The GSM Radio Interface
AIR INTERFACE
BASE TRANSCEIVER STATION
MOBILE
The GSM Network Architecture
Time division multiple access-TDMA
124 radio carriers, inter carrier spacing
200khz.
890 to 915mhz mobile to base - UPLINK
935 to 960mhz base to mobile DOWNLINK
8 channels/carrier
GSM uses paired radio channels
INK
L
P
U
INK
L
WN
O
D
890MHz
915MHz
124
935MHz
960MHz
124
Access Mechanism
FDMA, TDMA, CDMA
Frequency multiplex
Separation of the whole spectrum into smaller frequency bands
A channel gets a certain band of the
spectrum for the whole time
k1
k2
k3
k4
Advantages:
c
no dynamic coordination
necessary
works also for analog signals
Disadvantages:
waste of bandwidth
if the traffic is
distributed unevenly
t
inflexible
guard spaces
k5
k6
Time multiplex
A channel gets the whole spectrum for a certain amount of
time
Advantages:
only one carrier in the
medium at any time
throughput high even
for many users
Disadvantages:
precise
synchronization
necessary
k1
k2
k3
k4
k5
k6
c
f
Time and Frequency Multiplex
Combination of both methods
A channel gets a certain frequency band for a certain
amount of time
k
k
k
k
1
k5
k6
c
f
Time and Frequency Multiplex
Example: GSM
Advantages:
Better protection against
tapping
Protection against frequency
selective interference
Higher data rates compared to
code multiplex
But: precise coordination
required
t
k1
k2
k3
k4
k5
k6
c
f
GSM combines FDM and TDM: bandwidth
is subdivided into channels of 200khz,
shared by up to eight stations, assigning
slots for transmission on demand.
GSM uses paired radio channels
INK
L
P
U
INK
L
WN
O
D
890MHz
915MHz
124
935MHz
960MHz
124
Code Multiplex
k1
k2
Each channel has a unique code
All channels use the same spectrum at the same
time
Advantages:
Bandwidth efficient
No coordination and synchronization
necessary
Good protection against interference and
tapping
Disadvantages:
Lower user data rates
More complex signal regeneration
t
Implemented using spread spectrum technology
k3
k4
k5
k6
Various Access Method
Cells
Capacity & Spectrum Utilization
Solution
The need:
Optimum spectrum usage
More capacity
High quality of service
Low cost
Network capacity at required QoS
with conventional frequency plan
Out of
Capacity!!!
Subscriber
growth
Time
increase capacity
without adding NEW BTS!
I wish I could
What can I do?
Representation of Cells
Ideal cells
Fictitious cells
Cell size and capacity
Cell size determines number of cells
available to cover geographic area and
(with frequency reuse) the total capacity
available to all users
Capacity within cell limited by available
bandwidth and operational requirements
Each network operator has to size cells to
handle expected traffic demand
Cell structure
Implements space division multiplex: base station covers a certain transmission
area (cell)
Mobile stations communicate only via the base station
Advantages of cell structures:
higher capacity, higher number of users
less transmission power needed
more robust, decentralized
base station deals with interference, transmission area etc. locally
Problems:
fixed network needed for the base stations
handover (changing from one cell to another) necessary
interference with other cells
Cell sizes from some 100 m in cities to, e.g., 35 km on the country side (GSM) even less for higher frequencies
Capacity of a Cellular System
Frequency Re-Use Distance
The K factor or the cluster size
Cellular coverage or Signal to interference
ratio
Sectoring
Increasing cellular system
capacity
Cell sectoring
Directional antennas subdivide cell into 3 or 6
sectors
Might also increase cell capacity by factor of 3
or 6
Increasing cellular system
capacity
Cell splitting
Decrease transmission power in base and
mobile
Results in more and smaller cells
Reuse frequencies in non-contiguous cell
groups
Example: cell radius leads 4 fold capacity
increase
Tri-Sector antenna for a cell
Cell Distribution in a Network
Rural
Highway
Suburb
Town
Concept of TDMA Frames and
Channels
c
f
GSM combines FDM and TDM: bandwidth is subdivided
into channels of 200khz, shared by up to eight stations,
assigning slots for transmission on demand.
