CODICE-DATA-P1

Scope of the slideset

• This slideset provides an overview of Protocol Layers involved in the GSM MS-BSS Interface as:
• Section 1: Physical Layer at Radio Interface
• General
• TDMA Frame & Burst type
• Mapping of logical channels onto physical channels
• Channel coding, Interleaving and burst building

• Section 2: LAPDm protocol overview

• General
• Frame Format & List of messages
• LAPDm procedures: case study

• Section 3: Radio Resource Management overview

• General

• Section 4: RR protocol overview

• General
• Frame Format & List of messages
• RR procedures: case study

• Section 5: RLC/MAC protocol overview

• General
• Frame Format & List of messages
• RLC/MAC procedures: case study

Note: The slideset is focused on minimum set of procedures in order to get basic services as speech, CS/PS Data.
The HSCSD, Cell Brodcast, Location services, DTM, Handover are not covered by this slideset.

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1

CODICE-DATA-P2

GSM access technology overview

Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA)
• GSM allows for use of duplex operation, i.e. one frequecy is used for Uplink direction (from MS to BTS) and other
is used for Downlink direction (from BTS to MS).

• This pair of frequencies is usually called TRX.

• GSM divides each individual carrier frequency into 8 basic physical channels called Time slot (TS). This is the
TDMA aspect of GSM.

n link
Dow
nk
om Upli
ts fr
-slo
time
ed 3
is d elay e-slot
slot tim
me- ownlink
nk ti d
Upli

In this example MS uses TS2 for a speech call

MS BTS
Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) in GSM

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 CODICE-DATA-P3

Section 1: GSM Physical

Layer at Radio Interface

FUNDAMENTA

The information contained in this document is the property of Value Team S.p.A. and the addressee of the document. The information is closely linked to the oral comments accompanying the same, and may be used only by those attending the
presentation. Copying, publishing or divulging the material contained in this document is forbidden and may be illegal. 3

CODICE-DATA-P4

Scope

• Physical Layer on Radio Path allows transfer of blocks over Radio Interface between MS and BTS.

MS BTS
BLOCK BLOCK
(i.e. sequence of bits) (i.e. sequence of bits)

Physical Layer Physical Layer

• The physical Layer on Radio Path is defined in the 3GPP 45-series.

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 CODICE-DATA-P5

GSM Physical Layer on Radio Path

Main 3GPP specifications (http://www.3gpp.org/specification-numbering)
3G and
GSM only (Rel- GSM only
series beyond / GSM
4 and later) (before Rel-4)
(R99 and later)
General information (long defunct) 00 series
Requirements 21 series 41 series 01 series
Service aspects ("stage 1") 22 series 42 series 02 series
Technical realization ("stage 2") 23 series 43 series 03 series

Signalling protocols ("stage 3") - user equipment to network 24 series 44 series 04 series

Radio aspects 25 series 45 series 05 series

CODECs 26 series 46 series 06 series
47 series
Data 27 series 07 series
(none exists)
TS 45.001 Physical layer on the radio path; General description
Signalling protocols ("stage 3") -(RSS-CN) andTS
OAM&P and Charging
45.002 Multiplexing and multiple access on 08
theseries
radio path
28 series 48 series
(overflow from 32.- range)
TS 45.003 Channel coding
Signalling protocols ("stage 3") - intra-fixed-network 29 series 49 series 09 series
TS 45.004 Modulation
Programme management 30 series 50 series 10 series
TS 45.005 Radio transmission and reception
Subscriber Identity Module (SIM / USIM), IC Cards. Test specs. 31 series 51 series 11 series

OAM&P and Charging 32 series 52 series 12 series

Access requirements and test specifications 13 series (1) 13 series (1)
Security aspects 33 series (2) (2)
UE and (U)SIM test specifications 34 series (2) 11 series
Security algorithms (3) 35 series 55 series (4)

LTE (Evolved UTRA) and LTE-Advanced radio technolgy 36 series - -

Multiple radio access technology aspects 37 series - -

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CODICE-DATA-P6

Position of Physical Layer in the protocol stack

PS Services ----- Signalling

Um Abis Gb

SM SM
(24.008) (24.008)

GMM GMM
(24.008) (24.008)

LLC LLC
(44.064) LLC relay (44.064)

RLC/MAC RLC/MAC BSSGP BSSGP

(44.060) (44.060) (48.018) (48.018)

NS NS
PCU-FRAME PCU-FRAME
(48.016) (48.016)
Physical Layer Physical Layer
(45-series) (45-series)
L1 L1 L1 L1

MS BTS BSC/PCU SGSN

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 CODICE-DATA-P7

Position of Physical Layer in the protocol stack

CS Services ----- Traffic

Um Abis A

relay Transcoding

Codec Codec TRAU-FRAME TRAU-FRAME

G.711 G.711
(46-series) (46-series) (48.060, 48.061) (48.060, 48.061)

