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ZGB-03-02-003 Dynamic SDCCH

Configuration

Feature Guide
 ZGB-03-02-003 Dynamic SDCCH Configuration

ZGB-03-02-003 Dynamic SDCCH Configuration

Version Date Author Approved By Remarks

V1.00 2010-10-30 Not open to the Third Party

© 2012 ZTE Corporation. All rights reserved.

ZTE CONFIDENTIAL: This document contains proprietary information of ZTE and is not to be
disclosed or used without the prior written permission of ZTE.
Due to update and improvement of ZTE products and technologies, information in this document is
subjected to change without notice.

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ZGB-03-02-003 Dynamic SDCCH Configuration

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 Feature Attribute ............................................................................................. 1

2 Overview ......................................................................................................... 1
2.1 Feature Introduction.......................................................................................... 1
2.2 Correlation with Other Features ........................................................................ 2

3 Technical Description .................................................................................... 2

3.1 Algorithms for Dynamic SDCCH Configuration ................................................. 3
3.1.1 Descriptions of the Parameters Involved in the Algorithms ............................... 3
3.1.2 Dynamic SDCCH Configuration Standards and Idle TCH Selection Policies..... 4
3.1.3 SDCCH Decrease Standards and SDCCH Selection Principle ......................... 5

4 Parameters and Configuration....................................................................... 5

4.1 Parameter List .................................................................................................. 5
4.2 Parameter Configuration ................................................................................... 8

5 Related Counters and Alarms ...................................................................... 13

5.1 Related Counters ............................................................................................ 13
5.2 Related Alarms ............................................................................................... 13

6 Engineering Guide ........................................................................................ 14

6.1 Application Scenario ....................................................................................... 14
6.2 Configuration Description................................................................................ 14
6.3 Network Impacts ............................................................................................. 14

7 Abbreviation.................................................................................................. 15

8 Reference Document .................................................................................... 15

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 ZGB-03-02-003 Dynamic SDCCH Configuration

FIGURES

Figure 4-1 Dynamic SDCCH configuration 1 ........................................................................ 9

Figure 4-2 Dynamic SDCCH configuration 2 ...................................................................... 10
Figure 4-3 Dynamic SDCCH configuration 3 ...................................................................... 11
Figure 4-4 Dynamic SDCCH configuration 4 ...................................................................... 12

TABLES

Table 4-1 Parameter List ...................................................................................................... 5

Table 5-1 Counters list ....................................................................................................... 13

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 ZGB-03-02-003 Dynamic SDCCH Configuration

1 Feature Attribute
iBSC version: [iBSC V6.20]

BTS version: [Unrelated to the BTS hardware platform]

Attribute: [Basic function]

NEs involved:
NE Name Involved or Not Special Requirement

MS √

BTS √

BSC -

MSC -

MGW -

SGSN -

GGSN -

HLR -

Dependency: [None]

Mutual exclusion: [None]

Note: [None]

2 Overview

2.1 Feature Introduction

Dynamic SDCCH configuration means dynamic conversion of TCH to SDCCH when the
current service cell has deficient SDCCH resources but relatively idle TCH channel
resources, so as to mitigate deficiency of SDCCH resources and improve channel
utilization ratio.

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ZGB-03-02-003 Dynamic SDCCH Configuration

2.2 Correlation with Other Features

Generally, on the BCCH carrier are configured some static SDCCHs for service
application, and the system also provides flexible SDCCH configuration, which means
configuration of static SDCCHs on ordinary carriers other than the BCCH carrier.
Dynamic SDCCH configuration means conversion of TCH to SDCCH for use.

This feature correlates with other features as follows:

ZGB-03-02-001 Support of SDCCH/4 and SDCCH/8

ZGB-03-02-002 Flexible SDCCH Configuration

3 Technical Description
Dynamic SDCCH configuration is a policy adopted by the network to allocate channel
resources. When the current service cell has deficient SDCCH resources, this function
can make full use of idle TCH resources by converting one idle TCH to eight SDCCHs to
decrease possibility of SDCCH congestion.

