Half-Rate Service

Half-Rate Service
GBSS12.0
Feature Parameter Description
Issue 01
Date 2010-06-30
HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.

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GSM BSS
Half-Rate Service Contents
Contents
1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................1-1
1.1 Scope ............................................................................................................................................ 1-1
1.2 Intended Audience ........................................................................................................................ 1-1
1.3 Change History.............................................................................................................................. 1-1
2 Overview .....................................................................................................................................2-1
3 Technical Description ..............................................................................................................3-1
3.1 Principles ....................................................................................................................................... 3-1
3.2 Channel Allocation on the Um Interface ........................................................................................ 3-1
3.3 Channel Allocation on the Abis Interface ...................................................................................... 3-2
3.4 TRAU ............................................................................................................................................. 3-2
3.5 AMR HR ........................................................................................................................................ 3-2
3.6 DTX ............................................................................................................................................... 3-2
3.7 Handover ....................................................................................................................................... 3-2
3.8 Power Control................................................................................................................................ 3-2
3.9 Local Switching ............................................................................................................................. 3-3
3.10 Impact on KPIs ............................................................................................................................ 3-3
3.11 Impact on Equipment................................................................................................................... 3-3
4 Engineering Guidelines...........................................................................................................4-1
5 Parameters .................................................................................................................................5-1
6 Counters ......................................................................................................................................6-1
7 Glossary ......................................................................................................................................7-1
8 Reference Documents .............................................................................................................8-1
Issue 01 (2010-06-30) Huawei Proprietary and Confidential ii

Copyright © Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
GSM BSS
Half-Rate Service 1 Introduction
1 Introduction
1.1 Scope
This document describes the working principles of and the channel allocation algorithms regarding the
half-rate speech. This document also describes the compatibility between half-rate speech and other
features.
The feature involved is GBFD-113401 Half Rate Speech.
1.2 Intended Audience

It is assumed that users of this document are familiar with GSM basics and have a working knowledge of
GSM telecommunication.
This document is intended for:
 Personnel working on Huawei GSM products or systems
 System operators who need a general understanding of this feature
1.3 Change History

The change history provides information on the changes in different document versions.
There are two types of changes, which are defined as follows:
 Feature change
Feature change refers to the change in the half-rate speech feature of a specific product version.
 Editorial change
Editorial change refers to the change in wording or the addition of the information that was not
described in the earlier version.
Document Issues
The document issues are as follows:
 01 (2010-06-30)
 Draft (2010-03-30)
01 (2010-6-30)
This is the first release of GBSS12.0.
Compared with issue Draft (2010-03-30) of GBSS12.0, issue 01 (2010-06-30) of GBSS12.0 incorporates
the changes described in the following table.
Change Type Change Description Parameter Change

Feature change None None
Editorial change Parameters are presented in the form of Parameter ID instead None
of Parameter Name.
Issue 01 (2010-06-30) Huawei Proprietary and Confidential 1-1

GSM BSS
Half-Rate Service 1 Introduction
Draft (2010-03-30)
This is the draft release of GBSS12.0.

GSM BSS
Half-Rate Service 2 Overview
2 Overview
With the increase in the number of subscribers, the GSM spectrum becomes insufficient. The
introduction of half-rate speech improves spectrum efficiency to a great extent, almost doubles the
network capacity, and saves the transmission resources on the Um interface by increasing the number
of configurable speech channels and at the same time not affecting the QoS to a great extent.
If the full-rate speech codec is used on the Um, Abis, and Ater interfaces, the BSS uses channels of 16
kbit/s for coding and transmission. If the half-rate speech codec is used on the Um, Abis, and Ater
interfaces, the BSS uses channels of 8 kbit/s for coding and transmission. Thus, when half-rate speech
channels are used, a channel of 6 kbit/s on the terrestrial interface Abis can be used to carry two speech
services. In this way, the terrestrial link can be used to carry more traffic volume, and the transmission
resources on the Abis interface are saved.
According to 3GPP TS 46.002, some modifications are required so that the BSS can support the
half-rate speech codec. The modifications involve the Um interface, Abis interface, Ater interface,
physical channels, and TRAU.
The version of half-rate speech codec is Half-Rate Speech Version 1.