Physical Layer Physical Layer

L1 L1 L1 L1
(45-series) (45-series)

MS BTS BSC MSC

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CODICE-DATA-P8

Position of Physical Layer in the protocol stack

CS Services ----- Signalling

Um Abis A

CC/SMS/SS CC/SMS/SS
(24.008; 24.011) (24.008;24.011)

MM MM
(24.008) relay (24.008)

RR BSSAP BSSAP
relay (44.018) (48.008) (48.008)
RR
(44.018)
RR BTSM BTSM
SCCP SCCP
(44.018) (48.058) (48.058)

LAPDm LAPDm
LAPD LAPD MTP MTP
(44.006) (44.006)

Physical Layer Physical Layer

L1 L1 L1 L1
(45-series) (45-series)

MS BTS BSC MSC

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 CODICE-DATA-P9

Position of Physical Layer in the protocol stack

PS Services ----- Traffic

Um Abis Gb Gp

Application Application

IP IP
IP relay
SNDCP SNDCP
GTP GTP
(44.065) (44.065)

LLC LLC
UDP/TCP UDP/TCP
(44.064) LLC relay (44.064)

RLC/MAC RLC/MAC BSSGP BSSGP

IP IP
(44.060) RLC/MAC relay (44.060) (48.018) (48.018)

NS NS
PCU-FRAME PCU-FRAME L2 L2
Physical Layer Physical Layer (48.016) (48.016)
(45-series) (45-series)
L1 L1 L1 L1 L1 L1

MS BTS BSC SGSN GGSN

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9

CODICE-DATA-P10

MS-BSS Interface
GSM Architecture

In a GSM/GPRS network there are two different domains: the Circuit Domain and Packet Domain.
Domain are separated on Core Network side and there is an optional interface between them (Gb).

Access Network (GERAN) Core Network (Circuit Domain)

Other
PSTN
MSC
MSC GMSC
GMSC
ISDN
TRAU
TRAU

7
6
5 7
4 6
3 5
2
0 1 3
4 BSC
BSC Gb
2 2
TRX 0
1
1
TRX
Other
PSTN
BTS PCU
PCU
BTS SGSN
SGSN GGSN
GGSN
MS Internet

Core Network (Packet Domain)

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 CODICE-DATA-P11

MS-BSS Interface
Protocol stack

Access Network (GERAN) Core Network (Circuit & Packet Domain)

Application Application
CC/SMS CC/SMS
Layer Layer
SM /SS SM /SS
(24.008) (24.008; (24.008) (24.008;
IP 24.011) IP 24.011)
Codec Codec
(46-series) Transc) (Q.711)
SNDCP GMM SNDCP GMM
(44.065) (24.008) (44.065) (24.008)
MM MM
(24.008) (24.008)
LLC LLC LLC LLC
(44.064) (44.064) (44.064) (44.064)

Relay

RLC RLC RR RLC RLC RR

(44.060) (44.060) (44.018) (44.060) (44.060) (44.018)

MAC MAC LAPDm MAC MAC LAPDm

(44.060) (44.060) (44.006) (44.060) (44.060) (44.006)

Physical Layer Physical Layer

(45-series) (45-series)

MS GERAN (BTS, BSC, TRAU, PCU) MSC/SGSN

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11

12
 CODICE-DATA-P13

Physical layer on the radio path

Mapping of logical channels onto physical channels

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CODICE-DATA-P14

Ref: 3GPP TS 45.001

TDMA Frame, multiframe, superframe and Hyperframes (I)

1 hyperframe = 2048 superframes = 2715648 TDMA Frames (3 h 28 m 53 s 760 ms

00 11 22 33 44 55 2045
2045 2046
2046 2047
2047

1 superframe = 1326 TDMA Frames (6,12 s)

CCH 00 11 22 33 48
48 49
49 50
50
TCH 00 11 24
24 25
25
PDCH 00 11 24
24 25,5
25,5

26-multiframe = 120s 51-multiframe = »235,4 ms 52-multiframe = 240 ms

00 11 24
24 25
25 00 11 22 48
48 49
49 50
50 00 11 22 49
49 50
50 51
51

Time Slot = 576,9 µs

TS0
TS0 TS1
TS1 TS2
TS2 TS3
TS3 TS4
TS4 TS5
TS5 TS6
TS6 TS7
TS7 TS0
TS0 TS1
TS1 TS2
TS2 TS3
TS3 TS4
TS4 TS5
TS5 TS6
TS6 TS7
TS7 TS0
TS0 TS1
TS1 TS2
TS2 TS3
TS3 TS4
TS4 TS5
TS5 TS6
TS6 TS7
TS7

TDMA FRAME 4.615 ms TDMA FRAME 4.615 ms TDMA FRAME 4.615 ms

FN = 0 FN = 1 FN = 2 715 647

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14
 CODICE-DATA-P15

Ref: 3GPP TS 45.001

TDMA Frame, multiframe, superframe and Hyperframes (II)

• A frequency is divided up into 8 time slots, numbered 0 to 7.

