User Description, Double BA Lists

USER DESCRIPTION
 Copyright

© Ericsson AB 1996-2002 – All Rights Reserved

Disclaimer

The contents of this document are subject to revision without notice due to
continued progress in methodology, design, and manufacturing.

Ericsson shall have no liability for any error or damages of any kind resulting
from the use of this document.

77/1553-HSC 103 12/4 Uen B 2003-10-09

 User Description, Double BA Lists

Contents

1 Introduction 1

2 Glossary 1
2.1 Concepts 1
2.2 Abbreviations and Acronyms 1

3 Capabilities 2
3.1 Better measurement accuracy 2
3.2 Faster connection at switch-on 2

4 Technical description 3
4.1 General 3
4.2 Updating of BA lists 6
4.3 Transfer of BA lists to the mobile stations 6
4.4 Measurement reports 6
4.5 GPRS/EGPRS 7
4.6 Main changes in Ericsson GSM system R10/BSS R10 7

5 Engineering guidelines 7
5.1 The active mode BA list 7
5.2 The idle mode BA list 8
5.3 Changing the BA lists 8

6 Parameters 8
6.1 Main controlling parameters 8
6.2 Parameters for special adjustments 9
6.3 Value ranges and default values 9

7 References 9

77/1553-HSC 103 12/4 Uen B 2003-10-09

User Description, Double BA Lists

77/1553-HSC 103 12/4 Uen B 2003-10-09

 User Description, Double BA Lists

1 Introduction

A mobile station (MS) in idle mode measures continuously the received signal
strength of the BCCH carriers in the serving cell and in neighbouring cells. The
result of these measurements is used to select the best cell to camp on, see
User Description, Idle Mode Behaviour .

In active mode the MS measures the signal strength and bit error rate of
the serving cell, as well as the signal strength of the BCCH carriers of the
neighbouring cells. The measurement results are used in Locating and
Dynamic BTS Power Control (see User Description, Locating and User
Description, Dynamic BTS Power Control ).

The Double BA Lists feature, ‘‘double’’ referring to the active mode list and the
idle mode list, provides the MS with separate lists of measurement frequencies
for the two states idle mode and active mode.

2 Glossary

2.1 Concepts
GPRS/EGPRS BA The GPRS/EGPRS BA list includes neighbour cells
list with GPRS/EGPRS support and the Absolute Radio
Frequency Channel Number (ARFCN) of the BCCH
frequencies in these cells.

E-GSM Extended GSM900 band including the Primary GSM900

band and the G1.

G1 Extension band defined for GSM900 at 880-890 MHz

(uplink) and 925-935 MHz (downlink).

P-GSM Primary GSM900 band defined at 890-915 MHz (uplink)

and 935-960 MHz (downlink).

2.2 Abbreviations and Acronyms

ARFCN Absolute Radio Frequency Channel Number

BA BCCH Allocation

77/1553-HSC 103 12/4 Uen B 2003-10-09 1

User Description, Double BA Lists

BCCH Broadcast Control Channel

CS Circuit Switched

EGPRS Enhanced General Packet Radio Service

GPRS General Packet Radio Service

PBCCH Packet Broadcast Control Channel

SACCH Slow Associated Control Channel

3 Capabilities

3.1 Better measurement accuracy

A short active mode BA list increases the measurement accuracy. Better
measurement reports improve the result from Locating (see User Description,
Locating ).

3.2 Faster connection at switch-on

An MS may store the idle mode BA list in a permanent memory in the MS or in
the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card when it is switched off (manufacturer
dependent). The stored idle mode BA list may reduce the time for cell selection
at switch on since the MS will only scan the BCCH carriers in the stored list. An
idle mode BA list corresponding to all BCCH carriers used would then fasten
the connection at switch on.

If no allowed BCCH carrier is found after the stored list has been scanned,
searching continues with scanning the whole frequency band. If no BA list is
stored, the MS scans the whole frequency band (see User Description, Idle
Mode Behaviour ).

2 77/1553-HSC 103 12/4 Uen B 2003-10-09

 User Description, Double BA Lists

4 Technical description

4.1 General
The Double BA Lists feature is defined per cell. This means that it is possible
to have double lists in one cell and a single list in another cell. A single list
corresponds to having the same list in idle mode and in active mode.

