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GSM Document No Restriction
GSM Document No Restriction
GSM Document No Restriction
INTRODUCTION
The Global System for Mobile communications is a digital cellular communications system. It was developed in order to create a common European mobile telephone standard but it has been rapidly accepted worldwide. GSM was designed to be compatible with ISDN services.
In order to overcome these problems, the Conference of European Posts and Telecommunications (CEPT) formed, in 1982, the Groupe Spcial Mobile (GSM) in order to develop a pan-European mobile cellular radio system (the GSM acronym became later the acronym for Global System for Mobile communications). The standardized system had to meet certain criterias: Spectrum efficiency International roaming Low mobile and base stations costs Good subjective voice quality Compatibility with other systems such as ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) Ability to support new services
Unlike the existing cellular systems, which were developed using an analog technology, the GSM system was developed using a digital technology. The reasons for this choice are explained in section 3
In 1989 the responsibility for the GSM specifications passed from the CEPT to the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI). The aim of the GSM specifications is to describe the functionality and the interface for each component of the system, and to provide guidance on the design of the system. These specifications will then standardize the system in order to guarantee the proper interworking between the different elements of the GSM system. In 1990, the phase I of the GSM specifications were published but the commercial use of GSM did not start until mid1991. The most important events in the development of the GSM system are presented in the table 1 Year 1982 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1995 Events CEPT establishes a GSM group in order to develop the standards for a panEuropean cellular mobile system Adoption of a list of recommendations to be generated by the group Field tests were performed in order to test the different radio techniques proposed for the air interface TDMA is chosen as access method (in fact, it will be used with FDMA) Initial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by telecommunication operators (representing 12 countries) Validation of the GSM system The responsibility of the GSM specifications is passed to the ETSI Appearance of the phase 1 of the GSM specifications Commercial launch of the GSM service Enlargement of the countries that signed the GSM- MoU> Coverage of larger cities/airports Coverage of main roads GSM services start outside Europe Phase 2 of the GSM specifications Coverage of rural areas Table 1: Events in the development of GSM From the evolution of GSM, it is clear that GSM is not anymore only a European standard. GSM networks are operational or planned in over 80 countries around the world. The rapid and increasing acceptance of the GSM system is illustrated with the following figures: 1.3 million GSM subscribers worldwide in the beginning of 1994. Over 5 million GSM subscribers worldwide in the beginning of 1995.
Over 10 million GSM subscribers only in Europe by December 1995. Since the appearance of GSM, other digital mobile systems have been developed. The table 2 charts the different mobile cellular systems developed since the commercial launch of cellular systems. Mobile Cellular System Nordic Mobile Telephony (NMT), 450> American Mobile Phone System (AMPS) Total Access Communication System (TACS) Radio COM 2000 C-Netz Nordic Mobile Telephony (NMT), 900> Global System for Mobile communications> North American Digital Cellular (NADC) Digital Cellular System (DCS) 1800 Personal Digital Cellular (PDC) or Japanese Digital Cellular (JDC) Personal Communications Systems (PCS) 1900- Canada> PCS-United States of America> Table 2: Mobile cellular system
Year 1981 1983 1985 1986 1991 1992 1994 1995 1996
1.2 Objectives
a. Common radio spectrum in all countries b. Integrated European system with international roaming c. Create large single market d. Increase available cellular radio capacity e. Better security functions f. Accommodate new services
1.3 Advantages
a. GSM is mature; this maturity means a more stable network with robust features. b. Less signal deterioration inside buildings. c. Ability to use repeaters. d. Talktime is generally higher in GSM phones due to the nature of transmission. e. The availability of Subscriber Identity Modules allows users to switch networks. f. GSM covers virtually all parts of the world so roaming is not a problem.
1.4 Disadvantages
a. Pulse nature of TDMA transmission used in 2G interferes with some electronics, especially certain audio amplifiers. b. Intellectual property is concentrated among a few industry participants, creating barriers to entry for new entrants and competition among phone manufacturers. c. GSM has a fixed maximum cell site range of 35 km, imposed by technical limit.