• Each time slot is 576.9 µs. A time slot is the basic radio resource used to facilitate communication between the MS and the
BTS.

• Each sequence of 8 time slots is known as a TDMA frame. The duration of a TDMA frame is 4.615 ms (576.9 µs × 8)

• Frame Number (FN) from 0 to 2 715 647 is associated to each TDMA frame.

• The 2 715 648 TDMA Frame forms a Hyperframe. Hyperframe has a duration of 3 h 28 mn 53 s 760 ms (or 12 533,76 s).
This long period is needed to support cryptographic mechanisms defined in 3GPP TS 43.020.

• One hyperframe is subdivided in 2 048 superframes.

• One superframe have a duration of 6,12 seconds and includes:

- 50 multiframe type 26-multiframe or
- 25 multiframe type 51-multiframe or
- 25 multiframe type 52-multiframe

• A 26- multiframe has a duration of 120 ms and comprises 26 TDMA frames.

• A 51- multiframe has a duration of 235,4 ms (3 060/13 ms) and comprises 51 TDMA frames.
• A 52-multiframe has a duration of 240 ms and comprises 52 TDMA frames.

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15

CODICE-DATA-P16

Ref: 3GPP TS 45.002

Burst Type
Overview
• The bits transmitted during a single time slot is known as a burst. Each burst allows guard period. This is to prevent
bursts from overlapping and interfering with transmissions in other time slots.

• The time slot is a time interval of 576,9 µs (15/26 ms), that is 156,25 symbol duration when using the normal symbol
period or 187,5 symbol duration when using the reduced symbol period (see 3GPP TS 45.010).

• One symbol is 1 to 5 bits depending on the modulation used: GMSK, QPSK, 8PSK, 16QAM and 32 QAM.

GMSK – 1 bit per symbol TDMA Frame (4.615 ms) TDMA Number (4.615 ms)
QPSK – 2 bit per symbol
8PSK – 3 bit per symbol
14QAM – 4 bit per symbol 00 11 22 33 44 55 66 77 00 11 22 33 44 55 66 77
32QAM – 5 bit per symbol

Normal burst (NB)

The numbers shown are in symbols

Frequency correction burst (FB)

The numbers shown are in bits

Synchronization burst (SB) TB

TB Encrypted
Encrypted Training
Training sequence
sequence Encrypted
Encrypted TB
TB GPGP
The numbers shown are in bits 33 39 39
39 bits 33 8,25
39 bits
bits 64
64 bits
bits bits 8,25
Access burst (AB)
The numbers shown are in bits

Higher symbol rate burst (NB)

The numbers shown are in symbols

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 CODICE-DATA-P17

Ref: 3GPP TS 45.001

Channel organization

As said, the bits transmitted during a single time slot is known as a burst.

TDMA FRAME 4.615 ms TDMA FRAME 4.615 ms TDMA FRAME 4.615 ms

TS0
TS0 TS1
TS1 TS2
TS2 TS3
TS3 TS4
TS4 TS5
TS5 TS6
TS6 TS7
TS7 TS0
TS0 TS1
TS1 TS2
TS2 TS3
TS3 TS4
TS4 TS5
TS5 TS6
TS6 TS7
TS7 TS0
TS0 TS1
TS1 TS2
TS2 TS3
TS3 TS4
TS4 TS5
TS5 TS6
TS6 TS7
TS7
…

576,9 µs 576,9 µs 576,9 µs

TDMA Frame

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52
TS0
TS1
TS2
TS3
TS4
…
TS5
TS6
TS7

Let’s consider the sequence of TDMA Frame belonging to the same TS.
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52
TS

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CODICE-DATA-P18

Channel Mapping
Signalling and/or Traffic TSs

• On a time slot TDMA frames are divided and allocated to the various logical channels.

• There are several channel combinations allowed in GSM. Some of the more common ones are:
• FCCH + SCH + BCCH + CCCH or
• BCCH + CCCH or
• FCCH + SCH + BCCH + CCCH + SDCCH/4(0..3) + SACCH/C4(0..3) or
• SDCCH/8(0 .7) + SACCH/C8(0 . 7)

• A single BTS may have several Transceivers (TRX) assigned to it, each having its own ARFCN, each ARFCN having 8 time slots.

• The logical channels that support signaling will normally only be on one ARFCN. All of the other ARFCNs assigned to a BTS will
allocate all 8 time slots to Traffic Channels, to support multiple users.