GSM BSS
Half-Rate Service 3 Technical Description
3 Technical Description
3.1 Principles
To support half-rate speech, both the MS and the BTS must support GSM Phase 2. Figure 3-1 shows the
implementation of half-rate speech on the Um interface.
Figure 3-1 Implementation of half-rate speech on the Um interface
Sub-channel 0
SACCH
TCH/HS TCH/HS TCH/HS TCH/HS TCH/HS TCH/HS TCH/HS TCH/HS TCH/HS TCH/HS TCH/HS TCH/HS
HS
0 2 4 6 8 10 13 15 17 19 21 23
12
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
SACCH
TCH/HS TCH/HS TCH/HS TCH/HS TCH/HS TCH/HS TCH/HS TCH/HS TCH/HS TCH/HS TCH/HS TCH/HS
HS
1 3 5 7 9 11 14 16 18 20 22 24
25
Sub-channel 1
The MS performs the following processing on the uplink and downlink:

 On the downlink
In half-rate mode, the MS decodes only the two odd or even multiframes of the four multiframes.
 On the uplink
In half-rate mode, the MS encodes only the two odd or even multiframes of the four multiframes, that is,
the MS sends only two multiframes.
The BTS performs the following processing on the uplink and downlink:
 On the downlink
In half-rate mode, the BTS encodes the data on sub-channels 0 and 1, and:
− Forthe two multiframes generated from the encoding of the data on sub-channel 0, the BTS
transmits them through the even multiframes.
− Forthe two multiframes generated from the encoding of the data on sub-channel 1, the BTS
transmits them through the odd multiframes.
On the Um interface, the modulation scheme in half-rate mode is the same as that in full-rate mode.
 On the uplink
The BTS does not distinguish between half-rate mode and full-rate mode during multiframe
demodulation on the Um interface. The BTS distinguishes between odd multiframes and even
multiframes during multiframe decoding. After the decoding, the BTS puts the decoded multiframes
onto sub-channels 0 and 1 separately.
Figure 3-1 shows sub-channels 0 and 1.
3.2 Channel Allocation on the Um Interface

Channel management is required during channel allocation, maintenance, adjustment, and release. For
details on channel allocation on the Um interface, see Channel Management Feature Parameter
Description.

GSM BSS
The BSC allocates full-rate channels or half-rate channels based on the service type, service
requirement, and cell load. In addition, the BSC adjusts the proportion between full-rate channels and
half-rate channels on the Um interface to meet the requirements of subscribers and improve the usage
of radio resources. Thus, the BSC makes a tradeoff between network quality and network capacity. For
details, see Dynamic Channel Conversion Feature Parameter Description.
3.3 Channel Allocation on the Abis Interface

The BSC decides whether to adjust full-rate channels and half-rate channels based on the load of the
transmission resources on the Abis interface. Thus, when the resources are insufficient, the BSC can
change some full-rate channels to half-rate channels in time. For details, see Dynamic Channel
Conversion Feature Parameter Description.
If Flex Abis is enabled in the BSC, the transmission resources on the Abis interface may prove to be
insufficient, even before the radio resources on the Um interface are used up. Therefore, triggering
half-rate assignment merely based on the resource load on the Um interface in the cell may affect the
performance of the entire network. To solve this problem, the BSC uses an algorithm in which half-rate
channel allocation is triggered by the load of the Abis interface in the case that
ABISRESADJTCHHFUNSW is set to Yes. For details, see Flex Abis Feature Parameter Description.
3.4 TRAU
To support half-rate speech, the BSC requires the support of TRAU(Transcoder & Rate Adaptation Unit).
Multiple BSS TRAUs can be put into a TC resource pool. The TC resource pool contains the TRAUs,
transmission resources on the Ater interface, and transmission resources on the A interface. These
resources are shared, without fixed relations between them. The TRAU supports the coding and
decoding of full-rate speech, half-rate speech, enhanced full-rate speech, and AMR speech. During a
call, any one coding and decoding resource is selected from the resource pool.
3.5 AMR HR
The half-rate speech codec and the AMR HR speech codec have the same spectrum efficiency. The
AMR HR speech codec, however, is more flexible and robust in codec rates.
For the differences between the codecs with regard to power control and handover, see Power Control
Feature Parameter Description and Handover Feature Parameter Description.
3.6 DTX
Discontinuous Transmission (DTX) is an effective method of prolonging MS battery life and reducing
radio interference. The use of half-rate speech does not affect the use of DTX. The HRDLDTX
parameter specifies whether to enable DTX for half-rate speech. DTX is enabled for half-rate service
only when HRDLDTX is set to Yes. For details on DTX, see Discontinuous Transmission and
Discontinuous Reception Feature Parameter Description.
3.7 Handover
Handover algorithm II includes the decision about AMR or non-AMR speech handover between half-rate
channel and full-rate channel. For details, see Handover Feature Parameter Description.
3.8 Power Control

