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Channel configuration Siemens

Channel configuration

Contents
1 Channel configuration overview 3
2 Control channel configuration 13
2.1 Dedicated channels 14
2.2 Random access channel 21
2.3 Paging / access grant and notification-channel 28
2.4 CCCH load 30
3 Extended channel mode 33
4 Adaptive Multirate AMR 35
4.1 General 36
4.2 SBS implementation 42
4.3 Database parameters 43
5 Exercises 47
6 Solutions 53

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Siemens Channel configuration

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1 Channel configuration overview

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On the radio interface Um two subbands for the BTS-MS duplex connection are
specified:

Uplink UL MS-BTS
824 - 849 MHz GSM850
890 - 915 MHz P-GSM900 (primary band)
880 - 915 MHz E-GSM900 (extended band)
1710 - 1785 MHz DCS1800
876 - 880 MHz GSM-R
1850 - 1910 MHz PCS1900

Downlink DL BTS-MS
869 - 894 MHz GSM850
935 - 960 MHz P-GSM900 (primary band)
925 - 960 MHz E-GSM900 (extended band)
1805 - 1880 MHz DCS1800
921 - 925 MHz GSM-R
1930 - 1990 MHz PCS1900

The radio frequency channel spacing in 200 kHz, allowing 124 RFC in P-GSM, 174
RFC in E-GSM, 374 in DCS, 20 RFC in GSM-R and 299 in PCS1900.
Within the database or within the protocol messages a carrier frequency is
characterized by its absolute radio frequency channel number (ARFCN).
Using the abbreviation n = ARFCN, there is the following relation between ARFCN
and the frequency in MHz in the uplink Fu [MHz] and the downlink Fd [MHz].

GSM850 Fu(n) = 824.2 + 0.2 (n – 128) 128 < n < 251 Fd(n) = Fu(n) + 45
P-GSM900 Fu(n) = 890 + 0.2 n 1 < n < 124 Fd(n) = Fu(n) + 45
E-GSM 960 Fu(n) = 890 + 0.2 n 0< n < 124 Fd(n) = Fu(n) + 45
Fu(n) = 890 + 0.2 x (n -1024) 975 < n < 1023
DCS1800 Fu(n) = 1710.2 + 0.2 x (n -512) 512 < n < 885 Fd(n) = Fu(n) + 95
GSM-R Fu(n) = 876.2 + 0.2 x (n -955) 955 < n < 974 Fd(n) = Fu(n) + 45
PCS1900 Fu(n) = 1850.2 + 0.2 x (n -512) 512 < n < 810 Fd(n) = Fu(n) + 80

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(880) 890 Mhz 915 Mhz (925) 935 Mhz 960 Mhz GSM 900
1710 MHz 1785 MHz 1805 MHz 1880 MHz DCS 1800
UPLINK (UL) DOWNLINK (DL)
Transmit band of the Transmit band of the base
mobile station station

Duplex Distance 45 MHz resp. 95 MHz


25 (35) MHz 25 (35) MHz
75 MHz 75 MHz
Guard band
not used

C C
C C C 124 C C C 124’
1 2 3 (174) 1’ 2’ 3’ (174’)
374 374

C = radio frequency channel (RFC)


200 kHz

512...............885 975....1024
01...............124
DCS1800 GSM900 ARFCN
(Absolute RF channel number)
E-GSM900

Fig. 1 Radio frequency channels RFC on Um

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Each RFC offers 8 physical channels a time division multiplex access TDMA.
The physical channels are subdivided into logical channels, divided in traffic channels
and control channels according GSM 04.03.

4
3
2
1
0
7
6
5
4
3
2 Time
1
200 kHz 0 4.615 msec
= 8 • 577 µs

Fig. 2 Radio frequency channels RFC on Um

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Speech Channels
(Full/Half)

Traffic Channels TCH

Data
Channels
(Data Rate)

Logical Channels
Broadcast Control
Channel BCCH

Control Channels Common Control


CCH Channel CCCH

Dedicated Control
Channel DCCH

Fig. 3 Logical channel types

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Frequency
identification of BCCH frequency, MS
Correction Channel
frequency synchronization
FCCH

frame (time) synchronization,


Synchronization identification of neighbour cells
Channel SCH (handover)

Broadcast Control
Channels BCCH
system information:
cell identifier, cell parameter, channel
Broadcast Control
configuration, cell frequencies,
Channel BCCH
broadcast frequencies of neighbour
cells

Cell Broadcast broadcast of short messages:


Channel CBCH traffic, weather, date, ...
(no mobile system info)

Fig. 4 Broadcast control channel

Random Access MS requests a dedicated


Channel RACH channel from network

answer to a random access,


Access Grant assignment of dedicated
Channel AGCH signaling channel

Common Control
Channel CCCH

paging of a MS in all cells of a


Paging Channel
location area for a mobile
PCH
terminating call

paging of MS‘s in all cells of a


Notification Channel voice group call area to perform
NCH ASCI (Advanced Speech Call Items)

Fig. 5 Common control channel

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“out of band” signaling channel for:


Stand Alone
call setup signaling, short message service
Dedicated Control
(SMS), location update (LUP),
Channel SDCCH
IMSI attach/detach

Dedicated Slow Associated “in band” signaling channel (periodic):


Control Control Channel downlink: system info, power command, TA;
Channel DCCH SACCH uplink: measurements (level quality),
short messages service

Fast Associated “in band” signaling channel (sporadic):


Control Channel handover signaling
FACCH channel mode modify: speech → data

Fig. 6 Dedicated control channel

Multiplexing of Logical Channels


1 physical channel (time slot) can carry one of the following logical channel
combinations:

Channel Combination Capacity


a) TCH/F + FAACH/F + 1 full rate subscriber
SACCH/F
b) TCH/H (0, 1) + FACCH/H (0, 1) 2 half rate subscriber (speech or data)
+ SACCH/H (0, 1)
c) FCCH + SCH + BCCH + uplink: 800 000 RACH slots per hour
CCCH downlink: 140 000 CCCH blocks per hour
d) FCCH + SCH + BCCH + uplink: 400 000 RACH slots per hour
CCCH + downlink: 46 000 CCCH blocks per hour
SDCCH/4 (0..3) + SACCH/4 + dedicated signaling channels for
(0..3) 4 subscribers
e) SDCCH/8 (0..7) + SACCH/8 dedicated signaling channels for 8
(0..7) subscribers
...

