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Chapter 7 Mobile Originating Call Establishment
Procedure
7.1 Overview
Mobile originating call services include (not including mobile-originated SMS)

MS calls MS

MS calls fixed telephone

7.2 Normal Procedure

As per assignment type, the mobile originating call establishment procedure can be
classified into 3 types, early assignment, late assignment and very early assignment.
The selection of early assignment and late assignment is determined by MSC. The
selection of very early assignment is determined by BSS as per the status of radio
resources.

7.2.1 Mobile Originating Call Establishment without OACSU (Early

Assignment)
Note:
OACSU denotes "Off-Air-Call-Set-Up".

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I. Signaling procedure
BTS

MS

BSC

MSC

Channel REQ (1)

Channel RQD (2)
Channel ACT (3)
Channel ACT ACK (4)
IMM ASS CMD (5)
SABM (6)
UA (7)

EST IND (CM Service REQ) (8)

CR (CMP L3 information) (9)

CC (10)

CM Service Accepted (11)

Setup (12)
Call Proceeding (13)
Channel ACT (15)

ASS REQ (14)

Channel ACT ACK (16)

ASS CMD (17)
SABM (18)
UA (19)

1.

EST IND (20)

ASS CMP (21)

ASS CMP (22)

Alerting (23)
Connect (24)

Connect ACK (25)

Talking (26)
DISC (27)
REL (28)
REL CMP (29)
Clear CMD (30)
Clear CMP (38)

Channel REL (31)

RLSD (39)

DISC (32)
UA (33)

RLSD CMP (40)

Deactive SACCH (34)
REL IND (35)
RF Channel REL (36)
RF Channel REL ACK (37)

Figure 1.1

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1)

MS sends a CHANNEL REQUEST message to BTS on the access channel

(RACH) of Um interface. The message contains the cause value "MOC", but that
value is not completely accurate, because it is indicated both in the mobile
originating call establishment procedure and IMSI detach procedure.

2)

BTS sends a CHANNEL REQUIRED message to BSC.

3)

Upon receipt of the CHANNEL REQUIRED message, BSC allocates a signaling

channel and sends a CHANNEL ACTIVATION message to BTS.

4)

If the channel type is correct, upon receipt of the CHANNEL ACTIVATION

message, BTS opens the power amplifier on the specified channel, and sends a
CHANNEL ACTIVATION ACKNOWLEDGE message to BSC.

5)

BSC sends an IMMEDIATE ASSIGNMENT COMMAND message to MS via BTS.

The message is sent on AGCH on Um interface.

6)

MS sends an SABM frame on SDCCH to BTS to access the network.

7)

BTS returns a UA frame on SDCCH for acknowledgement.

8)

BTS sends an ESTABLISHMENT INDICATION message to BSC (This message

contains the accurate causes for MS's access. For example, different cause
values are indicated in the mobile originating call establishment procedure and
IMSI detach procedure). This message contains the contents of the CM
SERVICE REQUEST message.

9)

BSC establishes the SCCP link connection on A interface, and sends a CM

SERVICE REQUEST message to MSC.

10) MSC returns a message to BSC to acknowledge the link connection.

11) MSC sends a CM SERVICE ACCEPTED message to MS. The message is sent
on SDCCH on Um interface.
12) The calling MS sends a SETUP message on SDCCH.
13) MSC sends a CALL PROCEEDING message to the calling MS. The message is
sent on SDCCH on Um interface.
14) MSC sends an ASSIGNMENT REQUEST message to BSC, which contains the
CIC allocated to A interface.
15) BSC allocates a TCH, and sends a CHANNEL ACTIVATION message to BTS.
16) If the channel type is correct, upon receipt of the CHANNEL ACTIVATION
message, BTS opens the power amplifier on the specified channel, starts to
receive

the

uplink

information

and

sends

CHANNEL ACTIVATION

ACKNOWLEDGE message to BSC.

17) BSC sends an ASSIGNMENT COMMAND message to MS via BTS on SDCCH.