2.CELLULAR SYSTEM
Wireless communication technology in which several small exchanges(called cells) equipped with low-power radio antennas (strategically located over a wide geographical area) are interconnected through a central exchange. As a receiver(cell phone) moves from one place to the next, its identity, location, and radio frequency is handed-over by one cell to another without interrupting a call.
In order to exchange the information needed to maintain the communication links within the cellular network, several radio channels are reserved for the signaling information.
2.2 Cluster
The cells are grouped into clusters. The number of cells in a cluster must be determined so that the cluster can be repeated continuously within the covering area of an operator. The typical clusters contain 4, 7, 12 or 21 cells. The number of cells in each cluster is very important. The smaller the number of cells per cluster is, the bigger the number of channels per cell will be. The capacity of each cell will be therefore increased. However a balance must be found in order to avoid the interference that could occur between neighboring clusters. This interference is produced by the small size of the clusters (the size of the cluster is defined by the number of cells per cluster). The total number of channels per cell depends on the number of available channels and the type of cluster used.
Macrocells The macrocells are large cells for remote and sparsely populated areas. Microcells These cells are used for densely populated areas. By splitting the existing areas into smaller cells, the number of channels available is increased as well as the capacity of the cells. Selective cells It is not always useful to define a cell with a full coverage of 360 degrees. In some cases, cells with a particular shape and coverage are needed. These cells are called selective cells. Umbrella cells A freeway crossing very small cells produces an important number of handovers among the different small neighboring cells. In order to solve this problem, the concept of umbrella cells is introduced.
HLR Home Location Register BTS Base Transceiver Station PSTN Public Switched Telecomm Network ISDN Integrated Services Digital Network
4.1.1.2 The S I M
The S I M is a s mar t c ard t hat i de nt if ies t he t er minal. By inser t ing t he S I M card int o t he t er minal, t he u ser can have access t o all t he subscribed ser vice s. Wit hou t t he S I M card, t he t er minal is not oper at ional.
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The S I M car d is pr ot ect ed by a f our-digit Per sonal I de nt if icat ion Numb er (PI N). I n o rder t o ide nt if y t he su bscriber t o t he s yst e m, t he S I M car d cont ains some par amet er s o f t he u ser such as it s I nt er nat ional Mobile S u bscriber I dent it y (I MS I ). Number on t he S I M card Known as I nt egr at ed Cir cuit Car d I dent it y Number (I CCI D).Descr ipt ion o f eac h No. is give n be low: F1 = S I M De signat or . 23 = Count r y Code (CC). 47 = Net wor k code (NC). 2 = S I M Ve nder I de nt if icat ion. 8 = Amount o f Me mor y 57 = Mont h o f Manu fact ure .3382.. = Running Serial F igure3: sim
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Figure 4:BTS
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areas include cells, location areas (LAs), MSC/VLR service areas, and public land mobile network (PLMN) areas.
The cell is the area given radio coverage by one base transceiver station. The GSM network identifies each cell via the cell global identity (CGI) number assigned to each cell. The location area is a group of cells. It is the area in which the subscriber is paged. Each LA is served by one or more base station controllers, yet only by a single MSC (see Figure 8). Each LA is assigned a location area identity (LAI) number.
An MSC/VLR service area represents the part of the GSM network that is covered by one MSC and which is reachable, as it is registered in the VLR of the MSC (see Figure 9).
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The PLMN service area is an area served by one network operator (see Figure 10).
4.3.1 Transmission
The transmission function includes two subfunctions: The first one is related to the means needed for the transmission of user information. The second one is related to the means needed for the trasnmission of signaling information.
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4.3.2 Handover
The user movements can produce the need to change the channel or cell, specially when the quality of the communication is decreasing. This procedure of changing the resources is called handover. Four different types of handovers can be distinguished: Handover of channels in the same cell. Handover of cells controlled by the same BSC. Handover of cells belonging to the same MSC but controlled by different BSCs. Handover of cells controlled by different MSCs.
