Information: Basic Services ASCI Voice Broadcast Service
Information: Basic Services ASCI Voice Broadcast Service
Information: Basic Services ASCI Voice Broadcast Service
Basic Services
ASCI Voice Broadcast Service
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Basic Services
Trademarks:
All designations used in this document can be trademarks, the use of which by third parties for their
own purposes could violate the rights of their owners.
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Basic Services
Issue History
Issue
Number
Date of Issue
01
11/2002
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Contents
Definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2
2.1
2.2
2.2.1
2.2.2
2.2.3
2.2.4
2.2.5
2.2.6
Mode of Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
The Group Call Register . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Call processing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Call Establishment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Call Initiation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Call Completion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Ongoing Call . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Release of a Voice Broadcast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
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1 Definition
The advanced speech call items (ASCI features) are typical private mobile radio (PMR)
and public access mobile radio (PAMR) services. Introducing these features into the
public land mobile network (PLMN) allows GSM mobile subscribers to set up point-tomultipoint connections and provides the possibility to assign already seized resources
to other subscribers, depending on a priority level.
The ASCI features are:
enhanced multilevel precedence and preemption service (eMLPP),
voice group call service (VGCS),
voice broadcast service (VBS).
The enhanced multilevel precedence and preemption service allows to classify the
mobile subscribers according to a subscriber specific priority. The feature has two parts,
precedence and preemption.
Precedence means assigning a priority level to a point-to-point call, a group call or a
broadcast call in combination with a fast call setup. Preemption means the seizing of resources, such as radio channels, by high priority calls that are in use by low priority calls,
when the network offers no other idle resources.
The enhanced multilevel precedence and preemption service is implemented in the
PLMN as a GSM supplementary service according to GSM Recommendations 02.67,
03.67 and 04.67.
The voice group call service allows subscribers to set up a point-to-multipoint connection. It allows the participants in such a group call to be stored as members of a group
with a certain group call reference. All participants are connected automatically and in
parallel. The initiator of such a call is the speaker while everybody else is a listener. In
relation to the voice broadcast service this feature allows a change of speaker, i.e. any
member may request to be the next speaker.
The voice group call service uses the common downlink broadcast function, which allows an unlimited number of subscribers to listen to one traffic channel per cell, in this
way saving valuable resources on the air interface and signaling links between network
elements.
The voice group call service is implemented in the PLMN as a GSM teleservice (TS91)
according to GSM Recommendations 02.68, 03.68 and 04.68.
The voice broadcast service allows setting up a point-to-multipoint connection for the
distribution of speech. A service subscriber or a dispatcher initiates the call into a predefined geographical area also called the broadcast area or the service area. Upon call
setup a predefined group of service subscribers located in the service area is able to
listen to the voice broadcast. Additionally up to five other fixed or mobile dispatchers,
excluding the originating dispatcher, can be connected to the voice broadcast. In relation to the voice group call service, the initiator's role cannot change during an ongoing
call.
The voice broadcast service is implemented in the PLMN as a GSM teleservice (TS92)
according to GSM Recommendations 02.69, 03.69 and 04.69.
This document only describes the feature ASCI Voice Broadcast Service. For a description of the other ASCI features, refer to the following documents "ASCI Voice Group
Call Service" and "ASCI: Enhanced Multilevel Precedence and Preemption".
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2 Mode of Operation
The voice broadcast service allows speech conversation of a predefined group of service subscribers within a predefined area, also known as the broadcast area or the service area (the shaded area in Fig. 2.1). The voice broadcast initiator may be any service
subscriber or dispatcher. Mobile dispatchers may reside outside the service area.
A voice broadcast call is defined as follows:
All service subscribers are members of a dedicated group, uniquely identified by the
group-ID. The service area, composed of a number of cells, is assigned to each dedicated group and defines the area within which roaming of the service subscribers
is allowed. This area is uniquely identifies by the group call area-ID. The group-ID
and the group call area-ID are merged into the joined item group call reference.
Dialing the group-ID (for the service subscribers) or the group call reference (for the
dispatchers) initializes the parallel setup of the connections to all the cells of the assigned service area. All the group members being in the service area receive a notification of the ongoing voice broadcast. The dispatchers are also alerted.
If the called group is subscribed on the SIM card, the mobile station joins the group
call. If it is engaged in a higher priority call, then the notification for the group call is
automatically ignored. Else the mobile station joins the group call.