With dynamic SDCCH configuration enabled, the network will check periodically the
number of idle SDCCHs in the cell according to the SDCCH scan period set by the
module parameter. If the number of idle SDCCHs is smaller than the dynamic SDCCH
conversion threshold set by the network, and meanwhile both the total number of idle
TCHs in the cell and the number of idle TCHs in the first sub-cell are larger than 4, or the
total number of idle TCHs is larger than the number of carriers in the cell, the network will
select randomly one idle TCH and convert it to eight SDCCHs. Similarly, the network will
continue conversion of TCH to SDCCH if the SDCCHs are occupied in no time upon
completion of dynamic SDCCH conversion and the network finds the conversion
conditions are satisfied when checking periodically the number of idle SDCCHs in the cell.
During dynamic SDCCH conversion, there is a restriction: one carrier is allowed to be
configured with up to three SDCCHs. Therefore, dynamic SDCCH conversion is related
to planned static SDCCHs. If over three static SDCCHs have been planned for a carrier,
dynamic SDCCH conversion is impossible on this carrier, and the network will select

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 ZGB-03-02-003 Dynamic SDCCH Configuration

another carrier in the cell on the same frequency band as the BCCH carrier and attempt
dynamic SDCCH conversion.

If deficiency of SDCCH resources in the network is mitigated after a period of time, and
the SDCCH resources are relatively idle for some time, that is, the number of SDCCHs is
larger than the sum of 8 + dynamic SDCCH conversion threshold, the network will
re-convert the eight SDCCHs back to one TCH, and the dynamic SDCCH configuration
flow is ended. The period of time mentioned above can be set through the
SDCCH-to-TCH conversion delay on the background. This operation is helpful to prevent
frequent conversion between SDCCH and TCH, which may otherwise cause undesired
consumption of the network. It should be noted that the SDCCH-to-TCH conversion
occurs only to the cells that generate dynamic SDCCH conversion. Moreover, only the
TCHs that have been originally converted to SDCCHs can be converted back to TCHs.

It should be added that if the network adopts the concentric technology, which enables a
cell to contain sub-cells, the network must make sure the number of idle TCHs in the first
sub-cell is larger than 4, or the total number of idle TCHs is larger than the total number
of carriers before carrying out dynamic SDCCH conversion.

3.1 Algorithms for Dynamic SDCCH Configuration

3.1.1 Descriptions of the Parameters Involved in the Algorithms

bCanSdcchDyn: indicates whether dynamic SDCCH configuration is allowed, and is

configured in the module parameter.

CanSdcchDyn: indicates whether dynamic SDCCH configuration is allowed, and is

configured in the cell parameter.

byMinSdcch: indicates the TCH-to-SDCCH conversion threshod, and is configured in the

module parameter.

MIN_TCH: indicates the minimum number of TCHs in a cell, namely 4.

MIN_SDCCH: indicates the minimum number of SDCCHs in a cell, namely 8.

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 ZGB-03-02-003 Dynamic SDCCH Configuration

byTimeToTch: indicates the SDCCH-to-TCH conversion delay, and is configured in the

module parameter.

scanSDCCH: indicates the scan period.

Of channel combination types, TCH/F is most widely used, so it is selected for the sake of
implementation feasibility and convenience.

3.1.2 Dynamic SDCCH Configuration Standards and Idle TCH Selection

Policies

The control process collects statistics on channel occupation in each cell according to the
scanSDCCH period. These statistics mainly involve the number of idle TCHs and the
number of idle SDCCHs.

 In accordance with the dynamic SDCCH standards, that is, when a cell meets the
following conditions:

i Dynamic SDCCH configuration is allowed, that is, the values of module

bCanSdcchDyn and cell ScanSdcchDyn are both TRUE;

ii The number of idle SDCCHs in the cell is smaller than the byMinSdcch
threshold;

iii Both the difference between the total number of idle TCH/Fs and the total
number of idle reserved TCH/Fs in the cell, and the total number of idle TCH/Fs
in the first sub-cell are larger than MIN_TCH or the total number of TRXs in the
cell.

dynamic TCH-to-SDCCH configuration will be started in this cell.

 The policies of selecting an idle TCH/F during the configuration are as follows:

Select a TCH on the same frequency band as the BCCH carrier. For example, if the
BCCH carrier is in P-GSM, it is not allowed to select an E-GSM or R-GSM extended
frequency point or a 1800M TCH.

iv Select a static TCH/F first, and then a dynamic TCH/F;

v Select the TCH with the worst interference;

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 ZGB-03-02-003 Dynamic SDCCH Configuration

vi Select a TCH from the first sub-cell.