Handovers are mainly controlled by the MSC. However in order to avoid unnecessary signalling information, the first two types of handovers are managed by the concerned BSC (in this case, the MSC is only notified of the handover). The mobile station is the active participant in this procedure. In order to perform the handover, the mobile station controls continuously its own signal strengh and the signal strengh of the neighboring cells. The list of cells that must be monitored by the mobile station is given by the base station. The power measurements allow to decide which is the best cell in order to maintain the quality of the communication link. Two basic algorithms are used for the handover: The `minimum acceptable performance' algorithm. When the quality of the transmission decreases (i.e the signal is deteriorated), the power level of the mobile is increased. This is done until the increase of the power level has no effect on the quality of the signal. When this happens, a handover is performed. The `power budget' algorithm. This algorithm performs a handover, instead of continuously increasing the power level, in order to obtain a good communication quality.
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Another security procedure is to check the equipment identity. If the IMEI number of the mobile is authorized in the EIR, the mobile station is allowed to connect the network. In order to assure user confidentiality, the user is registered with a Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity (TMSI) after its first location update procedure. Enciphering is another option to guarantee a very strong security but this procedure is going to be described in section 5.
4.3.4.1 Call Control (CC) The CC is responsible for call establishing, maintaining and releasing as well as for selecting the type of service. One of the most important functions of the CC is the call routing. In order to reach a mobile subscriber, a user dials the Mobile Subscriber ISDN (MSISDN) number which includes: a country code a national destination code identifying the subscriber's operator a code corresponding to the subscriber's HLR
The call is then passed to the GMSC (if the call is originated from a fixed network) which knows the HLR corresponding to a certain MISDN number. The GMSC asks the HLR for information helping to the call routing. The HLR requests this information from the subscriber's current VLR. This VLR allocates temporarily a Mobile Station Roaming Number (MSRN) for the call.
Service Center through the two following interfaces: The SMS-GMSC for Mobile Terminating Short Messages (SMS-MT/PP). It has the same role as the GMSC. The SMS-IWMSC for Mobile Originating Short Messages (SMS-MO/PP).
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The multiple access scheme defines how different simultaneous communications, between different mobile stations situated in different cells, share the GSM radio spectrum. A mix of Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) and Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), combined with frequency hopping, has been adopted as the multiple access scheme for GSM
According to their functions, four different classes of control channels are defined: Broadcast channels. Common control channels. Dedicated control channels. Associated control channels.
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Figure 11: S t r uct ure o f t he 26 -Mult if r ame, t he TDMA f r ame and t he nor mal burst
The tail bits (T) are a group of three bits set to zero and placed at the beginning and the end of a burst. They are used to cover the periods of ramping up and down of the mobile's power. The coded data bit corresponds to two groups, of 57 bits each, containing signaling or user data. The guard period (GP), with a length of 8.25 bits, is used to avoid a possible overlap of two mobiles during the ramping time.
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5.3.4 Ciphering
Ciphering is used to protect signaling and user data. First of all, a ciphering key is computed using the algorithm A8 stored on the SIM card, the subscriber key and a random number delivered by the network (this random number is the same as the one used for the authentication procedure). Secondly, a 114 bit sequence is produced using the ciphering key, an algorithm called A5 and the burst numbers. This bit sequence is then XORed with the two 57 bit blocks of data included in a normal burst. In order to decipher correctly, the receiver has to use the same algorithm A5 for the deciphering procedure.
5.3.5 Modulation
The modulation chosen for the GSM system is the Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying (GMSK).
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The aim of this section is not to describe precisely the GMSK modulation as it is too long and it implies the presentation of too many mathematical concepts. Therefore, only brief aspects of the GMSK modulation are presented in this section. The GMSK modulation has been chosen as a compromise between spectrum efficiency, complexity and low spurious radiations (that reduce the possibilities of adjacent channel interference). The GMSK modulation has a rate of 270 5/6 kbauds and a BT product equal to 0.3. Figure 5 presents the principle of a GMSK modulator.
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6. GSM SERVICES
It is important to note that all the GSM services were not introduced since the appearance of GSM but they have been introduced in a regular way. The GSM Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) defined four classes for the introduction of the different GSM services: E1: introduced at the start of the service. E2: introduced at the end of 1991. Eh: introduced on availability of half-rate channels. A: these services are optional.
