Inter-Radio Access Technology (Inter-RAT) Handover

Chapter 2: Configuring BSS Features

Inter-Radio Access Technology (Inter-RAT)

Handover

Overview of Inter-RAT Handover

Initially, when network operators provide a UMTS service, there may only be small pockets of UMTS
coverage in a predominantly GSM coverage network. In this situation, when a UMTS subscriber leaves a
UMTS coverage area, the call may be dropped. UMTS subscribers may also face problems establishing a
UMTS call when the traffic in the UMTS coverage area is high. To avoid these problems, the Inter-RAT
Handover feature can be enabled.
The Inter-RAT Handover feature allows a multi-RAT mobile station (MS) to perform 2G to 3G cell
selection/reselection in idle mode, and 3G to 2G handovers in circuit-switched dedicated mode. When the
Inter-RAT Handover feature is enabled at a BSS, the BSS broadcasts new system information messages to
allow a multi-RAT MS to perform measurements on UMTS FDD (UTRAN) neighbour cells for handover and
cell selection/reselection purposes. When in dedicated mode, Inter-RAT Handover provides 3G measurement
control parameters to the MS. When the Inter-RAT Handover feature is enabled at a BSS, it can then be
enabled or disabled for individual cells.

Inter-RAT Handover dependencies

The Inter-RAT Handover feature requires:

2-100

Multi-RAT mobile stations, which are capable of accessing the Core Network (CN) from a
UMTS coverage area and a GSM coverage area. The MS must be capable of operating in
either GSM or UMTS cells including execution of procedures such as PLMN selection, cell
reselection, measurements in idle mode and dedicated mode, and so on.

A UMTS network including 2G/3G compatible MSC.

Existing 2G CN nodes must be able to interact with the 3G CN nodes through MAP procedures
defined on the E-interface between a 3G CN node and 2G CN node.

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Installation and Configuration: GSM System Configuration

Inter-Radio Access Technology (Inter-RAT) Handover

Enhanced Inter-RAT Handover feature

{22879}
The Enhanced 2G/3G Handover and Cell Reselection feature (also referred to as the Enhanced Inter-RAT
Handover feature) provides support in the BSS for:

Outgoing dedicated mode handover from 2G to 3G (basic measurement-based and

service-based handover triggers).

BSS control for measurement reporting by multi-RAT MS, UTRAN early classmark sending
blind search for cell reselection from 2G to 3G.

Inter-RAT related performance measurements.

The Enhanced Inter-RAT feature also introduces a new device called a Blind Search Neighbour, which is
supported under a cell, and represents the blind search neighbours of a cell. See "UTRAN blind search
neighbour" on page 8-153 for further details.

Additional information
For further details of the Inter-RAT Handover feature and the Enhanced Inter-RAT Handover feature, see
Technical Description: BSS Implementation (68P02901W36).

Interaction with other features

{22404}
This feature interacts with the IMRM feature, see "Intelligent Multilayer Resource Management (IMRM)" on
page 2-161 for further details.

Inter-RAT Handover and Enhanced Inter-RAT Handover

parameters
Table 2-17 lists the parameters associated with the Inter-RAT Handover and Enhanced Inter-RAT Handover
features. Unless stated otherwise, the OMC-R parameter name is usually the same as the BSS parameter
name. For further details of these and other parameters, see Technical Description: BSS Command Reference
(68P02901W23).

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Inter-Radio Access Technology (Inter-RAT) Handover

Table 2-17

Chapter 2: Configuring BSS Features

Inter-RAT Handover and Enhanced Inter-RAT handover parameters

OMC-R GUI field name/BSS

parameter name

Description

Values

BSS parameters:
Inter-RAT Handover Feature
InterRatOpt

Displayed in the Optional Features

grouping of the BSS Detailed
View form.
Indicates whether or not the
Inter-RAT Handover Feature
is restricted (disabled) or
unrestricted (enabled) in the BSS
software.
This parameter cannot be modified
by a user. {22879}When the
Enhanced Inter-RAT Handover
Feature (EnhncdInterRatOpt) is
set to 1 (Enabled), InterRatOpt is
automatically set to 1 (Enabled).

0 or 1, where:
Disabled (0).
Enabled (1).
Default is Disabled (0).

{22879} Enhanced Inter-RAT

Handover Feature
EnhancedInterRatOpt
(OMC parameter name:
EnhncdInterRatOpt)

Displayed in the Optional Features

grouping of the BSS Detailed
View form.
Indicates whether or not the
Enhanced Inter-RAT Handover
Feature is restricted (disabled)
or unrestricted (enabled) for the
BSS. This parameter cannot be
modified by a user. When the
Enhanced Inter-RAT Handover
Feature (EnhncdInterRatOpt) is
set to 1 (Enabled), InterRatOpt is
automatically set to 1 (Enabled).