1 RACH slot: 1 channel request message of 1 subscriber.


1 CCCH block (4 slots):  1 paging message for 1..4 subscribers or
 1 access grant message for 1..2 subscribers.

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Channel Organization in a Cell


In SBS BR2.1 the following channel combinations are allowed:
 TCH/F + FACCH/F + SACCH/F TCHFULL
 FCCH + SCH+ BCCH+ CCCH (AGCH + PCH + RACH) MAINBCCH
 FCCH + SCH + BCCH + CCCH + 4 (SDCCH + SACCH) MBCCHC
 SDCCH/8 + SACCH/C8 SDCCH

Additional channel combinations in SBS BR3.0:


 TCH/H (0) + FACCH/H (0) + SACCH/H (0) + TCH/H (1) TCHF_HLF
 FCCH + SCH + BCCH + CCCH + 3 (SDCCH + SACCH) + CBCH BCBCH
 7 (SDCCH + SACCH) + CBCH SCBCH
 BCCH + CCCH CCCH

New channel type in SBS BR6.0:


 TCH/H(0,1) + FACCH/H(0,1) + SACCH/H(0,1) or TCHSD
TCH/F + FACCH/F + SACCH/TF or
SDCCH/8 + SACCH/C8

In a cell with a single RFC the allocation should be the following:


Timeslot 0 → FCCH+SCH + BCCH + CCCH + 4 (SDCCH + SACCH)
Timeslot 1...7 → TCH/F + FACCH/F + SACCH/F

The timeslot 0 runs in the 51 frame organization:

F S BCCH CCCH F S CCCH CCCH F S SDCCH0 SDCCH1 F S SDCCH2 SDCCH3 F S SACCH0 SACCH1 I
1. 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 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
F S BCCH CCCH F S CCCH CCCH F S SDCCH0 SDCCH1 F S SDCCH2 SDCCH3 F S SACCH2 SACCH3 I
2. 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 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50

‘downlink’ BCCH + CCCH + 4 SDCCH / 4, F = FCCH, S = SCH

SDCCH3 R R SACCH2 SACCH3 R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R SDCCH0 SDCCH1 R R SDCCH2


1. 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 1213 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
SDCCH3 R R SACCH0 SACCH1 R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R SDCCH0 SDCCH1 R R SDCCH2
2. 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 1213 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50

‘uplink’ R = RACH + SDCCH / 4

Fig. 7 1 SACCHBCCH multiframe = 235,38 msec

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The timeslots 1...7 run in the 26 frame organization

T T T T T T T T T T T T A T T T T T T T T T T T T - 1 Full Rate TCH

26 frames = 120 ms

T t T t T t T t T t T t A t T t T t T t T t T t T a 2 Half Rate TCH

T: Traffic Channel Burst for subscriber 1


t: Traffic Channel Burst for subscriber 2
A: Slow Associated Control Channel for subscriber 1
a: Slow Associated Control Channel for subscriber 2
Fig. 8 Time organization for one TCH

In a cell with 2 RFC there are more possibilities, depending on the used traffic model
[SDCCH dimensioning], for example:
RFC-0 see cell with 1 TRX
RFC-1 Timeslot 0...7 → TCH/F + FACCH/F + SACCH/F
or
Timeslot 0 → 8 (SDCCH + SACCH)
Timeslot 1...7 → TCH/F + FACCH/F + SACCH/F

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2 Control channel configuration

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Introduction:
In a MOC, MTC, LU the MS has to request an SDCCH using the RACH. There is a
time delay between the request and the SDCCH allocation due to the traffic load. If
there is a free SDCCH, it is allocated using the AGCH. The SDCCH is used for the
authentication, transmission of cipher parameters and call initialization. Next a traffic
channel is requested and allocated, if available. After this, the SDCCH is released.
The MS acknowledges the allocation on the FACCH. The TCH with its FACCH and
SACCH is occupied until the end of the call. So the blocking probability is a function
of
 availability of SDCCH
 availability of TCH
 waiting time in TCH queue, if queuing performed (BTS parameter)
 time for connection establishment.

2.1 Dedicated channels


If we evaluate a given traffic model, we find a certain traffic load per subscriber.
Additionally we have to calculate the SDCCH load per subscriber.
According to the traffic model given in appendix-C, there are four values to be
considered:
 call attempts per subscriber per hour 1.1
 time for MOC/MTC setup signaling 3 sec
 time for Location Update 5 sec
 location updates per subscriber per hour 2.2.
The SDCCH load per subscriber is calculated as follows:
(1.1 * 3 sec + 2.2 * 5 sec) / 3600 sec = 0.004 Erl.
Furthermore we have for the TCH: 25 mErl.

At the following page an example for a channel configuration of a 2 carrier cells


is given using the assumptions above.

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Example for Channel Configuration


Assumptions: 25 mErl TCH Load per subscriber
4 mErl SDCCH load per subscriber
no load problem on CCCH (refer to chapter 1.2.4)

Cell with 2 TRX: 16 channels


Configuration A Configuration B
 1 comb. CCCH/SDCCH → 4 SDCCH  uncomb. CCCH

 15 TCH  1 SDCCH/8 → 8 SDCCH


 14 TCH

offered TCH load at 1 % blocking offered TCH load at 1 % blocking


8.11 Erl → Subscriber 8.11 / 0.025 = 324 7.35 Erl → Subscriber: 7.35 / 0.025 = 294
offered SDCCH load at 1 % blocking offered SDCCH load at 1 % blocking
0.87 Erl → Subscriber 0.87 / 0.004 = 218 3.13 Erl → Subscriber: 3.13 / 0.004 = 782
→ SDCCH limited: 218 subscriber → TCH limited: 294 subscriber

→ Configuration B is the better one for this scenario.

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Smooth Channel Modification BR 6.0


The control channel configuration up to BR5.5 is a static definition of the channel type
(TCH or SDCCH) independent of the dynamic variations of the SDCCH traffic load in
the network.
The new feature in BR6.0 'Smooth Channel Modification' offers an automatic change
of the channel type (e.g. between TCH and SDCCH/8) without operator interaction.
If the SDCCH load is higher than a settable threshold, an additional SDCCH is
automatically used instead of an idle TCH.
In case of unexpected high SDCCH load (SMS traffic, LCS, specific areas as airports
or PLMN borders, ...) a blocking of SDCCH is avoided.
This results in saving of resources on Um interface, since a further SDCCH does not
have to be configured permanently.

Flexible channels used as TCH or SDCCH are created as channel type 'TCHSD'.

To provide full flexible channel configuration, a radio frequency pool concept is


introduced.
The customer selects and configures the channels to be used as TCH or SDCCH for
each carrier. This can be done when new versions or new cells are introduced to the
network or new carriers are added to a cell. These channels are created using the
new TCH_SD channel type. When the BSC selects a TCHSD channel for a specific
service, the operational mode notifies the BTS on a call-by-call basis using a channel
activation message. The system can then dynamically use the timeslot as either a
TCH or a SDCCH without further service interruption.
A radio frequency pool of resources in the BSC allows flexible allocation of radio
frequency resources. Each TCH, SDCCH and TCHSD is assigned to a specific pool,
TCH and SDCCH are assigned permanently to their related pools, and each TCHSD
is assigned by the operators using the new specific object attribute CHPOOLTYP.
This attribute can be changed using a SET command.