Three categories of services can be distinguished: Teleservices. Bearer services. Supplementary Services.
6.1 Teleservices
-Telephony(E1 Eh). -Facsmile group 3(E1). -Emergencycalls(E1Eh). - Teletex - Short Message Services (E1, E2, A). Using these services, a message of a maximum of 160 alphanumeric characters can be sent to or from a mobile station. the mobile is powered off, the message is stored. With the SMS Cell Broadcast (SMS-CB), a message of a maximum of 93 characters can be broadcast to all mobiles in a certain geographical area. - Fax mail. Thanks to this service, the subscriber can receive fax messages at any fax machine. - Voice mail. This service corresponds to an answering machine.
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- Call hold (E2). Puts an active call on hold. - Call Waiting, CW (E2). Informs the user, during a conversation, about another incoming call. - Advice of Charge, AoC (E2). Provides the user with online charge information. - Multiparty service (E2). Possibility of establishing a multiparty conversation. - Closed User Group, CUG (A). It corresponds to a group of users with limited possibilities of calling (only the people of the group and certain numbers). - Calling Line Identification Presentation, CLIP (A). It supplies the called user with the ISDN of the calling user. - Calling Line Identification Restriction, CLIR (A). It enables the calling user to restrict the presentation. - Connected Line identification Presentation, CLP (A). It supplies the calling user with the directory number he gets if his call is forwarded. - Connected Line identification Restriction, CLR (A). It enables the called user to restrict the presentation.
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7.CELL PLANNING
Radio coverage Received signal strength in the mobile station from BTS above a chosen value . Cell The area that is covered from a BTS. Omni cell A cell with an omni-directional BTS antenna system. Sector cell A cell with uni-directional BTS antenna system. Site The geographical location where the RBS(radio base station subsystem)equipment is stored and the BTS antennas are mounted . 3-Sector site A site with equipment for three sector cells.
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The hexagon becomes the symbol of cells in radio network. Real-world planning must however, consider the fact that radio propagation is very much dependent on the terrain and that hexagons are extremely simplified models of radio coverage patterns. Still the first geometrical plan based on hexagons (the nominal cell plan) gives a good view of planning of system.
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Where: n= number of calls per hour T=average conversation time A= offered traffic from one of several users in the system If n=1 and T=90s: A=1*90/3600=25mE Example of traffic calculation Indata: Traffic per subscriber =25mE Number of subscribers=10,000 Number of available frequencies=24 Cell pattern= 4/12(12 frequency groups)
GOS = 2% How many 3-Sectors-sites needed? Frequencies per cell=24/12=2 frequencies Traffic channels per cell= 2*8-2(CCH) =14 TCH
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Traffic per cell=14 TCH, 2%GOS - 8.2 E/cell (From the erlang table) Subscribers per cell=8.2E/0.025E = 328 subscribers per cell Needed number of cells = 10,000/328 = 30 cells Needed number of 3-sector-sites = 30/3 = 10
Three cells (sectors)at each site. The antenna pointing azimuths of the cells are separated by 120 degrees and the cells are arranged with antennas pointing at one of the nearest site location thus forming cells in
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cloverleaf fashion. Each cell uses one 60-degree transmitting antenna and two 60-degree diversity receiving antennas with the same pointing azimuths. Each cell approximates the shape of hexagon We assume that the traffic is homogenously distributed within the cells. The cell size is normally given in terms of the distance b/w two neighboring sites. The cell radius R (= side of hexagon) is always one-third of site-to-site distance when 3-sectors sites are used. A group of neighboring cells using all the channels in the system, but not reusing them, according to the patterns described below is called a cluster. The 4/12 cell pattern uses 12 frequency groups in a 4 site re-use pattern. See fig21. The 3/9cell pattern uses 9 frequency groups in a 3 site re-use pattern. See fig 22. Example of how to divide the available frequencies into frequency groups:
A1
B1
C1
A2
B2
C2
A3
B3
C3
1 10 20
2 11 21
3 12 22
4 13 23
5 15 24
6 16
7 17
8 18
9 19
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Figur e 2 0 : 4 / 12 cell pa t t er n
Figur e 2 1 : 3/ 9 cell pa t t er n
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The propagation model is an improved version of the well-known Okumura-Hata model and takes also into account: Edge diffractions through the analysis of elevation contours. Land usage factors that identify different type of surfaces.
