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Raj Kamal: Mobile Computing (2/e) Chapter 3: GSM and Similar architectures Question Bank

Q1. (a) What are the teleservices provided in a GSM system? (b) What are the supplementary services provided in a GSM system? (c) What do we mean by bearer services? What are the bearer services provided in a GSM system? (d) How does a landline phone connect to a GSM phone? Following are the teleservices in GSM: 1. Point to point Cellular broadcast Telephone/Fax Voice Full 13 kbps SMS up to 160 characters Emergency number 112 MMS gif, jpg, wbmp Teletext Videotext access Fax group 3 2. Half data rate speech 3. Enhanced full rate speech Following are the supplementary services in a GSM system: Call forwarding Caller line ID Connected line ID Closed user group Multiparty groupings Call hold, waiting Call barring, Operator restrictions Call charge service

Following are the bearer services in a GSM system: Bearer means a set of data which is transmitted from or received by a TE i.e., the voice-data or data set that has been formatted in certain specified formats. This data is then transmitted at certain standardized rates through the interfaces. (Voice-data is data that obtained after digitizing, coding, encoding and appending error detection and correction bits, and encrypting of a voice signal.) The transparent data transfer for bearer services is at rate 2.4 to 9.4 kbps. The transparent/non-transparent data transfer 300 bps to 9.6 kbps. Bearer services are responsible for transmission of data (voice signals are also transmitted as data) between two user network interfaces [(1, 8) and (4, 5) in Fig. 3.1] using the intermediate interfaces [(2, 7) and (3, 6) in Fig. 3.1] at a mobile network.

Landline phone connect to a GSM phone

A landline phone connects to a GSM phone. The source TE at the caller end interfaces the PSTN network. The destination for the call (and source for the reply) is a mobile station TE, which interfaces a GSM public land network in this case. It uses connection path 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 in Figure 3.1.
Page references:

Services: Pages 91 to 93; Land Line to GSM : Page 93

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Raj Kamal: Mobile Computing (2/e) Chapter 3: GSM and Similar architectures Question Bank

Q2. (a) How does transparent data transfer take place? (b) How does non-transparent data transfer take place?

Transparent Data Transfer

Transparent means that the interface for the service is using only physical layer protocol. Physical layer means the layer which transmits or receives data after formatting or multiplexing using a wired (wire or fibre) or wireless (radio or microwave) medium. The physical layer protocol in a GSM bearer service also provides for FEC (forward error correction). FEC entails insertion of redundant bits along with the data to be transmitted. This redundant data allows the receiver to detect and correct errors. FEC requires higher bandwidths but is advantageous in situations where retransmission is not convenient.
Non-transparent Data Transfer

Non-transparent means that the service interface uses physical layer, data link layer, and flow control layer protocols. Data link layer is the layer which frames the data and appends additional bits to ensure very small error rate. Framing refers to combining and appending additional bits and header. The data link layer performs other functions too (Section 3.3). Flow control layer controls the flow of data by selecting or rejecting erroneous data transmitted and by re-transmitting erroneous data. The protocols for data link and flow control layers provide for (a) error detection and correction and (b) selecting, rejecting, re-transmitting the data, respectively. When data transmits at 9.6 kbps the data error rates are high. This is because when non-transparent data is transmitted at 9.6 kbps, there is no retransmission and erroneous data just gets rejected. The data error rate becomes negligibly small at slow data rates (300 bps). This is because when non-transparent data transmits at 300 bps, then the erroneous data is corrected or gets retransmitted at data link and flow control layers. A special error correction facility called RLP (radio link protocol), used in GSM networks, is an example of a nontransparent communication protocol. RLP results in more robust transmission with very small BER (bit error rate).
Page references:

Transparent data transfer: Pages 94 and 95; Non transparent data transfer: Pages 96 to 97.

Q3. (a) Explain synchronous transmission. (b) Explain asynchronous transmission (c) Explain synchronous packet transmission.

Synchronous Transmission

Synchronous data transmission means that data is transmitted from a transceiver at a fixed rate and constant phase differences (and thus time intervals) are maintained between data bursts or frames (Section 3.1.1.7). Example A voice data is transmitted in synchronous transmission mode. A data frame transmits in 4.615 ms. 51 frames will take how much time? 51 4.615 ms = 235.4 ms. The receiver must synchronize the clock rate according to the incoming data bits. The receiver must also synchronize data bits coming in from multiple paths or stations and compensate for the varied delays in received signals.