0 or 1, where:
Disabled (0).
Enabled (1).
Default is Disabled (0).

MSC Release
msc_release

Displayed in the General grouping

of the BSS Detailed View form.
Indicates the release of the MSC
to which this BSS is connected.

0 or 1, where:
Release 1998 or older (0).
Release 1999 or newer (1).
Default is 0.
Cont.

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Table 2-17

Inter-Radio Access Technology (Inter-RAT) Handover

Inter-RAT Handover and Enhanced Inter-RAT handover parameters (Continued)

OMC-R GUI field name/BSS

parameter name

Description

Values

CELL parameters:
Inter-RAT Handovers Enabled
inter_rat_enabled

Displayed in the Inter-RAT

Handover grouping of the CELL
Detailed View form.
Indicates whether idle mode,
dedicated mode, or idle mode and
dedicated mode functionality of
the Inter-RAT Handover feature
are enabled for this cell.
This field is greyed-out if the
Inter-RAT Handover Feature
(InterRatOpt) is restricted
(disabled) for the BSS. Can
only be set to 1 (Idle) if
network_control_order is
set to 0 (NC0).
This field cannot be set to 4,
5, 6 or 7 if the container BSS
has EnhancedInterRatOpt set to
Disabled (0).
If modified to either of 4, 5,
6 or 7 and the container BSS
has earlyClassmarkSndset to 0
or 1, the following warning is
displayed: Enhanced 2G/3G
requires early_classmark_sending
to be enabled across both the A
and Air Interfaces.
If modified to either of 4, 5, 6
or 7 and the container BSS has
phase2ClssmkAld not set to 2, the
following warning is displayed:
Enhanced 2G/3G requires
phase2_classmark_allowed to be
configured to support multiband.

{22879} 0 to 7, where:
0 - OFF.
1 - 2 3G Idle.
2 - 3 2G Dedicated.
3 - 2 3G Idle and 3-2G
Dedicated.
{22879} 4- 2G-3G Dedicated.
5- 2G-3G Idle and 2G-3G
Dedicated.
6- 3G-2G Dedicated and 2G-3G
Dedicated.
7- Idle and bi-directional
Dedicated.
Default is 0.

Cont.

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Table 2-17

Chapter 2: Configuring BSS Features

Inter-RAT Handover and Enhanced Inter-RAT handover parameters (Continued)

OMC-R GUI field name/BSS

parameter name

Description

Values

BCCH RF Signal Level Threshold

qsearch_i

Displayed in the Inter-RAT

Handover grouping of the CELL
Detailed View form.
Used by the MS to determine
when to start measuring a
UTRAN neighbour cell. When
the received RF signal level
of the BCCH carrier in the
serving GSM cell is below or
above the qsearch_i value, the
MS starts measurement of the
UTRAN neighbour cells. This
field is greyed-out if Inter-RAT
Handover Feature (InterRatOpt)
is restricted (disabled) for the
BSS.

0 to 15, where:
0 = -98 dBm.
1 = -94 dBm.
2 = -90 dBm.
....
4 = -82 dBm.
5 = Below -78 dBm.
6 = Below -74 dBm.
7 = Always Search (irrespective
of threshold value).
8 = Above -78 dBm.
9 = Above -74 dBm.
10 = -70 dBm.
....
14 = -54 dBm.
15 = Never Search.
Default is 15.

Use BCCH RF Signal Level

Threshold
qsearch_c_initial

Displayed in the Inter-RAT

Handover grouping of the CELL
Detailed View form.
The value of this parameter is
broadcast on the BCCH using
the SYSTEM INFORMATION
TYPE 2quater message, and
determines if qsearch_I is used
by the MS in dedicated mode
after certain instances of MEASUREMENT INFORMATION
messages are received, OR if the
MS should always search. Modifying this parameter will cause the
SI2ter_MP_CHANGE_MARK
and SI2quater
MP_CHANGE_MARK to be
toggled.
This field is greyed-out if Inter-RAT Handover Feature
(InterRatOpt) is restricted (disabled) for the BSS.

0 or 1, where:
0 = Use Q Search_I.
1 = Use Q Search_C.
Default is 0.

Cont.