The first case study is an example of how a The second case study is an example of how a medium-
small cell might be set up with 1 TRX (ARFCNs). sized cell might be set up with 4 TRX (ARFCNs).
TS0 on TRX is used for signaling, remaining are TS0 and TS1 on first TRXs are used for signaling,
used for traffic. remaining are used for Traffic.
7
6
5
4 7
7 3 6
6 2 5
5 1 4 7
4 0 3 6
3 4 2 5
2 TRX 1 4 7
1 0 3 6
3 2 5
1 0 TRX 1 4
TRX 2 0 3
TRX 1
2
BTS R X1 0
Small cell T Small-medium cell BTS

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18
 CODICE-DATA-P19

Traffic physical channel organization

26-Multiframe structure for TCH full rate

Traffic Channel Multiframes are composed of only 26 TDMA frames. On … each multiframe, there are 24 frames for Traffic Channels, 1
frame for a SACCH, and the last frame is Idle. Remember that a MS (or other device) only gets one time slot per TDMA frame to
transmit, so in the following diagrams we are looking at a single time slot.
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

SACCH

IDLE
TCH
TCH
TCH
TCH
TCH
TCH
TCH
TCH
TCH
TCH
TCH

TCH
TCH
TCH
TCH
TCH
TCH
TCH
TCH
TCH
TCH
TCH
TCH
26-Multiframe structure for TCH half rate
When using Half-Rate Speech Encoding (TCH/HS), the speech encoding bit rate is 5.6 kb/s, so one time slot can handle two half-rate
channels. In this case, one channel will transmit every other TDMA frame, and the other channel would be transmitted on the other
frames. The final frame (25), which is normally used as an Idle frame, is now used as a SACCH for the second half-rate channel.
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

SACCH 1

SACCH 2
TCH 1
TCH 2
TCH 1
TCH 2
TCH 1
TCH 2
TCH 1
TCH 2
TCH 1
TCH 2
TCH 1

TCH 1
TCH 2
TCH 1
TCH 2
TCH 1
TCH 2
TCH 1
TCH 2
TCH 1
TCH 2
TCH 1
TCH 2
X=Idle frame
T=Frame used for PTCCH
B0-B11 = Radio block
52-Multiframe structure for full rate packet data traffic channel (PDTCH/F)
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

B0 B1 B2 T B3 B4 B5 X B6 B7 B8 T B9 B10 B11 X

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CODICE-DATA-P20

Control channel organization

Reference: small cell

FCCH + SCH + BCCH + CCCH + SDCCH/4(0..3) + SACCH/C4(0..3)

The SACCH that is associated with each SDCCH is only transmitted every other multiframe. Each SACCH only gets half of the transmit
time as the SDCCH that it is associated with. So, in one multiframe, SACCH0 and SACCH1 would be transmitted, and in the next
multiframe, SACCH2 and SACCH3 would be transmitted. The two sequential multiframes would look like this:

TimeSlot 0: FCCH + SCH + BCCH + CCCH + SDCCH/4(0..3) + SACCH/C4(0..3)

DL

UL

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20
 CODICE-DATA-P21

Control channel organization

Reference: small-medium cell

TimeSlot 0: FCCH + SCH + BCCH + CCCH

DL

UL

TimeSlot 1: SDCCH/8(0 .7) + SACCH/C8(0 . 7)

DL

UL

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CODICE-DATA-P22

Signalling Traffic channel

For CS/PS Services Basic Services
Broadcast Channels (BCH)
•Frequency Correction Channel (FCCH) - DOWNLINK - This channel is used by the MS as a frequency reference.
This channel contains frequency correction bursts.

•Synchronization Channel (SCH) - DOWNLINK - This channel is used by the MS to learn the Base Station
Information Code (BSIC) as well as the TDMA frame number (FN). This lets the MS know what TDMA frame they are
on within the hyperframe.

•Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH) - DOWNLINK - This channel contains system parameters needed to identify
the network and gain access. These paramters include the Location Area Code (LAC), the Mobile Network Code
(MNC), the frequencies of neighboring cells, and access parameters.

Common Control Channels (CCCH)

•Random Access Channel (RACH) - UPLINK - This channel is used by a MS to request an initial dedicated channel
from the BTS. This would be the first transmission made by a MS to access the network and request radio resources.
The MS sends an Access Burst on this channel in order to request access.

•Paging Channel (PCH) - DOWNLINK - This channel is used to inform the MS that it has incoming traffic. The traffic
could be a voice call, SMS, or some other form of traffic.

•Access Grant Channel (AGCH) - DOWNLINK - This channel is used by a BTS to notify the MS of the assignement
of an initial SDCCH for initial signaling.

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22
 CODICE-DATA-P23

Signalling Traffic channel

For CS/PS Services Basic Services
Dedicated Control Channels (DCCH)
•Standalone Dedicated Control Channel (SDCCH) - UPLINK/DOWNLINK - This channel is used for signaling and
call setup between the MS and the BTS.

•Slow Associated Control Channel (SACCH) - UPLINK/DOWNLINK - This channel is a continuous stream channel
that is used for control and supervisory signals associated with the traffic channels.

•Fast Associated Control Channel (FACCH) - UPLINK/DOWNLINK - This channel is used for control requirements
such as handoffs. There is no TS and frame allocation dedicated to a FAACH. The FAACH is a burst-stealing
channel, it steals a Timeslot from a Traffic Channel (TCH).