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18) MS sends an SABM frame to BTS, to access the network on FACCH indicated in
the ASSIGNMENT COMMAND message.
19) BTS sends a UA frame for acknowledgement on FACCH.
20) BTS sends an ESTABLISHMENT INDICATION message to BSC.
21) After accessing the TCH, MS sends an ASSIGNMENT COMPLETE message to
BSC on FACCH.
22) After the radio traffic channel and terrestrial circuit are both successfully
connected, BSC sends an ASSIGNMENT COMPLETE message to MSC, and
regards this call in session state.
23) MSC sends an ALTERING message to the calling MS. The calling MS will hear
the ringback. The message is sent on FACCH on Um interface.
24) MSC sends a CONNECT message to MS. The message is sent on FACCH on
Um interface.
25) The calling MS returns a CONNECT ACKNOWLEDGE message on FACCH to
MSC.
26) The calling MS and called MS enters the session state.
27) After the conversation is over, the calling MS hangs up and sends a
DISCONNECT message on FACCH.
28) MSC sends a RELEASE message to MS. The message is sent on FACCH on
Um interface.
29) MS returns a RELEASE COMPLETE message. The message is sent on FACCH
on Um interface.
30) MSC sends a CLEAR COMMAND message to BSC. Upon receipt of the
message, BSC initiates the release procedure. See Chapter 5 for the description
of the subsequent release procedure.
31) BSC sends a CHANNEL RELEASE message to MS through BTS, The message
is sent on FACCH on Um interface.
32) MS sends DISC frame on FACCH.
33) BTS returns UA frame on FACCH.

II. Procedure explanation

1)

In Error: Reference source not found, 1~8 refer to the random access procedure
and immediate assignment procedure. In the two procedures, BSS allocates
signaling channels to MS.

2)

Between 10~11, there may exist an authentication procedure, ciphering mode

setting procedure and classmark interrogation procedure (updating procedure).

3)

As per different data configuration of MSC, after the link connection is

established on A interface, MSC may not immediately deliver the CM SERVICE
ACCEPTED message. Instead, it may proceed as follows.

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4)

Initiate the ciphering mode setting procedure by delivering a Cipher Mode

Command (In that case, MSC shall not deliver the CM Service Accepted
message again).

5)

Initiate the authentication procedure by delivering an AUTHENTICATION

REQUEST message.

6)

Initiate the classmark updating procedure by delivering a CLASSMARK UPDATE

message.

7)

In addition, if [ECSC] in BSC data configuration is set to "Yes", the dual-band MS

shall

report

CLASSMARK

CHANGE

message

after

it

reports

an

ESTABLISHMENT INDICATION message.

8)

14~22 refer to the TCH assignment procedure.

In this procedure, BSS allocates the resources such as TCHs, A interface circuit, etc.
to MS.
9)

30~40 refer to the release procedure.

The procedure shown in Error: Reference source not found is a release procedure in
which the calling MS first hangs up. The logical channels on Um interface are
released prior to the physical channels.

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7.2.2 Mobile Originating Call Establishment with OACSU (Late Assignment)
I. Signaling procedure
MS

BSC

BTS

MSC

Channel REQ (1)

Channel ACT (2)
Channel ACT ACK (3)
IMM ASS CMD (4)
SABM

(5)

UA (6)

EST IND( CM Service REQ) (7)

CR(CMP L3 information) (8)

CC (9)

CM Service Accepted (10)

Setup (11)
Call Proceeding (12)
Alerting (13)
Channel ACT (15)

ASS REQ (14)

Channel ACT ACK (16)

ASS CMD (17)
SABM(18)
UA (19)

2.

EST IND

(20)

ASS CMP (21)

ASS CMP (22)

Connect (23)
Connect ACK (24)
Talking (25)
DISC (26)
REL (27)
REL CMP (28)
Clear CMD (29)
Channel REL (30)
DISC (31)
UA (32)

Clear CMP (37)

RLSD (38)

Deactive SACCH (33)

RLSD CMP (39)

REL IND (34)

RF Channel REL (35)
RF Channel REL ACK (36)

Figure 1.1 Mobile originating call establishment with OACSU (late assignment)

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1)

The difference between Error: Reference source not found and Figure 1.1 is that
late assignment takes place after the Alerting indication is sent.