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Table 2-17

Inter-Radio Access Technology (Inter-RAT) Handover

Inter-RAT Handover and Enhanced Inter-RAT handover parameters (Continued)

OMC-R GUI field name/BSS

parameter name

Description

Values

Receive Signal Code Power

(RSCP) Threshold
fdd_qoffset

Displayed in the Inter-RAT

Handover grouping of the CELL
Detailed View form.
Used by the MS in the cell
reselection algorithm.
This field is greyed-out if
Inter-RAT Handover Feature
(InterRatOpt) is restricted
(disabled) for the BSS.

0 to 15, where:
0 = always select a cell, if
acceptable.
1 = -28 dB.
2 = -24 dB.
3 = -20 dB.
....
15 = 28 dB.
Default is 8 (0 dB).

Minimum Ec/No Threshold

fdd_qmin

Displayed in the Inter-RAT

Handover grouping of the CELL
Detailed View form.
Used by the MS in the cell
reselection algorithm.
This field is greyed-out if
Inter-RAT Handover Feature
(InterRatOpt) is restricted
(disabled) for the BSS.

0 to 7, where:
0 = -20 dB.
1 = -6 dB.
2 = -18 dB.
3 = -8 dB.
4 = -16 dB.
5 = -10 dB.
6 = -14 dB.
7 = -12 dB.
Default is 0 (-20 dB).

{22879} SACCH RF Signal Level

Threshold
qsearch_c

Displayed in the Inter-RAT

Handover grouping of the CELL
Detailed View form. Used by
the MS in dedicated mode to
decide when to start measurement
of a UTRAN neighbour cell.
This field is greyed-out if
EnhncdInterRatOpt is Disabled
(0).

0 to 15, where:
0 = -98 dBm.
1 = -94 dBm.
4 = -82 dBm.
5 = Below -78 dBm.
6 = Below -74 dBm.
7 = Always search.
8 = Above -78 dBm.
9 = Above -74 dBm.
10 = -70 dBm.
14 = -54 dBm.
15 = Never search.
Default is 15 (Never search).

{22879} UTRAN Reporting

Quantity
fdd_rep_quant

Displayed in the Inter-RAT

Handover grouping of the CELL
Detailed View form. Indicates
the measurement quantity to be
reported for a UTRAN FDD cell.
Greyed out if EnhncdInterRatOpt
is Disabled (0).

0 or 1, where:
0 = RSCP.
1 = Ec/No.
Default is 1 (Ec/No).

Cont.

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Inter-Radio Access Technology (Inter-RAT) Handover

Table 2-17

Chapter 2: Configuring BSS Features

Inter-RAT Handover and Enhanced Inter-RAT handover parameters (Continued)

OMC-R GUI field name/BSS

parameter name

Description

Values

{22879} Number of Serving Band

cells to report
serving_band_reporting

Displayed in the Inter-RAT

Handover grouping of the CELL
Detailed View form. Indicates
the number of cells to be reported
from the frequency band to which
the serving GSM cell belongs.
Greyed out if EnhncdInterRatOpt
is Disabled (0).

Values: 0 to 3.
Default is 3.

{22879} Number of UTRAN

FDD cells to report
fdd_multirat_reporting

Displayed in the Inter-RAT

Handover grouping of the CELL
Detailed View form. Indicates the
number of UTRAN FDD cells to
be reported in the list of strongest
cells in the measurement report.
Greyed out if EnhncdInterRatOpt
is Disabled (0).

0 to 3.
Default is 1.

{22879} Blind Search Preference

blind_search_preference

Displayed in the Inter-RAT

Handover grouping of the CELL
Detailed View form. Indicates
the preference for blind search in
idle mode and/or dedicated mode.
Greyed out if EnhncdInterRatOpt
is Disabled (0). If modified from
0 to 1, and there are no UTRAN
blind search neighbours equipped
to that cell, the following warning
message is displayed: There
are no Blind Search neighbours
equipped for this cell.

0 or 1, where:
0 = No blind search in idle mode.
1 = Blind search in idle mode.
Default is 0 (No blind search in
idle mode).

{22879}UMTS Band Preferred

umts_band_preferred

Displayed in the Inter-RAT

Handover grouping of the CELL
Detailed View form. Indicates
whether or not handover to UMTS
band is preferred. Greyed out if
EnhncdInterRatOpt is Disabled
(0)

0 or 1, where:
0 = No.
1 = Yes.
Default is 0 (No).

{22879}Threshold when
FDD_REP_QUANT is Ec/No
umts_cpich_ec_no_min

Displayed in the Inter-RAT

Handover grouping of the CELL
Detailed View form. It is a
threshold parameter used by
the handover algorithm when
fdd_rep_quant is Ec/No(1).
Greyed out if EnhncdInterRatOpt
is Disabled (0).

-20 dBm to 0 dBm.

Default is -15 dBm.

Cont.

