GSM Signalling Procedure

Mobile Research Institude

Network Planning & Optimization Department

Objective
After complete this course,you will be able to
Know GSM system sigalling model
Know various types of GSM system messages
Master GSM system basic signalling procedure

Catalog
GSM System Signalling Model
GSM System Signalling Application
GSM System Basic Signalling Procedure

GSM system sigalling model

GSM Protocol
Public Switched
Telephone Network
(PSTN)

Mobile
Switching
Centre
(MSC)

MAP/TCAP + ISUP/TUP

))
Mobile
Switching
Centre
(MSC)

DTAP + BSSMAP

A interface

Base
Station
Controller
(BSC)

BTSM

A-bis interface

MAP/TCAP

Authentication
Centre
(AUC)

Home
Location
Register
(HLR)

Visitor
Location
Register
(VLR)

Equipment
ID
Register
(EIR)
To other VLR

MAP/TCAP

MAP/TCAP

ISUP/TUP

Base
Transceiver
Station
(BTS)

))

GSM system sigalling model

GSM Protocol Architecture

MS

BSC

BTS

CM

(CM)

(CM)

(CM)

MSC

DTAP
CM

MM

(MM)

(MM)

(RR)

(RR)

RR
RR'

BTSM

(MM)

BSSMAP

I
S
MAP U
TCAP P

BSSMAP

BTSM

SCCP

SCCP

SCCP

MTP

MTP

MTP

Sig. layer 2
(LAPDm)

Sig. layer 2
(LAPD)

Sig. layer 2
(LAPD)

Layer 1 (air)

Layer 1 (air) Sig. layer 1

Sig. layer 1

Abis Interface

DTAP Direct Transfer Application Part

BSSMAP BSS Management Application Part
CM Call Management
MM Mobile Management
RR Radio Resource Management
BTSM BTS Management

MM

RR

Sig. layer 2
(LAPDm)

Um Interface

(CM+MM)

A Interface

SCCP Signalling Connection Control Part

MAP Mobile Application Part
TCAP Transaction Capability Application Part
ISUP ISDN User Part
MTP Message Transfer Part

Inter-MSC
Interface

GSM system sigalling model

GSM System Signalling Model

GSM system signalling model adopts the lowest three layer of OSI
seven layer protocol model, from low to high:

Layer 1 Physical Layer

Layer 2 Link Layer

Layer 3 Network Layer

GSM system sigalling model

Physical Layer

The physical layer provides error protection transmission. It defines the electric
parameters of transmission.

In ZTE-GSM digital mobile communication systems, The physical layer of Um

interface between MS and BTS is Radio link. Abis interface physical layer adopts
75-ohm coaxial cable or 120-ohm symmetrical twisted pair whose rate is 2Mbit/s.

Data Link Layer

The data link layer major functions: frame transmission error-free transmission
and realize end-to-end bits transfer between two connective entities. Open
maintenance and close the connection of two connective entities.

The link layer protocol used by the GSM system at the radio interface is the
LAPDm protocol (Dm channel link access procedure). The data link layer of Abis
interface between BTS and BSC is LAPD(D channel link access procedure).

GSM system sigalling model

Network Layer

NetworkLayer

CC

CM

MM

SS

SMS

RR

GSM system sigalling model

Network Layer

Radio Resources (RR) management handles the establishment, maintenance,and

release of physical channels. Its major functions are performed by BSC. Partition
functions are performed by BTS.

Mobility Management(MM) deals with the mobile stations register and the identify of
the mobile subscriber, The function are performed by MSC.

The CM Layer is composed of three functional entities: Call Control(CC), deals with
the functions to establish maintenance and release the call Short Message
Service support(SMS) and Supplementary Service support(SS).