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23

CODICE-DATA-P24

Ref: 3GPP TS 45.002

Synchronization Channel (SCH)
Synchronization burst (SB)

Synchronization Burst (SB) (DL only)

This burst is used for time synchronization of the mobile. The data payload carries the TDMA Frame Number (FN) and the BaseStation
Identity Code (BSIC). It is broadcast with the frequency correction burst.
The Synchronization Burst is broadcast on the Synchronization Channel (SCH).

TDMA Frame (4.615 ms) TDMA Number (4.615 ms)

00 11 22 33 44 55 66 77 00 11 22 33 44 55 66 77

Synchronization Burst (AB) TB

TB Encrypted
Encrypted Training
Training sequence
sequence Encrypted
Encrypted TB
TB GPGP
33 39
39 bits
bits 64
64 bits
bits 39
39 bits
bits 33 8,25
8,25

BTS transmit frame synchronisation information and BS identification information to the MS

• The first six bits of the 25-bit segment consist of:

. three PLMN colour code bits and
. three BS colour code bits supplying a unique BS Identifier Code (BSIC) to inform the MS, which BS it is communicating with.

• The second 19-bit segment contains the so-called Reduced TDMA Frame Number (RFN).

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 CODICE-DATA-P25

Ref: 3GPP TS 45.002

Synchronization Channel (SCH)
Synchronization burst (SB) - Reduced Frame Number

• Reduced TDMA Frame Number (RFN) derived from the full TDMA Frame Number (FN), constrained to the range
of in terms of three subsegments T1, T2 and T3. These subsegments are computed as follows:
. T1(11 bits) = [FN div ]
. T2(5 bits) = [FN mod 26]
. T3 = [FN mod 5]
. T3’(3 bits) = [(T3-1) div 10]
where div and mod represent the integer division and modulo operations, respectively.

- Explicitly:
. T1 determines the superframe index in a hyperframe,
. T2 the multiframe index in a superframe,
. T3 the frame index in a multiframe,
. T3’ is the so-called signalling block index of a frame in a specific 51-frame control multiframe

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CODICE-DATA-P26

Ref: 3GPP TS 45.002

FCCH Logical channel
Frequency correction burst (FB)
Frequency Correction Channel (FCCH) is used by the MS as a frequency reference. This channel contains frequency correction
bursts.

Frequency correction burst (FB) (DL only)

This burst is used for frequency synchronization (fixed sequence) of the mobile station. It is an unmodulated carrier that shifts in
frequency. It has the same guard time as a normal burst (8.25 bits).

TDMA Frame (4.615 ms) TDMA Number (4.615 ms)

00 11 22 33 44 55 66 77 00 11 22 33 44 55 66 77

Frequency correction burst (FB)

The numbers shown are in bits

At power on, MS listens all TRXs and detects the BCCH frequency via this Frequency burst.

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26
 CODICE-DATA-P27

Ref: 3GPP TS 45.002

RACH logical channel
Access Burst
On RACH, MS sends an Access Burst e.g. to request access.

Access Burst (AB) (UL only)

This burst is used the by mobile station for random access. It has a much longer guard period (68.25 bits compared to the 8.25 bits in a
normal burst). It is designed to compensate for the unknown distance of the mobile station from the tower, when the MS wants access to a
new BTS, it will not know the correct Timing Advance.
TDMA Frame (4.615 ms) TDMA Number (4.615 ms)

00 11 22 33 44 55 66 77 00 11 22 33 44 55 66 77

Access burst (AB) TB

TB Synchronization
Synchronization Sequence
Sequence Encrypted
Encrypted bits
bits TB
TB GP
GP
88 41
41 36
36 33 68,25
68,25

Tail Bits
At the beginning of the ACCESS BURST there are 8 Tail bits in fixed code with the pattern "00111010"

Synchronization Sequence
Synchronization Sequence of 41 bits. This pattern allows the BTS to distinguish the ACCESS BURST from random noise.

Information bits
The 36 data bits contain a encoded and encrypted message containing e.g. reason fro the access request.

Guard Period (GP)

This guard time is to compensate for propagation delay due to the distance of the MS from the BTS (see next slide)

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27

CODICE-DATA-P28

RACH logical channel

TA & Maximum Cell Size

This guard time is to compensate for propagation delay due to the distance of the MS from the BTS.

After the Access Burst has been decoded the signal delay is computed by the BTS.
•The value of the Timing Advance TA can be between 0 and 232/us, expressed by 0 to 63 bits (that is 1 bit = 48/13/us).
•If the TA is known the distance between the mobile and BTS can be calculated.
•TA = 0 means the mobile is not more than 300m away from the BTS.
•The distance increases by 550m per Bit of the TA. i.e.
Distance/m = 300m + (TA/bit x 550)m.

