Detailed Inter-MSC Handover Scenario

Basic Inter-MSC Handover Steps

Step 1: Handover Request from BSS

Present Talk Path Present Talk Path

BSS A

PSTN MSC A

BSS B
MSC B

Step 2: Allocation of New Resources

BSS A

PSTN MSC A

BSS B
MSC B

Future Talk Path

Basic Inter-MSC Handover Steps
Continued
Step 3: Handover Execution

Old Talk Path

BSS A

PSTN MSC A

BSS B
MSC B

New Talk Path

Step 4: Release of Old Resources

BSS A

PSTN MSC A

BSS B
MSC B
Inter-MSC Handover
Voice Facilities
PSTN

MSC A MSC C

MSC B MSC D

Inter-MSC Trunks (dedicated)

PSTN Trunks

PSTN

MSC A MSC C

MSC B MSC D
MSC Directory Number Spectrum

Trunks
Trunks
MSC
Local
Exchange PSTN

MSC

Directory Number Spectrum

MSISDN

MSRN

MSHN Used to reference

Inter-MSC handovers
Inter-MSC Signalling
Two Signalling Paths
Mobile Application Part (MAP)
(Defined in GSM Specification 09.02)

SS7

MSC B MSC A
Dedicated Trunk Group

or

PSTN

Inter-office Signalling such as ISDN-UP or TUP

ISDN-UP – ISDN User Part (Outside scope of GSM specification)
TUP – Telephone User Part
Basic Inter-MSC Handover
Initial Condition

VLR B

Dialled Number
PSTN 720-1234

Talk Path

MSC B MSC A

BSS B BSS A

Candidate Cell Serving Cell

Global Cell ID Global Cell ID
234-02-120-65 234-01-235-43
720-1234
Basic Inter-MSC Handover
Handover Number Allocation
VLR B
PSTN
720-1234

SS7 Perform Handover

(234-02-120-65, Kc)

Perform Handover
(234-02-120-65, Kc)
MSC B MSC A
E Interface

PSTN

PSTN/ISDN Interface

BSS B BSS A

Candidate Cell Serving Cell

Global Cell ID Global Cell ID
234-02-120-65 720-1234 234-01-235-43
Basic Inter-MSC Handover
Inter-MSC Trunk Set-up
VLR B
PSTN
720-1234

SS7 E Interface

MSC B MSC A

Network Set-up
(219-9221)

Set-up Complete

BSS B BSS A

Candidate Cell Serving Cell

Global Cell ID Global Cell ID
234-02-120-65 720-1234 234-01-235-43
Basic Inter-MSC Handover
Events After Handover Command

VLR B
PSTN
720-1234

Send End Signal

MSC B MSC A
E Interface

Answer

PSTN/ISDN Interface

BSS B BSS A

New Talk Path

720-1234
Inter-MSC Handover Signalling

Serving Serving Target Target Target

MS
BSS MSC MSC BSS VLR

Signal Strength
Measurement
1 SIG, MEAS

Rank-ordered list of
2 Target BSSs

3 HAND, PER

4 HAND, NUM

5 HAND, NUM, COMP

6 HAND, REQ

New Radio Channel ID

7 HAND, REQ, ACK

8 HAND, PER, ACK

Inter-MSC Handover Signalling
(Continued)
Serving Serving Target Target Target
MS
BSS MSC MSC BSS VLR

9 NET_SETUP

10 SETUP_COMP
New Radio
Channel ID
11 HAND_COMP
New Radio
Channel ID
12 HAND_COMP
On New Radio
Channel
13 HAND_ACC

14 PHYS_INFO

15 HAND_DET

16 HAND_COMP
Inter-MSC Handover Signalling
(Continued)
Serving Serving Target Target Target
MS
BSS MSC MSC BSS VLR

17 HAND_COMP

18 SEND_ENDSIG

19 ANSWER

20 REL_RCH

21 REL_RCH_COMP

22 END_SIGNAL

23 NET_REL

24 REL_HAND_NUM