GSM System Signalling Model
GSM System Signalling Application
GSM System Basic Signalling Procedure

GSM System Signalling Application

A-bis Protocol
Transparent layer 3
SS

DTAP

Layer 3

BTS management (BTSM)

(traffic management)

Layer 2

LAPD

GSM System Signalling Application

LAPD Protocol

LAPD is used to the Data Link Layer of Abis interface between BTS
and BSC. Commonly LAPD messages are consist of firmly frames.
These frames also have their own frame structure so that transmit
datas between message transmissions. The frame structure of LAPD
have three types Information frame guard frame unnumbered
frame
SABM Frame
SABM Frame is the first transmitted frame when establish LAPD
connection. Once SABM frame have been sent, entering multiple frames
acknowledged mode. The unacknowledged frames are ignored when
the sink receive SABM frame. DISC frame is used to terminated the
acknowledgement of multiple frame
UA Frame
The sink transmit one UA frame to acknowledgement when receive the
SABMME frame or DISC frame. so that the originated know the SABM
frame or DISC frame have been received by the sink.
I Frame
When the sink have been acknowledged. I frame is used to transmit
information frame. I frame also can contain some acknowledgement of
received frame.

GSM System Signalling Application

LAPD Protocol

RR Frame
RR frame is used to give the sink an indication to receive an I frame. also, RR
frame can acknowledge the frames of received frame .
UI Frame
UI frame is used to transmit information frames that neednt acknowledge by
the sink. For example, The broadcast in the system information of LAPDm is
an UI frame.
SAPI
Each layer uses the services that the lower layer to accomplish its own
service. At the same time, it provides services for the upper layer. The services
between two layers implement by the service access point(SAP). The service
access point indication(SAPI) is made up of six bits. It indicates the address in
the unit access data link entity. Same SAPI value is adopted between the
endpoint of data link(between BTS and BSC). Here is the detailed meaning of
SAPI:
SAPI=0
Radio Link
SAPI=3
Short Message Services
SAPI=62
Operation and Maintenance Establish Link

GSM System Signalling Application

LAPD Address Field

Flag
01111110

Address
16 Bits

SAPI
TEI
SAPI value
0
1
16
62
63
All others
SAPI
TEI
C/R
EA

=
=
=
=

C/R

Control
8 or 16 Bits

Information
N - Bits

CRC
Flag
16 Bits 01111110

EA 0
EA 1

Related entity
Radio signalling
Reserved for packet mode /Q.931
Reserved for packet mode /X.25
Operation and maintenance
Layer 2 management
Reserved for future standardisation

Service Access Point Identifier

Terminal End Point Identifier
Command / Response bit
Address Extension bit
0 = Extend 1 = Final

User type

TEI value
0-63
64-126

For fixed TRX addresses

For additional TRX addresses

Not used in GSM

Vendor-specific

GSM System Signalling Application

LAPD Control Field

OCTET 1 OCTET 2 + 3
Flag
01111110

Control field bits

8
( modulo 8 )

Address
16 Bits

I format

N(R)

S format

N(R)

P/F S

U format

OCTET N

Control
8 or 16 Bits

Information
N - Bits

OCTET 4

I format

OCTET 4

S format

M M M P/F M M 1

OCTET 4

U format

Transmitter send sequence number

N(R)

Transmitter receive sequence number

Supervisory function bit

Modifier function bit

P/F

Poll bit when issued as a command

Final bit when issued as a response
Reserved and set to 0

CRC
16 Bits

Control field bits

8
( modulo 128 )

N(S)

N(S)

OCTET 4 ( + 5 )

I format

Flag
01111110

N(S)

N(R)
X S S

P
1

N(R)
M M M P/F M M 1

OCTET 4
5
OCTET 4
5

P/F
1

OCTET 4

Information transfer format

Used for information transfer between layer 3 entities

S format

Supervisory format
Used for control functions

U format

Unnumbered format
Used for additional control functions and information
transfer

GSM System Signalling Application

Layer 3 Messages Type

Layer 3 messages
Control-channel messages
TRX management
Radio link layer management
Transparent layer 3 messages (DTAP)
Radio-resource management (RR)
Mobility management (MM)
Call management (CM)
Call control (CC)
Short message service (SMS)
Supplementary services (SS)

GSM System Signalling Application

Layer 3 Messages Format

Flag
01111110

Control

Address
16 Bits

Information

8 or 16 Bits

Information Element Identifier

Content of Information Elements

CRC

N - Bits

16 Bits

Message Discriminator
Message Type

EM

Flag
01111110

1
T

Octet 1
Octet 2

Information Elements

Fixed Length Info. Element Format

Octet n
Information Element Identifier
Length of Information Elements
Content of Information Elements
Variable Length Info. Element Format

