the request cannot be acted upon' the BSC returns an ASSIGNMENT FAILURE
message with the cause no radio resource a$ailable8 The reason for this is that all radio
channels are reserved' the queue is full' the request has been in the queue for too long' or
e5ceptional conditions such as restart or reset$
+C! channel acti$ation
fter a successful channel reservation' the BSC sends a CHANNEL ACTIVATION
message to the BTS$ In this message it tells the BTS to activate the radio channel required$
The BSC also starts the %S# timer T9/<3$
The CHANNEL ACTIVATION message contains the following data:
message t!pe
channel number: LmDBm 7 %C4
activation t!pe: normal assignment
channel mode: 2T3 indication and channel t!pe$ The channel t!pe is either a
speech or data channel$ If it is a speech channel' the speech encoding algorithm
is includedG if it is a data channel' the transparent or the non)transparent mode is
included$ The data rate is also given$
channel identification +optional,
encr!ption information if received from the #SC +optional,
BS power as received in the PHSICAL CONTE!T CONFIRM +optional,
#S power as received in the PHSICAL CONTE!T CONFIRM +optional,
timing advance as received in the PHSICAL CONTE!T CONFIRM
+optional,
SCC4 information +optional,
multirate configuration +optional,$
Channel identification information is included onl! when activating TC4 channel under 2-C
T&3$ -or more information' see 2!namic -requenc! and Channel llocation in BSC$
The SCC4 information is used in dual band cell or when I#SI Based 4andover is enabled
in the BSC$ -or more information' see 2ual Band (etwor" Aperation' I#SI)Based 4andover
and 2!namic -requenc! and Channel llocation in BSC$ The multirate configuration element
is present in calls using multirate speech codec$ -or more information' see .nhanced
Speech Codecs: #& and .-&$ Ather optional elements are alwa!s present$
The BTS returns the CHANNEL ACTIVATION NACK message in the following
situations$ The BSC indicates the failure to the #SC b! sending the ASSIGNMENT
FAILURE message with the relevant assignment failure cause value' which can be one of
the following:
radio interface message failure& due to a message format error
re%uested transcoding>rate adaption not a$ailable& due to the requested
service not being supported
radio resource not a$ailable& due to radio channel problems
radio channel alread' acti$ated5 the radio channel is alread! in use
e%uipment failure
ser$ice or option not a$ailable
not implemented unspecified
mandator' *) error
general *) error8
-or more details' see )+S ,-- ./0 1igital cellular telecommunications s'stem 2Phase
345 Base Station Controller 6 Base +ranscei$er Station 2BSC 6 B+S4 interface 7a'er ,
specification8
If no response is received from the BTS within the time limit defined b! the %S# timer
T9/<3' the BSC sends the #SC an ASSIGNMENT FAILURE message with the cause
e%uipment failure8 The #SC either aborts or retries$
*hen the BTS has successfull! activated the radio TC4 channel' it returns the CHANNEL
ACTIVATION ACKNO"LEDGE message +containing the current frame number, to the
BSC$
+C! radio channel assignment in the BSS
The BSC sends the ASSIGNMENT COMMAND message +f' g, to the #S and starts the
%S# timer T3/<?$ This command is transparent to the BTS and is transferred as the DATA
REQUEST message over the bis interface$
The ASSIGNMENT COMMAND gives the #S all the information necessar! for it to change
over to the TC4$ The message consists of:
header
channel description
power command: ma5$ #S power
frequenc! list +optional,
cell channel description +optional,
channel mode: speech full rate' half rate or data +optional,
mobile allocation +optional,
multirate configuration +optional,$
The multirate configuration element is present in calls using multirate speech codec$ -or
more information' see .nhanced Speech Codecs: #& and .-&$
An receiving the ASSIGNMENT COMMAND over the radio interface' the #S changes over
from the S2CC4 to the TC4 it has been assigned to$ The #S sends a la!er 0 SB# +h, on
the TC4$ The BTS ac"nowledges the SB# with a E frame +C, and sends the
ESTABLISH INDICATION +i, message to the BSC$ S!nchronisation with the transcoder
