GSM Radio Interface:

Signal Processing Blocks

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 GSM RADIO SUBSYSTEM

Frequency Band: 890-915MHz (reverse link) 935-960MHz (forward

link)
Duplexing Scheme: FDD
Channel Number: are specified by ARFCN(Absolute Radio Frequency
Channel Number)
ARFCN bandwidth: 200KHz
User per frame: 8 time slots(TS)
Modulation: BT=0.3 GMSK at 270.833 kbps
Bit Duration: 3.692 s
Effective Channel Transmission rate per user: 33.854kbps
Each Time Slot Contains: 156.25 bits
Each Frame Contains: 4.615ms
Interleaving: 40ms
Vocoder Bit Rate: 13.4 kbps
Combination of TS number and an ARFCN constitutes a physical
channel for both the forward and reverse link. Each physical channel
can be mapped into different logical channel which carries either
traffic data (speech, teletx or facsimile) signaling data or control 2
 SIGNAL PROCESSING BLOCKS IN GSM

speech Digitizing GMSK

Channel Burst
and Interleaving Ciphering BT=0.3
Coding Assembly
Source Coding Modulation

GSM
Transmitter
IF/RF

IF/RF

GSM Receiver
speech
Source Channel Burst
De-Interleaving De-ciphering Demodulation
Decoding Decoders Disassembly

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Source Coding (Speech Coding): Conversion of analog voice signal into digitized and
coded signal. The GSM speech coder is based on Residually Excited Linear Predictive
Coder (RELP). The coder provides 260 bits for each 20 ms blocks of speech, which yields
a bit rate of 13 kbps. The 260-bit block can be divided into three groups: First 50 bits are
Class Ia bits which are most sensitive to bit errors, Next 132 bits are Class Ib bits which
are moderately sensitive to bit errors, and the last 78 bits are Class II which are least
sensitive to bit errors at the output of the speech coder.

Speech coder utilizes voice activity-detector(VAD) which considers that each person
speaks on average for less than 40% of the time. Hence, GSM system operates in DTX
mode (discontinuous transmission).

Class Ia Class Ib Class II

50 bits 132 bits 78 bits

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Channel Coding: provides error protection against fading and distortion effects in the
propagation channel. The data rate at the output of channel coder is 22.8 kbps.
Full Rate Speech Channel (TCH/FS), SACCH, and FACCH Channel Coding: Out of
260 bits in a frame only 189 bits (of which 50 bits are Class Ia, 3 parity check bits, 132
bits are Class Ib, and 4 bits are trailing zero bits) are convolutionally encoded using rate
convolutional encoder with constraint length K=5. For 20 ms frame, the output of the CC
is 378 bits and 78 junk bits are added to have 456 bits
Channel Coding for Data Channels: 240 bits of user data+ tailing bits are input to
rate with K=5 CC. The resulting 488 coded bits are reduced to 456 bits through puncturing
(32 bits are not transmitted)
Channel Coding for Control Channels: Control channel bits are 184 bits long, which
are generated by cyclic fire code (that is generated using generator polynomial
G5(x)=x^40+x^26+x^23+x^17+x^3+1)
This 184 bits+40 parity bits+4 tail bits are input to rate K=5 CC to result in 456 bits.

