Mobile Originated Call:

1 866 567 1234

“SEND”

“Coach” enters the numbers on

his phone and pushes “send”...
 Mobile Originated Call:

The mobile then sends a channel request to the network

This is done as an up-link request on the RACH.

RACH
 Mobile Originated Call:

The network responds to the mobile with an Immediate

Assignment

This is done as a down-link response on the AGCH.

AGCH
The mobile is given:
Channel Type (SDCCH)
SDCCH
Timeslot number assigned
Training Sequence Number (TSC)
Absolute Radio Frequency Channel Number (AFRCN)
Mobile Allocation Number (MAIO)
Hopping Sequence Number (HSN)
The Reference Request that was sent from the BTS
Timing Advance, ( the access delay calculated by the BTS)
 Mobile Originated Call:

The Mobile then moves to the assigned channel

(SDCCH) and then sends a Service Request.

This is a request on the SDCCH to tell the network

what kind of service the mobile needs.

Mobile Originated call

SMS

Data Call
 Mobile Originated Call:

The Network then sends the Mobile an Authentication Request

on the same SDCCH

This is a request for the mobile to process the RAND

sent from the AC via the VLR.
The RAND is included in this message and the mobile
then must process this RAND number and its own Ki
number with an A3 algorithm stored on its SIM.
This produces a number called SRES. This is the same SRES number that
should be in VLR for this subscriber.
 Mobile Originated Call:

The Mobile then sends a Authentication Response on

the same assigned SDCCH timeslot.

This will be the SRES number from the mobiles

calculation with the RAND number just sent.

This SRES number will be sent to the VLR for comparison.

If all is well and there is a match at the VLR the subscriber is given access.
 Mobile Originated Call:

The Network then send the mobile the

Ciphering Mode Setting on the same SDCCH
timeslot.

This sets up the encryption for the phones

further transaction on the air interface.
 Mobile Originated Call:

The mobile responds with a Cipher Mode

Complete command on the SDCCH.

This tells the network the mobile received the

cipher command and is ready.
 Mobile Originated Call:

The mobile then sends setup message which is

the phone numbers to call. (On the SDCCH).

This tells the network what number to route

the call to.
 Mobile Originated Call:

The network responds with a Call Proceeding

message on the SDCCH timeslot.

This lets the phone know that the network got

the numbers and is proceeding to route the call.
 Mobile Originated Call:

If the call is routed and the network gets a

connection to the phone then an Assignment
Command is send to the phone on the SDCCH

This tells mobile to move to a TCH timeslot

and gives the phone its new timeslot
allocation.
 Mobile Originated Call:

The mobile responds with a Assignment

Complete Command on the SDCCH.

This lets the network know the mobile got its

new TCH assignment and is moving to it.
 Mobile Originated Call:

The Network then sends the mobile an ALERT

command letting it know the call is about to be
connected. This is a FACCH

This is somewhat like the final warning that

the call is about to be connected. This
happened on the physical TCH timeslot that
was just assigned to the mobile but the
network changes the timeslot to a logical
FACCH for this alert.
 Mobile Originated Call:

The Network then sends the connect command

to the phone telling it to “connect” onto the TCH
for the call. This also happens on the TCH but
again is a logical FACCH.

This is the connect message to the phone

telling it to “go active” on the assigned TCH
for the call.
 Mobile Originated Call:

The mobile responds to this message with a

Connect Acknowledge response. This is also on
the TCH assigned but as a FACCH.

This lets the network know the mobile has

“attached” to the TCH timeslot and is ready for
the calls connection.
 Mobile Originated Call:

The Call now takes place and Coach is talking to

his dialed party. This is the TCH.
Mobile Terminated Call:
Mrs.Upadhyay picks up here
home phone and calls Mr.
Dileep Upadhyay’s mobile
number.
45470193402
Mobile Terminated Call:

That call is routed to the GSM networks MSC from the

landlines local telco switch.
The MSC contacts the VLR for information on
where Coach’s mobile is located within the
network.
The VLR tells the MSC where to find Coach’s mobile.
 Mobile Terminated Call:

The VLR then sends a Paging Request to the LAC Coach’s

mobile was last updated in.

This is done as a down-link PCH.

Basically the network is looking for Coach’s mobile.

Coach’s mobile should be constantly monitoring the BCH timeslot for

PCH, (paging) messages.
 Mobile Terminated Call:

The mobile then sends a channel request to the network

This is done as an up-link request on the RACH.

RACH
 Mobile Terminated Call:

The network responds to the mobile with an Immediate

Assignment

This is done as a down-link response on the AGCH.