0
1
4
6
8
Other

Message Discriminator
Reserved
Radio Link Management
Dedicated Channel Management
Common Channel Management
Transceiver Management
Reserved for Future Use

T: = 0: Non-transparent message
EM = Extension bit (future use)

GSM System Signalling Application

Layer 3 Messages -1
Radio Link Layer Management messages
DATA Request
(transfer of transparent messages in layer 2 I-frames on radio interface DATA Indication
(data request used from BSC and data indication used from BTS)
ERROR Indication (indicates protocol error on radio link layer)
Establish Request
(establishment of layer 2 on radio interface)
Establish Confirm
Establish Indication
Release Request
(release of layer 2 on radio interface)
Release Confirm
Release Indication
UNIT DATA Request (transfer of transparent messages in layer 2 UI-frames on radio interface)
UNIT DATA Indication (request used from BSC and indication used from BTS)

Common Channel Management messages

BCCH Information
CCCH LOAD Indication
Channel Required
DELETE Indication
PAGING Command
Immediate Assign CMD
SMS Broadcast Request

(indicates new information to be sent on BCCH)

(indicates load on RACH and PCH)
(reception of RR channel request message)
(deletion of RR immediate assign message due to overload on AGCH)
(request paging of MS)
(setup of DCCH, answer to CHAN REQ)
(broadcast of SMS message in cell)

GSM System Signalling Application

Layer 3 Messages -2
Dedicated Channel Management messages
Channel Activation
(activation of radio channel)
Channel Activation ACK
CHAN ACTIV negative ACK
Connection Failure
(failure on the radio connection)
DEACTIVATE SACCH
Encryption Command
(start of ciphering on radio interface)
Handover Detection
(MS handover to new BTS detected)
Measurement Result
(radio-signal measurement data from BTS/MS)
MODE MODIFY Request
(change of channel mode, e.g. speech to data)
MODE MODIFY ACK
MODE MODIFY negative ACK
Physical CONTEXT REQ
(physical context is not specified by ETSI)
Physical CONTEXT CONF
RF Channel Release
(release of radio channel)
RF Channel Release ACK
MS POWER CONTROL
(change of MS power level or control limits)
BS POWER CONTROL
(change of TRX power level or control limits)
Preprocess Configure
(conveys preprocessing parameters to BTS)
Preprocesses MEAS RES
(from BTS)

GSM System Signalling Application

Layer 3 Messages -3
TRX Management messages
RF RESource INDication

(interference level on idle radio channels)

SACCH FILLing

(new filling information to be used on SACCH)

OVERLOAD

(control channel or TRX processor overload)

ERROR REPORT

(detection of errored message)

GSM System Signalling Application

Transparent Layer 3 Messages

Flag
01111110

Address
16 Bits

Control
8 or 16 Bits

Information
N - Bits

CRC
16 Bits

Flag
01111110

Message Discriminator := 1 (Radio LinkManagement)

T := 1 (transparent message)

Message Discriminator
Transaction Identifier
TI-flag := 0

Message is sent from the

TI-originating side

TI-flag := 1

Message is sent to the

TI-originating side

EM

1
T

Message Type

Octet 1
Octet 2

Channel Number
Information Elements

TI-value := 0-7 Reference

L3 Information
Protocol Discriminator
3
Call control, packet, suppl. service
5
Mobility management
Radio resources management
6
9
Short message services
11
Non call related suppl. services
Reserved for test procedures
15
Other Reserved for future use

TI
Flag
0

TI
Value

Protocol
Discriminator

Message Type
Information Elements
Octet n

GSM System Signalling Application

Radio Resource Management (RR) - 1

Channel establishment messages (setup of dedicated control channel)
Additional assignment
Immediate assignment
Immediate assignment extended
Immediate assignment reject

(allocation of additional DCCH)

Replaced by immediate assign command on A-bis interface

Ciphering messages (encryption of radio interface)

Ciphering mode command
Replaced by encryption command on A-bis interface
Ciphering mode complete
Replaced by encryption complete on A-bis interface

Handover messages
Assignment command
Assignment complete
Assignment failure
Handover command
Handover complete
Handover failure
Physical information

(assignment of traffic channel, TCH)

(control of handover)
(request MS activation of DCCH)

