Internal

OMF001006 GSM Signaling System BSSAP(BSS)

ISSUE 2.0
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References
31033202-BSS Signaling Analysis

Manual
GSM Specification 0808 GSM Specification 0408

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 Upon completion this course, you will be

able to: Understand the structure of BSSAP message Distinguish BSSMAP and DTAP messages Know some BSSMAP and DTAP message elements

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Chapter 1 BSSAP Functional Structure

Chapter 2 Typical Messages

Chapter 3 BSC Signaling and Interface Tracing

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BSSAP Functional Structure

BSSAPBSS Application Part

BSSMAPBSS Management Application Part DTAPDirect Transfer Part

CM
MM
SCCPSignaling Connection Control Part MTPMessage Transfer Part

BSSAP SCCP MTP-3 MTP-2 MTP-1

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BSSAP Functional Structure

Transmission Equipments for Air Interface Corresponding BSC Processing Modules Corresponding MSC Application and Control Modules

BSSAP
DTAP BSSMAP DTAP

BSSAP BSSMAP

Distribution Function SCCP MTP A-Interface

Distribution Function SCCP MTP

BSS
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MSC
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Distribution Sub-layer
Functions of BSSAP Distribution Sub-layer
To discriminate DTAP and BSSMAP messages

To distribute the DTAP messages to radio link L2 access point

To converge the DTAP messages received from radio link L2

to A-interface signaling link

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Components of Distribution Sub-layer

Components of Distribution Sub-layer
DTAP Octet 1 Octet 2 Octet 3 Octet 4
Identifier
DLCI LI L3

BSSMAP Octet 1
Identifier

Distribution
Data Unit

Octet 2 Octet 3

LI L3

Length Indicator

..

Octet L

Message

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.. Octet L
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L3 Messages

Message

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DTAP
DTAP takes charge of transferring transparent L3 messages from MS
to MSC or from MSC to MS which BSS will not analyze. It is transferred between BSS and MSC by using SCCP service class 2 (basic connection-oriented class).

I Distribution Data Unit

User data

II Length Indication III L3 Information

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DTAP Distribution Data Unit

Distribution Data Unit has two parameters: Discriminator : 00000000 Data Link Connection IdentityDLCI:

To indicate the data link type that should be used on the radio interface for the messages sent from MSC to BSS To indicate the data link type on the radio interface that reports the message which is sent by BSS to MSC.

Bit:
Discriminator:

8 0

7 6
0

5 4

3 2 0 0

1 D

0 0 0

D=1 stands for transparent transmission (DTAP)

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BSSMAP
The transmission of BSSMAP messages upon SCCP is for the

BSSMAP functional entities of both MSC and BSS to exchange information.

The distribution data unit of BSSMAP messages only has the

discriminator. D should be equal to 0 which stands for nontransparent transmission.

Bit: Discriminator:

8 0

7 6

5 4

3 2 0 0

1 D

0 0 0

D=0 stands for non-transparent transmission (BSSAP)

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Chapter 1 BSSAP Functional Structure

Chapter 2 Typical Messages

Chapter 3 BSC Signaling and Interface Tracing

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Chapter 2 Typical Messages

1.1 BSSMAP Message 1.2 DTAP Message

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Assignment Request
This message is sent from the MSC to the BSS via the relevant SCCP

connection in order to request the BSS to assign radio resource(s), the attributes of which are defined within the message.
The message may also include the terrestrial circuit to be used.
INFORMATION ELEMENT Message Type Channel Type Layer 3 Header Information Priority Circuit Identity Code Downlink DTX Flag Interference Band To Be Used Classmark Information 2 Group Call Reference Talker Flag Configuration Evolution Indication REFERENCE 3.2.2.1 3.2.2.11 3.2.2.9 3.2.2.18 3.2.2.2 3.2.2.26 3.2.2.21 3.2.2.19 3.2.2.55 3.2.2.54 3.2.2.57 DIRECTION MSC-BSS MSC-BSS MSC-BSS MSC-BSS MSC-BSS MSC-BSS MSC-BSS MSC-BSS MSC-BSS MSC-BSS MSC-BSS TYPE M M O (3) O O (1) O (2) O O (4) O (5) O (6) O (7) LEN 1 5-10 4 3 3 2 2 4-5 3-8 1 2