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TS 0 TS 1 TS 2 TS 3 TS 4 TS 5 TS 6 TS 7

assignment

In case of
SDCCH request

SDCCH_POOL TCH_POOL TCH/SD_POOL

SDCCH_BACKUP
_POOL

Traffic Channel / SDCCH Request

Fig. 9 Pooling concept for smooth channel modification

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SDCCH Allocation Strategy


In case of SDCCH request the BSC first tries to get one SDCCH sub-channel from
the SDCCH_POOL. If the SDCCH_POOL and the SDCCH_BACKUP_POOL are
empty or congested (i.e. all sub-channels are busy) the BSC moves eight sub-
channels with best quality from TCH_SD_POOL to SDCCH_BACKUP_POOL and
uses one sub-channel to satisfy the request.
If also in the TCH_SD_POOL there is no resource available and the service request
is MOC and MTC, the direct assignment procedure is tried. If the requested services
are Location Update Procedure LUP-SMS or SDCCH/SDCCH-H/O the service is
rejected.
Additionally a configurable SDCCH congestion threshold on cell basis is implemented
in order to move a sub-channel from TCH_SD_POOL to SDCCH_BACKUP_POOL
when the sub-channel occupation (i.e. the sum of SDCCH_POOL and
SDCCH_BACKUP_POOL) is higher than this threshold for two seconds. The range
of the SDCCH congestion threshold can be set by the operator. Due to peak load
traffic (e.g. SMS) at different times, the system can then automatically share
resources between signaling and speech without configuration changes thus
reducing blocking probability in signaling phase.

SDCCH Release Strategy


When a SDCCH sub-channel is released and coming from the SDCCH_POOL the
sub-channel is returned to that pool. If the sub-channel to be released is coming from
the SDCCH_BACKUP_POOL and is not the last sub-channel busy in the TCH_SD,
the sub-channel is returned in the SDCCH_BACKUP_POOL. If the sub-channel to be
released is coming from the SDCCH_BACKUP_POOL and is the last sub-channel
busy in the TCH_SD, the decision of the destination pool is based on a configurable
attribute. This attribute is cell based and specifies the guard timer for return of the
TCH_SD channel to the TCH_SD_POOL. This timer is implemented to avoid
oscillation between TCH_SD_POOL and SDCCH_BACKUP_POOL.

TCH Allocation Strategy


In case of TCH full request, the BSC uses the TCH with the best quality from the
TCH_POOL. In case of TCH half request the BSC first tries to use unpaired
channels. If TCH_POOL is empty or congested, the BSC tries to get one TCH_SD
from the TCH_SD_POOL. If both pools are empty or congested, a directed retry
procedure is attempted for new MOC or MTC. In case of handover, the target cell list
is scanned in order to find a target cell not congested.

TCH Release
At TCH release the TCH is returned to the original pool.

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Fig. 10 The process trigger by an SDCCH request

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Parameters for Channel Configuration:

Specification Name Object DB Name Range Meaning


CH_TYPE CHAN CHTYPE TCHFULL Type of Channel
SDCCH combination
MAINBCCH
MBCCHC
CCCH
SCBCH
BCBCH
TCHF_HLF
TCHSD

CH_POOL_TYPE CHAN CHPOOLTYP TCHPOOL Channel Pool Type


SDCCHPOOL must be defined if
TCHSDPOOL CH_TYPE=TCHSD

SDCCH_CONGESTION_ BTS SDCCHCONGTH 70 ... 100 [%]


THRESHOLD SDCCH Congestion
Threshold

GUARD_TIMER_TCHSD BSC TGUARDTCHSD SEC00 Guard Timer TCHSD


SEC10
SEC11
SEC12
SEC13
SEC14
SEC15

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2.2 Random access channel


RACH
Capacity of the RACH
The RACH is used by the MS to request a dedicated channel, the SDCCH. The
channel request needs one RACH timeslot. The cause for the channel request can
be a paging response in MTC, an emergency call, a MOC, LU or IMSI attach/detach.
According to the traffic model from appendix-C there are about 4 RACH activities per
subscriber per hour.

Configuration of the RACH


The RACH is configured only uplink, his frequency corresponds to the downlink
BCCH frequency. The RACH may be combined with the uplink part of the SDCCH. In
the combined case, the RACH is multiplexed onto 27 timeslots 0 out of 51 of a
BCCHcombined. These 27 RACH are spread over the multiframe as follows:
SSSSRRSSSSSSSSRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRSSSSSSSSRRSSSS
with S = SDCCH/SACCH and R = RACH.
The RACH can also be configured uncombined on all timeslots 0, 2, 4, 6.

This gives the following capacities, the frame duration is 4.6 ms (period between two
successive timeslots 0):
combined: 27/51 of all timeslots 0 => 400000 RACH slots per hour
uncombined: timeslot 0 => 800000 RACH slots per hour
uncombined: timeslot 0,2 => 1560000 RACH slots per hour
(not in BR2.1)
uncombined: timeslot 0,2,4 => 2340000 RACH slots per hour
(not in BR2.1)
uncombined: timeslot 0,2,4,6 => 3120000 RACH slots per hour
(not in BR2.1)
In a cell with 5000 subscriber normally there are about 20 000 RACH activities per
hour only!!

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RACH Control Parameter


RACH busy threshold, defines a threshold for the signal level during the RACH
bursts. The BTS measures the signal level on each RACH timeslot and determines
whether a channel request is successfully received or not: If the received signal level
is greater than or equal to the value of RACHBT then the RACH burst in question will
be indicated as busy (one or more mobile stations have tried to access the network).
The purpose of this parameter is to avoid unnecessary load on the BSS by normal
noise signals being decoded as RACH bursts (followed by seizure of SDCCH) by
mistake. However, to be on the safe side the BTS does not only evaluate the RACH
level but additionally decodes the Synch sequence bits of the RACH burst.

Note: The value entered for this parameter is not only relevant for the CHANNEL
REQUEST message on the RACH but also for the HANDOVER ACCESS
message on the FACCH!