2)

The advantage of late assignment lies in that it can save the seizure time of
TCHs.

3)

The disadvantage of late assignment is that if the subsequent assignment is

unsuccessful, the called MS can only hear the ring but cannot establish a
connection, thus leading to user complaints. Therefore, in actual application, this
procedure is generally not adopted. Instead, the procedure in Error: Reference
source not found is adopted.

II. Procedure explanation

For relevant explanation, please refer to 7.2.1Mobile Originating Call Establishment
without OACSU (Early Assignment). The procedure in Figure 7-2 is a procedure in
which the calling MS first hangs up.

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7.2.3 Mobile Originating Call Establishment with OACSU (Very Early
Assignment)
I. Signaling procedure
MS

BSC

BTS
Channel REQ

MSC

(1)
Channel RQD (2)
Channel ACT (3)
Channel ACT ACK (4)
IMM ASS CMD (5)

SABM

(6)

UA (7)

EST IND( CM Service REQ) (8)

CR(CMP L3 information)

(9)

CC (10)
CM Service Accepted

(11)

Setup (12)
Call Proceeding (13)
(14)

Alerting

ASS REQ (15)

Mode Modify (16)
Mode Modify ACK (17)
Channel Mode Modify (18)
Channel Mode Modify ACK (19)

3.

ASS CMP (20)

Connect

(21)

Connect ACK (22)

Talking (23)
DISC (24)
REL (25)
REL CMP (26)
Clear CMD (27)
Channel REL

(28)

Clear CMP (35)

DISC (29)

RLSD (36)

UA (30)

RLSD CMP

Deactive SACCH (31)

(37)

REL IND (32)

RF Channel REL (33)
RF Channel REL ACK (34)

Figure 1.1 Mobile originating call establishment with OACSU (very early assignment)

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1)

The difference between Error: Reference source not found and Figure 1.1 is that
the TCH allocated during the immediate assignment in Figure 7-3 serves as a
signaling channel. Therefore, no TCH need be reallocated during the assignment
procedure. Instead, the TCH allocated in the immediate assignment procedure is
adjusted as a TCH by using the MODE MODIFY message.

2)

Very early assignment generally takes place if there is no free SDCCH for
allocation during immediate assignment, but there are free TCHs and immediate
assignment of TCHs is allowed in BSC data configuration.

II. Procedure explanation

For relevant explanation, refer to 7.2.1Mobile Originating Call Establishment without
OACSU (Early Assignment). The procedure in Figure 7-3 is a procedure in which the
calling MS first hangs up.

7.3 Internal Handling of BSC

The internal handling of the BSC is given below:
1)

Upon receipt of the CHANNEL REQUIRED message from the BTS, the BSC
allocates a signaling channel based on the channel type and channel allocation
algorithm required by the [Radio channel management control table], [HW II
Channel Allocation table] and the TCH immediate assignment field in the [Cell
call control table].

2)

Upon receipt of the ESTABLISHMENT INDICATION message in the random

access procedure, the BSC adds the CGI of the current cell to the CM SERVICE
REQUEST message based on the [BSC Cell Table] and sends the message to
the MSC.

3)

Upon receipt of the ASSIGNMENT REQUEST message from the MSC, the BSC
checks the channel type. Then it checks whether the data service is supported
based on the Data Service allowed field in the [Cell Configuration Table]. It
returns an ASSIGNMENT FAILURE message if the data service is not
supported.

4)

The BSC checks the [Trunk Circuit Table] based on the CIC in the ASSIGNMENT
REQUEST message for whether the CIC exists. Then it checks whether the
circuit pool, the channel type in the ASSIGNMENT REQUEST message and the
supporting capability of the FTC board conflict. It returns an ASSIGNMENT
FAILURE message to the MSC upon conflict.

5)

Upon receipt of the ASSIGNMENT COMPLETE message from the MS, the BSC
fills in the ASSIGNMENT COMPLETE message over interface A interface based

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on the A-interface Phase flag field in the [Local Office Information Table]. Then
it sends the message to the MSC.