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Interleaving: To minimize the effect of sudden fades on the received data, the output of
channel coder, which is 456 bits, within each 20 ms frame are separated into eight 57 bit
sub-blocks. This eight sub-blocks which make up a single speech frame are spread over
eight consecutive TCH time slots.
Ciphering: Modification of the contents of eight interleaved blocks through the use of
encryption techniques known only to the particular MS and BS. Encryption algorithm is
changed from call to call. A3 and A5 algorithms are used in GSM. In A3 algorithm, each
mobile is verified by users passcode within the SIM with the cryptographic key at the MSC.
The A5 algorithm provides the scrambling for the 114 coded data bits sent in each time
slot.
Full Rate Speech Channel (TCH/FS), SACCH, and FACCH Channel Coding: Out of
260 bits in a frame only 189 bits are convolutionally encoded using rate convolutional
encoder with constraint length K=5. For 20 ms frame, the output of the CC is 378 bits and
78 junk bits are added to have 456 bits
Channel Coding for Data Channels: 240 bits of user data+ tailing bits are input to
rate with K=5 CC. The resulting 488 coded bits are reduced to 456 bits through puncturing
(32 bits are not transmitted)
Channel Coding for Control Channels: Control channel bits are 184 bits long, which
are generated by cyclic fire code (that is generated using generator polynomial 6
G5(x)=x^40+x^26+x^23+x^17+x^3+1)
Burst Assembly: Adds binary data to the ciphered blocks for synchronization and
equalization of the received signal
Modulation: 0.3 GMSK (where BT=0.3 implies 3dB bandwidth of the Gaussian pulse
shaping filter with relation to the bit rate) modulation type is employed in GSM. Binary
ones and zeros are represented by shifting the RF carrier by +- 67.708 kHz. The channel
data rate is 270.833333 kbps.
Frequency Hopping: In case of severe multipath fading at the particular physical channel,
the frequency hopping is implemented on a frame-by-frame basis at a maximum rate of
217.6 hops per second. As many as 64 different channels may be used before a hopping
sequence is repeated.

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 BINARY FREQUENCY SHIFT KEYING (BFSK)

In general , an FSK signal may be represented as Carson rule for

Bandwidth
B 2(f B ) analog FM
2 Eb
S FSK (t ) vH (t ) cos( 2f c 2f )t 0 t Tb (binary 1)
Tb B 2(f R ) FSK
2 Eb bit rate
S FSK (t ) vL (t ) cos(2f c 2f )t 0 t Tb (binary 0)
Tb
A discontinuous FSK signal is represented as
2 Eb
S FSK (t ) vH (t ) cos(2f H t 1 )t 0 t Tb (binary 1) Disadvantage:spectral
Tb spreading
spurious
2 Eb transmission
S FSK (t ) vL (t ) cos( 2f L t 2 )t 0 t Tb (binary 1)
Tb

Therefore, FSK may be represented as

Digital message signal
2 Eb 2 Eb t

S FSK (t ) cos[2f C t (t )] cos 2f C 2k f m( )d
Tb Tb
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 MINIMUM SHIFT KEYING (MSK)

Special case of CPSFK peak frequency deviation is rate.

Modulation index=0.5=kFSK=2t/Rb
Advantages: Constant envelope
Pulse t Good spectra effiency
shape: sin
2T 0 t 2T good BER performance
b
p(t ) b
self-syncronic
capability
0 elsewhere

N 1 N 1
S MSK (t ) ml (t ) p (t 2iTb ) cos 2fct mQ (t ) p (t 2iTb Tb ) sin 2fct I-Q
i 0 i 0 modulation

B 2 Eb t
A cos B sin A B cos( tan
2 2
) 1 S MSK (t ) cos 2f c t ml (t )mQ (t ) k
A Tb 2Tb

Choose carrier frquency fc=n*1/4T

To ensure phase continuity at the bit tranmission periods.
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 GAUSSIAN MINIMUM SHIFT KEYING
(GMSK)

Prefiltering MSK signal with gaussian pulse shaping filter.

Gaussian
NRZ Data FM
low pass GMSK
Transmitter
filter

Advantage: reduced sidelobe levels

BT=3dB-Bandwidth-bit duration product.

2 2 F
hG (t ) exp 2 t H G ( f ) exp( 2 f 2 )

ln 2 0.5887
is related to B, the 3 dB baseband bandwidth of
H (f)
G 2B B
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Communications Over The Air (Radio) Interface
(Um)

Um

BSS

MS

The GSM Base Station System and Mobile Station

communicate using a variety of logical channels
over the air interface, Um

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 TDMA DATA FORMAT

GSM frame structure Trail bits: used for synchronization of

transmissions from mobile units
Superframe
6.12s Stealing bit: Used to indicate whether this
51 Multiframe block contains data or control signaling
Midamble: Used as a training sequence to
adapt the parameters of the receiver to the
*Multiframe 26 Frames
120ms current path propagation characteristics
Guard bits: Used to avoid overlapping with
other bursts due to different multipath time
delays
Frame 4.615ms
In a multiframe 24 frames are allocated for
0 1 2 .. .. 6 7 data traffic, therefore
(114 data bits/slot) x(24
slots/multiframe)=2736 bits/MF
576.92s
The data rate is (2736 bits/MF) x(120
Time Slot (TS) 3 57 1 26 1 57 3 8.25 ms/MF)=22.8 kbps
=156.25 bits
* For control channels (other than traffic or
dedicated control channel data) there are
Trail CodedStealingMidambleStealingCodedTrail Guard 51 frames
bits data flag flag data bit bits
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GSM Logical Channel Structure
Full Rate (TCH/F)
(22.8 Kbps gross)