The MS receives the RACH control parameters from the base station on the BCCH:
 Maximum number of retransmission (max_retrans) MAXRETR = 1, 2, 4, 7.
If a channel request is not acknowledged by the base station, the MS repeats the
request until the given value of MAXRETR.
 Number of slots to spread transmissions (tx_integer) NSLOTST = 0,..15
representing the real values according to the following table:
NSLOTST value 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
GSM value 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 16 20 25 32 50

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The NSLOTST value determines the time period between sending of two channel
requests. This period is measured in RACH slots and is the sum of a deterministic
part td and a random part tr:

MS tx_integer td (RACH slots, td (RACH slots,


combined) uncombined)
Phase 1 ----- 41 (0.35 sec) 55 (0.25 sec)
3, 8, 14, 50 41 (0.35 sec) 55 (0.25 sec)
4, 9, 16 52 (0.45 sec) 76 (0.35 sec)
Phase 2 5, 10, 20 58 (0.50 sec) 109 (0.50 sec)
6, 11, 25 86 (0.75 sec) 163(0.75 sec)
7, 12, 32 115 (1.00 sec) 217(1.00 sec)
Deterministic part td of retransmission period as a function of tx_integer

The random part tr is an integer between 1 and tx_integer where the probability of
choosing a certain time slot i is given by:
p ( tr = i ) = 1 / tx_integer for i = 1...tx_integer.

retransmission

td = 163 slots

first transmission tr = tx_integer = 6


with a collision

Fig. 11 Retransmission of CHANNEL_REQUEST

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Immediate Assignment Procedure:


The procedure is specified in GSM 04.08, chapter 3.3.1.2:

IMMEDIATE
ASSIGNMENT
PROCEDURE

Select RACH slot


for first transmission

number of
retransmissions = 0

Send CHANNEL
REQUEST msg.

no.of
retransmissions Y set timer T3126 GRANT during N
= max_retrans wait for grant Sup. time

N Y
Select RACH slot for
CELL
next transmission,
RESELECTION
wait for grant

immediate Y
assignment
Y
Rejection
N
number of N
retransmissions + 1
SDCCH WAIT
Allocation T3122

Fig. 12 Immediate assignment procedure

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Evaluation of Immediate Assignment Procedure for different parameter values

Traffic Load/RACH Activities per Hour


The relative traffic load is the average number of initiated immediate assignment
procedures or RACH activities in a timeslot:
traffic load =
total number of immediate assignment procedures / total number of RACH slots.
The absolute number of RACH activities per hour is obtained by multiplying this
relative load with the number of RACH slots per hour.

Blocking
The blocking shows the percentage of not successful immediate assignment
procedures initialized by the MS.
blocking [%] =
(number of unsucc. imm. ass. proc. / total number of imm. ass. Proc. ) * 100.

Throughput
The channel throughput is the average number of successful transmissions per time
slot.
throughput = number of successful transmissions/number of simulated time slots.
throughput = ( 1 - blocking ) * traffic load.

Wait Time
The wait time is the time between the initiation of the immediate assignment
procedure and the arrival of the immediate assignment message. For the waiting time
it is useful to consider the 90% quantile of the wait time:
for 90% of the immediate assignment procedures, the wait time is less than the time
t90.
The blocking and the 90% (95%) quantile for different values of the RACH control
parameters is shown in the following tables for a combined RACH/SDCCH:

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tx_integer max_retrans blocking(%) 90% quantile(s) 95% quantile(s)


3 1 2.9 < 0.1 0.35
3 2 1.1 < 0.1 0.35
3 4 0.2 < 0.1 0.35
3 7 < 0.01 < 0.1 0.4
7 1 1.6 < 0.1 1.0
7 2 0.4 < 0.1 1.0
7 4 0.1 < 0.1 1.0
7 7 < 0.01 < 0.1 1.0
14 1 0.9 < 0.1 0.4
14 2 0.1 < 0.1 0.4
14 4 < 0.01 < 0.1 0.4
14 7 < 0.01 < 0.1 0.4
25 1 0.6 < 0.1 0.8
25 2 < 0.1 < 0.1 0.8
25 4 < 0.01 < 0.1 0.8
25 7 < 0.01 < 0.1 0.8
50 1 0.5 < 0.1 0.5
50 2 0.1 < 0.1 0.5
50 4 < 0.01 < 0.1 0.5
50 7 < 0.01 < 0.1 0.5
Values for 25000 RACH activities per hour

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tx_integer max_retrans blocking(%) 90% quantile(s) 95% quantile(s)


3 1 6.1 0.35
3 2 2.8 0.35 0.75
3 4 0.6 0.35 0.75
3 7 0.1 0.35 0.75
7 1 3.6 1.0 1.1
7 2 1.0 1.0 1.1
7 4 0.1 1.0 1.1
7 7 < 0.1 1.0 1.1
14 1 2.6 0.4 0.45
14 2 0.5 0.4 0.45
14 4 < 0.1 0.4 0.45
14 7 < 0.01 0.4 0.45
25 1 2.0 0.8 0.9
25 2 0.4 0.8 0.9
25 4 < 0.01 0.8 0.9
25 7 < 0.01 0.8 0.9
50 1 1.8 0.5 0.7
50 2 0.2 0.5 0.7
50 4 < 0.01 0.5 0.7
50 7 < 0.01 0.5 0.7
Values for 50000 RACH activities per hour.

The results of these studies show, that even the RACH minimal configuration
(combined RACH/SDCCH is able to serve 50000 RACH activities per hour at a low
blocking (< 0.5%) with an acceptable wait time. An uncombined RACH is able to
serve twice the traffic load with the same grade of service. The minimum blocking for
the considered traffic load is achieved by the following setting of parameters:
max_retrans = 7, tx_integer = 50.
Though a combined RACH can serve the expected traffic load, another RACH
configuration may have to be chosen. The RACH is only the uplink part of the CCCH.
The downlink parts (AGCH,PCH) may need a higher capacity. Therefore, the
configuration of CCCH is determined by the capacity needed by the downlink
channels, the RACH configuration is uncritical.

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2.3 Paging / access grant and notification-channel


PCH/AGCH
The paging channel and the access grant channel share the same TDMA frame
mapping (modulo 51) when combined onto a basic physical channel. The channels
are shared on a block by block basis. The information within each block allows the
MS to determine if it is a paging or an access grant message. Every paging channel
can be used by the system as access grant channel but it is not allowed to the
system to use access grant channels as paging channels. However, to ensure a
mobile a satisfactory access to the system, there is a control parameter to define a
fixed number of access grant blocks in the 51 multiframe. The number of blocks
reserved for AGCH is broadcasted on the BCH. The number of available paging
blocks is reduced by this number.
Paging channels may be used as access grant channels but not vice versa.
Therefore it is useful to set the parameter BS_AG_BLKS_RES to the smallest value
and let the system organize the use of channels. In case of MOC more AGCH are
needed, in case of MTC more PCH are needed. In average the number of MOC is
higher than the number of MTC. If the BS_AG_BLKS_RES value is set too high with
the result of a PCH shortage, a overload indication for the PCH may arise in high
traffic time.
In GSM traffic model the paging per subscriber per hour is 0.93.
The second parameter to be set is called BS_PA_MFRMS (value = 2..9, number of
multiframes between paging). It indicates the number of TDMA multiframes between
transmission of paging messages to the same paging subgroup. The MS gets the
information on BCH, to which paging groups it should listen to. By this way the MS
can save battery because it only listens to its own paging group. If the value is too
high so that the time between two blocks of the same paging sub-channel is high, the
time for setting up an MTC is high.

In a medium cell the common channel pattern on timeslot 0 on one of the TRX can
use the following combination downlink (in uplink all channels are used as RACH):
FSBBBBPPPPFSPPPPPPPPFSPPPPPPPPFSPPPPPPPPFSPPPPPPPP
F = FCCH
S = SCH
B = BCCH
P = PACH/AGCH.
An example for the load and the servable number of subscribers is given at the
following pages.

