Mobile Originated (MO) SMS Flow

Here is a simple explanation of Mobile Originated SMS flow.

SMS MO Call Flow :-

1. The mobile station transfers the short message to the MSC.

2. The MSC queries the VLR to verify that the message transfer does not violate the
supplementary services invoked or the restrictions imposed on the subscriber.

3. The MSC sends the short message to the SMS-IWMSC (Inter-Working MSC for
SMS) using the “forward Short Message” operation.

4. The SMS-IWMSC delivers the short message to the SMSC (Short Message Service
Centre).

5. The SMSC acknowledges the successful outcome of the “forward Short Message”
operation to the MSC.

6. The MSC returns the outcome of the short message operation to the mobile
station.
Mobile Terminated (MT) SMS Flow
Here is a Simple Explanation of Mobile Terminated (MT) SMS Flow -

SMS MT Call Flow :-

1. The Short Message is transferred from SMSC to SMS-GMSC.
2. SMS-GMSC queries the HLR (SRI) & receives the routing information for the
mobile subscriber (SRI-ACK).
3. The SMS-GMSC sends the short message to the MSC using "Forward Short
Message" (FSM) operation.
4. The MSC retrieves the subscriber information from the VLR. This operation
may include the Authentication Procedure.
5. The MSC transfers short message to the Mobile Station (MS).
6. The MSC returns the outcome of the "Forward Short Message" operation to
the SMS-GMSC (FSM-ACK).
7. If requested by the SMSC, it returns a status report indicating Delivery of the
Short Message.
GSM Originating Call Flow
A Mobile User calling a Land Line Subscriber.
1. MS after dialing a number & pressing SEND key, sends Channel
Request(Chan_Req) message on RACH to ask for a signaling channel (Radio
Resources). [RACH - Random Access Channel]
2. The BSC allocates a Traffic Channel(TCH) using AGCH. TCH allocation
assigns a specific Frequency & a Timeslot on that frequency. [AGCH - Access
Grant Channel]
3. The MS sends a call setup request through SDCCH, to the MSC/VLR.
[SDCCH - slow dedicated control channel]. Over SDCCH, all signaling takes
place. This includes: marking the MS status as active in the VLR
4. Then comes Authentication Procedure which includes Ciphering (The channel
is ciphered so as to protect the call), Equipment Identification, etc.
5. The MSC/VLR instructs the BSC to allocate an Idle TCH (this message
contains the dialed digits and other information needed for call establishment).
The BTS and MS are told to tune to the TCH.
6. The MSC allocates a voice circuit on one the digital trunks between the MSC
and the BSS.
7. MSC informs the BSS about the allocated voice circuit. The call is also
switched from signaling to voice.
8. The BSS notifies the Mobile about the changeover to voice mode.
9. The MSC routes the call and sends the call towards the called subscriber.
10. The PSTN indicates to the MSC that it has received all the digits and the
called subscriber is being rung.
11. The MSC informs the mobile that the called subscriber is being alerted via a
ring.
12. The called subscriber answers the call.
(GSM) Mobile to Mobile Call Flow, Within Same MSC/BSC
Hi Friends,

Here I tried to explain very basic call flow from mobile to mobile.

To make it simple following assumptions have been taken. A) Call is in same MSC
and BSC. B) No Authentication, C)No Ciphering , D) Messages on Ater and Air
interface are not consider, etc.
Call Flow Mesage Details:-
1. CM Service Request – Message contains Global Cell Identity, Kind of
Service required by subscriber e.g Voice, SMS, Fax, USSD. Mobile Identity
e.g TMSI/IMSI.
2. CM Service Accept – Message is in reponse of CM Service Request.

3. Set Up - Message contains dailed number from Mobile A (i.e Mob B number)
and speech Codec.
4. Send Routing Info-Request (SRI) - After analysis of dialed numbers
received from A in set up message, MSC recognises its own MSISDN series
and send SRI to HLR to get the Mobile station roaming number(MSRN). This
messge contains B MSISDN, Interrogation type e.g Basic Call etc.
5. Assignment Request - Message is to seize a channel for voice call for Mob A
between MSC and BSC. Message contains Circuit Identification Code(CIC).
6. Assignment Complete - Acceptance from BSC end that same CIC has been
seized.
7. Provide Roaming Number Request - HLR checks in its database to which
VLR, Mob B is registered & ask for roaming number from that VLR. Message
contains IMSI, MSISDN, VLR ID of Mob B.
8. Provide Roaming Number Response - Message is response of roaming no.
request and contains roaming number of Mob B. This message is for HLR. In
this VLR checks its database & allocate one free MSRN from its MSRN pool
for B number.
9. Send Routing Info-Response - In this HLR forward same roaming number
which it receives in above message to MSC.
10. Paging Request - In this VLR checks the MSRN recieved from HLR &
search which MSISDN is against that MSRN, now MSC checks the VLR
database of that MSISDN to get the LAC & TMSI/IMSI of that MSISDN
 (Mob B) & initiates the paging request message to that particular LAC on the
basis of TMSI/IMSI in that BSC. BSC now page to that LAC on the basis of
IMSI/TMSI of Mob B. Message contains LAC, IMSI/TMSI, DPC of BSC.
11. Paging Response - Mob B response to that paging with GCI (Global Cell
Identity) to BSC that inturn forwarded to MSC.
12. Assignment Request - Message is to seize a channel for voice call for Mob B
between MSC and BSC. Message contains Circuit Identification Code(CIC).
13. Assignment Complete - Acceptance from BSC end that same CIC has been
seized.
14. Set Up - It is used to display Mob A number on Mob B handset.

15. Alert - This message indicates Mob A that Mob B is connected & its ringing.
The Ring Back Tone is send from MSC to Mob A.
16. Connect - Mob B answers the call & connect message from Mob B is send to
MSC, inturn MSC sends connect message to Mob A indiacting that phone has
been answered & connects those 2 voice channels which were seized during
the assignment complete message.
17. Connect Acknowledge - To acknowledge the connection.

BASIC ISUP CALL FLOW

 • Initial Address Message (IAM) — First message sent to inform the partner
switch (here MSC2) that a call has to be established on the CIC contained in
the message. Contains the called and calling number, type of service
(speech or data) and many more optional parameters.

•
Subsequent Address Message (SAM) — In case the IAM did not contain the full
called number, one or more SAMs may follow containing additional digits.

•
Address Complete Message (ACM) — Message returned from the terminating switch
(here MSC2) when the subscriber is reached and the phone starts ringing.

•
Answer Message (ANM) — Sent when the subscriber picks up the phone. Normally
charging starts at this moment.

•
Release (REL) — Sent to clear the call when a subscriber goes on hook.

•
Release complete (RLC) — Acknowledgement of the release – the timeslot is idle
afterwards and can be used again. This is also sent (without a preceding Release
message) if the terminating switch determines that the call cannot be completed.
The terminating switch also sends a Cause Value to explain the reason for the
failure, e.g., "User busy".