PLMN
BSC
Relay MSC
ISDN
BSC
Anchor MSC
BSC
Fig. 2.1
The shaded cells define the voice broadcast service area. All cells within a BSC area
may not be included in the voice broadcast service area but may belong to different
BSCs. These BSCs may be connected to up to nine MSCs. The initializing MSC hereby
acts as the anchor MSC, whereas all the other MSCs act as relay MSCs and operate
under the anchor MSCs control. The MSC must be provided with a conference function
to be able to support the realization of point-to-multipoint calls. The MSC connects the
dispatchers with a duplex connection and initializes the setup of half-duplex connections
to the cells belonging to the broadcast area. The anchor MSC controls the call establishment. The call originator, the called dispatchers and the A-interface downlink cell
trunks to the involved BSCs are connected to the conference bridges. To cover the requested service area, the BSCs allocate the necessary resources to support the voice
broadcast service. There are as many links between the BSCs and the MSCs as there
are BTSs connected to these BSCs. At the radio interface, one signaling and one traffic
channel are established. These channels are realized as a "common downlink", which
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means that all the destination subscribers within one cell are listening to the same signaling and traffic channel.
2.1
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Group-ID
Each voice broadcast is uniquely identified in a network by its group call reference (GCReference). That is, each voice broadcast is uniquely identified by means of the group
call area identification and the group identification.
Group Call Number
For the setup of the call legs between the anchor MSC and the relay MSCs, the temporary allocation of a group call number (GC-NR) for routing purposes is required. The
functionality and handling of the GC-NR is similar to the mobile station roaming number
for MTC routing and handover number for inter MSC handover routing. This implies that
a range of numbers must be reserved for group call numbers in the numbering plan. The
structure of these numbers is the same as for group call references.
2.2
Call processing
When a group-ID (service subscriber) or a group call reference (dispatcher) is dialed,
the MSC recognizes that this number belongs to a group. The MSC retrieves all the necessary information from the group call register (GCR).
The calling subscriber may be any service subscriber who has subscribed to the related
Group-ID or any dispatcher (mobile or fixed) who is entitled to it by his identity, which is
registered in the network. This identity is either an MSISDN number or a directory number in international format (with international prefix).
The destination of the call includes all the service subscribers located in the service area
and belonging to the group identified by the called group-ID and the dispatchers. Service
subscribers are notified using the Group-ID, unlike the dispatchers who are called individually using their identity.
Service subscribers may become late destination subscribers. When entering the service area they will receive a notification message related to the voice broadcast service.
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Service subscribers who leave the corresponding service area during an ongoing voice
broadcast of which they are a party cease to be destination subscribers.
It is possible for a service subscriber to activate or deactivate the group call reception
for different Group-IDs. The selection list is stored on the SIM card.
2.2.1
Call Establishment
The voice broadcast is established in a service area that covers a single cell or a cluster
of cells. The service areas are predefined at registration.
In the case of a service subscriber initiating a voice broadcast with the Group-ID, the service area is uniquely identified by the actual cell in which the service subscriber resides.
A dispatcher initiating a voice group call is connected to a related predefined service area. Since a dispatcher can be registered to more than one service area and Group-ID,
an indication of both is given in the form of a dedicated address being called by the dispatcher.
A number of group calls intended for different groups of destination subscribers in the
same group call area may exist simultaneously. Parallel voice group calls are possible
to the same group of destination subscribers in different group call areas. Group call areas, which are assigned to a single Group-ID, are not allowed to have one or more cells
in common, i.e. the group call areas have to be disjunctive. To avoid this problem, cells
in the group call area can be marked as no service origination allowed. For more information see topic Variable group call area for emergency calls in section 2.2.2.
2.2.2
Call Initiation
A service subscriber initiates a voice broadcast
A service subscriber initiates a voice broadcast by selecting an active group on its SIM
card and invoking the call setup. The mobile station sends a service request message
with service type VBS to the anchor MSC. A subscribers call is always routed to the anchor MSC. Only the anchor MSC can start the broadcasting to all the cells in the service
area. The anchor MSC checks the subscription for the VBS teleservice and in the case
of a positive outcome allows the mobile station to start further call setup handling without
the previous ciphering and authentication.
The mobile station sends a specific VBS setup message, which includes the called
Group-ID. The MSC/VLR checks the group related subscription and invokes interworking with the group call register based on the received service type. No digit translation
is performed. For fast call setup, the mobile station may send an immediate setup message in stead of a service request and setup message.
The group call register derives the group area from the identification of the cell from
which the call has been set up. With the group area and the called Group-ID the group
call register retrieves the group attributes and the related busy state.
In the case of a busy group, the call attempt is terminate, thereby forcing the calling service subscriber to join the ongoing voice broadcast as a listener. In the case of an idle
group, the conference unit is seized and call handling for downlinks and called dispatchers is invoked as for dispatcher originated calls.
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Fig. 2.3
These group call areas are assigned to four different voice group services with the same
group ID. Now a subscriber with subscription to this group ID moves along the railway
track. She starts a voice group from her current location (cell B), which belongs to the
group call areas 1, 2 and 3. But since service call origination from cell B is only allowed
for the voice group service associated with area 2, the correct voice group service is detected and the call is distributed to cells A, B and C.