The Absolute Radio Frequency Channel Numbers (ARFCNs) to be measured

on by a MS in a cell shall be included in the BA list and they are defined by
the parameter MBCCHNO. Only ARFCNs for the neighbouring cells BCCH
frequencies shall be defined (serving cells BCCH frequency can also be include
if separate idle mode and active mode BA lists are used). With the parameter
LISTTYPE it is possible to determine whether the list is for idle mode or active
mode, or both.

If the global system type is MIXED (see User Description, Multiband Operation
), it is possible to add frequencies in the combination of GSM800, GSM900,
and GSM1800 or GSM1900 band.

Basically up to 32 measurement frequencies can be defined in the BA list. If

UTRAN neighbours are registered in the cell, then the maximum number of
frequencies in the BA list is 31.

The following restrictions will apply according to the global system type and the
list type. Note that if the list type is not specified, it is set to BOTH. When the list
type is set to BOTH, the restrictions are checked for both IDLE and ACTIVE lists.

If the global system type is MIXED and the list type is IDLE , the following
restrictions apply:

• For a GSM900 cell with BCCH in P or G1 band or when BCCH is not

defined, if the measurement frequencies are defined in GSM1800 or
GSM1900 band but not in G1, up to 22 measurement frequencies in a BA
list can be defined within the GSM1800 or GSM1900 band in range 256, if
the value range exceeds 112 and it does not exceeds 256 in the band. For
other cases see also Figure 1 on page 5.

• For a GSM900 cell with BCCH in P band or when BCCH is not defined, if
measurement frequencies are defined in GSM1800 or GSM1900 band and
G1, up to 18 measurement frequencies can be defined in GSM1800 or
GSM1900 band and G1, if the value range exceeds 256 and it does not
exceeds 512 in the band. For other cases see also Figure 1 on page 5 .

• For a GSM1800 or GSM1900 cell, if measurement frequencies from both

P band and G1 are defined, up to 22 measurement frequencies in a BA
listcan be defined in both P and G1. See Figure 1 on page 5 .

77/1553-HSC 103 12/4 Uen B 2003-10-09 3

User Description, Double BA Lists

If the global system type is MIXED and the list type is ACTIVE , the following
restrictions apply:

• For a GSM900 cell, if measurement frequencies are defined in GSM1800

or GSM1900 band, up to 22 measurement frequencies in range 256 can
be defined in GSM1800 or GSM1900 band, if the value range exceeds
112 and it does not exceeds 256 in the band. For other cases see also
Figure 1 on page 5 .

• For a GSM1800 or GSM1900 cell, if measurement frequencies from both P

band and G1 are defined, up to 22 measurement frequencies in a BA list
can be defined in both P and G1. See Figure 1 on page 5 .

For a GSM800 cell measurement frequencies restrictions are shown in Figure 1

on page 5 .

The lists can be altered in active cells. Two methods for the updating of the
BA lists in the MSs exist, the default method and the immediate method , see
Section 4.2 on page 6 . The method is chosen with parameter MRNIC .

Note: It is not possible to change the active mode BA list if the BSC function
active BA list recording feature is active, see User Description,
Neighbouring Cell List Optimization Expert (NOX).

4 77/1553-HSC 103 12/4 Uen B 2003-10-09

 User Description, Double BA Lists

SI2/5
P Bitmap0
SI2ter/5bis
G1 Var.bitmap SI2ter/5ter Var.bitmap
<113
1800/1900 <257 SI2ter/5ter 256
>256
SI2ter/5ter 512
Freq. Range? <257 SI2ter 256
G1 + 1800/1900
>256 SI2ter 512
Meas. Freqs.? SI2ter/5ter Var.bitmap
<113 >512
SI2ter 1024
800 >112 SI2ter/5ter 256

Freq. Range?
800 + G1 <257 SI2ter 256
>256 SI2ter/5ter 512
SI2ter 512
<513
800 + 1800/1900 >512 SI2ter/5ter 1024

Freq. Range?
800 + G1 + 1800/1900 <513 SI2ter 512
>512
SI2ter 1024

GSM900 P
SI2/5
Bitmap0
P Band SI2bis/5bis
G1
Var.bitmap SI2ter/5ter Var.bitmap
<113
Meas. Freqs.? <257 SI2ter/5ter 256
1800/1900
>256
Freq. Range? SI2ter/5ter 512

800 >112 SI2ter/5ter 256

<113
GSM900 SI2ter/5ter Var.bitmap

G1 Band 800 + 1800/1900

<513 SI2ter/5ter 512
>512 SI2ter/5ter 1024
Freq. Range?

