As you remember from the Introduction to TDMA tutorial. GSM divides up each ARFCN into 8 time slots.
These 8 timeslots are further broken up into logical channels.
Logical channels can be thought of as just different types of data that is transmitted only on certain frames in a certain timeslot.
Different time slots will carry different logical channels, depending on the structure the BSS uses.
There are two main categories of logical channels in GSM:
Signaling Channels
Traffic Channels (TCH)
Let's examine each type of logical channel individually.
Frequency Correction Channel (FCCH) - DOWNLINK - This channel is used by the MS as a frequency reference. This channel contains frequency correction bursts.
Synchronization Channel (SCH) - DOWNLINK - This channel is used by the MS to learn the Base Station Information Code (BSIC) as well as the TDMA frame number (FN). This lets the MS know what TDMA frame they are on within the hyperframe.
* The BSIC was covered in the Introduction to GSM Tutorial. You can also read about the numbering schemes used in GSM.
Cell Broadcast Channel (CBCH) - DOWNLINK - This channel is not truly its own type of logical channel. The CBCH is for point-to-omnipoint messages. It is used to broadcast specific information to network subscribers; such as weather, traffic, sports, stocks, etc. Messages can be of any nature depending on what service is provided. Messages are normally public service type messages or announcements. The CBCH isnt allocated a slot for itself, it is assigned to an SDCCH. It only occurs on the downlink. The CBCH usually occupies the second subslot of the SDCCH. The mobile will not acknowledge any of the messages.
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Random Access Channel (RACH) - UPLINK This channel is used by a MS to request an initial dedicated channel from the BTS. This would be the first transmission made by a MS to access the network and request radio resources. The MS sends an Access Burst on this channel in order to request access.
Access Grant Channel (AGCH) - DOWNLINK - This channel is used by a BTS to notify the MS of the assignement of an initial SDCCH for initial signaling.
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Fast Associated Control Channel (FACCH) - UPLINK/DOWNLINK - This channel is used for control requirements such as handoffs. There is no TS and frame allocation dedicated to a FAACH. The FAACH is a burst-stealing channel, it steals a Timeslot from a Traffic Channel (TCH).
Slow Associated Control Channel (SACCH) - UPLINK/DOWNLINK - This channel is a continuous stream channel that is used for control and supervisory signals associated with the traffic channels.
Remember that Control Channel (aka signaling channels) are composed of 51 TDMA frames. On a time slot Within the multiframe, the 51 TDMA frames are divided up and allocated to the various logical channels.
There are several channel combinations allowed in GSM. Some of the more common ones are:
FCCH + SCH + BCCH + CCCH
BCCH + CCCH
FCCH + SCH + BCCH + CCCH + SDCCH/4(0..3) + SACCH/C4(0..3)
SDCCH/8(0 .7) + SACCH/C8(0 . 7)
Downlink
Uplink
[
Downlink
Uplink
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Downlink
Uplink
You will also notice that the downlink and uplink multiframes do not align with each other. This is done so that if the BTS sends an information request to the MS, it does not have to wait an entire multiframes to receive the needed information. The uplink is transmitted 15 TDMA frames behind the downlink. For example, the BTS might send an authentication request to the MS on SDCCH0 (downlink) which corresponds to TDMA frames 22-25. The MS then has enough time to process the request and reply on SDCCH0 (uplink) which immediately follows it on TDMA frames 37-40.
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Downlink
Uplink
Encoded Speech
Data
There are two basic types of Encoded Speech channels:
Encoded Speech - Encoded speech is voice audio that is converted into digital form and compressed. See the Speech Encoding tutorial to see the process.
Full Rate Speech TCH (TCH/FS) - 13 kb/s
Half Rate Speech TCH (TCH/HS) - 5.6 kb/s
Data - Data refers to user data such as text messages, picture messages, internet browsing, etc. It includes pretty much everything except speech.
Full rate Data TCH (TCH/F14.1) - 14.4 kb/s
Full rate Data TCH (TCH/F9.6) - 9.6 kb/s
Full rate Data TCH (TCH/F4.8) - 4.8 kb/s
Half rate Data TCH (TCH/F4.8) - 4.8 kb/s
Full rate Data TCH (TCH/F2.4) - ≤2.4 kb/s
Half rate Data TCH (TCH/H2.4) - ≤2.4 kb/s
Traffic Channel Multiframes are composed of only 26 TDMA frames. On each multiframe, there are 24 frames for Traffic Channels, 1 frame for a SACCH, and the last frame is Idle. Remember that a MS (or other device) only gets one time slot per TDMA frame to transmit, so in the following diagrams we are looking at a single time slot.
