GSM Protocol Stack

Shrish Mammattva Bajpai

What is Protocol Stack ?

A protocol stack (sometimes communications stack) is a particular software implementation of a computer networking protocol suite. The terms are often used interchangeably. Strictly speaking, the suite is the definition of the protocols, and the stack is the software implementation of them. In Windows the TCP/IP stack is implemented by the Winsock DLL.

What is Protocol Stack ?

The term stack also refers to the actual software that processes the protocols. So, for example, programmers sometimes talk about loading a stack, which means to load the software required to use a specific set of protocols.

Um Interface

A Interface

MS End Protocol Stack

Physical Layer Data Link Layer Layer 3 Radio Recourse Management Mobility Management Connection Management

BTS End Protocol Stack

Physical Layer Data Link Layer Layer 3 Radio Recourse Base Transreceiving Station Management

BSC End Protocol Stack

Physical Layer Data Link Layer Layer 3 Radio Recourse Base Tranreceiving Station Management Signaling Connection Control Part Direct Transfer Application Part Base Station Subsystem Management Application Part

MSC End Protocol Stack

Message Transfer Part Signaling Connection Control Part Direct Transfer Application Part Base Station Subsystem Management Application Part Connection Management Mobility Management Mobile Application Part Transaction Capabilities Application Part.

Link Layers

Um Interface
Physical Layer
Implement Logic channels,coding and frames. Access Capabilities. Error Detection. Encryption.

Um Interface Physical Layer Mode

Mode of operations Idle Mode. Dedicated Mode.

Um Interface Physical Layer Mode

Um Interface Physical Layer Frame

Um Interface Physical Layer Frame

21 Blocks. Power level. Timing advance. Use by ACCH, CCCH, BCCH & DCCH.

Um Interface Data Link Layer Task

Um Interface Data Link Layer Operation Mode 1

Unacknowledged Operation
Data Transmitted in UI frame. No Ack No Flow control Mechanism. No L2 error correction technique. Use for all channels except RACH.

Um Interface Data Link Layer Operation Mode 2

Acknowledged Operation Mode

Data Transmitted in I frame. + Ve Ack Flow control Mechanism. Error correction technique. Use for DCCH Channel

Um Interface Data Link Layer

Um Interface Data Link Layer

Connection End Point Identifiers of L2 connections are labeled with Data Ling Layer Identifiers 1.Service Access End Point Identifiers 2.Connection End Point Identifiers SAPI =0 for Signaling. SAPI = 3 for SMS.

Um Interface Data Link Layer Procedure 1

Distribution Procedure
SAP is associated with only one signaling channel Distribution of L2 frame receive by one channel to the respective data link procedure. Not used for RACH

Um Interface Data Link Layer Procedure 2

Random Access Procedure
Only for RACH Unidirectional Procedure Deals with random control procedure Retransmission of Random Access Brust

Um Interface Data Link Layer Frame Formats 1

Points
No flag at start and at last. Octets are depend upon type of channel. The end of information field is given by length indicator. Frame format contains address field and variable length. Connection of SAPI = 0 is initiated by MS. Address Field is one for control channels

Um Interface Data Link Layer Frame Formats 2

Um Interface Data Link Layer Frame Formats

Type A.
Used in dedicated channels Bi-directional Use. No Information Contain. Ack Mode Operation.

Um Interface Data Link Layer Frame Formats 2

Um Interface Data Link Layer Frame Formats

Type B.
Used in dedicated channels Bi-directional Use. Information Contain. Ack Mode Operation.

Um Interface Data Link Layer Frame Formats

Um Interface Data Link Layer Frame Formats

Type Bbis
Used in common control channels Uni-directional Use. Information Contain. Un Ack Mode Operation. SAPI =0 is used.

Um Interface Data Link Layer Frame Formats

Um Interface Data Link Layer Frame Formats

Type Abis
Used in common control channels Uni-directional Use. No Information Contain. Un Ack Mode Operation. SAPI =0 is used.

Um Interface Layer 3

Layer 3 RR Management. CM Management. MM Management.

Um Interface Layer 3 Frame Format 1

Common for RR, MM and CM.

Um Interface Layer 3 Frame Format 2

Transaction ID- Enable to perform several

parallel signaling transaction.

Protocol Discriminator Operation type. Message Type Different type of process. Information ID Information elements. Length Indicator Length of the Information ID.

Um Interface Layer 3 Radio Recourse Management. Functions

Um Interface Layer 3 Radio Recourse Management. Processes

Connection Set Up And Release. Handoff. Channel Change Ciphering.