starts as described in .T& /// 2igital cellular telecommunications s!stem +Phase 0,G
Interwor"ing between Phase / infrastructure and Phase 0 #obile Stations +#S,$ It is at this
point that the BSC connects the bis channel to the channel and the speech path is
switched through$
An receiving the E frame +C,' the #S indicates to the BSC with an ASSIGNMENT
COMPLETE message +", that it has successfull! changed over to the TC4$ This message is
transparent to the BTS and is transferred over the bis interface as a DATA
INDICATION message +l,$ The BSC sends the information to the #SC in the DT1
+ASSIGNMENT COMPLETE , message +m, with the && cause normal release8
fter a successful assignment procedure' the BSC releases the S2CC4 channel$
Failure Cases
Note
If the BSC receives a HANDOVER COMMAND message from the #SC between the ASSIGNMENT
REQUEST and the ASSIGNMENT COMPLETE message' it ignores the HANDOVER
COMMAND message$
The #S returns to its S2CC4 and sends the ASSIGNMENT FAILURE message to the
BSC if it fails to:
receive the TC4 ASSIGNMENT COMMAND
move to the TC4
receive the E frame from the BTS when it is on the TC4$
The BSC sets the cause radio interface failure& re$ersion to old channel8 An receiving
this failure cause' the BSC sends the #SC the ASSIGNMENT FAILURE message over
the interface with the same cause$ The #SC clears the connection or retries$
If the time limit defined b! the %S# timer T3/<? e5pires' the BSC returns an ASSIGNMENT
FAILURE message to the #SC with the cause radio interface message failure8 The #SC
either aborts or retries$
Channel release procedure
The channel release procedure is used for releasing a dedicated radio channel$ The channel
release procedure is started either b! the BSC or the #SC:
if the #SC starts the channel release procedure' it sends the CLEAR
COMMAND message to the BSC
if the BSC starts the channel release procedure' it sends the CLEAR REQUEST
message to the #SC' which then sends the CLEAR COMMAND message to the
BSC$
The channel release procedure started b! the #SC is presented in the following figure:
Figure: Channel release procedure
The #SC initiates the channel release procedure b! sending the CLEAR COMMAND
message +a, to the BSC$ An receiving the CLEAR COMMAND message the BSC releases
the interface speech circuit and sends the CLEAR COMPLETE message +b, to the #SC$
The #SC releases the SCCP connection$
fter the release' the BSC sends a CHANNEL RELEASE message +c' d, with an && cause
value Normal Release to the #S and a DEACTIVATE SACCH message +e, to the BTS$
The BSC also starts the %S# timer T3/<9 to supervise the procedure$*hen the BTS
receives the DEACTIVATE SACCH message' the transmission of s!stem information
messages on the SCC4 is forbidden$
Note
If the BSC has completed %P&S suspension for the #S' %P&S resume procedure is initiated when CLEAR
COMMAND message +a, is received$ CHANNEL RELEASE message contains %P&S resumption I. that
indicates whether %P&S services were successfull! resumed or not$ -rom this information #S "nows whether to do
&outing rea Epdate in order to resume %P&S services or not$ -or more information' see +.,%P&S in BSC$
*hen the #S receives the CHANNEL RELEASE message +d,' it disconnects the signalling
lin" b! sending the 2ISC frame +f,$ fter receiving the 2ISC frame' the BTS sends a E
frame +h, to the #S and a RELEASE INDICATION message +g, to the BSC$
The BSC starts the %S# timer T3/// when it receives the RELEASE INDICATION
message or when the time limit defined b! the %S# timer T3/<9 e5pires$ The BSC waits for
the e5pir! of the time limit defined b! T3/// before it sends the RF CHANNEL RELEASE
message +i, to the BTS$
*hen the BTS receives the RF CHANNEL RELEASE message' it releases the dedicated
radio channel and sends the RF CHANNEL RELEASE ACK message +C, to the BSC$
fter receiving the RF CHANNEL RELEASE ACK message' the BSC releases the radio
resource allocation$
Channel release started b' the BSC
The channel release procedure started b! the BSC is presented in the following figure$
Figure: Channel release started b' the BSC
If there is a BSS failure' for e5ample' the BSC has received the CONNECTION FAILURE