When using Half-Rate Speech Encoding (TCH/HS), the speech encoding bit rate is 5.6 kb/s, so one time slot can handle two half-rate channels. In this case, one channel will transmit every other TDMA frame, and the other channel would be transmitted on the other frames. The final frame (25), which is normally used as an Idle frame, is now used as a SACCH for the second half-rate channel.
*For illustrative purposes, half of the traffic channels are full-rate and the other half are half-rate
TS0
TS1
TS2
TS3
TS4
TS5
TS6
TS7
These 8 timeslots are further broken up into logical channels.
Logical channels can be thought of as just different types of data that is transmitted only on certain frames in a certain timeslot.
Different time slots will carry different logical channels, depending on the structure the BSS uses.
There are two main categories of logical channels in GSM:
Signaling Channels
Traffic Channels (TCH)
Signaling Channels
These are the main types of signaling Channels:Broadcast Channels (BCH) - Transmitted by the BTS to the MS. This channel carries system parameters needed to identify the network, synchronize time and frequency with the network, and gain access to the network.
Common Control Channels (CCH) - Used for signaling between the BTS and the MS and to request and grant access to the network.
Standalone Dedicated Control Channels (SDCCH) - Used for call setup.
Associated Control Channels (ACCH) - Used for signaling associated with calls and call-setup. An ACCH is always allocated in conjunction with a TCH or a SDCCH.
*keep in mind, these are only categories of logical channels, they are not logical channels themselves.
The above categories can be divided into the following logical channels:
Broadcast Channels (BCH)
Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH)
Frequency Correction Channel (FCCH)
Synchronization Channel (SCH)
Cell Broadcast Channel (CBCH)
Common Control Channels (CCCH)
Paging Channel (PCH)
Random Access Channel (RACH)
Access Grant Channel (AGCH)
Dedicated Control Channel (DCCH)
Standalone Dedicated Control Channel (SDCCH)
Fast Associated Control Channel (FACCH)
Slow Associated Control Channel (SACCH)
Common Control Channels (CCH) - Used for signaling between the BTS and the MS and to request and grant access to the network.
Standalone Dedicated Control Channels (SDCCH) - Used for call setup.
Associated Control Channels (ACCH) - Used for signaling associated with calls and call-setup. An ACCH is always allocated in conjunction with a TCH or a SDCCH.
*keep in mind, these are only categories of logical channels, they are not logical channels themselves.
The above categories can be divided into the following logical channels:
Broadcast Channels (BCH)
Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH)
Frequency Correction Channel (FCCH)
Synchronization Channel (SCH)
Cell Broadcast Channel (CBCH)
Common Control Channels (CCCH)
Paging Channel (PCH)
Random Access Channel (RACH)
Access Grant Channel (AGCH)
Dedicated Control Channel (DCCH)
Standalone Dedicated Control Channel (SDCCH)
Fast Associated Control Channel (FACCH)
Slow Associated Control Channel (SACCH)
Let's examine each type of logical channel individually.
Broadcast Channels (BCH)
Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH) - DOWNLINK - This channel contains system parameters needed to identify the network and gain access. These paramters include the Location Area Code (LAC), the Mobile Network Code (MNC), the frequencies of neighboring cells, and access parameters.Frequency Correction Channel (FCCH) - DOWNLINK - This channel is used by the MS as a frequency reference. This channel contains frequency correction bursts.
Synchronization Channel (SCH) - DOWNLINK - This channel is used by the MS to learn the Base Station Information Code (BSIC) as well as the TDMA frame number (FN). This lets the MS know what TDMA frame they are on within the hyperframe.
* The BSIC was covered in the Introduction to GSM Tutorial. You can also read about the numbering schemes used in GSM.
Cell Broadcast Channel (CBCH) - DOWNLINK - This channel is not truly its own type of logical channel. The CBCH is for point-to-omnipoint messages. It is used to broadcast specific information to network subscribers; such as weather, traffic, sports, stocks, etc. Messages can be of any nature depending on what service is provided. Messages are normally public service type messages or announcements. The CBCH isnt allocated a slot for itself, it is assigned to an SDCCH. It only occurs on the downlink. The CBCH usually occupies the second subslot of the SDCCH. The mobile will not acknowledge any of the messages.