To support half-rate speech, the power control algorithm is adjusted accordingly.
Huawei III power control algorithm uses different quality thresholds for different rates. For example,
when a call is processed on half-rate channels, the algorithm uses the half-rate quality threshold; when

GSM BSS
the call is handed over to full-rate channels, the algorithm uses the full-rate quality threshold. For details,
see Power Control Feature Parameter Description.
3.9 Local Switching

During a call, one party may use the full-rate speech codec while the other party may use the half-rate
speech codec. In such a case, the BSC first changes the half-rate speech codec to the full-rate speech
codec and then performs local switching. For details, see BSS Local Switching Feature Parameter
Description.
3.10 Impact on KPIs

The main impact of half-rate speech on KPIs is as follows:
 If the full-rate mode is changed to the half-rate mode, the number of occupied timeslots is reduced and
thus the interference to the entire network decreases.
 If the half-rate mode is enabled when the C/I of the entire network is greater than 10 dB, the speech
quality of the entire network degrades. When the proportion of the half-rate traffic volume on the entire
network increases, the speech quality on the entire network degrades accordingly.
 If the half-rate mode is enabled when the C/I of the entire network is smaller than 10 dB, the speech
quality of the entire network is improved. When the proportion of the half-rate traffic volume on the
entire network increases, the speech quality of the entire network is improved accordingly.
 The enabling of half-rate mode has no obvious impact on relevant KPIs.
3.11 Impact on Equipment

From a BSC perspective, half-rate speech requires higher processing capability than full-rate speech.
In addition, the use of half-rate mode increases the capacity of the system and the CPU usage of the
main processor of the BSC slightly.

GSM BSS
Half-Rate Service 4 Engineering Guidelines
4 Engineering Guidelines
Multiplexing Ratio of the LAPD Link
If the half-rate mode is enabled in a cell, the recommended multiplexing ratio of the carrier's LAPD link is
2:1, that is, the bandwidth of the LAPD link is 32 kbit/s.
Number of Carriers Supported by Each E1 Link

The number of carriers supported by each E1 link on the Abis interface depends on the network
configuration, as described in the following list:
 In the case that BTS local switching and Flex Abis are not enabled on the network
− If
the half-rate mode is enabled for all the carriers on an E1 link, a maximum of 13 carriers can be
supported by the E1 link.
− If
both half-rate mode and full-rate mode are configured for the carriers on an E1 link, a maximum of
13 to 15 carriers can be supported by the E1 link.
 In the case that BTS local switching and Flex Abis are enabled on the network
The number of carriers supported by an E1 link depends on the proportion of calls processed through
BTS local switching to all calls. Generally, a maximum of 13 to 18 carriers can be supported by an E1
link.
 In the case of transmission optimization
− If
the half-rate mode is enabled for all the carriers on an E1 link, a maximum of 20 carriers can be
supported by the E1 link.
− If
both half-rate mode and full-rate mode are configured for the carriers on an E1 link, a maximum of
20 to 24 TRXs can be supported by the E1 link.