The converted TCH timeslot will be included in the conversion queue.

3.1.3 SDCCH Decrease Standards and SDCCH Selection Principle

When the control process finds a cell in compliance with certain conditions, the
SDCCH-to-TCH conversion will be started, and the SDCCH selection principle is to
choose from the timeslots configured as SDCCHs derived from TCH/Fs.

The standards to decrease SDCCH are as follows (the initial value of S is equal to
byTimeToTch):

1 When the number of idle SDCCHs in a cell is equal to the sum of MIN_SDCCH +
byMinSdcch, no action is taken.

2 When the number of idle SDCCHs in a cell is smaller than the sum of MIN_SDCCH
+ byMinSdcch, select S+=12, but no more than byTimeToTch.

3 When the number of idle SDCCHs in a cell is larger than the sum of MIN_SDCCH +
byMinSdcch, select S-=3.

4 If S is smaller than or equal to 0, SDCCH-to-TCH conversion is triggered one time.

4 Parameters and Configuration

4.1 Parameter List

Table 4-1 Parameter List

Full name SDCCH dynamic configuration allowed

Abbreviation CanSdcchDyn

This parameter decides whether the cell allows

Description
SDCCH dynamic configuration.

Management
Cell
Object

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ZGB-03-02-003 Dynamic SDCCH Configuration

Value Range Yes/No

Unit None

Default No (Set Yes to activate this feature)

Management
Cell
Object

Full name Dynamic config SDCCH

Abbreviation --

This parameter is used to indicate whether dynamic configured

SDCCH function is enabled by BSC. When this function is enabled,
network can enable dynamic configured SDCCH function.
Description
Specially, for which cell can enable this function, it is based on
whether the cell can dynamically enable dynamic configured SDCCH
function.

Management
BSC
Object

Value Range Yes/No

Unit None

Default No (Set Yes to activate this feature)

Management
BSC
Object

Full name Scan SDCCH

Abbreviation --

This parameter is used to indicate the scanning duration for idle

SDCCH channel by the network shen dynamic configured SDCCH
function is enabled in the cell. When network enables dynamic
Description configured SDCCH function, the network may periodically check idle
SDCCH channels in the cell according to this parameter, to decide
conversion condition. This parameter can reflect response time for
this case due to insufficient SDCCH channel resource.

Management
BSC
Object

Value Range 10 ~ 1000

Unit 100 ms

Default 100

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 ZGB-03-02-003 Dynamic SDCCH Configuration

Management
BSC
Object

Full name SDCCH->TCH delay

Abbreviation --

config SDCCH function in the cell. After TCH is dynamically converted

to SDCCH channel and SDCCH channel is idle, to prevent from
Description frequent channel conversion, a time limit will be added for the
conversion from SDCCH channel to TCH channel. During this limit,
SDCCH channel can not be converted to TCH channel.

Management
BSC
Object

Value Range 0 ~ 24

Unit None

Default 0

Management
BSC
Object

Full name TCH->SDCCH limit

Abbreviation --

This parameter is used to indicate whether dynamic configured

SDCCH function is enabled and conversion threshold from TCH to
Description SDCCH.
Only when idle SDCCH is lower than this threshold, the conversion
from TCH to SDCCH can be done.

Management
BSC
Object

Value Range 2 ~ 64

Unit None

Default 4

Management
BSC
Object

Full name Delay of TS forcible release

Abbreviation --

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ZGB-03-02-003 Dynamic SDCCH Configuration

It indicates delay of TS forcible release. During dynamic config

SDCCH converted to TCH, first handover the service on this timeslot
Descripton
to other timeslots, and release the service on this timeslot
after timer is timeout.

Management
BSC
Object

Value Range 5 ~ 200

Unit 100 ms

Default 10

Management
BSC
Object

Full name Delay protection

Abbreviation --

This parameter is delay protection timer, which is used to indicate

response timeout timer after waiting for BTS configuration finishing
Description while dynamic config BCCH or SDCCH function is enabled and
dynamic conversion condition is met.
Restart flow after timer is timeout.

Management
BSC
Object

Value Range 1200 ~ 2400

Unit 100 ms

Default 1800

Management
BSC
Object

4.2 Parameter Configuration

1 In the configuration resource tree window, select OMC → GERAN Subnetwork →

BSC Managed Element → Config Set → BSC Function → Site Config and
right-click BTS ID to select Create → Cell, as shown in 0.