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Common Control Channels (CCCH)
Paging Channel (PCH) - DOWNLINK - This channel is used to inform the MS that it has incoming traffic. The traffic could be a voice call, SMS, or some other form of traffic.Random Access Channel (RACH) - UPLINK This channel is used by a MS to request an initial dedicated channel from the BTS. This would be the first transmission made by a MS to access the network and request radio resources. The MS sends an Access Burst on this channel in order to request access.
Access Grant Channel (AGCH) - DOWNLINK - This channel is used by a BTS to notify the MS of the assignement of an initial SDCCH for initial signaling.
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Dedicated Control Channels (DCCH)
Standalone Dedicated Control Channel (SDCCH) - UPLINK/DOWNLINK - This channel is used for signaling and call setup between the MS and the BTS.Fast Associated Control Channel (FACCH) - UPLINK/DOWNLINK - This channel is used for control requirements such as handoffs. There is no TS and frame allocation dedicated to a FAACH. The FAACH is a burst-stealing channel, it steals a Timeslot from a Traffic Channel (TCH).
Slow Associated Control Channel (SACCH) - UPLINK/DOWNLINK - This channel is a continuous stream channel that is used for control and supervisory signals associated with the traffic channels.
Signaling Channel Mapping
Remember that Control Channel (aka signaling channels) are composed of 51 TDMA frames. On a time slot Within the multiframe, the 51 TDMA frames are divided up and allocated to the various logical channels.
There are several channel combinations allowed in GSM. Some of the more common ones are:
FCCH + SCH + BCCH + CCCH
BCCH + CCCH
FCCH + SCH + BCCH + CCCH + SDCCH/4(0..3) + SACCH/C4(0..3)
SDCCH/8(0 .7) + SACCH/C8(0 . 7)
FCCH + SCH + BCCH + CCCH
Downlink
Uplink
[
BCCH + CCCH
Downlink
Uplink
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FCCH + SCH + BCCH + CCCH + SDCCH/4(0..3) + SACCH/C4(0..3)
Downlink
Uplink
You will also notice that the downlink and uplink multiframes do not align with each other. This is done so that if the BTS sends an information request to the MS, it does not have to wait an entire multiframes to receive the needed information. The uplink is transmitted 15 TDMA frames behind the downlink. For example, the BTS might send an authentication request to the MS on SDCCH0 (downlink) which corresponds to TDMA frames 22-25. The MS then has enough time to process the request and reply on SDCCH0 (uplink) which immediately follows it on TDMA frames 37-40.
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SDCCH/8(0 .7) + SACCH/C8(0 . 7)
Once again, the SACCH that is associated with an SDCCH is only transmitted every other multiframe. Two consecutive multiframes would look like this:Downlink
Uplink
Traffic Channels (TCH)
Encoded Speech
Data
There are two basic types of Encoded Speech channels:
Encoded Speech - Encoded speech is voice audio that is converted into digital form and compressed. See the Speech Encoding tutorial to see the process.
Full Rate Speech TCH (TCH/FS) - 13 kb/s
Half Rate Speech TCH (TCH/HS) - 5.6 kb/s
Data - Data refers to user data such as text messages, picture messages, internet browsing, etc. It includes pretty much everything except speech.
Full rate Data TCH (TCH/F14.1) - 14.4 kb/s
Full rate Data TCH (TCH/F9.6) - 9.6 kb/s
Full rate Data TCH (TCH/F4.8) - 4.8 kb/s
Half rate Data TCH (TCH/F4.8) - 4.8 kb/s
Full rate Data TCH (TCH/F2.4) - ≤2.4 kb/s
Half rate Data TCH (TCH/H2.4) - ≤2.4 kb/s
Traffic Channel Mapping
Traffic Channel Multiframes are composed of only 26 TDMA frames. On each multiframe, there are 24 frames for Traffic Channels, 1 frame for a SACCH, and the last frame is Idle. Remember that a MS (or other device) only gets one time slot per TDMA frame to transmit, so in the following diagrams we are looking at a single time slot.
Full Rate Traffic Channel (TCH/FS)
When using Half-Rate Speech Encoding (TCH/HS), the speech encoding bit rate is 5.6 kb/s, so one time slot can handle two half-rate channels. In this case, one channel will transmit every other TDMA frame, and the other channel would be transmitted on the other frames. The final frame (25), which is normally used as an Idle frame, is now used as a SACCH for the second half-rate channel.
Half Rate Traffic Channel (TCH/HS)
ARFCN Mapping
*For illustrative purposes, half of the traffic channels are full-rate and the other half are half-rate
TS0
TS1
TS2
TS3
TS4
TS5
TS6
TS7
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