GSM uses paired radio channels
INK
L
P
U
INK
L
WN
O
D
890MHz
915MHz
124
935MHz
960MHz
124
GSM delays uplink TDMA frames
The start of the uplink
TDMA is delayed of
three time slots
TDMA frame (4.615 ms)
Downlink TDMA
F1MHz
R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8
T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8
Fixed transmit
Delay of three time-slots
Uplink TDMA
Frame
F1 + 45MHz
GSM - TDMA/FDMA
qu
en
c
935-960 MHz
124 channels (200 kHz)
downlink
fre
890-915 MHz
124 channels (200 kHz)
uplink
higher GSM frame structures
time
GSM TDMA frame
1
8
4.615 ms
GSM time-slot (normal burst)
guard
space
tail
3 bits
user data
S Training S
user data
57 bits
1 26 bits 1
57 bits
guard
tail space
546.5 s
577 s
LOGICAL CHANNELS
TRAFFIC
FULL RATE
Bm 22.8 Kb/S
SIGNALLING
HALF RATE
Lm 11.4 Kb/S
BROADCAST
FCCH
SCH
COMMON CONTROL
DEDICATED CONTROL
BCCH
PCH
FCCH -- FREQUENCY CORRECTION CHANNEL
SCH -- SYNCHRONISATION CHANNEL
BCCH -- BROADCAST CONTROL CHANNEL
PCH -- PAGING CHANNEL
RACH -- RANDOM ACCESS CHANNEL
AGCH -- ACCESS GRANTED CHANNEL
SDCCH -- STAND ALONE DEDICATED CONTROL CHANNEL
SACCH -- SLOW ASSOCIATED CONTROL CHANNEL
FACCH -- FAST ASSOCIATED CONTROL CHANNEL
RACH
AGCH
SDCCH
SACCH
DOWN LINK ONLY
UPLINK ONLY
FACCH
BOTH UP &
DOWNLINKS
Broadcast Channel BCH
Broadcast control channel (BCCH) is a base
to mobile channel which provides general
information about the network, the cell in
which the mobile is currently located and
the adjacent cells
Frequency correction channel (FCCH) is a
base to mobile channel which provides
information for carrier synchronization
Synchronization channel (SCH) is a base to
mobile channel which carries information
for frame synchronization and identification
of the base station transceiver
Common Control
Channel - CCH
Paging channel (PCH) is a base to
mobile channel used to alert a mobile to
a call originating from the network
Random access channel (RACH) is a
mobile to base channel used to request
for dedicated resources
Access grant channel (AGCH) is a base
to mobile which is used to assign
dedicated resources (SDCCH or TCH)
Dedicated Control
Channel - DCCH
Stand-alone dedicated control
channel (SDCCH) is a bidirectional channel allocated to a
specific mobile for exchange of
location update information and
call set up information
Dedicated Control
Channel - DCCH
Slow associated control channel (SACCH) is a bidirectional channel used for exchanging control
information between base and a mobile during the
progress of a call set up procedure. The SACCH is
associated with a particular traffic channel or stand
alone dedicated control channel
Fast associated control channel (FACCH) is a bidirectional channel which is used for exchange of
time critical information between mobile and base
station during the progress of a call. The FACCH
transmits control information by stealing capacity
from the associated TCH
DEFINITION OF TIME SLOT - 156.25 BITS 15/26ms = 0.577ms
NORMAL BURST
- NB
FREQUENCY
CORRECTION
BURST - FB
SYNCHRONISATION
BURST - SB
57
26
142
39
ACCESS
BURST - AB
TAIL BIT
ENCRYPTION BIT
57
39
64
41
GUARD PERIOD
TRAINING BITS
36
FIXED BITS
FLAG BITS
8.25
8.25
8.25
68.25
SYNCHRONISATION BITS
MIXED BITS
LOGICAL CHANNELS
TRAFFIC
FULL RATE
Bm 22.8 Kb/S
SIGNALLING
HALF RATE
Lm 11.4 Kb/S
BROADCAST
FCCH
SCH
COMMON CONTROL
DEDICATED CONTROL
BCCH
PCH
FCCH -- FREQUENCY CORRECTION CHANNEL
SCH -- SYNCHRONISATION CHANNEL
BCCH -- BROADCAST CONTROL CHANNEL
PCH -- PAGING CHANNEL
RACH -- RANDOM ACCESS CHANNEL
AGCH -- ACCESS GRANTED CHANNEL
SDCCH -- STAND ALONE DEDICATED CONTROL CHANNEL
SACCH -- SLOW ASSOCIATED CONTROL CHANNEL
FACCH -- FAST ASSOCIATED CONTROL CHANNEL
RACH
AGCH
SDCCH
SACCH
DOWN LINK ONLY
UPLINK ONLY
FACCH
BOTH UP &
DOWNLINKS
Location update from the mobile
Mobile looks for BCCH after switching on
RACH send channel request
AGCH receive SDCCH
SDCCH request for location updating
SDCCH authenticate
SDCCH authenticate response
SDCCH switch to cipher mode
SDCCH cipher mode acknowledge
SDCCH allocate TMSI
SDCCH acknowledge new TMSI
SDCCH switch idle update mode
Call establishment from a mobile
Mobile looks for BCCH after switching on
RACH send channel request
AGCH receive SDCCH
SDCCH send call establishment request
SDCCH do the authentication and TMSI allocation
SDCCH send the setup message and desired number
SDCCH require traffic channel assignment
FACCH switch to traffic channel and send ack (steal bits)
FACCH receive alert signal ringing sound
FACCH receive connect message
FACCH acknowledge connect message and use TCH
TCH conversation continues
Call establishment to a mobile
Mobile looks for BCCH after switching on
Mobile receives paging message on PCH
Generate Channel Request on RACH
Receive signaling channel SDCCH on AGCH
Answer paging message on SDCCH
Receive authentication request on SDCCH
Authenticate on SDCCH
Receive setup message on SDCCH
Receive traffic channel assignment on SDCCH
FACCH switch to traffic channel and send ack (steal bits)
Receive alert signal and generate ringing on FACCH
Receive connect message on FACCH
FACCH acknowledge connect message and switch to TCH
Thank You