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NCH
In all cells where the ASCI service is enabled, a new logical channel belonging to
CCCH is defined, this new downlink channel is the Notification Channel (NCH).
An MS which is VBS/VGCS* subscriber, besides the paging blocks, monitors also the
Notification Channel. This logical channel is mapped onto contiguous blocks reserved
for access grants, the position and the number of blocks are defined by the two
parameters NCH_FIRST_BLOCK and NCH_BLOCK_NUMBER.
Service subscribers are notified of the VBS/VGCS call in each cell via notification
messages that are broadcasted on the Notification Channel; these messages don’t
use individually TMSI/IMSI but the group identity and service area identity.
The process of broadcasting messages on NCH is carried out throughout the call in
order to provide late entry facility. The repetition time is defined by the parameter
TIMER_NCH.
* Voice Broadcast Service / Voice Group Call Service

ASCI Uplink Reply


is only relevant if ASCI is enabled. The parameter ASCIULR is used to enable or
disable the uplink reply procedure for VGCS calls only (VGCSENABLE), VBS calls
only (VBSENABLE) or both at the same time (VBS_VGCSENABLE).
When an ASCI group call (VBS or VGCS) is set up in a cell and simultaneously an
ASCI common TCH was activated, the BTS broadcasts the group call reference and
the Channel Description data of the ASCI common TCH via the NCH in the cell. In
this situation, the BSC may initiate the release of the activated ASCI common TCH, if
no listening ASCI MSs are available in the cell. To check whether or not ASCI MSs
are present in the cell, the BTS sends the UPLINK FREE message via the FACCH
associated to the ASCI common TCH and waits for an UPLINK ACCESS message.
This UPLINK ACCESS message is sent on the ASCI common TCH and is the
response from the ASCI MSs, if they have previously received the UPLINK FREE
message with the IE ‘Uplink Access Request’ included.
For the supervision of this procedure, the BTS uses 2 timers: TWUPA (timer to wait
for uplink access, hardcoded in the BTS) and the administrable timer TUPLREP
which are both started when the UPLINK FREE message is sent. The BTS
periodically repeats the sending of the abovementioned UPLINK FREE message
(containing IE ‘Uplink Access Request’) via the FACCH of the ASCI common TCH.
The time period between two consecutive transmissions of the UPLINK FREE
message is determined by the timer TUPLREP. When no UPLINK ACCESS
message was received from any ASCI MS before timer TWUPA expires, the BTS
assumes that no listening ASCI MS is present in the cell and initiates the de-
allocation of the ASCI common TCH in this cell by sending the VBS/VGCS
CHANNEL RELEASE INDICATION towards the BSC, which in turn releases the
channel by sending CHANNEL RELEASE, DEACTIVATE SACCH, RF CHANNEL
RELEASE etc..

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2.4 CCCH load

paging messages per hour: SUBSCR * LA_size * MTC_ph * REPET/


subscr_per_pag_message
random messages per hour: SUBSCR * (MTC_PR_ph + MOC_ph + LU_ph +
IMSI_ph + SMS_ph)
access grant messages per SUBSCR * (MTC_PR_ph + MOC_ph + LU_ph +
hour: IMSI_ph + SMS_ph) / subscr_per_agch_message

SUBSCR number of subscribers within the cell


LA_size number of cells on the location area
MTC_ph mobile terminating calls per subscriber per hour (with and
without paging response)
REPET mean number of repetitions of a paging message (no
paging response to first paging)
MTC_PR_ph mobile terminating calls per subscriber per hour with
paging response to first paging)
MOC_ph mobile originating calls per subscriber per hour
LU_ph location updates per subscriber per hour
IMSI_ph IMSI attach/detach per subscriber per hour
SMS_ph short message service requests per subscriber per hour

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Channel configuration Siemens

CCCH Load (Example)


paging messages per hour: SUBSCR * LA_size * MTC_ph * REPET/
subscr_per_pag_message
access grant messages per SUBSCR * (MTC_PR_ph + MOC_ph + LU_ph +
hour: IMSI_ph + SMS_ph) / subscr_per_agch_message
random messages per hour: SUBSCR * (MTC_PR_ph + MOC_ph + LU_ph +
IMSI_ph + SMS_ph)

SUBSCR: ?
LA_size: 20
MTC_ph: 0.46
REPET: 1.33
MTC_PR_ph 0.30
MOC_ph 0.64
LU_ph 2.2
IMSI_ph 1.0
SMS_ph -
subscr_per_pag_message = 2
subscr_per_agch_message = 1.0

 paging messages per hour = SUBSCR * 20 * 0.46 * 1.33/2 ∼ SUBSCR * 6/h


 access grant messages per hour ∼ SUBSCR * 4/h
→ paging + access grant messages per hour ∼ SUBSCR * 10/h
→ ∼ 4600 subscriber (combined CCCH)
→ ∼ 14000 subscriber (uncombined CCCH)

 random access messages per hour ∼ SUBSCR * 4 / h


(at 10 % load)
→ ∼ 10000 subscriber (combined CCCH)
→ ∼ 20000 subscriber (uncombined CCCH)

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Parameters for Common Control Channel Configuration


Specification Name Object DB Name Range Meaning
RACH_BUSY_THRES BTS RACHBT 0...127 RACH busy threshold defined in
steps of -1 dBm
MAX_RETRANS BTS MAXRETR ONE maximum number of allowed
TWO retransmissions of a channel
FOUR request on the RACH
SEVEN
TX_INTEGER BTS NSLOTST 0...15 number of RACH slots to spread
re-transmission of channel
request; also fixing the
deterministic part of wait time
0 ... 15 =
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12,
14, 16, 20, 25, 32, 50
BS_AG_BLKS_RES BTS NBLKACGR 0...7 number of common control
0...2 for comb. blocks per multiframe used for
CCCH access grant exclusively
BS_PA_MFRMS BTS NFRAMEPG 2...9 number of multiframes between
paging blocks belonging to the
same paging sub-channel
ASCI_SERVICE BTS ASCISER TRUE, FALSE enables or disables ASCI
service on a cell basis
ASCI_UPLINK_REPLY BTS ASCIULR ULRDISABLE, the ASCI Uplink Reply
parameter enables or disables
VBSENABLE
the uplink reply procedures for
VGCSENABLE both VGCS and VBS
VBC_VGCSEN
ABLE
NCH_FIRST_BLOCK BTS NOCHFBLK 1...7 indicates the first block of
downlink CCCH to be used for
NCH
NCH_BLOCK_NUMBER BTS NOCHBLKN 1...4 number of downlink CCCH
blocks to be used for NCH
TIMER_NCH BTS TNOCH 1...254 repetition period for notification
messages defined in steps of
one multi-frame period – 235 ms
TIMER_UPLINK_REPLY BTS TUPLREP 5..60 s This timer determines the period
between transmissions of the
Uplink Free message in the
uplink reply procedure.