Channel release messages (release of dedicated control channels)

Channel release
Partial release
Partial release complete

GSM System Signalling Application

Radio Resource Management (RR) - 2

Paging messages
Paging request type 1
Paging request type 2
Paging request type 3
Paging response

(paging of one or two MS)

(paging of two or three MS)
(paging of four MS)

System information messages

System information type 1
System information type 2
System information type 3
System information type 4
System information type 5
System information type 6
System information type 2 bis
System information type 5 bis
Miscellaneous messages
Channel mode modify
RR status
Channel mode modify ack
Frequency redefinition
Measurement report
Classmark change

Replaced by paging
command on A-bis
interface

Replaced by BCCH information and SACCH filling

on A-bis interface

(full-rate, half-rate, speech etc.)

(report signalling-error conditions)
(change of frequency-hopping sequence)
(radio-signal measurement from BTS and MS)
(indicates change of MS power class)

GSM System Signalling Application

Mobile Management (MM)

Registration messages
IMSI detach indication
Location updating accept
Location updating reject
Location updating request

(inactive indication of IMSI/TMSI)

(control of roaming)

Security messages (control of authentication and TMSI allocation)

Authentication reject
Authentication request
Authentication response
Identity request
Identity response
TMSI reallocation command
TMSI reallocation complete

Connection-management messages (control of CM access)

CM service accept
CM service reject
CM service request
CM reestablishment request

GSM System Signalling Application

Call Control (CC) -1

Call establishment messages
Alerting
Call confirmed
Call proceeding
Connect
Connect acknowledge
Emergency setup
Progress
Setup
Call information phase messages
Modify
Modify complete
Modify reject
User information
Call clearing messages
Disconnect
Release
Release complete

(used to modify a call from speech to data)

(transfer information between GSM/ISDN users)

GSM System Signalling Application

Call Control (CC) -2

Miscellaneous messages
Congestion control
(flow control for user information
messages)
Notify
(informs remote user of suspend/resume)
Status
(reports signalling-error conditions)
Status enquiry
Start DTMF
Stop DTMF
Stop DTMF acknowledge
Start DTMF acknowledge
Start DTMF reject

GSM System Signalling Application

Short Message Service

Messages
CP-data
CP-ack
message)
CP-error
Information elements
CP-user data
CP-cause

Protocol - A-bis interface

(transfer of SMS message)

(acknowledge of received SMS
(error indication)
(contains the SMS message)
(indicates reason for CP error message)

GSM System Signalling Application

A-interface Protocol
SS

DTAP

BSSMAP

BSS application part

(BSSAP)

Layer 3

Layer 2

SCCP

MTP

GSM System Signalling Application

SCCP Protocol

SCCP

SCCP
User parts

User parts
Type A

Type B

Type A
Common
transfer

Signalling link

Common
transfer

Type B

Message transfer part

Type C

Type C

GSM System Signalling Application

SCCP (Signalling Connection Control Part)

Provides setup of logical signalling connections
Provides release of logical signalling connections
Provides transfer of data
4 different protocol classes
Basic connectionless
Sequenced connectionless
Connection-oriented
Flow control connection-oriented

GSM System Signalling Application

Connection Data Transfer

SP

STP

SP

UDT
UDT

UDT
UDT

GSM System Signalling Application

Establishment of logical Connection

SP

STP

SP

CR
CR
CC

Data transfer
RLSD

CC

Data transfer
RLSD
RLC

RLC

GSM System Signalling Application

Use of reference number

SLR = 11 CR
CC DLR = 11 SLR = 44
DLR = 44 DT1
DT1 DLR = 11

DT1:
SLR:
DLR:
CR:
CC:

Data type 1
Source local reference
Destination local reference
Connection request
Connection confirm

GSM System Signalling Application

SCCP message format

CK

SIF

SCCP user data

Label

Message
type

Mandatory fixed part

Mandatory variable part
Optional part

SIO

SLS

LI

F
I FSN
B

Originating
point code

B
I BSN
B

Destination
point code

GSM System Signalling Application

SCCP message
CR

Connection request

CC

Connection confirm

CREF

Connection refused

RLSD

Released

RLC

Release complete

DT1

Data form 1

UDT

Unit data

UDTS

Unit data service

ERR

Protocol data unit error

IT

Inactivity test

GSM System Signalling Application

BSSMAP Message Format

F

CK

SIF

Label

SIO

LI

F
I FSN
B

B
I BSN
B

SCCP address
FE = BSSAP
Disc. 0 = BSSMAP
Information Element Identifier

Length indicator
BSSMAP message type
BSSMAP message

Content of Information Elements

Fixed Length Info. Element Format
Information Element Identifier
Length of Information Elements
Content of Information Elements
Variable Length Info. Element Format

