GSM Network Signaling

GSM Protocol Interfaces

September 30, 2005 Girish Kumar Patnaik 2

 GSM Protocol Interfaces

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 GSM Protocol Interfaces
• GSM MAP (Mobile Application Part)
– Software platform for implementing the GSM
network signaling protocol
– Used in the B, C, D, E, F and G interfaces
– In terms of network signaling, GSM architecture
can be partitioned into three parts:
• Databases
• Switches
• Radio System
– Application of the SS7 protocol
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 GSM MAP Protocol Hierarchy

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 GSM MAP Protocol Hierarchy
• Message Transfer Part (MTP)
– Level 1 defines the physical, electrical and functional
characteristics of the signaling links
– Level 2 provides reliable transfer of signaling messages
between two directly connected signaling points
– Level 3 provides the function and procedures related to
message routing and network management
• Signaling Connection Control Part (SCCP)
– Provides additional functions such as Global Title
Translation (GTT) to the MTP
– MTP utilizes GTT to transfer noncircuit-related signaling
information such as PCS registration and cancellation
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 GSM MAP Protocol Hierarchy
• Signaling Connection Control Part (SCCP)
– GSM MAP uses SCCP classes 0 and 1 connectionless
services that provide efficient routing with or without
maintaining message sequencing between two or more
messages
– Network entities may consists of several Application
Service Elements (ASEs)
– SCCP addresses these ASEs with Subsystem Number
(SSN)
– For Intra-GSM network message delivery, MTP uses
Destination Point Code (DPC) as the destination address
for direct routing
– For Inter-GSM network message delivery, SCCP translates
the actual destination address by GTT

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 GSM MAP Protocol Hierarchy
• Transaction Capabilities Application Part
(TCAP)
– Provides the capability to exchange information
between applications using noncircuit-related
signaling

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GSM MAP Service Framework
• The GSM network entities (such as HLR,
VLR, and MSC) communicate with each other
through MAP dialogues by invoking MAP
service primitives.
– Request
– Indication
– Response
– Confirm

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 GSM MAP Service Model

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Parameter of Service Primitive
• The parameter of a service primitive type
belongs to the four categories:
– M (Mandatory)
– O (Service provider option)
– U (Service user option)
– C (Conditional)

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 MAP Services
• A MAP dialogue consists of several MAP
services.
• MAP services are either specific or common.
• MAP services are specific:
– The specific MAP service includes
• 28 mobility services
• 4 operation and maintenance services
• 6 call-handling services
• 11 supplementary services
• 8 short message service management services

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 MAP Services
• MAP services are common:
– To establish and clear MAP dialogue between peer
MAP service users.
– Six common MAP services are defined:
• MAP-OPEN, MAP-CLOSE, MAP-DELIMITER,
MAP-U-ABORT, MAP-P-ABORT, MAP-NOTICE

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 The MAP Protocol Machine
• When a MAP user issues a service request, the
request is processed by the MAP Protocol
Machine (PM) in the service provider.
• MAP PM consists of four components:
– Dialogue State Machine (DSM)
• Co-ordinates the service state machines (SSMs)
• For every MAP dialogue, an instance of DSM is created
to handle the dialogue
• An SSM is either an RSM or a PSM

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 The MAP Protocol Machine
– Requesting Service State Machine (RSM)
• Handles a MAP-specific service requested during a
dialogue
• This SSM is created by the DSM for each requested
service
– Performing Service State Machine (PSM)
• Handles a MAP service performed during a dialogue
• This SSM is created by the DSM for each service to be
performed

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 The MAP Protocol Machine
– Load Control
• Monitors the traffic generated by the service activities
• There is only one instance of this process in each system
• If an overload situation is detected, low-priority MAP
operations may be ignored
• Priority levels from high to low for MAP service
primitives are Handoff, Mobility Management, Short
Message Services, Subscriber-controlled inputs (call
waiting, call forwarding)

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 The MAP Protocol Machine

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 The MAP Protocol Machine
• When the service provider receives a MAP-OPEN
request from the service user or a TC-BEGIN
Indication from the TCAP, the MAP PM is invoked
and an instance of DSM is created.
• For every service primitive issued during the MAP
dialogue, an instance of PSM is created by the DSM
at the performer’s side, and an instance of RSM is
created by the DSM at the initiator’s side.

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 MAP Dialogue

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 Acknowledgement
• Slides obtained from home page of
Prof.Phone Lin
• Slides obtained from home page of
Prof.Gerald Q. Maguire Jr.

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