MOBILE NETWORKS

KHALID WALEED INTERN AT ALCATEL-LUCENT

Introduction to Mobile Networks

A mobile network is a radio network distributed over

land areas called cells, each served by at least one fixed transceiver, known as a cell site or base station. Each cell uses a different set of frequencies from neighboring cells to avoid interference and provide guaranteed bandwidth within each cell. When joined together these cells provide radio coverage over a wide area. This enables a large number of portable transceivers (mobile phones) to communicate with each other anywhere in the network, via base stations even if the transceivers are moving through more than one cells during transmission.

Figure: Mobile Network

Main Components
Following are the main components of a mobile

network.

Core (Switching system) BSS (Base Station System)

The Core
The switching system (Core) is responsible for

performing call processing and subscriber related functions. Following functional units are included in the core.

Home Location Register (HLR) Mobile Service Switching Center (MSC) Visitor Location Register (VLR) Authentication Center (AU) Equipment Identity Register (EIR)

Home Location Register (HLR)

HLR is a database used for storage and management

of subscriptions. Stores permanent information including subscribers service profile, location information and activity status. When a user buys a subscription from one of the PCS operators, the user is registered in HLR of that operator.

Mobile Service Switching Center (MSC)

MSC performs the telephony switching functions of

the system. Controls calls to and from other telephone and data systems. Performs functions such as toll ticketing, network interfacing and common channel signaling.

Visitor Location Register (VLR)

VLR is a database containing temporary information

about subscribers that is needed by the MSC in order to service visiting subscribers. VLR is always integrated with MSC. When a mobile station roams into a new MSC area, VLR connected to that MSC will get data about the mobile station from HLR, this data is required for call setup.

Authentication Center (AUC)

AUC provides authentication and encryption

parameters that verify users identity and ensure the confidentiality of each call. AUC protects network operators from different types of frauds in cellular world.

Equipment Identity Register (EIR)

EIR is a database that contains information about

the identity of mobile equipments that protects calls from stolen, unauthorized or defective mobile stations. AUC and EIR are implemented as stand-alone nodes or a as a combined AUC/EIR node.

The Base Station System (BSS)

All radio related functions are performed in the BSS,

it has the following two components.

Base Station Controllers (BSCs) Base Transceivers Stations (BTSs)

Base Station Controllers (BSCs)

BSC provides all the control functions and physical

links between the MSC and BTS. It is a high capacity switch that provides functions such as handover, cell configuration data and control of radio frequency power levels in BTSs. A number of BSCs are served by an MSC.

Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs)

BTS handles the radio interface to the mobile

station. BTS is the radio equipment (transceivers and antennas) needed to service each cell in the network. A group of BTSs are controlled by a BSC.

Main Protocols of GSM

GSM protocol family consists of many protocols,

some of them are:

GSMMAP: GSM Mobile Application Part GSM SMS: GSM Short Messaging Service CAMEL: Customized Applications for Mobile Enhanced Logic ETSI 300 374 GSM A WAP protocol family

Main Interfaces of GSM

Following are the main interfaces used in GSM. Um interface (b/w MS and a BTS) Abis interface (b/w BTS and BSC) A interface (b/w MSC and BSC) B interface (b/w MSC and VLR) C interface (b/w MSC and HLR) D interface (b/w VLR and HLR) E interface (b/w two MSCs or TSCs) F interface (b/w MSC and EIR) G interface (b/w VLRs) H interface (b/w HLR and AUC) I interface (b/w MSC and MS)

Architecture, Protocols & Interfaces

http://wiki.wireshark.org/GsmProtocolFamily http://gsmserver.com/articles/gsm_overview.php

GSM Subscriber Services

There are three basic types of services offered

through GSM.

Telephony Services (teleservices) Data Services (bearer services) Supplementary services

Teleservices
Teleservices are mainly voice services that provide

subscribers with the complete capability to communicate with other subscribers. Following are a few teleservices provided by GSM

Short Messaging Services (SMS) Cell broadcast Voice mail Fax mail Dual-tone multi-frequency Fascimile

Data Services
Data services provide the capacity necessary to

transmit appropriate data signals between two access points creating an interface to the network.

Supplementary Services
GSM supports a comprehensive set of supplementary

services that can complement and support both telephony and data services. These services are characterized as revenue-generating features. Following are a few supplementary Services

Call forwarding Barring of outgoing calls Barring of incoming calls Advice of charge Call hold Call waiting Multiparty service