If a MS is further out than 37.8km and transmits an access burst it will most likely interfere with the following time slot. Any
distance less than 37.8km and the access burst should arrive within the guard time allowed for an access burst and it will not
interfere with the next time slot.

In GSM, the maximum distance of a cell is standardized at 35km. This is due mainly to the number of timing advances
allowed in GSM. In order to increase the size of cell extended cell concept e.g. has to be used.

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28
 CODICE-DATA-P29

RACH logical channel

Extended cell (IV)

Extended cell

In an extended cell, the maximum allowed distance between the BTS and the MS is increased from ~ 35 km (for a
standard GSM/EDGE cell) to ~ 100 km. This is done by merging two adjacent timeslots to a double-size timeslot, as
well as using an extremely extended guard period at the end of the timeslot. This allows for much larger delays in the
data bursts. and therefore for larger traveled distances.
A shown in figure on the right side, an extended cell is therefore
divided into:
• a near area (~ up to 35 km radius), where single
timeslots are used, as in standard cells
• a far area (~ up to 100 km radius), where double
timeslots are used

All control channels in an extended cell (BCCH, CCCH, SDCCH,

CBCH) have to be configured as double timeslots.
Traffic channels can be configured as double or single timeslot
channels.
The BSC can then assigns single timeslots to MSs in a user-
defined inner circle around the BTS (maximum 35 km), and double
timeslot channels for larger distances (up to 100 km).
Intra-cell handover from a single timeslot traffic channel towards a
double timeslot channel, and vice versa, is possible.
Extended cells also support HR transmission and frequency
hopping.

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29

CODICE-DATA-P30

Ref: 3GPP TS 45.002

Burst type
Normal burst (NB)
Normal Burst (NB) (UL/DL)
This burst is used to carry information of traffic and control channels.

Higher symbol rate burst (HB)

This burst is used to carry information on full rate packet data traffic channels using higher symbol rate (see 3GPP TS 45.004). It
contains 138 encrypted symbols and includes a guard time of 10,5 reduced symbol periods (see 3GPP TS 45.010).

GMSK – 1 bit per symbol

QPSK – 2 bit per symbol TDMA Frame (4.615 ms) TDMA Number (4.615 ms)
8PSK – 3 bit per symbol
14QAM – 4 bit per symbol
32QAM – 5 bit per symbol 00 11 22 33 44 55 66 77 00 11 22 33 44 55 66 77

Normal burst (NB)

The numbers shown are in symbols

Higher symbol rate burst (NB)

The numbers shown are in symbols

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 CODICE-DATA-P31

Signaling Channel Mapping

Packet Control Channels

• When a cell provides PS Services the same Signalling TS can be used or in alternative a specific TS can be used for Packet
Signalling.

The first diagram is an example of how a medium-sized The second diagram is an example of how a medium-sized
cell might be set up with 4 TRX (ARFCNs). TS 0 and cell might be set up with 4 TRX (ARFCNs). TS3 on first TSs
TS 1 on first TSs are used for CS/PS signalling. are used for for PS signalling.

7 7
6 6
5 5
4 7 4 7
3 6 3 6
2 5 2 5
1 4 7 1 4 7
0 3 6 0 3 6
2 5 4 2 5
4 4 7 TRX 1 4 7
TRX 0
1
3 6 0 3 6
3 2 5 X3 2 5
TRX 1 4 TR
0
1
3
4
2 0 3 2
TRX 1
2 TRX 1
2
1 0 1 0
TRX BTS TRX Small-medium cell BTS
Small-medium cell

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CODICE-DATA-P32

Traffic & Signalling Logical channel

PS Services Basic Services

PBCCH (Packet Broadcast Control Channel) used for broadcasting Packet System Information (SI)

PCCCH (Packet Common Control Channel) used to initiate packet transfer

• PRACH(Packet Random Access Channel)
• PPCH(Packet Paging Channel)
• PAGCH(Packet Access Grant Channel)

PTCH (Packet Traffic Channel) used foruser data transmission andits associated signaling
• PDTCH(Packet Data Traffic Channel) used to carry user data (LLC PDUsegmented is RLC/MAC
blocks)
• PACCH(Packet Associated Control Channel) Bidirectional channel, dynamically allocated on block
basis, used to carrycontrol data

PTCCH (Packet Timing Advance Control Channel) used forcontinuous timing advance mechanism Bidirectional
channel allocated on the same PDCH as the PACCH

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 CODICE-DATA-P33

Signaling Channel Mapping

Packet Control Channels
The multiplexing of the packet channels on a PDCH is not fixed like in the GSM system. In GPRS, it is managed by some parameters
and the following block order: B0, B6, B3, B9, B1, B7, B4, B10, B2, B8, B5, and B11.