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3 Extended channel mode

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In a normal GSM standard cell the maximum MS-BTS distance is 35 km; this is the
limit given by the maximum TA (timing advance 0...63 bit) which is possible on one
radio timeslot.
Distance calculation:
Dist = TA * bit-period * light-speed / 2
bit-period = 48/13 (3.69) µs
light-speed = 300000 km/s.
The feature ‘Extended Cells’ supports a larger distance between MS and BTS by
using two subsequent radio timeslots to compensate the longer delay of the bursts.
The first timeslot of a double timeslot has always an even number (0,2,4,6), the
following corresponding channel must not be created.
For a double timeslot the maximum propagation delay can be 219 bit ( 120 km), but
note that the maximum distance which can be configured by O&M is 100 km.
The BTS splits the propagation delay into two values:
 timing advance (TA), covering the first 63 bit delay
 timing offset (TO), used for extended cells as an offset to TA for delays greater 63
bit (the propagation delay is the algebraic sum of TA and TO).
When activating the SDCCH and later the TCH for that corresponding MS, the
evaluated initial TA value forms part of the layer 1 header downlink, the initial TO is
used BTS-internally.
If the average of the deviation exceeds 1 bit period (48/13 µs) in comparison to the
TA confirmed by the MS (contained in every uplink SACCH header information), the
previously ordered TA is incremented/decremented by one and sent as new ordered
TA in the layer 1 header downlink to MS. As previously mentioned TA cannot exceed
63 bit. TO is used internally for processing further delay in case of extended cells.
Note that TO may only be greater then 0 when TA has the maximum value 63.
In extended cells all control and signaling channels must be defined in extended
(double) mode.
Specification Object DB Name Range Meaning
Name
CELL_TYPE BTS CELLTYPE STDCELL maximum range
EXTCELL 35 km a cell covering
other cells maximum
range 100 km
EXTENDED_MODE CHAN EXTMODE TRUE defines if a channel is
FALSE used in extended
mode or not

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Channel configuration Siemens

4 Adaptive Multirate AMR

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4.1 General
The Adaptive Multi Rate Speech Codec (AMR) is made up of a set of speech codec
modes at different bit rates. Each codec mode provides a different level of error
protection on the air interface, obtained by varying the balance between source (i.e.
speech) coding bit rate and radio channel coding bit rate. All modes may be mapped
to full rate channels, only the lower bit rate modes may be mapped to half rate
channels.
The currently available speech codecs (FR, EFR, HR) show several constraints.
They operate at constant source and channel coding bit rate and at constant error
protection. The quality of FR and HR is not high enough to cope with wireline speech,
EFR is not robust enough against bad radio conditions. The flexibility of AMR
provides important benefits:
Improved speech quality in both half-rate and full-rate modes by means of codec
mode adaptation, i.e. varying the balance between speech and channel coding for
the same gross bit-rate.
Ability to trade speech quality and capacity smoothly and flexibly by a combination
of channel and code mode adaptation.
Improved robustness to channel errors under bad radio signal conditions in full-
rate mode. This increased robustness to errors and hence to interference may be
used to increase capacity by operating a tighter frequency re-use pattern. This
allows the optimization of networks for high quality or high capacity.
Use of certain modes for special applications, e.g. wireline quality half-rate for
indoor with low channel errors
In full-rate mode only, the robustness to high error levels is substantially increased
such that the quality level of EFR at a C/I of 10 dB is extended down to a C/I of 4
dB. This gives additional coverage in noise limited scenarios.

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Channel configuration Siemens

Traffic Channel Full: Gross rate 22.8 kbit/s

Flexible
Channel Coding Speech Coding
balance

Fig. 13 AMR principle

22,8
kbit/s
channel coding FR

channel coding HR

speech coding

11,4
kbit/s

0
FR 1 FR 2 FR 3 / FR 4 / FR 5 / FR 6 / FR 7 / FR 8 /
HR 1 HR 2 HR 3 HR 4 HR 5 HR 6

Fig. 14 AMR codecs

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Siemens Channel configuration

MOS
5.0

4.0

3.0

EFR
12.2
10.2
7.95
2.0
7.4
6.7
5.9
5.15
4.75 Conditions
1.0
No Errors C/I=16 dB C/I=13 dB C/I=10 dB C/I= 7 dB C/I= 4 dB C/I= 1 dB

EFR 4.01 4.01 3.65 3.05 1.53

12.2 4.01 4.06 4.13 3.93 3.44 1.46

10.2 4.06 3.96 4.05 3.80 2.04

7.95 3.91 4.01 4.08 3.96 3.26 1.43

7.4 3.83 3.94 3.98 3.84 3.11 1.39

6.7 3.77 3.80 3.86 3.29 1.87

5.9 3.72 3.69 3.59 2.20


5.15 3.50 3.58 3.44 2.43

4.75 3.50 3.52 3.43 2.66

Fig. 15 Family of curves (clean speech in full rate) acc. to ETSI study

DMOS
5.0

4.0

3.0

Sel. Requir.
AMR-FR
2.0 EFR
FR
G.729

Conditions
1.0
No Errors C/I=16 dB C/I=13 dB C/I=10 dB C/I= 7 dB C/I= 4 dB C/I= 1 dB

Fig. 16 AMR performance curves (full rate with street noise) acc. to ETSI study

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Channel configuration Siemens

MOS
5.0

4.0

3.0 EFR
7.95
7.4
6.7
5.9
2.0 5.15
4.75
FR
HR
Conditions
1.0
No Errors C/I=19 dB C/I=16 dB C/I=13 dB C/I=10 dB C/I= 7 dB C/I= 4 dB

EFR 4.21 4.21 3.74 3.34 1.58

7.95 4.11 4.04 3.96 3.37 2.53 1.60

7.4 3.93 3.93 3.95 3.52 2.74 1.78

6.7 3.94 3.90 3.53 3.10 2.22 1.21


5.9 3.68 3.82 3.72 3.19 2.57 1.33

5.15 3.70 3.60 3.60 3.38 2.85 1.84

4.75 3.59 3.46 3.42 3.30 3.10 2.00

FR 3.50 3.50 3.14 2.74 1.50

HR 3.35 3.24 2.80 1.92

Fig. 17 Family of curves (clean speech in half rate) acc. to ETSI study

Capacity Improvement as a function of the AMR Handset


Penetration
(Parameter: Half Rate Operating Threshold)
120.0%
HR
Only
100.0%
Capacity Improvement

15 dB
80.0%

60.0% 20 dB

40.0% 25 dB

20.0%

AMR Penetration
0.0%
50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Fig. 18 AMR capacity gain acc. to ETSI study

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Most speech codecs including the existing GSM codecs (FR, HR and EFR) operate
at a fixed coding rate. Channel protection against errors is added also at a fixed rate.
The coding rates are chosen as a compromise between best clear channel
performance and robustness to channel errors. The AMR system exploits this
performance compromise by adapting the speech and channel coding rates
according to the quality of the radio channel resulting in better quality and increased
robustness against errors.
The new radio resource algorithm, enhanced to support AMR operation, allocates a
half-rate or full-rate channel according to channel quality and the traffic load on the
cell in order to obtain best balance between quality and capacity.
The channel measurement reports and any other information for the codec mode
adaptation are transmitted in-band in the traffic channel. In addition the channel
mode of the codec can be switched in order to increase channel capacity while
maintaining the speech quality to operator specified limits. These variations are
carried out by means of AMR modifications and handovers.
The allocation of AMR FR or AMR HR codecs can also be related to the current
traffic load in the network. The operator sets the threshold for the traffic dependent
allocation of HR channels (c.f. "Cell Load Dependent Activation of Half Rate").

