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Cigale GSM basics
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At the end of the lesson the student will be able to:
Describe the GSM architecture
Define the technical characteristics of Cigale
Understand the Interests of Cigale
Understand the usage of the different tools
Describe the A-Interface protocol
Understand the different Basic call flow
Objectives
Objectives
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GSM Architecture
GSM Overview
GSM Overview
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Post processing software of GSM A interface capture frames:
Works under PC windows
Manages several types of capture platforms
Processing on specific time ranges and by time intervals
Processes Gigabytes of data
Technical
Technical
characterictics
characterictics
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Measure and help for QoS improvement:
Detection of shortcomings : radio, BSS, NSS, transmission (PCM,
CICs, transcoders)
Generation of both user and system oriented indicators
Investigation of user or network problems
Optimization (radio) and dimensioning
Information for marketing
Interests
Interests
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Statistics:
Complementary to those of OMCs and manufacturer tools, more
accurate
Manufacturer independent
Investigations:
Better approach (more global) than a simple protocol analyzer
Possibility of quickly isolating specific groups of users who
encounter problems (roamers, data calls, )
Troubleshooting with Activity Analysis
Interests
Interests
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Shortcomings detection:
Allocation issues (looped PCM, CIC Pb)
Traffic less cells (blocked TS)
Handover failures (by cells couples), bad neighbourhood
declarations, parameter settings
Radio drops (interferences)
Saturations (radio, network, queuing)
Paging efficiency
Roaming (location updates failures)
SMS efficiency (statistics per SMS Center)
Interests
Interests
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Examples
QoS indicators
SDCCH failures, assignment failures, TCH drops
Call setup efficiency, established calls drops
Inter BSC handover successes
Location update success rates
SMS sending and reception success rates

Investigation Examples
Investigation Examples
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Investigation with Cigale view
High call drop rates
Handovers inefficiency, ping-pong handovers
Location update rejects
Deeper investigation with Activity Analysis
Too long call setup durations (according to the called numbers)
Data calls discrimination
Location update rejects (per IMSI)
Calls traces per identities (IMSI, IMEI, numbers)
Investigation Examples
Investigation Examples
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Software architecture
Software architecture
SQL
Txt files
XL3 files
Cigale GSM
Cigale Roaming
Activity Analysis
Cigale View
Roaming View
SLM
Cigale Trace
Activity Analysis
Roaming Analysis
Trace Analysis
SLM Analysis
Trending & aggregation
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Processing & Viewers
Sotware
Sotware
architecture
architecture
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Cigale Engine
Processing & viewers
Processing & viewers
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Cigale View
Processing & viewers
Processing & viewers
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Activity Analysis
Processing & viewers
Processing & viewers
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Way to use the Tools
Detections of lack of QoS, thanks to statistics
Detailed causes
Calls impacted by a specific cause
Flow chart
Available in V5.5
Protocol decoding
Statistic
(View)
Troubleshooting
(Activity Analysis)
Processing & viewers
Processing & viewers
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Characteristics of the main layers
Several protocol layers manage the messages exchange between the
mobile terminal and the network
SCCP: connection management between MSC and BSC for every MS
BSSAP: divided in two parts
- BSSMAP: procedures between BSC and MSC related to a MS
(HO execution for example)
- DTAP: messages directly exchange between the MS and the MSC
MM, CM: Mobility & Connection Management
- MM include message related to the mobility and the security
- CM include call treatment (CC), supplementary services (SS) and short messages
services (SMS)
A interface protocols
A interface protocols
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MTP1
MTP2
MTP3
SCCP
MTP1
MTP2
MTP3
SCCP
A interface protocols
A interface protocols
Ph. Layer
LAPDm
RR
MM
CM
Ph. Layer
LAPD
RR
(+BTSM)
DTAP BSSMAP
BSSAP
distribution function
DTAP BSSMAP
MM
CM
BSSAP
distribution function
Direct dialogue between peer entities
Air
Interface
Abis
Interface
MS BSC MSC
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Ph Layer
IP
SCTP
M2UA
MTP3B
M3UA
SCCP
Ph Layer
IP
SCTP
M2UA
MTP3B
M3UA
MTP1 MTP1
MTP2 MTP2
MTP3
SCCP
A interface
A interface
protocols
protocols
NGN Architecture
NGN Architecture
Ph. Layer
LAPDm
RR
MM
CM
Ph. Layer
LAPD
RR
(+BTSM)
DTAP BSSMAP
BSSAP
distribution function
Direct dialogue between peer entities
Air
Interface
Abis
Interface
MS BSC
DTAP BSSMAP
MM
CM
BSSAP
distribution function
MSS
MGW (SGW)
MTP3
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Description of the SCCP messages
SCCP connection establishment
- Request : Connection Request, CR
- response OK : Connection Confirm, CC
- Refusal : Connection Refused, CREF
Sending of messages : Data Form 1, DT1
Release of an SCCP connection
- request : Released, RLSD
- confirmation : Release Complete, RLC
A interface protocols
A interface protocols
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BSS MSC
CR [ CL3I [ LUREQ ] ]
Connection Request [ Complete Layer 3 Information [ Location Updating Request ] ]
CC
Connection Confirm
BSS MSC
CR [ HOREQ ]
Connection Request [ Handover Request ]
CC [ HORAC [ HOCMD_RR ] ]
Connection Confirm [ Handover Request Acknowledge [ Handover Command (RR) ] ]
Details of procedures
Details of procedures
Location Update:
Incoming Handover driven by the MSC
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CHANNEL REQUEST
IMMEDIATE ASSIGNMENT
Establishment of a RR
connection
ALERTING
Call confirmation
CONNECT ACK
Call started
CONNECT
ASSIGNMENT CMD
ASSIGNMENT CMP
Allocation of a traffics channel
MS
GSM NETWORK
RTCP or RNIS
CM SERVICE REQUEST
Service Indication
AUTHENTICATION REQUEST
AUTHENTICATION RESPONSE Authentication
CIPHERING MODE CMD
CIPHERING MODE COMPLETE Ciphering mode
SET UP
CALL PROCESSING
Call routing
Details of Originating Call
Details of Originating Call
Originating call
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PAGING REQUEST
ALERTING
Call confirmation
CONNECT ACK
Call started
CONNECT
ASSIGNMENT CMD
ASSIGNMENT CMP Allocation of a traffics channel
MS
GSM NETWORK
RTCP or RNIS
AUTHENTICATION REQUEST
AUTHENTICATION RESPONSE Authentication
CIPHERING MODE CMD
CIPHERING MODE COMPLETE Ciphering mode
SET UP
CALL CONFIRMED
Call routing
CHANNEL REQUEST
IMMEDIATE ASSIGNMENT
Establishment of a RR
connection
Service Indication
PAGING RESPONSE
Details of Terminating
Details of Terminating
Call
Call
Terminating call
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CHANNEL REQUEST
IMMEDIATE ASSIGNMENT
Establishment of a RR
connection
LOCATION UPDATING ACCEPT
CHANNEL RELEASE
TMSI REALLOCATION CMD
Allocation of a temporary identity
MS
GSM NETWORK
RTCP or RNIS
MM LU REQUEST
Service Indication
AUTHENTICATION REQUEST
AUTHENTICATION RESPONSE Authentication
CIPHERING MODE CMD
CIPHERING MODE COMPLETE Ciphering mode
TMSI REALLOCATION CMP
LU accepted
Radio resource released
Details of Location Update
Details of Location Update
procedure
procedure
Location Update
TMSI reallocation only for the first location update and for location update between VLR