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Assignment Complete
The ASSIGNMENT COMPLETE message is sent from the BSS to the MSC

and indicates that the requested assignment has been completed correctly.
The message is sent via the BSSAP SCCP connection associated with the

dedicated resource(s).
INFORMATION ELEMENT Message Type RR Cause Circuit Identity Code Cell Identifier Chosen Channel Chosen Encryption Algorithm Circuit Pool Speech Version (Chosen) REFERENCE 3.2.2.1 3.2.2.22 3.2.2.2 3.2.2.17 3.2.2.33 3.2.2.44 3.2.2.45 3.2.2.51 DIRECTION BSS-MSC BSS-MSC BSS-MSC BSS-MSC BSS-MSC BSS-MSC BSS-MSC BSS-MSC TYPE M O O (4) O (1) O (3) O (5) O (2) O (6) LEN 1 2 3 3-10 2 2 2 2

LSA Identifier
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BSS-MSC
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O (7)

Assignment Failure
The ASSIGNMENT FAILURE message is sent from the BSS to

the MSC via the relevant SCCP connection. It indicates that there has been a failure in the assignment process at the BSS and that the assignment procedure has been aborted.
INFORMATION ELEMENT Message Type Cause RR Cause Circuit Pool Circuit Pool List REFERENCE 3.2.2.1 3.2.2.5 3.2.2.22 3.2.2.45 3.2.2.46 DIRECTION BSS-MSC BSS-MSC BSS-MSC BSS-MSC BSS-MSC TYPE M M O O (1) O (2) LEN 1 3-4 2 2 V

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Handover Required
This message is sent from the BSS to the MSC to indicate that for a given

MS which already has dedicated radio resource(s) assigned, a handover is required for the reason given by the cause element.
The message is sent via the BSSAP SCCP connection associated with the

dedicated resource(s).
INFORMATION ELEMENT Message Type Cause Response Request Cell Identifier List (Preferred) Circuit Pool List Current Channel Type 1 Speech Version (Used) Queueing Indicator Old BSS to New BSS Information HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. REFERENCE 3.2.2.1 3.2.2.5 3.2.2.28 3.2.2.27 DIRECTION BSS-MSC BSS-MSC BSS-MSC BSS-MSC TYPE M M O M LEN 1 3-4 1 2n+3 to 7n+3 V 2 2 2 2-n

3.2.2.46 3.2.2.49 3.2.2.51 3.2.2.50 3.2.2.59

BSS-MSC BSS-MSC BSS-MSC BSS-MSC BSS-MSC Page 17

O (1) O (2) O (3) O O

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Handover Request
This message is sent from the MSC to the BSS via the relevant SCCP

connection to indicate that the MS is to be handed over to that BSS.

INFORMATION ELEMENT Message Type Channel Type Encryption Information Classmark Information 1 Or Classmark Information 2 Cell Identifier (Serving) Priority Circuit Identity Code Downlink DTX Flag Cell Identifier (Target) Interference Band To Be Used Cause Classmark Information 3 Current Channel type 1 Speech Version (Used) Group Call Reference Talker Flag Configuration Evolution Indication Chosen Encryption Algorithm (Serving) Old BSS to New BSS Information LSA Information REFERENCE 3.2.2.1 3.2.2.11 3.2.2.10 3.2.2.30 3.2.2.19 3.2.2.17 3.2.2.18 3.2.2.2 3.2.2.26 3.2.2.17 3.2.2.21 3.2.2.5 3.2.2.20 3.2.2.49 3.2.2.51 3.2.2.55 3.2.2.54 3.2.2.57 3.2.2.44 3.2.2.59 3.2.2.23 DIRECTION MSC-BSS MSC-BSS MSC-BSS MSC-BSS MSC-BSS MSC-BSS MSC-BSS MSC-BSS MSC-BSS MSC-BSS MSC-BSS MSC-BSS MSC-BSS MSC-BSS MSC-BSS MSC-BSS MSC-BSS MSC-BSS MSC-BSS MSC-BSS MSC-BSS TYPE M M M (1) M# M (6) M O O (7) O (3) M O O (9) O (4) O (8) O (10) O (5) O (11) O (12) O (2) O(13) O(14) LEN 1 5-10 3-n 2 4-5 5-10 3 3 2 3-10 2 3-4 3-14 2 2 3-8 1 2 2 2-n 3+4n

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Handover Request Acknowledge

This message is sent from the BSS to the MSC and indicates that the

request to support a handover at the target BSS can be supported by the BSS, and also to which radio channel(s) the MS should be directed.
The message is sent via the BSSAP SCCP connection associated with the

dedicated resource.
INFORMATION ELEMENT Message Type Layer 3 Information Chosen Channel Chosen Encryption Algorithm Circuit Pool Speech Version (Chosen) Circuit Identity Code LSA Identifier HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. REFERENCE 3.2.2.1 3.2.2.24 3.2.2.33 3.2.2.44 3.2.2.45 3.2.2.51 3.2.2.2 3.2.2.15 All rights reserved DIRECTION BSS-MSC BSS-MSC BSS-MSC BSS-MSC BSS-MSC BSS-MSC BSS-MSC BSS-MSC Page 19 TYPE M M (1) O (4) O (5) O (2) O (6) O (3) O (7) LEN 1 11-n 2 2 2 2 3 4