Traffic Channel (TCH)

Half Rate (TCH/H)

(11.4 Kbps gross)

Broadcast Channels

Common Control
Control Channels (CCH)
Channels (CCCH)

Dedicated Control Channels

Cell Broadcast Channel (CBCH)

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 LOGICAL CHANNELS
G S M L o g ic a l C h a n n e l T y p e s

T r a f f ic C h a n n e l C o n tro l C h a n n e l
(T C H ) (C C H )

F u ll R a te H a lf R a te
B ro a d c a s t C o m m o n C o n tro l D e d ic a t e d C o n t r o l
C h a n n e ls ( B C H ) C h a n n e l( C C C H ) C h a n n e ls ( D C C H )

S p ee ch D a ta S p ee ch D a ta
B ro a d c a s t P a g in g S t a n d - a lo n e
c o n tro l C hannel D e d ic a t e d C o n t r o l
channel (P C H ) C h a n n e ls
(B C C H ) (S D C C H )

T C H /F S T C H / F 9 .6 T C H /H S T C H / 4 .8 F re q u e n c y R andom S lo w
13 kbps T C H / F 4 .8 T C H / 2 .4 C o r r e c t io n A cce ss A s s o c ia t e d
T C H / F 2 .4 C hannel C hannel C o n t r o l C h a n n e ls
(F C C H ) (R A C H ) (S A C C H )

S y n c h r o n iz a t i o n A cce ss F a st
C hannel G ra n t A s s o c ia t e d
(S C H ) C hannel C o n t r o l C h a n n e ls
(A G C H ) (F A C C H )

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LOGICAL CHANNEL BURST (TIME SLOT)
FORMATS
Normal
3 start 58 bits of 26 training 58 bits of 3 stop 8.25 bits
bits encrypted data bits encrypted data bits guard period

FCCH
burst
3 start
142 fixed bits of all zeroes
3 stop 8.25 bits
bits bits guard period

SCH burst
3 start 39 bits of 64bits of 39 bits of 3 stop 8.25 bits
bits encrypted data training encrypted data bits guard period

RACH
burst
8 start 41 bits of 36 bits of 3 stop 68.25 bits extended
bits synchronization encrypted data bits guard period

Dummy burst
3 start 26 training 3 stop 8.25 bits
58 mixed bits 58 mixed bits
bits bits bits guard period

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Full-Rate Traffic Channels (TCH/F)

Full-Rate Speech (TCH/FS)

14.4 Kbps Data (TCH/F14.4)*
TCH/F 9.6 Kbps Data (TCH/F9.6)
4.8 Kbps Data (TCH/F4.8)
< 2.4 Kbps Data (TCH/F2.4)

*Phase 2+ development

Characteristics:
User speech and data
22.8 Kbps gross bit rate
Bi-directional

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Half-Rate Traffic Channels (TCH/H)

Half Rate Speech (TCH/HS)

TCH/H 4.8 kbps Data (TCH/H4.8)
< 2.4 kbps Data (TCH/H2.4)

Characteristics:
User speech and data
11.4 kbps gross bit rate
Bi-directional

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 Broadcast Control Channels

Frequency Correction Channel (FCCH)

BCH Synchronisation Channel (SCH)
Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH)

Characteristics:
Point-to-multipoint
Unidirectional (downlink only)
Mapped into time slot 0

FCCH: Special data burst occupying TS 0 and repeated every 10 frame. Used for frequency
correction at the MS.
SCH: Used to identify the serving BS while allowing each MS to frame synchronize with the
BS. Frame number (FN) is sent with BSID during the SCH burst.
BCCH: Send information such as cell and network ID, operation characteristic of the cell,
and list of neighboring cells 18
 Common Control Channels (CCCH)
Paging Channel (PCH) (downlink)
CCCH Access Grant Channel (AGCH) (downlink)
Random Access Channel (RACH) (uplink)