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Table 2-17

Inter-Radio Access Technology (Inter-RAT) Handover

Inter-RAT Handover and Enhanced Inter-RAT handover parameters (Continued)

OMC-R GUI field name/BSS

parameter name

Description

Values

Displayed in the Inter-RAT

Handover grouping of the CELL
Detailed View form. It is a
threshold parameter used by
the handover algorithm when
fdd_rep_quant is RSCP (0).
Greyed out if EnhncdInterRatOpt
is Disabled (0).

-53 dBm to -115 dBm.

Default is -90 dBm.

{22879} UMTS Measurement

Margin
umts_meas_margin

Displayed in the Identification

parameter grouping in the
UTRAN Detailed View form.
It is a measurement parameter
used by the handover algorithm.
Greyed out if EnhncdInterRatOpt
is Disabled (0).

0 dB to 20 dB. Default is 3 dB.

{22879} Averaging Period

umtsNcellAvgPrd

Displayed in the General

parameter grouping in the
UTRAN Detailed View form.
Indicates UTRAN neighbour cell
measurement averaging period.
Greyed out if EnhncdInterRatOpt
is Disabled (0).

0 to 12.
Default is 6.

{22879} UMTS BA Type

umts_ba_type

Displayed in the General

parameter grouping in the
UTRAN Detailed View form.
Specifies the neighbour lists:
BCCH, SACCH, or BCCH
and SACCH. Greyed out if
EnhncdInterRatOpt is Disabled
(0).

1 to 3, where:
1 = BCCH.
2 = SACCH.
3 = BCCH.
and SACCH.
Default is 3 (both buttons
checked). If the SACCH option
is selected, it cannot be modified
after creation (whether selected
or not).

{22879}Threshold when
FDD_REP_QUANT is RSCP
umts_cpich_rscp_min

UTRAN parameters:

{22879} Blind Search Neighbour See "UTRAN blind search

parameters
neighbour" on page 8-153 for
details.

Methods of configuring Inter-RAT Handover

Inter-RAT Handover can be configured using:

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OMC-R GUI BSS and CELL Detail Views and the fields shown in Table 2-17.

TTY interface, see Configuring Inter-RAT Handover using the TTY interface.

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Chapter 2: Configuring BSS Features

Configuring Inter-RAT Handover using the TTY interface

Checking if Inter-RAT Handover is unrestricted
To check if the Inter-RAT Handover feature is unrestricted (enabled) using the TTY interface, enter the
following command:
-If Inter-RAT Handover is unrestricted, the following is displayed:
-

Displaying and modifying Inter-RAT Handover parameters

The -, -, and commands can be used to
display and configure the Inter-RAT Handover cell parameters shown in Table 2-17. Some examples are
also given in the following sections.
See Technical Description: BSS Command Reference (68P02901W23) for full details of BSS commands,
prompts, and parameters.

Displaying whether Inter-RAT handover is enabled at a cell

Use the disp_element command to display whether Inter-RAT Handover is enabled for a
cell. For example, the following command displays the current setting at cell 0010114, site 0:
-
The system replies, for example:

Setting cell parameters for Inter-RAT Handover

Use the chg_cell_element command to change an Inter-RAT Handover cell parameter.
For example, the following command changes qsearch_i to 10 for cell 0010114:
-

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Installation and Configuration: GSM System Configuration

GSM location services

GSM location services

Description of Location Services

Location services is an optional feature, which identifies the physical location of a Mobile Station (MS) by
using one or more positioning mechanisms. Location services is also referred to as LCS.
The location services feature provides support for a Motorola or third-party mobile positioning application.
The positioning process involves two main steps:
1.

Signal measurement.

2.

Location estimate computation based on the measured signal.

Location services have been identified by operators, service providers and Motorola as being a key application
enabler. For example, through applications tailored to use the position of the mobile device directly (Where
am I?), to deliver tailored content (Location Specific Advertising) or to determine the routing of voice
traffic (Location Sensitive Routing).
Location services support is through:

NSS-based Servicing Mobile Location Centre (SMLC), which is an SMLC communicating

with an MSC through the Ls interface.

BSS-based SMLC, which is an SMLC communicating with the BSS through the Lb interface.

For a full description of location services, see Technical Description: BSS Implementation (68P02901W36).

Location services and the LMTL device

The Location Services Message Transfer Link (LMTL) device is present in a BSS-based implementation of
the LCS feature. The LMTL device refers to the both the physical and logical interface between the BSC
and the BSS-based SMLC.
See "Configuring an LMTL device" on page 9-139 for details of how to configure an LMTL device.

Determining whether location services is unrestricted

Location services is an optional feature.

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