AGCH
The mobile is given:
Channel Type (SDCCH)
SDCCH
Timeslot number assigned
Training Sequence Number (TSC)
Absolute Radio Frequency Channel Number (AFRCN)
Mobile Allocation Number (MAIO)
Hopping Sequence Number (HSN)
The Reference Request that was sent from the BTS
Timing Advance, ( the access delay calculated by the BTS)
 Mobile Terminated Call:

The Mobile then moves to the assigned channel

(SDCCH) and then sends a Paging Response.

This is a reply on the SDCCH in response to the

paging request earlier. Much like the Service
Request the phone is responding to the network as
to what services it needs setup to according to the
paging request information.
 Mobile Terminated Call:

The Network then sends the Mobile an Authentication Request

on the same SDCCH

This is a request for the mobile to process the RAND

sent from the AC via the VLR.
The RAND is included in this message and the mobile
then must process this RAND number and its own Ki
number with an A3 algorithm stored on its SIM.
This produces a number called SRES. This is the same SRES number that
should be in VLR for this subscriber.
 Mobile Terminated Call:

The Mobile then sends a Authentication Response on

the same assigned SDCCH timeslot.

This will be the SRES number from the mobiles

calculation with the RAND number just sent.

This SRES number will be sent to the VLR for comparison.

If all is well and there is a match at the VLR the subscriber is given access.
 Mobile Terminated Call:

The Network then send the mobile the

Ciphering Mode Setting on the same SDCCH
timeslot.

This sets up the encryption for the Mobile’s

further transaction on the air interface.
 Mobile Terminated Call:

The Mobile responds with a Cipher Mode

Complete command on the SDCCH.

This tells the Network the mobile received the

cipher command and is ready.
 Mobile Terminated Call:

The Network then sends Setup Message to the

mobile. (On the SDCCH).
“ring”
“ring”

This tells the Mobile to being ringing.

 Mobile Terminated Call:

The Mobile responds with a Call Confirmation

message on the SDCCH timeslot.

This lets the Network know that the mobile is

ready to accept the call.
 Mobile Terminated Call:

The Network responds with the Assignment

Command on the SDCCH

This tells the Mobile to move to a TCH

timeslot and gives the phone its new timeslot
allocation.
 Mobile Terminated Call:

The Mobile responds with a Assignment

Complete Command on the SDCCH.

This lets the Network know the mobile got its

new TCH assignment and is moving to it.
 Mobile Terminated Call:

The Mobile then sends the network the Alert

Command on the FACCH (TCH).

This is the phones response when Coach

pushes the talk button to accept the call.
 Mobile Terminated Call:

The Mobile then sends the connect command to

the Network telling it to “connect” onto the TCH
for the call. This also happens on the TCH but
again is a logical FACCH.

This is the connect message to the Network

telling it to “go active” on the assigned TCH
for the call.
 Mobile Terminated Call:

The Network responds to this message with a

Connect Acknowledge response. This is also on
the TCH assigned but as a FACCH.

This lets the Mobile know the Network has

“attached” to the TCH timeslot and is ready for
the calls connection.
 Mobile Terminated Call:

The Call now takes place and Coach is talking to

his dialed party. This is the TCH.
 Mobile Originated...

CHAN REQ (RACH)

IMM ASSIGN (AGCH)
CM SERVICE REQ (SDCCH)
AUTH REQ (SDCCH)
AUTH RESP (SDCCH)
CIPH MOD CMD (SDCCH)
Mobile Network
CIPH MOD COM (SDCCH)
SETUP (SDCCH)
CALL PROC (SDCCH)
ASSIGN CMD (SDCCH)
ASSIGN COM (SDCCH)
ALERT (FACCH/TCH)
CONNECT (FACCH/TCH)
CONECT ACK (FACCH/TCH)
CALL IN PLACE TCH
 Mobile Terminated...
PAGE REQ (PCH)
CHAN REQ (RACH)
IMM ASSIGN (AGCH)
PAGE RESP (SDCCH)
AUTH REQ (SDCCH)
AUTH RESP (SDCCH)
CIPH MOD CMD (SDCCH) Network
Mobile
CIPH MOD COM (SDCCH)
SETUP (SDCCH)
CALL CONF (SDCCH)
ASSIGN CMD (SDCCH)
ASSIGN COM (SDCCH)
ALERT (FACCH/TCH)
CONNECT (FACCH/TCH)
CONECT ACK (FACCH/TCH)

CALL IN PLACE TCH