Characteristics:
Point-to-multipoint
Call set-up and management
Mapped into time slot 0 and optionally into
Time slots 2, 4 and 6 for greater capacity

Paging Channel (PCH): sends broadcast messages ASCII text messages to all
subscribers, as part of SMS feature of GSM. MS periodically listens PCH to determine
whether there is a call request for it.
Access Grant Channel (AGCH): carries data which instructs the mobile to operate
in a particulaar physical channel (TS and ARFCN) with particular dedicated control
channel. AGCH is the final CCCH message sent by the BS before the MS switches off
the control channel. It is used by the BS to respond RACH message.
Random Access Channel (RACH): is only in the uplink direction. It is used for call
request or respond to a page from the BS. It uses a slotted ALOHA access protocol
and must request access or respond to a PCH alert within TS0 of every GSM frame.

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 Dedicated Control Channels
(DCCH)
Stand-Alone Dedicated Control (SDCCH)
SDCCH/4 (mapped with CCCH)
DCCH SDCCH/8 (on separate channel)

Associated Control Channels (ACCH)

Slow Associated Control (SACCH)

SACCH/TF
SACCH/TH
SACCH/C4
SACCH/C8
Characteristics:
Point-to-point Fast Associated Control (FACCH)
User/network signalling
FCCH/F
Bi-directional
FCCH/H
FACCH pre-emptive multiplexed with TCH
SDCCH/SACCH can be mapped into TS0

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DCCHs may exist at any time slot except TSO.
SDCCH carries signaling data following the connection of the mobile with the BS
just before TCH assignment. It can be thought as an intermediate temporary channel
which accepts newly completed call from the BCH. It holds the traffic while waiting
for the BS to allocate a TCH channel. It is used to send authentication and alert
messages as the mobile synchronizes itself with the frame structure and waits for
TCH.

SACCH: always associated with a traffic channel and maps onto the same physical
channel. It is used to send TX power level instructions and specific timing advance
instructions for each user on the ARFCN. The reverse SACCH carries information
about the received signal strength and quality of the TCH, as well as BCH
measurement results from neighboring cells.

FACCH: carries urgent messages (such as handoff request )and contains essentially
the same type of information as the SDCCH. It gains access to a time slot by
stealing frames from the traffic channel to which it is assigned. If stealing bit is set
the time slot is known to contain FACCH data, not a TCH, for that frame.

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Cell Broadcast Channel (CBCH)

Characteristics:
Point-to-multipoint
Unidirectional (downlink only)
Transmission Channel for short information
Message service
Uses same physical channel structure as SDCCH
i.e. Replaces ONE logical SDCCH

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 LOGICAL CONTROL CHANNELS

Control Multiftrame=51 TDMA F: FCCH burst (BCH)

Frames S: SCH burst (BCH)
235ms
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 20 21 22 39 40 41 42 49 50 B: BCCH burst (BCH)
C: PCH/AGCH burst
F S B B B B C C C C F S C C C F S C C F S C C I (CCCH)
I: Idle
Forward Link Control Channel
Multiframe
SCH sends frame number (FN) along with base station ID (BSID).

Control Multiftrame=51 TDMA R: Reverse RACH

Frames burst
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 235ms 46 47 48 49 50 (CCCH)

R R R R R R R R R R R R

Reverse Link Control Multiframe

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Structure
 TRAFFIC CHANNELS
Traffic Multiftrame=26 TDMA
Frames
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
120ms T: TCH burst
A: SACCH
T T T T T T T T T T T T A C T T T T T T T T T T T T I burst
I: Idle

24 frames out of 26 is for TCH, 1 for SACCH, and 1 for idle.

Uplink and downlink frames have 3 burst period difference in time.
When transmitted as full-rate, user data is contaned within one TS per frame
When transmitted as half-rate, user data is mapped onto the same time slot, but is sent in
alternate frames
TCH data may not be sent in TS 0 within a TDMA frame on certain ARFCNs
Frames of TCH data are broken up every 13th frame by either SACCH or idle frames

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