BS_PBCCH_BLKS This indicates the number of PBCCH blocks used to broadcast the PSI.
These blocks are always the first blocks according to the multiframe blocks order. The parameter is broadcast on the first PBCCH
block (B0). If many PCCCH channels (the total number of PCCCH channels is given by the parameter BS_PCC_CHANS broadcast on
PBCCH) are present, PDTCH may be transmitted at the PBCCH blocks position in the other PCCCH channels (because PBCCH
blocks are only transmitted on one single time slot in the cell).
BS_PAG_BLKS_RES (number of blocks for access grant) Indicates the number of PCCCH blocks following the PBCCH blocks
(according to the multiframe blocks order) on which paging is forbidden.
These blocks are thus reserved for PAGCH, and eventually PDTCH/PACCH/PTCCH. If one of these blocks is used for PAGCH, then
the corresponding UL channels can be used for network access (PRACH), so uplink state flag (USF) is annotated as being free in the
MAC header of the radio block.

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33

CODICE-DATA-P34

Ref: 3GPP TS 45.002

Logical channels (Ref 45.002)
Esaustive traffic channels list

• TS 45.002 defines following traffic channels:

• full rate speech TCH (TCH/FS);
• enhanced full rate speech TCH (TCH/EFS)
• half rate speech TCH (TCH/HS);
• adaptive full rate speech TCH (TCH/AFS);
• adaptive half rate speech TCH (TCH/AHS);
• adaptive half rate 8-PSK speech TCH (O-TCH/AHS);
• adaptive full rate wideband speech (TCH/WFS)
• adaptive full rate 8-PSK wideband speech (O-TCH/WFS)
• adaptive half rate 8-PSK wideband speech (O-TCH/WHS)
• 28,8 kbit/s full rate data E-TCH (E-TCH/F28.8);
• 32,0 kbit/s full rate data E-TCH (E-TCH/F32.0);
• 43,2 kbit/s full rate data E-TCH (E-TCH/F43.2);
• 14,4 kbit/s full rate data TCH (TCH/F14.4);
• 9,6 kbit/s full rate data TCH (TCH/F9.6);
• 4,8 kbit/s full rate data TCH (TCH/F4.8);
• 4,8 kbit/s half rate data TCH (TCH/H4.8);
• £ 2,4 kbit/s full rate data TCH (TCH/F2.4);
• £ 2,4 kbit/s half rate data TCH (TCH/H2.4);
• cell broadcast channel (CBCH);
• full rate packet data traffic channel (PDTCH/F) ;
• half rate packet data traffic channel (PDTCH/H).

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34
 CODICE-DATA-P35

Ref: 3GPP TS 45.002

Logical channels (Ref 45.002)
Esaustive signalling channels list (1/2)
• TS 45.002 defines following signalling channels:
• stand-alone dedicated control channel, four of them mapped on the same basic physical channel as
the CCCH (SDCCH/4);
• stand-alone dedicated control channel, eight of them mapped on a separate basic physical channel
(SDCCH/8);
• full rate fast associated control channel (FACCH/F);
• enhanced circuit switched full rate fast associated control channel (E-FACCH/F);
• half rate fast associated control channel (FACCH/H);
• full rate octal fast associated control channel (O-FACCH/F);
• half rate octal fast associated control channel (O-FACCH/H);
• slow, TCH/F, O-TCH/F or E-TCH/F associated, control channel (SACCH/TF);
• slow, TCH/F or O-TCH/F associated, control channel for enhanced power control (SACCH/TPF);
• slow, TCH/H or O-TCH/H associated, control channel (SACCH/TH);
• slow, TCH/H or O-TCH/H associated, control channel for enhanced power control (SACCH/TPH);
• slow, TCH/F, O-TCH/F or E-TCH/F associated, control channel for multislot configurations
(SACCH/M);
• slow, TCH/F or O-TCH/F associated, control channel for enhanced power control in multislot
configurations (SACCH/MP);
• slow, TCH/F associated, control channel for CTS (SACCH/CTS);
• slow, SDCCH/4 associated, control channel (SACCH/C4);
• slow, SDCCH/8 associated, control channel (SACCH/C8);

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35

CODICE-DATA-P36

Ref: 3GPP TS 45.002

Logical channels (Ref 45.002)
Esaustive signalling channels list (2/2)
• packet associated control channel (PACCH);
• packet timing advance control channel (PTCCH);
• broadcast control channel (BCCH);
• packet broadcast control channel (PBCCH);
• random access channel (i.e. uplink CCCH) (RACH);
• packet random access channel (i.e. uplink PCCCH) (PRACH);
• paging channel (part of downlink CCCH) (PCH);
• packet paging channel (part of downlink PCCCH) (PPCH);
• access grant channel (part of downlink CCCH) (AGCH);
• packet access grant channel (part of downlink PCCCH) (PAGCH);
• notification channel (part of downlink CCCH) (NCH);
• CTS beacon channel (part of downlink CTSCCH) (CTSBCH-FB and CTSBCH-SB);
• CTS paging channel (part of downlink CTSCCH) (CTSPCH);
• CTS access request channel (part of uplink CTSCCH) (CTSARCH);
• CTS access grant channel (part of downlink CTSCCH) (CTSAGCH);
• enhanced inband associated control channel (E-IACCH);
• enhanced power control channel (EPCCH);
• enhanced power control channel for multislot configurations (EPCCH/M);
• packet random access channel for MBMS (MPRACH)

