A-Interface Circuit Sharing in the MSC Pool

This feature enables the media gateway (MGW), UMG8900, to assign A-interface
circuit resources configured at the local office (adopting the MSC pool networking) to
terminals upon receiving A-interface circuit assignment requests from the mobile
switching center (MSC) server. In the traditional networking mode, each base station
controller (BSC) are connected only to its corresponding MSC server. Therefore, A-
interface circuits of a BSC are managed by only one MSC server. In the MSC Pool
networking mode, each BSC are connected to multiple MSC servers in the resource
pool. Therefore, A-interface circuits of a BSC are able to be managed by
multiple MSC servers. Each MSC server, however, can manage only the circuit
resources allocated to it. As a result, circuit resources cannot be dynamically
adjusted among multiple MSC servers, leading to low usage of A-interface circuit
resources and complexity in maintenance work.
To tackle this issue, management of A-interface circuits is transferred from the MSC
server to the MGW.

Benefits for Carriers:

• Increased usage of A-interface circuit resources and reduced investment on
A-interface circuit devices
• Simplified maintenance work and capacity expansion
Node requirements:
UAWEI UMG8900 V200R007C03 and later
HUAWEI MSOFTX3000 V100R006C02(CPCI) and later;
HUAWEI MSOFTX3000 V200R008C02(ATCA) and later

mpact on the System

This feature has no adverse impact on the system.

Application Limitations
The feature can be applied only when the BSCs in the MSC Pool are provided from
Huawei if the A-Flex function is implemented by the BSC.

Interaction with Other Features

Feature Interaction

The MGW can provide the MSC pool networkin

WUFD-071100 Support A-Flex Networking (MGW Agent)
A-Flex feature, that is, the MGW supports the N
function (NNSF) feature, only when this feature
networking (MGW agent) feature are enabled.

Application Scenario
• This feature and the A-Flex networking (MGW agent) are used together to build 2G
MSC Pool networking.
 • This feature and the A-Flex feature are used together to build the 2G part of 2G/3G
hybrid MSC Pool networking.
Implementation Principle
The MGW manages the A-interface circuit resources, including circuit
selection, preemption, dialing tests, reseting, blocking, and unblocking. To improve
the TDM resource usage and facilitate TDM resource management, the MGW
manages the TDM resources by trunk groups. Each BSC can have a maximum of
eight trunk groups.
The mappings between BSCs and trunk groups are determined by the destination
signaling points (DSPs) and network identifications (NIs). A DSP and an NI uniquely
identify a BSC. In addition, if several trunk groups have the same DSP and NI as that
of a BSC, the trunk groups map the BSC.
Management of A-interface circuit resources are classified into the following types by
specific operations:
• Circuit preemption, selection and dialing test, which are originated by MSC
server and performed by the MGW
• Circuit reset, which is originated by the MGW or the BSC and the MSC
server forwards the reset messages exchanged between the MGW and the BSC
• Circuit or circuit group blocking and unblocking, which are originated by the BSC and
performed by the MGW and the MSC server forwards the reset messages exchanged
between the MGW and the BSC
The implementation of the A-interface circuit resource management is as follows:
• Upon receiving a circuit preemption or selection from the MSC server, the MGW
determines the corresponding BSC based on the DSP and NI contained in the
request. It also determines the A-interface trunk group based on the bearer
capability. Then, it performs the corresponding operation on all the A-interface circuits
of the trunk group based on certain algorithms.
• Upon receiving a request from the MSC server for resetting or blocking a specified
circuit, the MGW determines the TDM termination corresponding to the circuit based
on the DSP, NI, bearer capability, and circuit identification code (CIC) contained in
the request. Then, it performs the corresponding operation on the TDM termination.
• Upon receiving a request from the MSC server for blocking or unblocking all the A-
interface circuits of a specified BSC, the MGW determines the corresponding BSC
based on the DSP and NI contained in the request. It also selects the A-interface
trunk group based on the bearer capability. Then, it performs the corresponding
operation on all the TDM terminations of the trunk group.