Handover Command
This message is sent from the MSC to the BSS via the relevant

SCCP connection and contains the target channel to which the MS should retune.
INFORMATION ELEMENT Message Type Layer 3 Information Cell Identifier REFERENCE 3.2.2.1 3.2.2.24 3.2.2.17 DIRECTION MSC-BSS MSC-BSS MSC-BSS TYPE M M (1) O LEN 1 11-n 3-10

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Handover Required Reject

This message is sent from the MSC to the BSS via the relevant

SCCP connection. It indicates to the BSS that the HANDOVER REQUIRED message has not resulted in handover.

INFORMATION ELEMENT Message Type Cause

REFERENCE 3.2.2.1 3.2.2.5

DIRECTION MSC-BSS MSC-BSS

TYPE M M

LEN 1 3-4

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Handover Complete
This message is sent from the BSS to the MSC via the relevant SCCP

connection.
It indicates that the correct MS has successfully accessed the target cell.

INFORMATION ELEMENT Message Type RR Cause

REFERENCE 3.2.2.1 3.2.2.22

DIRECTION BSS-MSC BSS-MSC

TYPE M O

LEN 1 2

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Handover Failure
This message is sent from the BSS to the MSC via the relevant

SCCP connection. It indicates to the MSC that there has been a failure in the resource allocation process on handover, and that the handover has been aborted.
INFORMATION ELEMENT Message Type Cause RR Cause Circuit Pool Circuit Pool List REFERENCE 3.2.2.1 3.2.2.5 3.2.2.22 3.2.2.45 3.2.2.46 DIRECTION BSS-MSC BSS-MSC BSS-MSC BSS-MSC BSS-MSC TYPE M M O O (1) O (2) LEN 1 3-4 2 2 V

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Handover Performed
This message is sent from the BSS to the MSC in order to indicate that the

BSS has performed an internal handover.

The cell identifier and (if required for O and M reasons) optionally the new

channel identity is included.

The message is sent via the BSSAP SCCP connection associated with the

dedicated resource(s).
INFORMATION ELEMENT Message Type Cause Cell Identifier Chosen Channel Chosen Encryption Algorithm Speech Version (Chosen) LSA Identifier HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. REFERENCE 3.2.2.1 3.2.2.5 3.2.2.17 3.2.2.33 3.2.2.44 3.2.2.51 3.2.2.15 All rights reserved DIRECTION BSS-MSC BSS-MSC BSS-MSC BSS-MSC BSS-MSC BSS-MSC BSS-MSC Page 24 TYPE M M M O (1) O (2) O (3) O (4) LEN 1 3-4 3-10 2 2 2 4

Paging
This message is sent from the MSC to the BSS and contains

sufficient information to allow the paging message to be transmitted by the correct cells at the correct time.
This message is sent as a connectionless SCCP message.
INFORMATION ELEMENT REFERENCE DIRECTION TYPE LEN

Message Type
IMSI TMSI Cell Identifier List Channel Needed eMLPP Priority

3.2.2.1
3.2.2.6 3.2.2.7 3.2.2.27 3.2.2.36 3.2.2.56

MSC-BSS
MSC-BSS MSC-BSS MSC-BSS MSC-BSS MSC-BSS

M
M O (1) M O (2) O (3)

1
3-10 6 3 to 3+7n 2 2

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Clear Request
This message is sent from the BSS to the MSC to indicate to the

MSC that the BSS wishes to release the associated dedicated resource(s).
The message is sent via the BSSAP SCCP connection associated

with the dedicated resource(s).

INFORMATION ELEMENT Message Type Cause

REFERENCE 3.2.2.1 3.2.2.5

DIRECTION BSS-MSC BSS-MSC

TYPE M M

LEN 1 3-4

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Clear Command
This message is sent from the MSC to the BSS to instruct the

BSS to release the associated dedicated resource(s).

The message is sent via the BSSAP SCCP connection

associated with the dedicated resource(s).

INFORMATION ELEMENT Message Type Layer 3 Header Information Cause REFERENCE 3.2.2.1 3.2.2.9 3.2.2.5 DIRECTION MSC-BSS MSC-BSS MSC-BSS TYPE M O (1) M LEN 1 4 3-4

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Complete Layer 3 Information

The message is sent from the BSS to the MSC on receipt of the initial layer

3 message on a dedicated channel, e.g. Paging response, Location Updating Request, CM Reestablishment Request, CM Service Request, IMSI detach.
The BSS does not analyse the contents of the initial layer 3 message, other

than the Classmark information.