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 ZGB-03-02-003 Dynamic SDCCH Configuration

Figure 4-1 Dynamic SDCCH configuration 1

2 Click Cell, and the Create Cell window pops up (click to unfold all sub-pages).

In the Additional service process parameters tab, configure Dynamic SDCCH

configuration allowed to Yes to enable the dynamic SDCCH configuration function
for the cell. The configuration interface is shown in 0

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ZGB-03-02-003 Dynamic SDCCH Configuration

Figure 4-2 Dynamic SDCCH configuration 2

3 In the configuration resource tree window, select OMC → GERAN Subnetwork →

BSC Managed Element → Config Set →and right-click BSC Function to select
Set Module Parameter, as shown in 0.

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 ZGB-03-02-003 Dynamic SDCCH Configuration

Figure 4-3 Dynamic SDCCH configuration 3

4 Click Set Module Parameter, the Set Module Parameter interface pops up. In the
BCCH and SD switchover parameter tab, set the following parameters:

 Dynamic Config SDCCH configuration: Select Yes.

 Scan SDCCH

 Delay of TS forcible release

 Delay protection

 TCH→SDCCH limit

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ZGB-03-02-003 Dynamic SDCCH Configuration

 SDCCH→TCH delay

The relevant configuration interface is shown in 0 as follows:

Figure 4-4 Dynamic SDCCH configuration 4

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 ZGB-03-02-003 Dynamic SDCCH Configuration

5 Related Counters and Alarms

5.1 Related Counters

Table 5-1 Counters list

Counter ID What It Counts

C900060001 Number of SDCCH seizure attempts for assignment

C900060002 Number of SDCCH seizure success for assignment

C900060003 Number of SDCCH seizure failure for assignment

C900060004 Number of SDCCH seizure attempts for handover

C900060005 Number of SDCCH seizure success for Handover

C900060006 Number of SDCCH seizure failure for handover

C900060007 Number of SDCCH allocation attempts for Assignment

C900060008 Number of SDCCH allocation success for assignment

C900060009 Number of SDCCH allocation failure for assignment

C900060010 Number of SDCCH allocation attempts for handover

C900060011 Number of SDCCH allocation success for handover

C900060012 Number of SDCCH allocation failure for handover

C900060013 Number of SDCCH assignment attempts

C900060014 Number of SDCCH assignment success

C900060015 Number of SDCCH assignment failure

C900060016 Number of SDCCH handover failure

C900060017 Number of SDCCH handover success

C900060018 Number of SDCCH handover failure with Reconnection

C900060019 Number of SDCCH handover failure without Reconnection

5.2 Related Alarms

None.

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ZGB-03-02-003 Dynamic SDCCH Configuration

6 Engineering Guide

6.1 Application Scenario

Short message group send and quantities of location update cases occupy SDCCH
resources.

The multi-paging mode configured at the network side consumes quantities of SDCCH
resources.

Dynamic SDCCH conversion is needed when SDCCHs are congested while TCHs are
idle.

6.2 Configuration Description

This function does not involve adjustment of iBSC or BTS hardware configuration.

6.3 Network Impacts

Impacts on the network

When dynamic SDCCH configuration is enabled in the network, SDCCH congestion rate
will be decreased to some extent, while there is little effect on the overall TCH congestion
rate of the network because this function has taken into consideration its impact on TCH
occupation in its design.

It should be noted that dynamic SDCCH configuration should be enabled for a cell with
burst requirement for SDCCH occupation. For a cell requiring constant occupation of
quantities of SDCCHs and resulting in frequent SDCCH congestion, it is better to solve
the problem by configuring more static SDCCHs.

When enabled in the network, this function has no impact on iBSC or BTS capacity.

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 ZGB-03-02-003 Dynamic SDCCH Configuration

7 Abbreviation
Abbreviations Full Characteristics
3GPP 3rd Generation Partnership Project
GSM Global System for Mobile communications
BSC Base Station Controller
BTS Base Transceiver Station
MS Mobile Station
MSC Mobile Switching Centre
TCH Traffic Channel
SDCCH Stand-Alone Dedicated Control Channel
BCCH Broadcast Control CHannel

8 Reference Document
[None]

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