2.2.3
Call Completion
Downlink establishment towards the listener cells belonging to the anchor MSC
The configuration setup for the listener cells requires the establishment of the downlink
traffic channels, the associated cell controlling SCCP connections and the group controlling SCCP connections to the BSCs. The switching networks broadcast capabilities
are used to distribute the group's speech signals from the actual speaker or dispatcher
to the downlink cells. The speech signals are broadcast from one conference port to all
the trunks that provide a downlink connection.
The downlink establishment is handled as follows. Having received the group data from
the group call register, the coordination processor selects and seizes an ASCI conference LTG. The selection of the ASCI conference LTG is based on resource criteria such
as the number of required and available conference ports. In addition, the coordination
processor selects an LTG for the setup of the group controlling BSC-related SCCP connections (ASCI BSC control LTG).
This selection mechanism is based on LTG load but only BSSAP-LTGs are selected because they are capable of acting as an ASCI BSC control LTG. An overload procedure
has been implemented for this purpose. It is able to distinguish voice group calls from
voice broadcast calls because of the difference in signaling load for talker change, which
is only possible for a voice group call.
For all the seized trunks, corresponding speech channels are selected. The affected
BSSAP-LTGs are informed by a seizure command, which triggers the downlink traffic
channel and the associated SCCP connection establishment on the A-interface in the
BSSAP-LTG.
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Downlink establishment towards the listener cells belonging to the relay MSCs
The connection of the cells belonging to the relay MSCs is realized with the principles
of a mobile terminating call for mobile subscribers in a visitor MSC. A temporary ISDN
number over a MAP connection to the relay MSCs is required, providing the capability
to connect a relay MSC over a trunk. If the call is received in the relay MSC, the ISDN
number used is released and local broadcasting is started.
Connection setup towards the dispatchers
The connection setup towards the dispatchers uses existing incoming call handling and
routing functions for call establishment.
2.2.4
Ongoing Call
The voice broadcast service allows for only one talking service subscriber at any moment. Additionally up to 5 dispatchers can be talking simultaneously at one time.
Handover
A mobile dispatcher performs an handover in exactly the same way as an ordinary call
handover. When a handover of a speaker (service subscriber) is necessary, the handover is restricted to the successfully set up downlink cell area.
2.2.5
2.2.6
Acknowledgments
The network informs the calling subscriber with a suitable indication of the successful
establishment of the voice broadcast so that he can start to speak. A successful establishment means that all broadcast downlink channels are allocated, whether anybody is
listening or not, and that the related dispatchers are notified.
A voice broadcast receipt acknowledgement can be required as a network option from
all or from nominated destination subscribers (nominated means recorded on the SIM
card). The acknowledgment itself is performed after the voice broadcast has been released, i.e. the acknowledgment is not part of the voice broadcast. The acknowledgment
indicates the starting and end time of the reception.
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4 Administration
Administration of the core network nodes is performed either at the remote switch commander (SC) with integrated or connected client terminals (CT) or at the craft terminal
local (CTL). The switch commander supports Q3, MML and SNMP. It offers a graphical
user interface and allows a comfortable way of entering tasks and commands.
An overview of the tasks relevant in the context of this document is given in the following.
Detailed operation instructions can be found in the operation manuals (OMN) and in the
task manual (TML).
Conference bridge
The handling of all conference bridge and conference port related administration is done
with the following MML commands:
CR LTU, DISP LTU, CAN LTU (create, display, cancel a line trunk unit of type Y22
(the conference bridge))
CR CONFRNC, DISP CONFRNC, CAN CONFRNC (create, display, cancel the conference ports)
CONF COU, DIAG COU, STAT COU (configure, diagnose, display the status of the
conference unit)
CONF PORT, DIAG PORT and STAT PORT (configure, diagnose, display the status
of the conference ports)
Voice broadcast
The administration of group call areas, voice group references and group IDs is administered with the following MML commands:
CR VGSAREA, DISP VGSAREA, MOD VGSAREA, CAN VGSAREA (create, display, modify, cancel voice group service areas)
CR VGSREF, DISP VGSREF, MOD VGSREF, CAN VGSREF (create, display, modify, cancel voice group service call references)
ENTR VGSGRP, CAN VGSGRP (enter, cancel voice group service groups)
Administration of code points for voice group services
Code points are used in the anchor MSC and the relay MSCs for routing, call setup and
triggering of group call handling.
The code points are administered with the following MML commands:
CR CPT, CAN CPT, DISP CPT, MOD CPT, SPLIT CPT, MERGE CPT (create, cancel, display, split, merge code points)
Mobile subscriber administration
The assignment of the teleservice TS92 (voice broadcast service) to a mobile subscriber
is administered with following MML commands:
CR MSUB, DISP MSUB, MOD MSUB, CAN MSUB (create, display, modify, cancel
mobile subscribers)
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