7.4 Abnormal Cases

In the cases of loss of messages on Um interface, call interruption, hangup, abnormal
operation of transport/NSS/BSS equipment, the procedure may not be performed
normally. In addition, if MS resends multiple CHANNEL REQUEST messages during
an access attempt, BSS shall activate multiple signaling channels correspondingly.
Actually, MS shall only seize 1 signaling channel. Because no ESTABLISH
INDICATION message can be received from MS by other channels, other channels
shall be released upon timeout.
Because there are various causes for abnormal procedures, here, merely the
common cases are described.

7.4.1 Abnormal Random Access/Immediate Assignment Procedure

I. ESTABLISH INDICATION message cannot be received after a channel has
been activated
Generally, there are the following causes for this problem.
1)

Due to defect design that does not comply with the protocols, MS resends
multiple CHANNEL REQUEST messages. As a result, BSS allocates and
activates too many signaling channels.
Even if BSS runs normally, during an access attempt, MS may resend multiple
CHANNEL REQUEST messages. As a result, BSS activates multiple signaling
channels. Actually, MS shall only seize 1 signaling channel. Because no
ESTABLISH INDICATION message can be received from MS by other channels,
other channels shall be released when the T3101 timer expires.

2)

On Um interface, uplink signals can be received normally, whereas, downlink

signals cannot be properly received by MS.
By tracing the Um interface on MS side, it may be found that MS cannot receive
the relevant information from BTS after it sends a CHANNEL REQUEST
message.
In that case, the user should check whether the uplink/downlink Rx level and Rx
quality are normal. If MS is not far from BTS, but the signals are of low Rx level
and poor Rx quality, the user should check whether the antenna & feeder of BTS,
the antenna of MS, battery, etc. work normally.

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3)

Tx-integer and CCCH are improperly configured in BSC data configuration.

The configuration mode of Tx-integer and CCCH has impact upon the
retransmission interval of MS's CHANNEL REQUEST message.

II. BSC sends an IMMEDIATE ASSIGNMENT REJECT message

If BSC sends an IMMEDIATE ASSIGNMENT REJECT message to MS upon receipt
of a CHANNEL REQUEST message, generally, the causes may be as follows.
1)

BSC cannot find an appropriate signaling channel (Generally, the signaling

channel is SDCCH, but it can also be TCH) to allocate to the MS, generally,
because no signaling channel is available, e.g. all signaling channels are in busy
state or the channels have been blocked.

2)

BTS returns CHANNEL ACTIVATION NEGATIVE ACKNOWLEDGE messages to

BSC after it delivers a CHANNEL ACTIVATION message to MS.

If BTS returns many CHANNEL ACTIVATION NEGATIVE ACKNOWLEDGE

messages to BSC, the problem generally lies in that the unstable transmission on
Abis interface has lead to the inconsistency between the channel states of BSC and
BTS, or abnormality has occurred to a board in BTS.

7.4.2 MSC Directly Delivers DISCONNECT to Clear the Call, Instead of

Delivering the Assignment Request
In the MS call procedure, after the immediate assignment procedure is finished, the
following procedure is assignment. Sometimes MSC doesn't send ASSIGNMENT
REQUEST message, but send DISCONNECT message to MS, and then disconnect
the call. After this problem occurs, usually, a large quantity of MSs shall complain that
calls cannot be put through. In that case, the following points should mainly be
checked.
1)

The state of A interface circuit on MSC side.

2)

The consistency between A interface data of MSC and A interface data of BSC,
especially circuit pool data.

7.4.3 Abnormal Assignment Procedure

I. ASSIGNMENT FAILURE
Upon receipt of an ASSIGNMENT REQUEST message, BSC returns an
ASSIGNMENT FAILURE message, instead of an ASSIGNMENT COMPLETE
message. The common causes are as follows.

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1)

There is no appropriate TCH for allocation in BSC.