GSM System Signalling Application

BSSMAP Message -1
Assignment messages (setup of traffic channels)
Assignment request
Assignment complete
Assignment failure

Handover messages
Handover request
Handover required
Handover request ack.
Handover command
Handover complete
Handover failure
Handover performed
Handover candidate enquiry

(to BSC: request for handover to that BSC)

(to MSC: inter BSC/MSC handover required)
(to MSC: acknowledge of handover request)
(to BSC: contains new radio channel/BTS for the MS)
(to MSC: commanded handover successful)
(to MSC: commanded handover unsuccessful)
(to MSC: BSC has performed internal handover)
(to BSC: MSC requests list of MS that could be handed
over to another cell)
Handover candidate response (to MSC: answer to handover candidate enquiry)
Handover required reject
(to BSC: required handover unsuccessful)
Handover detect
(to MSC: commanded handover successful)

GSM System Signalling Application

BSSMAP Message -2
Release messages
Clear command
Clear complete
Clear request
SAPI n clear command
SAPI n clear complete
SAPI n reject

(release of traffic channel)

(control of layer 2 SAPI n on the radio interface)

General messages
Reset
Reset acknowledge
Overload
Trace invocation
Reset circuit
Reset circuit acknowledge

(initialisation of BSS or MSC due to failure)

(processor or CCCH overload)
(start production of trace record
(initialisation of single circuit due to failure)

Terrestrial resource messages

Block
Blocking acknowledge
Unblock
Unblocking acknowledge

(management of circuits/time slots between MSC and BTS)

GSM System Signalling Application

BSSMAP Message -2
Radio resource messages
Resource request

(available radio channels in BSS cells)

Resource indication
Paging

(paging of MS)

Cipher mode command

(start encryption)

Classmark update

(change of MS power class)

Cipher mode complete

Queuing indication

(indicates delay in assignment of traffic channel)

Complete layer 3 information

(contains first message received from MS; sets up SCCP

connection)

Catalog
GSM System Signalling Model
GSM System Signalling Application
GSM System Basic Signalling Procedure

GSM System Basic Signalling Procedure

Mobile Originating Call Establishment
Procedure -1

GSM System Basic Signalling Procedure

Mobile Originating Call Establishment
Procedure -2

GSM System Basic Signalling Procedure

Mobile Originating Call Establishment
Procedure -3

GSM System Basic Signalling Procedure

Mobile Terminating Call Establishment
Procedure -1

GSM System Basic Signalling Procedure

Mobile Terminating Call Establishment
Procedure -2

GSM System Basic Signalling Procedure

Mobile Terminating Call Establishment
Procedure -3

GSM System Basic Signalling Procedure

Location Update Procedure -1

GSM System Basic Signalling Procedure

Location Update Procedure -2

GSM System Basic Signalling Procedure

Intra BTS Handover Procedure

GSM System Basic Signalling Procedure

Intra BSC Handover Procedure

GSM System Basic Signalling Procedure

Inter BSC Handover Procedure

GSM System Basic Signalling Procedure

Call Re-establishment Procedure

GSM System Basic Signalling Procedure

Directed Retry Procedure

GSM System Basic Signalling Procedure

Short Message Procedure On SDCCH When MS Is
Calling -1

GSM System Basic Signalling Procedure

Short Message Procedure On SDCCH When MS Is
Calling -2

GSM System Basic Signalling Procedure

Short Message Procedure On SDCCH When MS Is
Called -1

GSM System Basic Signalling Procedure

Short Message Procedure On SDCCH When MS Is
Called -2

GSM System Basic Signalling Procedure

Short Message Procedure On SACCH When MS Is
Calling

GSM System Basic Signalling Procedure

Short Message Procedure On SACCH When MS Is
Called