Principles
 Channel state information is derived in MS and BTS.
 BTS/BSC decide which AMR codec mode is used based on channel state
information.
 Quality/robustness of AMR modes depend on division of the gross bit-rate into
speech and channel coding.
 In-band signaling is provided over the air interface to switch rapidly between the
different modes (within full-rate or half-rate modes) in order to adapt to the channel
conditions.
 Switching between codec modes is seamless.
 AMR can also be operated in "HR only" mode. The speech quality perceived by
the subscriber is similar to present FR quality. AMR "HR only" mode is even better
in respect to clean speech and channel errors. In case of background noise and
channel errors the performance is lower.

AMR Codec Modes


The AMR codec operates at different codec mode bit-rates (4.75 kbit/s to 12.2 kbit/s)
including GSM EFR. Each codec mode performs differently under changing channel
quality (C/I). The following table provides an overview on the codecs used.

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Channel configuration Siemens

AMR Codec Designation Support by Support by


Mode Bitrate (Full Rate / Half Rate BTSplus (BR6.0) BTSone (BR6.0)
(kbit/s) Mode)
12.2 FR 1 ("Enhanced FR") Yes Yes
10.2 FR 2 Yes Yes
7.95 FR 3 / HR 1 FR 3 only FR 3 only
7.40 FR 4 / HR 2 Yes FR 4 only
6.70 FR 5 / HR 3 Yes FR 5 only
5.90 FR 6 / HR 4 Yes Yes
5.15 FR 7 / HR 5 Yes Yes
4.75 FR 8 / HR 6 Yes Yes

AMR FR channels are mapped on 16 kbit/s TRAU frames on the Abis interface while
AMR HR channels are mapped on 8 kbit/s TRAU frames. (GSM standards, however,
map HR1 codec, 7.95 kbit/s source bit rate, to 16 kbit/s TRAU frames.)

Radio Interface
The AMR codec and its control operate without any changes to the air-interface
channel multiplexing. Conventional TCH/F and TCH/H channels are used for full-rate
and half-rate channel modes of the AMR codec.

Channel Mode Handover


Channel mode handovers (AMR HR  AMR FR) are executed in the same way as
existing intra cell handovers. A new algorithm for determination when and whether to
perform an AMR handover is applied.

Code Mode Signaling


Signaling and measurement reporting for codec mode changes (e.g. AMR FRi 
AMR FRj) are transmitted in-band on the radio interface.

VAD/DTX
Signaling and measurement reporting for codec mode changes are transmitted in-
band on the radio interface.

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4.2 SBS implementation


Both BTSplus and BTSone support all FR codecs. However, not all AMR HR codecs
are supported: Due to static alignment of HR channels on 8 kbit/s TRAU frames,
AMR HR codec HR1 (for BTSplus) and AMR HR codecs HR1, HR2 and HR3 (for
BTS1) are not supported.
The TRAU equipped with TRAC V7 modules supports all codecs (FR/HR/EFR
speech, data, AMR full rate, AMR half rate, …)

4.2.1 TRAU pooling


For the TRAU pools can be defined for the timeslots of a PCMA:

Parameter Object Range Description


DEFPOOLTYP PCMA 0 .. 143 Default pool type
POOLTYP TSLA POOL_NOTDEF, Pool type for TSLA (different from
POOL_1,…, DEFPOOLTYP)
POOL_48

4.2.2 AMR codec adaptation


AMR codec adaptation is done within a restricted set of codec modes (using half-rate
or full-rate). This set is called Active Code Set ACS and can be composed of up to
four codec modes.
The changes between codecs is done according to an adaptation algorithm without
notification or intervention by the BSC. This algorithm is based on channel quality
measurements performed in the BTS and MS (Quality Indicator is defined in terms of
carrier to interference ratio C/I).

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4.3 Database parameters

Parameter Object Range Description


AMRFRC1, BTS, 1:RATE_01 (4.75 kbit/s), AMR Full Rate Codec no. 1,
AMRFRC2, FHSY 2:RATE_02 (5.15 kbit/s), AMR Full Rate Codec no. 2,
AMRFRC3, 3:RATE_03 (5.90 kbit/s), AMR Full Rate Codec no. 3,
AMRFRC4 4:RATE_04 (6.70 kbit/s), AMR Full Rate Codec no. 4,
5:RATE_05 (7.40 kbit/s),
6:RATE_06 (7.95 kbit/s),
7:RATE_07 (10.2 kbit/s),
8:RATE_08 (12.2 kbit/s)
AMRFRTH12 Threshold: 0 (0.0 dB)... 63 "Threshold-Hysteresis" related
(31.5 dB), step is 0.5 dB; to the active codecs specified
in the AMRFRC1 and
Hysteresis: 0 (0.0 dB)...
15 (7.5 dB) AMRFRC2
(Threshold default value: 30
(15.0 dB) for BTSP family and
<NULL> for BTSE family;
hysteresis default value: 0 (0.0
dB)
AMRFRTH23 Threshold: 0 ... 63; "Threshold-Hysteresis" related
to the active codecs specified
Hysteresis: 0 ... 15
in the AMRFRC2 and
AMRFRC3
AMRFRTH34 Threshold: 0 ... 63; "Threshold-Hysteresis" related
to the active codecs specified
Hysteresis: 0 ... 15
in the AMRFRC3 and
AMRFRC4
AMRHRC1 1:RATE_01 (4.75 kbit/s), AMR Half Rate Codec no. 1,
AMRHRC2, 2:RATE_02 (5.15 kbit/s), AMR Half Rate Codec no. 2,
AMRHRC3, 3:RATE_03 (5.90 kbit/s), AMR Half Rate Codec no. 3,
AMRHRC4 4:RATE_04 (6.70 kbit/s), AMR Half Rate Codec no. 4,
5:RATE_05 (7.40 kbit/s) AMR Half Rate Codec no. 5