Freq. Range? <113

SI2/5 Var.bitmap
Where is 1800/1900 <279 SI2/5 256 + SI2bis/5bis 256
BCCH? >278
<19 SI2/5 512
SI2ter/5ter
P No. of freqs.? >18
Bitmap0 SI2/5 512 + SI2bis/5bis 512
GSM1800/
SI2ter/5ter
1900 Band G1
Var.bitmap

SI2ter/5ter
P + G1
256 SI2ter/5ter Var.bitmap
Meas. Freqs.? Freq. Range? <113
800 >112 SI2ter/5ter 256
SI2ter/5ter Var.bitmap
<113
800 + P >112 SI2ter/5ter 256
GSM800 >256
SI2ter/5ter 512

Band 800 + G1 <257 SI2ter/5ter 256

Freq. Range?
800 + P + G1 <257 SI2ter/5ter 256
>256
SI2ter/5ter 512
for IDLE list type only SI2/5 Var.bitmap
Freq. Range? <113
Meas. Freqs. limitations: 800 >112 SI2/5 256

Packing format 1024 512 256 Var.bitmap Bitmap0 SI2bis/5bis

Max.meas.freqs 16 18 22 112 124 P
Bitmap0
SI2ter/5ter
G1 Var.bitmap
ARFCN Ranges: SI2ter/5ter Var.bitmap
Meas. Freqs.? <113
1800/1900 <257 SI2ter/5ter 256
P 800 1800 1900 G1
>256
Freq. Range? SI2ter/5ter 512
1 124 128 251 512 885 512 810 975 1023, 0
SI2ter/5ter 256
<257
G1 + 1800/1900 >256 SI2ter/5ter 512
>512
Freq. Range? SI2ter/5ter 1024

Figure 1 The SI Message Type, Packing format and Restrictions on number of Measurement
Frequencies for GSM System

77/1553-HSC 103 12/4 Uen B 2003-10-09 5

User Description, Double BA Lists

4.2 Updating of BA lists

4.2.1 Default updating

The default method, chosen by not using parameter MRNIC , is used to make
sure that all MSs always have BA lists that are unambiguously defined in the
BSC. This is important in active cells when the traffic is not negligible. Changed
BA lists are transmitted in the System Information messages.

The old active mode BA list is first transmitted in the System Information
messages, and the BSC waits 15 seconds before it transmits the new active
mode BA list. It waits another 15 seconds, and then transmits the new idle
mode BA list. The active mode BA list and the idle mode BA list will then be
unambiguously defined in the BSC. The update will take 31 seconds per cell.

4.2.2 Immediate updating

The new idle mode BA list or the new active mode BA list is transmitted
immediately to the idle and active MSs respectively, if parameter MRNIC is
used. The new lists are stored in the BSC, replacing the old ones. MSs that
have not concluded their updating will send measurement reports that may be
interpreted incorrectly for a period of maximum five seconds.

4.3 Transfer of BA lists to the mobile stations

An MS in idle mode receives the idle mode BA list in System Information 2, 2bis
and 2ter messages that are transmitted on BCCH. The format and scheduling
is described in the 3GPP Technical Specifikation 44.018.

An MS in active mode receives the active mode list in System Information 5,

5bis and 5ter messages transmitted on the SACCH.

4.4 Measurement reports

In active mode the MS reports the signal strength and estimated quality of
the serving cell and the signal strength of the six strongest neighbours, for
which the Base Station Identity Code (BSIC) is decoded. The measurement
reports are sent on the SACCH every SACCH period, see User Description,
Locating . The Measurement Reports contain the downlink measurements,
information about the measured frequencies and BSIC for the reported cells
and information about what list (old or new) that has been used, see 3GPP
Technical Specifikation 44.018.

6 77/1553-HSC 103 12/4 Uen B 2003-10-09

 User Description, Double BA Lists

4.5 GPRS/EGPRS
The GPRS/EGPRS MSs perform an autonomous cell reselection in both packet
idle mode and packet transfer mode. If the serving cell supports GPRS/EGPRS
and PBCCH is allocated in the cell, the GPRS/EGPRS MSs will use the more
advanced GPRS/EGPRS specific cell reselection criteria. The criteria are C31
(signal strength threshold criterion) and C32 (cell ranking criterion) for the
serving cell and neighbouring cells. The neighbour cells to be monitored for cell
reselection are defined in the BA (GPRS) list which is broadcast on PBCCH.
The BA (GPRS) list include ARFCN, BSIC and C31/C32 cell reselection
parameters for neighbouring cells, for more details seeUser Description,
GPRS/EGPRS Cell Reselection .