Um Interface Layer 3 Radio Recourse Management. Connection Set Up And Release Processes

Um Interface Layer 3 Radio Recourse Management. Connection Set Up And Release Processes

Um Interface Layer 3 Radio Recourse Management. Connection Set Up And Release Processes

Um Interface Layer 3 Radio Recourse Management. Connection Set Up And Release Processes RR Connection between MS & Nwk.. LAPDm Connection between MS & Nwk.. Initiated by MS or Nwk. . RR connection Establish then higher link comes in picture. SAPI =0 is used.

Um Interface Layer 3 Radio Recourse Management. Channel Change Processes

Um Interface Layer 3 Radio Recourse Management. Channel Change Processes

Requested By CM, MM or by RR. Initiated By Nwk.. MS get assignment command to shut down the connection.

Um Interface Layer 3 Radio Recourse Management. Handoff Process

Um Interface Layer 3 Radio Recourse Management. Handoff Process

Um Interface Layer 3 Radio Recourse Management. Handoff Process

Cell Information BCCH Handoff Command ACCH Handoff Access DCCH

Um Interface Layer 3 Radio Recourse Management. Activation of Ciphering Process

Um Interface Layer 3 Radio Recourse Management. Activation of Ciphering Process Done By BSS. MS get the message and done the task.

Um Interface Layer 3 Mobility Management Functions

Um Interface Layer 3 Mobility Management Process

Common Mobility Management Process.
TMSI Assignment. Identification Process. Authentication Process. IMSI Detach.

Specific Mobility Management Process

IMSI Attach Location Updation.

MM Connection Management Process

Um Interface Layer 3 Mobility Management Process. TMSI Assignment 1

Um Interface Layer 3 Mobility Management Process. TMSI Assignment 2

Unique identifier for each MS Change with every location updation. Send through BCCH with LAI identifier.

Um Interface Layer 3 Mobility Management Process. Identification Process. 1

Um Interface Layer 3 Mobility Management Process. Identification Process. 2 At any time when network wants. IMSI + IMEI sends to Network.

Um Interface Layer 3 Mobility Management Process. Authentication Process. 1

Um Interface Layer 3 Mobility Management Process. Authentication Process. 2

Started by Network, when MS send the request to establish RR connection. RAND and Kc. When fails then IMSI and TMSI will send. Two time only. Fail then cancel all the connections. Emergency Calls can made only.

Um Interface Layer 3 Mobility Management Process. IMSI Detach. 1

Um Interface Layer 3 Mobility Management Process. IMSI Detach. 2

Switch off the cell. Cancel the paging load from network. Send the message to MS on BCCH and SCCH. This process will start after the any specific operation.

Um Interface Layer 3 Mobility Management Process. Location Upadation

Channel Used BCCH. Identifier TMSI & LAI. Register HLR & VLR.

Um Interface Layer 3 Mobility Management Process. IMSI Attach.

Switch on the cell. New TMSI and LAI.

Um Interface Layer 3 Connection Management

Three Entities 1.Call Control. 2.Supplementary Services. 3. Short Message Services.

Um Interface Layer 3 Connection Management

A Interface Protocol Stack

Message Transfer Part Signaling Connection Control Part Direct Transfer Application Part Base Station Subsystem Management Application Part Connection Management Mobility Management Mobile Application Part Transaction Capabilities Application Part.

A Interface Message Transfer Part

Comprise lower 3 layer of OSI model. Routing. Transportation of the signaling message.

A Interface Mobile Application Part

A Interface Signaling Connection Control Part

Provides Connection less and connection oriented Services. Messages through BSC. Two Reasons for setting the SCCP Connection. 1.Location Update. 2.Call Connection Setup.

A Interface Transaction Capabilities Application Part

Connectionless Service given By SCCP. Exchange of MAP messages(Between different MSC, HLR, VLR and GMSC) done through this part.

A Interface Base Station System Application Part

Two Parts
Base Station System Management Application Part. Direct Transfer Application Part.

A Interface Direct Transfer Application Part.

The messages through CM & MM are passed on transparently through BSS using DTAP Protocol. Only Connection Oriented Services. One signaling connection for each active MS with one or more transaction. New connection establish each time when the new transaction start between MS and MSC.

A Interface BSSMAP
Responsible for all admin and control of the radio recourses. Handoff and channel ass. is control by BSSMAP. Two type of procedure. 1.Global BSSMAP procedure. 2.Dedicated BSSMAP procedure.

A Interface BSSMAP
Dedicated BSSMAP procedure

Channel Assignment. Channel Release. Cyphering Control.

A Interface BSSMAP Dedicated BSSMAP procedure

A Interface BSSMAP Global BSSMAP procedure

Paging Flow Control Closing and Opening of the channel.

A Interface BSSMAP Global BSSMAP procedure

Abis Interface BTSM

Task
Random Access of the channel. Paging process of MS. Ciphering process of MS. Power Control of MS.

Abis Interface BTSM Frame

Abis Interface BTSM Frame

Message Discriminator 1 for passes through BTS. 2-5 serve by BTS.