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AMRHRTH12 Threshold 0..63 (0.5 dB "Threshold-Hysteresis" related


step size); to the active codecs specified
in the AMRHRC1 and
hysteresis 0..15 (0.5 dB
AMRHRC2 (threshold default
step size)
value: 24 (12.0 dB); hysteresis
default value: 0 (0.0 dB)
AMRHRTH23 Threshold: 0 ... 63; "Threshold-Hysteresis" related
to the active codecs specified
Hysteresis: 0 ... 15
in the AMRHRC2 and
AMRHRC3
AMRHRTH34 BTS Threshold: 0 ... 63; "Threshold-Hysteresis" related
to the active codecs specified
Hysteresis: 0 ... 15
in the AMRHRC2 and
AMRHRC3
AMRFRIC BTS, 0:START_MODE_FR, Initial FR codec mode (i.e. start
FHSY mode among the ACS)
1:CODE_MODE_01,
2:CODE_MODE_02,
3:CODE_MODE_03,
4:CODE_MODE_04
AMRHRIC BTS, START_MODE_HR, Initial HR codec mode
FHSY CODE_MODE_01,
CODE_MODE_02,
CODE_MODE_03,
CODE_MODE_04
AMRLKAT BTS Range: 0..200 The AMR link adaptation
tuning parameter is used by
0 = -10dB,
the AMR Uplink Codec Mode
100 = 0dB, Adaptation in the BTS.
200 = +10dB It tunes the transition between
unit: 0.1dB CODEC modes determined by
internal thresholds. A value
Default: 100 higher than the default shifts
the transition towards higher
carrier-to-interferer or signal-
to-noise ratios. A value lower
than the default has the
opposite effect. Adaptation of
AMR HR and AMR FR is
affected simultaneously.

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The thresholds and hysteresis values (for HR and FR codec modes, see above) must
fulfill the following conditions:

Thr_1 ≤ Thr_2 ≤ Thr_3


Thr_1 + Hys_1 ≤ Thr_2 + Hys_2 ≤ Thr_3 + Hys_3

Parameter Description Range


Thr_1 / 2 / 3 Thr_i gives the "downward" threshold for 0 (0.0 dB)... 63
switching to mode i (from mode i+1) (31.5 dB)
Hys_1 / 2 / 3 Hys_i determines the "upward" threshold for 0 (0.0 dB)... 15
switching to mode i+1 (from i, the switch occurs (7.5 dB)
at Thr_i+Hyst_i)

Carrier-to-
interference
ratio C/I
Codec_Mode_4

Thr_3 + Hyst_3 = Thr_Mx_Up (3)


Thr_3 = Thr_Mx_Down (4)

Codec_Mode_3

Thr_2 + Hyst_2 = Thr_Mx_Up (2)

Thr_2 = Thr_Mx_Down (3)

Codec_Mode_2
Thr_1 + Hyst_1 = Thr_Mx_Up (1)
Thr_1 = Thr_Mx_Down (2)

Codec_Mode_1
Thr Threshold
Hyst Hysteresis

Fig. 19 Threshold and hysteresis determine the switching "up" and "down" between codec modes in downlink

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The AMR link adaptation works based on the quality of the connection. Since a finer
scale is needed than the one RXQUAL offers, C/I is used. The following table is used
for the mapping between C/I values and RXQUAL values:

RXQUAL C/I RXQUAL C/I


6.88 ... 7 1 3.13 ... 3.37 14
6.63 ... 6.87 2 2.88 ... 3.12 14
6.38 ... 6.62 4 2.63 ... 2.87 15
6.13 ... 6.37 5 2.38 ... 2.62 16
5.88 ... 6.12 6 2.13 ... 2.37 16
5.63 ... 5.87 7 1.88 ... 2.12 17
5.38 ... 5.62 8 1.63 ... 1.87 17
5.13 ... 5.37 8 1.38 ... 1.62 18
4.88 ... 5.12 9 1.13 ... 1.37 18
4.63 ... 4.87 10 0.88 ... 1.12 19
4.38 ... 4.62 11 0.63 ... 0.87 19
4.13 ... 4.37 11 0.38 ... 0.62 19
3.88 ... 4.12 12 0.13 ... 0.37 20
3.63 ... 3.87 13 0 ... 0.12 20
3.38 ... 3.62 13

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5 Exercises

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Exercise 1
Title: Creation of a RFC in the SBS

Task
The object in the SBS configuration language specifying a RFC is called TRX
(transceiver).
Take the UMN: BSC-CML (User Manual: BSC command manual) and check the
required input parameters.

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Exercise 2
Title: Dimensioning control channels of an extended cell

Task
Given an extended cell with 2 carriers.
In this cell, 3 channels with extended_mode = true are required.
Assume Erlang B and the following values:
Typical SDCCH load per subscriber and hour: 8 mErl.
Typical TCH load per subscriber and hour: 25 mErl.
Blocking probability 1%.

Determine the control channel configuration which offers highest capacity.

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6 Solutions

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Solution 1
Title: Creation of a RFC in the SBS

Task
CREATE TRX:NAME=BTSM:0/BTS:0/TRX:1, TRXFREQ=CALLF05, PWRRED=0,
RADIOMR=OFF, RADIOMG=254, MOEC=TRUE, TRXAREA=NONE, LPDLMN=0,
GSUP=FALSE;

The parameters are specified as following:


BTSM: BTS site manager number 0 ... 199
BTS: Number of sector 0 ... 23
TRX: TRX number to the related cell 0 ... 23
TRXFREQ: TRX-frequency - ARFCN BCCHFREQ,
CALLF01,
CALLF02,
:
CALLF63
PWRRED: Power reduction [0...12 dB in steps of 2 dB] for 0 ... 6
decrease max. transmit power
RADIOMR: Radio measurement reports from TRXto the BSC ON / OFF
RADIOMG: Granularity of radio measurement reports in 0 ... 254
steps of 1 SACCH multiframe
MOEC Member of emergency configuration TRUE / FALSE
TRXAREA: Configuration of concentric cells NONE /
COMPLETE /
INNER
LPDLM Number of LAPD link 0 ... 7
GSUP TRX supports GPRS TRUE / FALSE

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Solution 2
Title: Dimensioning control channels of an extended cell

Task

Example configuration A:
1 BCCH combined (containing 4 SDCCH subslots), extmode must be true!
3 TCH_full, extmode = true
2 carriers

NTCH = 11, ATCH = 5.16 Erl, B = 0.01 ⇒ 206 subscribers


NSDCCH = 4, ASDCCH = 0.87 Erl, B = 0.01 ⇒ 108 subscribers

⇒ Configuration A is SDCCH limited to 108 subscribers.

Example configuration B:
1 BCCH uncombined, extmode must be true!
1 SDCCH timeslot (containing 8 SDCCH subslots), extmode must be true!
3 TCH_full, extmode = true
2 carriers

NTCH = 9, ATCH = 3.78 Erl, B = 0.01 ⇒ 151 subscribers


NSDCCH = 8, ASDCCH = 3.13 Erl, B = 0.01 ⇒ 391 subscribers

⇒ Configuration B is TCH limited to 151 subscribers.

⇒ Configuration B offers higher capacity.

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