There is no appropriate TCH for allocation in BSC, possibly because all TCHs are in
busy state or have been blocked.
The ASSIGNMENT FAILURE message returned by BSC contains the cause value
"No radio resource".
In that case, the user can solve the problem by BTS expansion (adding TRX),
modifying the access threshold and open the direct re-attempt permit switch.
2)

MS fails to access the TCH, and sends an ASSIGNMENT FAILURE message on

the signaling channel.

Due to the particularity of the transmission on Um interface, this problem is actually

the most common problem in the network, and cannot be solved completely. If this
problem occurs frequently, it may lead to user complaints. The major points to be
checked are the antenna & feeder, the relevant boards in BTS, and access-related
parameters in BSC data configuration.
3)

On BSC side, A interface circuit is found abnormal, e.g. The CIC contained in the
ASSIGNMENT REQUEST message is not available.

In that case, the user should check the A interfaces.

4)

Abnormality occurs to the relevant equipment in BSC.

The ASSIGNMENT FAILURE message returned by BSC generally contains the cause
value "Equipment failure".
In that case, the major points to be checked are as follows.

The boards and their respective backplanes and optical fiber that are related to
the inter-module communication in BSC, such as GMC2, GMCC, GSNT, GOPT
and GFBI.

The boards related to A interface, such as E3Ms, TCSMs and their backplanes

5)

Abnormality occurs to the transmission on interface A.

II. Directed Retry

Because there is no appropriate TCH for allocation, and the directed re-attempt
permit switch is set to "On" in BSC data configuration, upon receipt of an
ASSIGNMENT REQUEST message from MSC, BSC shall initiate a directed retry
handover procedure as per the actual situation, so that MS can directly attempt to
access other cells.

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7.4.4 Abnormal Procedure Cause by Call Interruption
Call interruption might occur in any procedure to the calling/called MS, and as a
result, the subsequent procedures cannot be completed normally. For example, after
BSC receives an ASSIGNMENT REQUEST message from MSC, call interruption
occurs to MS on signaling channel. In that case, the assignment procedure probably
is not be finished (For example, the channel is just assigned and the Assignment
Command is not sent) BSC probably shall not return an ASSIGNMENT COMPLETE
or ASSIGNMENT FAILURE message to MSC. Instead, it shall send a CLEAR
REQUEST message.

7.4.5 Abnormal Procedure Caused by Hangup

The calling/called MS may hang up in any procedure, and as a result, the subsequent
procedures cannot be completed normally. For example, after BSC receives an
ASSIGNMENT REQUEST message from MSC, MS suddenly hangs up. In that case,
the call establishment may be already terminated before BSC returns an
ASSIGNMENT COMPLETE or ASSIGNMENT FAILURE message to MSC. As a
result, the procedure is neither a successful assignment procedure (BSC sends an
ASSIGNMENT COMPLETE message), nor an unsuccessful assignment procedure
(BSC sends an ASSIGNMENT FAILURE message).

7.4.6 Abnormal Procedure Caused by MSC Clearing

After the link connection on A interface is established, due to some causes, MSC may
send a CLEAR COMMAND or DISCONNECT message to BSC, and as a result, the
subsequent procedures cannot be completed normally. For example, after BSC
receives an ASSIGNMENT REQUEST message from MSC, MS suddenly hangs up.
In that case, the call establishment may be already terminated before BSC returns an
ASSIGNMENT COMPLETE or ASSIGNMENT FAILURE message to MSC. As a
result, the procedure is neither a successful assignment procedure (BSC sends an
ASSIGNMENT COMPLETE message), nor an assignment failure procedure (BSC
sends an ASSIGNMENT FAILURE message).
If this problem frequently occurs, the following points should be analyzed specially.
1)

The cause value contained in the CLEAR COMMAND message

If a call terminates normally, the CLEAR COMMAND message generally contains the
cause value "Call control". Otherwise, it may contain the cause value of "Protocol
Error", or "Equipment failure", etc.

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2)

The time difference between the previous message and the CLEAR COMMAND
or DISCONNECT message in the procedure

The user can analyze the time difference between the two successive messages, to
see whether there is possibility that the abnormal procedure has been triggered by
timeout.

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