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36
 CODICE-DATA-P37

Physical layer on the radio path

Channel coding, Interleaving and burst building

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CODICE-DATA-P38

Physical layer on Radio Path overview

Functional Blocks

Block Block
(Information bits) (Information bits)

Phisycal Layer
Channel Coding Channel decoding
(45.003) (45.003)
Block
Coded bits
Interleaving Deinterleaving
(45.003) (45.003)
Block
Transmission chain

(Interleaved bits)
Chipering Deciphering
Receiving chain

(43.020, 23.221) (43.020, 23.221)

Block
Burst building&burst multiplexing (encrypted bits) Burst debuilding&burst
(45.002) demultiplexing (45.002)

Modulation Demodulation (Equalizer)

(45.004) (45.004)

RF Transmission RF Reception
(45.005) (45.005)

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 CODICE-DATA-P39

GSM trasmission/reception chain on MS/BTS

Receiving chain Transmission chain

Block Block

De-interleaver/
De-interleaver/ De-chiphering/
De-chiphering/ NB NB … NB Burst
Burst Formatting/
Formatting/ Encoder/
Encoder/
Decoder
Decoder Equalizer/\
Equalizer/\ Chipering
Chipering Interleaver
Interleaver

Encoder/
Encoder/ Burst
Burst Formatting/
Formatting/ De-chiphering/ De-interleaver/
NB NB … NB De-chiphering/ De-interleaver/
Interleaver
Interleaver Chipering
Chipering Equalizer/ Decoder
Equalizer/ Decoder

Block Block
MS
MS BTS
BTS

Transmission chain Receiving chain

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39

CODICE-DATA-P40

Physical layer on Radio Path overview

Transmission chain Functional Blocks

Information bits Coded bits Interleaved bits encrypted bits

Channel Burst
Interleaving RF
Coding building&burs Modulation
Chipering Transmission
(45.003) t multiplexing (45.004)
(45.003) (45.005)
(45.002)

Channel coding (Encoder)

The channel coding adds redundancy bits to the original information in order to detect and correct, if possible, errors ocurred during the
transmission.

Interleaving
Interleaving rearranges a group of bits in a particular way. It is used in combination with channel coding in order to improve the
performance of the error correction mechanisms. The interleaving decreases the possibility of losing whole bursts during the
transmission, by dispersing the errors. Being the errors less concentrated, it is then easier to correct them.

Ciphering
Ciphering is used to protect signaling and user data. It is used to encrypt the data so that no one can overhear the conversation of
another user. Ciphering applies only to Signalling and speech circuit data. Chipering does not apply to (E)GPRS traffic since in GPRS
chipering is done on application layer (between MS and SGSN), not at physycal layer.

Burst building&burst multiplexing

The burst assembling is in charge of grouping the encrypted bits into bursts.

Modulation
The digital bit stream must be encoded in a pulse and transmitted over radio frequencies. Modulation changes the '1' s and '0's in a
digital representation to another representation that is more suitable for transmission over airwaves.

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40
 CODICE-DATA-P41

Physical layer on Radio Path overview

Reception chain Functional Blocks

encrypted Interleaved Coded bits Information

bits bits bits

Burst
RF De Modulation debuilding& De- Channel De-
Reception (EQUALIZER) burst de- De-Chipering Interleaving Coding
(45.005) (45.004) multiplexing (45.003) (45.003)
(45.002)

In the reception chain there is a block specific for reception: the EQUALIZER.

Equalizer (Viterbi’s algoritm)

At the 900/1800 MHz range, radio waves bounce off everything - buildings, hills, cars, airplanes, etc. Thus many reflected signals,
each with a different phase, can reach an antenna. Equalization is used to extract the desired signal from the unwanted reflections.
Equalizer works by finding out how a known transmitted signal is modified by multipath fading, and constructing an inverse filter to
extract the rest of the desired signal.

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41

CODICE-DATA-P42

Channel coding
Example (Full Rate)

FR Speech Block (260)

260 bits

50 bits 132 bits 78 bits

tail bits
block (‘0000’)
coding

parity bits

53 bits 132 bits

convolutional
coding

378 bits 78 bits

456 bits to be transmitted over 4 Normal Burst (i.e. 114 bits / TDMA frame)

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 CODICE-DATA-P43

Interleving
Example (Full Rate)

Figure show the GSMK case. Behaviour in 8PSK is similar, but with higher bits are used.

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CODICE-DATA-P44

GSM Normal Burst Formatting

Example (Full Rate)

Figure show the GSMK case. Behaviour in 8PSK is similar, but with higher bits are used.

Note: Green refers to TS 0.

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