message +a, from the BTS' the BSC sends the CLEAR REQUEST message +b, to the #SC
and starts the %S# timer T9/</ to wait for the CLEAR COMMAND message +c,$
*hen the BSC receives the CLEAR COMMAND message +c, from the #SC and the
connection to the #S is lost' the BSC releases the interface speech circuit and sends the
CLEAR COMPLETE message +d, to the #SC$ The BSC releases the dedicated radio
channel b! sending the CHANNEL RELEASE message +e, to the #S and the
DEACTIVATE SACCH message +f, to the BTS$
The BSC starts the %S# timer T3/<9 to wait for the RELEASE INDICATION message
+h,$ The #S sends the 2ISC frame +g, to the BTS which ac"nowledges it with the E frame
+i,$ *hen the BSC receives the RELEASE INDICATION message +h, from the BTS' it
stops the %S# timer T3/<9 and starts the %S# timer T3///$ The BSC sends the RF
CHANNEL RELEASE message +C, to the BTS when the %S# timer T3/// e5pires$ The
BTS ac"nowledges it b! sending the RF CHANNEL RELEASE ACK +", message to the
BSC$
fter receiving the RF CHANNEL RELEASE ACK message +", from the BTS' the BSC
releases all radio resources related to it$ fter the reception of the CLEAR COMPLETE
message +d, from the BSC' the #SC releases the SCCP connection$
Note
If the BSC receives the CONNECTION FAILURE message +a, with the && cause value Radio 7in=
Failure and re)establishment is allowed' the BSC does not send the CHANNEL RELEASE
System information broadcasting procedure
The networ" broadcasts regularl! the messages SSTEM INFORMATION TPE 1 to #
and optionall! TPE $%&' on the BCC4 $
Figure: Sending of BCC! information
The #S uses this information to decide whether and how it ma! gain access to the s!stem
via the current cell$ The SSTEM INFORMATION TPE $%&' message is sent if the
e5tended neighbour cell description is in use$ The TPE $ and TPE $%&' messages
indicate that each I. carries onl! a part of the B +BCC4 llocation,$
The networ" sends similar information in messages SSTEM INFORMATION TPE (
and ) ' and optionall! in (%&' ' on the SCC4$ The messages are sent directl! after a
handover' and whenever there is no other use of the channel$ The SSTEM
INFORMATION TPE (%&' message is sent if e5tended neighbour cell description is in
use and the TPE (%&' message indicates that each I. carries onl! a part of the B$
Figure: Sending of S"CC! Filling
The information broadcast can be grouped in the following classes:
information giving unique identification of the current networ"' location area and
cell
information used for cell selection and candidate cell measurements for handover
procedures
information describing the current control channel structure
information controlling the random access channel utilisation
information defining different options supported within the cell$
Purpose of C3 cell reselection
The purpose of C0 cell reselection is to control the cell reselection of #Ss in idle status$ The
C0 cell reselection allows the operator to define other criteria for reselection in addition to the
power level$ The operator can define different reselection criteria for different "inds of cells'
such as macro and micro cells$
The C0 reselection criteria also includes the so called penalt! time' which allows the cell
reselection to happen more slowl! than the pure C/ criteria evaluated b! the #S$ This
enables avoiding undesirable reselection of a micro cell in an environment where there is
coverage b! a micro cell and a macro cell$
Broadcasting C3 reselection parameters
The C0 reselection information is broadcasted to the #Ss in S!stem Information 3 and :
frames$ The parameters are included in SI 3 rest octets information element when the C0
reselection function is used$ The BSC sends the S!stem Information frames to the BTS on
the bis interfaces and the BTS sends them on the air$ The #S evaluates the C0 reselection
criteria according to the given parameters$ -or more information' see .TS 3<< 8?: 2igital
cellular telecommunications s!stem +Phase 0,G #ultiple5ing and multiple access on the radio
path$
The C0 reselection needs the following four parameters for each BTS:
cell barred qualif!
cell reselect offset
temporar! offset
penalt! time$
The appearance of these parameters in S!stem Information is controlled