The message is sent via the BSSAP SCCP connection established for the

associated dedicated resource(s).

INFORMATION ELEMENT Message Type Cell Identifier Layer 3 Information REFERENCE 3.2.2.1 3.2.2.17 3.2.2.24 DIRECTION BSS-MSC BSS-MSC BSS-MSC TYPE M M M LEN 1 3-10 3-n

Chosen Channel
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BSS-MSC
BSS-MSC Page 28

O (1)
O (2)

2
2+3n

Chapter 2 Typical Messages

1.1 BSSMAP Message 1.2 DTAP Message

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Location Updating Accept

This message is sent by the network to the mobile station to indicate

that updating or IMSI attach in the network has been completed.

IEI Information element Mobility management protocol discriminator Skip Indicator Location Updating Accept message type Type / Reference Protocol discriminator/10.2 Skip Indicator/10.3.1 Message type/10.4 Location area identification/10.5.1.3 Mobile identity/10.5.1.4 Follow on proceed/10.5.3.7 Presence M M M Format V V V Length 1/2 1/2 1

Location area identification

17 A1 Mobile identity Follow on proceed

M
O O

V
TLV T

5
3-10 1

A2

CTS permission

CTS permission/10.5.3.10
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Location Updating Reject

This message is sent by the network to the mobile station to indicate

that updating or IMSI attach has failed.

IEI

Information element Mobility management protocol discriminator Skip Indicator

Type / Reference Protocol discriminator 10.2 Skip Indicator 10.3.1

Presence M

Format V

Length 1/2

1/2

Location Updating Reject message type Reject cause

Message type 10.4 Reject cause 10.5.3.6

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Disconnect (network to mobile station direction)

This message is sent by the network to indicate that the end-to-end

connection is cleared.
IEI Information element Call control protocol discriminator Transaction identifier Disconnect message type Cause 1C 1E 7E 7B Facility Progress indicator User-user Allowed actions $(CCBS)$ Type / Reference Protocol discriminator 10.2 Transaction identifier 10.3.2 Message type 10.4 Cause 10.5.4.11 Facility 10.5.4.15 Progress indicator 10.5.4.21 User-user 10.5.4.25 Allowed actions 10.5.4.26 Presence M Format V Length 1/2

M
M M O O O O

V
V LV TLV TLV TLV TLV

1/2
1 3-31 2-? 4 3-131 3

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Disconnect (mobile station to network direction)

Disconnect

This

message is sent by the mobile station to request the network to clear an end-to-end connection.

The

message contents are similar to those of Disconnect (network to mobile station direction)

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Setup (mobile originating call establishment)

This message is sent from the mobile station to the network to initiate

a mobile originating call establishment.

IEI Information element Call control protocol discriminator Transaction identifier Setup message type BC repeat indicator Bearer capability 1 Bearer capability 2 Facility (simple recall alignment) Calling party subaddress Called party BCD number Called party subaddress Type / Reference Protocol discriminator 10.2 Transaction identifier 10.3.2 Message type 10.4 Repeat indicator 10.5.4.22 Bearer capability 10.5.4.5 Bearer capability 10.5.4.5 Facility 10.5.4.15 Calling party subaddr. 10.5.4.10 Called party BCD num. 10.5.4.7 Called party subaddr. 10.5.4.8 Presence M M M C M O O O M O Format V V V TV TLV TLV TLV TLV TLV TLV Length 1/2 1/2 1 1 3-15 3-15 22-23 3-43 2-23

D04 04 1C 5D 5E 6D

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Chapter 1 BSSAP Functional Structure

Chapter 2 Typical Messages

Chapter 3 BSC Signaling and Interface Tracing

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Means of BSC Signaling and Interface Tracing

Signaling analyzer

MA10 KC1297
BSC Maintenance Console

GSM Interface Tracing

GSM Interface Tracing Review

NO7 Message Tracing NO7 Message Tracing Review

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Comparison of different means

Signaling Analyzer

Expensive, additional investment needed. Can trace all the signaling of A-interface and Abis-interface from the physical layer.
GSM Interface Trace

No additional equipment and investment needed. A-interface trace to trace BSSAP and SCCP in BSC. A-bis interface trace to trace A-bis interface L3 messages. Um interface trace to trace Um interface L3 messages.

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Relevant GSM Specifications

GM 0808A interface
GM 0858A-bis interface GM 0408Um interface

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Thank You
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