If the serving cell supports GPRS/EGPRS and PBCCH is not allocated in the
cell, the GPRS/EGPRS MSs will read SI broadcast on BCCH and use the C1
(path loss criterion) and C2 (cell reselection criterion) criteria for autonomous
cell selection and cell reselection just like CS MSs in Idle mode. If a PBCCH
does not exist in the serving cell, the GPRS/EGPRS MSs use the same BA
list as CS MSs use in Idle mode. The Circuit Switched (CS) BA list consists
only of ARFCN.

4.6 Main changes in Ericsson GSM system R10/BSS R10

No changes from Ericsson GSM system R9 / BSS R9.1.

5 Engineering guidelines

5.1 The active mode BA list

The active mode BA list should correspond to the defined neighbours. The
BCCH carrier of serving cell should not be in the active mode list. A short active
mode BA list gives better handover performance than a long list. If a long active
mode list is used there will be less samples taken from each cell, thus resulting
in decreased measurement accuracy. It could also be the case that the MSs
spends time decoding the BSIC of an irrelevant cell. Furthermore, if this is not
successful it will spend extra time trying to decode the BSIC of this cell and
waits longer time before it re-decodes the BSICs of the other cells. Thus, this
increases the risk that they are no longer valid. The active mode list should, in
the normal case, not exceed 15 frequencies.

77/1553-HSC 103 12/4 Uen B 2003-10-09 7

User Description, Double BA Lists

5.2 The idle mode BA list

The idle mode BA list should normally correspond to all the BCCH carriers
used. Serving cell should be included in the idle mode BA list. When an MS is
switched on, the MS scans the latest received BA list. If the MS has moved,
it could be the case that the MS measures a very weak signal from one of
the cells in the old list, and camps on it. If this list is very short and does not
contain the cells which are the best ones in the current location of the MS, the
MS will continue to camp on the "wrong" cell. To set up a call under these
circumstances is not favourable. This situation can be avoided if the idle mode
list contains more frequencies. Many frequencies in the idle mode list means
that less samples are taken per frequency than what would have been the case
if the list was short. The decreased accuracy for the idle mode measurements
that this gives rise to is not considered a problem.

5.3 Changing the BA lists

Changing the list with the default method takes longer time than with the
immediate method. Using the immediate updating method the new list is
received by the MS within a few seconds, whereas it takes 30 seconds per cell
when the default method is used. It is recommended to use the default method
when changing the active mode measurement list. Otherwise the measurement
reports may be interpreted incorrectly for a short time. Updating of the idle
mode list can always be performed using the immediate updating method.

6 Parameters

6.1 Main controlling parameters

MBCCHNO is the list of BCCH carriers, given as Absolute Radio Frequency
Channel Numbers (ARFCNs), of the neighbouring cells (and possibly serving
cell) on which the MS shall measure. The parameter is set per cell and type
of list (idle or active).

LISTTYPE is used to specify to which list, IDLE or ACTIVE, the stated

frequencies belong when changes in the BA lists are made. If LISTTYPE is
omitted the BCCH carriers defined or changed by MBCCHNO are valid in both
lists.

8 77/1553-HSC 103 12/4 Uen B 2003-10-09

 User Description, Double BA Lists

6.2 Parameters for special adjustments

MRNIC defines updating method for the BA lists. When MRNIC is set (YES)
the immediate updating method is used and if omitted (NO) the updating is
performed with the default method.

6.3 Value ranges and default values

Parameter Default
Recommended value Value range Unit
name value
1 to 124
MBCCHNO (GSM900
P-GSM)
0, 975 to 1023 ARFCN
(GSM900 G1)
128to 251
(GSM800)
512 to 810
(GSM1900)
512 to 885
(GSM1800)
LISTTYPE - ACTIVE,
IDLE,
-
for the active mode list:
MRNIC NO YES, NO
NO
for the idle mode list:
YES

7 References

1 User Description, Idle Mode Behaviour

2 User Description, Locating

3 User Description, Dynamic BTS Power Control

4 User Description, Multiband Operation

77/1553-HSC 103 12/4 Uen B 2003-10-09 9

User Description, Double BA Lists

5 User Description, Neighbouring Cell List Optimization Expert (NOX)

6 3GPP Technical Specifikation 44.018

7 User Description, GPRS/EGPRS Cell Reselection

10 77/1553-HSC 103 12/4 Uen B 2003-10-09