GSM BSS
Half-Rate Service 5 Parameters
5 Parameters
Table 5-1 Parameter description
Parameter ID NE MML Description
ABISRESADJTCHHFUNSW BSC6900 SET Meaning: This parameter specifies
BTSFLEXABISPARA(Opti whether to enable the Abis resource
onal) adjustment TCHH function.
It specifies whether the TCHH is
preferentially allocated to the MS by
the BSC6900 when Abis resources
are insufficient.
If the Abis resource load is greater
than "Flex Abis Prior Choose Load
Thred" or "Fix Abis Prior Choose Abis
Load Thred" when the parameter is
set to "YES", the BSC6900
preferentially allocates the TCHH to
the MS.
GUI Value Range: NO(NO),

YES(YES)
Actual Value Range: NO, YES
Unit: None
Default Value: NO
HRDLDTX BSC6900 SET Meaning: This parameter specifies
GCELLBASICPARA(Optio whether to use DL DTX for half-rate
nal) (HR) calls. This parameter and "DL
DTX Strategy" codetermine whether
to use DL DTX for HR calls in the cell.
GUI Value Range: NO(No), YES(Yes)

Actual Value Range: NO, YES
Unit: None
Default Value: YES

GSM BSS
Half-Rate Service 6 Counters
6 Counters
For the counters, see the BSC6900 GSM Performance Counter Reference.

GSM BSS
Half-Rate Service 7 Glossary
7 Glossary
For the acronyms, abbreviations, terms, and definitions, see the Glossary.

GSM BSS
Half-Rate Service 8 Reference Documents
8 Reference Documents
[1] 3GPP TS 46.002 "Half rate speech; Half rate speech processing functions"
[2] 3GPP TS 46.006 "Half rate speech; ANSI-C code for GSM half-rate speech codec"
[3] 3GPP TS 46.007 "Half rate speech; Test sequences for the GSM half rate speech codec"
[4] 3GPP TS 46.008 "Half rate speech; Performance Characterization of the GSM Half Rate speech
codec"
[5] 3GPP TS 46.020 "Half rate speech; Half rate speech transcoding"
[6] 3GPP TS 46.021 "Half rate speech; Substitution and muting of lost frames for half rate speech traffic
channels"
[7] 3GPP TS 46.022 "Half rate speech; Comfort noise aspects for the half rate speech traffic channels"
[8] 3GPP TS 46.041 "Half rate speech; Discontinuous Transmission (DTX) for half rate speech traffic
channels"
[9] 3GPP TS 46.042 "Half rate speech; Voice Activity Detector (VAD) for half rate speech traffic
channels"
[10] 3GPP TR 46.085 "Subjective tests on the interoperability of the Half Rate / Full Rate / Enhanced
Full Rate (HR/FR/EFR) speech codecs, single, tandem and tandem free operation"
[11] 3GPP TS 46.001 "Full rate speech; Processing functions"
[12] BSC6900 Feature List
[13] BSC6900 Optional Feature Description
[14] BSC6900 GSM Parameter Reference
[15] BSC6900 GSM MML Command Reference
[16] BSC6900 GSM Performance Counter Reference


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Trademarks and Permissions

Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.

Issue 01 (2010-06-30) Huawei Proprietary and Confidential ii

1.2 Intended Audience

1.3 Change History

Change Type Change Description Parameter Change

Issue 01 (2010-06-30) Huawei Proprietary and Confidential 1-1

Issue 01 (2010-06-30) Huawei Proprietary and Confidential 1-2

Issue 01 (2010-06-30) Huawei Proprietary and Confidential 2-1

The MS performs the following processing on the uplink and downlink:

Figure 3-1 shows sub-channels 0 and 1.

3.2 Channel Allocation on the Um Interface

Issue 01 (2010-06-30) Huawei Proprietary and Confidential 3-1

3.3 Channel Allocation on the Abis Interface

3.8 Power Control

Issue 01 (2010-06-30) Huawei Proprietary and Confidential 3-2

3.9 Local Switching

3.10 Impact on KPIs

3.11 Impact on Equipment

Issue 01 (2010-06-30) Huawei Proprietary and Confidential 3-3

Number of Carriers Supported by Each E1 Link

Issue 01 (2010-06-30) Huawei Proprietary and Confidential 4-1

GUI Value Range: NO(NO),

GUI Value Range: NO(No), YES(Yes)

Issue 01 (2010-06-30) Huawei Proprietary and Confidential 5-1

Issue 01 (2010-06-30) Huawei Proprietary and Confidential 6-1

Issue 01 (2010-06-30) Huawei Proprietary and Confidential 7-1

Issue 01 (2010-06-30) Huawei Proprietary and Confidential 8-1

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