The theoretical predictions are supplemented with measurements which are used to optimize the parameters in the propagation model. If there are doubts about the risks of time dispersion, the proposed site location should be changed or measured w.r.t time dispersion or, as a second theoretical analysis step, it should be analyzed with a C/R (carrier-to-reflection ratio) prediction tool.
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7.11 System growth Most CME 20 networks that have been installed up till know, have grown significantly. When adding more and more subscribers, getting more and more traffic in the network and possibly also wanting to increase the coverage area, a new traffic and coverage analysis has to be performed., This leads to that we have to start all over again and that: The cell planning work never ends.
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8. MOBILE TRAFFIC
I. Mobile Originating Call
This section describes what happens when a mobile subscriber wants to set up a call. Data call and sending of a short message are described separately.
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5. MSC/VLR returns the MSRN via HLR to the GMSC. 6. GMSC reroutes the call to the MSC/VLR, directly or via the PSTN.
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9.CONCLUSION
In this paper I have tried to give an overview of the GSM system. As with any overview, and especially one covering a standard 6000 pages long, there are many details missing. I believe, however, that I gave the general flavor of GSM and the philosophy behind its design. It was a monumental task that the original GSM committee undertook, and one that has proven a success, showing that international cooperation on such projects between academia, industry, and government can succeed. It is a standard that ensures interoperability without stifling competition and innovation among suppliers, to the benefit of the public both in terms of cost and service quality. For example, by using Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) microprocessor technology, many functions of the mobile station can be built on one chipset, resulting in lighter, more compact, and more energy-efficient terminals. Telecommunications are evolving towards personal communication networks, whose objective can be stated as the availability of all communication services anytime, anywhere, to anyone, by a single identity number and a pocketable communication terminal [25]. Having a multitude of incompatible systems throughout the world moves us farther away from this ideal. The economies of scale created by a unified system are enough to justify its implementation, not to mention the convenience to people of carrying just one communication terminal anywhere they go, regardless of national boundaries. The GSM system, and its sibling systems operating at 1.8 GHz (called DCS1800) and 1.9 GHz (called GSM1900 or PCS1900, and operating in North America), are a first approach at a true personal communication system. The SIM card is a novel approach that implements personal mobility in addition to terminal mobility. Together with international roaming, and support for a variety of services such as telephony, data transfer, fax, Short Message Service, and supplementary services, GSM comes close to fulfilling the requirements for a personal communication system: close enough that it is being used as a basis for the next generation of mobile communication technology in Europe, the Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS). GSM is a very complex standard, but that is probably the price that must be paid to achieve the level of integrated service and quality offered while subject to the rather severe restrictions imposed by the radio environ
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10.REFERENCES
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M. Bezler et al. GSM base station system. Electrical Communication, 2nd Quarter 1993. David Cheeseman. The pan-European cellular mobile radio system. In R.C.V. Macario, editor, Personal and Mobile Radio Systems. Peter Peregrinus, London, 1991. C. Dchaux and R. Scheller. What are GSM and DCS. Electrical Communication, 2nd Quarter 1993. M. Feldmann and J. P. Rissen. GSM network systems and overall system integration. Electrical Communication, 2nd Quarter 1993. John M. Griffiths. ISDN Explained: Worldwide Network and Applications Technology. John Wiley &Sons, Chichester, 2nd edition, 1992. I. Harris. Data in the GSM cellular network. In D. M. Balston and R.C.V. Macario, editors, Cellular Radio Systems. Artech House, Boston, 1993.
I. Harris. Facsimile over cellular radio. In D. M. Balston and R.C.V. Macario, editors, Cellular Radio Systems. Artech House, Boston, 1993. Thomas Haug. Overview of the GSM project. In EUROCON 88, June 1988. Josef-Franz Huber. Advanced equipment for an advanced network. Telcom Report International, 15(3-4), 1992.
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