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Raj Kamal: Mobile Computing (2/e) Chapter 3: GSM and Similar architectures Question Bank

Handshaking is not required in synchronous transmission of data. Synchronous data transmission is fast because there is no waiting period during data transfer. Some examples of synchronous data transfer in a GSM system are as follows: Example Voice is converted into bits after coding in a GSM system and the bits are transferred at data rates of 13 kbps as synchronous data. There are no in-between acknowledgements or waiting periods in this faithful transmission of bits. An SMS is transmitted through a GSM channel as synchronous data. There are no in-between acknowledgements and any transmission errors are corrected using FEC.

Asynchronous Data Transfer

Asynchronous data transmission means data is transmitted by the transceiver at variable rates and constant time intervals are not maintained between consecutive bursts or frames (Section 3.1.1.7). There is usually handshaking or acknowledgement of data in asynchronous data transfer. But even if there is no acknowledgement, even if data flow is maintained by using the FEC but the buffers are used during transmission then the transmission can still be asynchronous. Use of buffers causes variable delays in reception. Example (a) Some examples of acknowledgement messages are receiver ready, receiver not ready, unnumbered acknowledgement of acceptance of data at the receiver, rejects, set asynchronous balance mode, or disconnect. (b) Program files containing middleware for mobile devices have to be transmitted by the mobile service while maintaining full data integrity. In such cases in-between acknowledgements of faithful transmission of bits and reporting of errors during transmission are important. Therefore, there is non-transparent data flow. An acknowledgement is sent by the receiver for each data set to the effect that the data set received is identical to the one transmitted. Some time is, therefore, spent in implementing appropriate algorithms for data set integrity checks and acknowledgements. This results in asynchronous data transmission. Synchronous packet Transmission Synchronous packet transmission takes place after formation of packets. Different packets during are transmitted through different interfaces, routes, channels, or time-slots to reach a common destination. At the destination, various packets are arranged in their original sequence. A sequence number transmitted along with each packet helps in sequential arrangement of packets at the receiver. Each packet flow is transmitted as synchronous data. There is no handshaking or acknowledgement of the data during the flow of packets. Assume that there are N packets and only M paths at an instance. A packet along a path takes time = T. Then M packets will flow simultaneously and time taken will be just T. Balance (N M) packet will flow in next slots of time T each.

Example Assume only three paths are available for the packets. Suppose M = 3 and N =9, then time taken will be 3 T . Suppose M = 3 and N = 10 or 11 or 12, then time taken will be 4 T .
Page references:

Synchronous Transmission: Page 97; Asynchronous transmission: Page 98. Synchronous packet transmission: Page 99.

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Raj Kamal: Mobile Computing (2/e) Chapter 3: GSM and Similar architectures Question Bank

Q4. (a) Show GSM system architecture. (b) Show interfacing of radio subsystems with the network sub systems and network subsystems with operational subsystems. .
GSM System Architecture

Figure 3.8 shows GSM system architecture. The network is divided into three subsystems namely, radio subsystem (RSS), network subsystem (NSS), and operation subsystem (OSS). The RSS consists of a number of base station controllers (BSC) and each BSC connects to a number of base transceiver stations (BTS) which, in turn, provide radio interfaces for mobile devices.

Figure 3.8: GSM Architecture The NSS consists of number of mobile services switching centres (MSC). Each MSC of the NSS interfaces to a number of BSCs in the RSS. There are also home location registers (HLR) and visitor location registers (VLR). The OSS consists of the authentication centre (AuC), equipment identity register (EIR), and operation and maintenance centre (OMC). BSC (base station controller): A controller that connects to a number of BTSs using the Abis interface and interfaces to an MSC at the using another interface. BTS (base station transceiver): A transceiver interfacing to a number of mobile systems at the upper layer and to a BSC at the lower layer using an interface.

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Radio Subsystem RSS

Raj Kamal: Mobile Computing (2/e) Chapter 3: GSM and Similar architectures Question Bank
Base Station Controllers BSCs B1.Bk

1 Network Subsystem NSS

Mobile services switching Centers MSCs M1.Ml Home and visitor location registers: HLRs H1.Hm and VLRs
V1.Vn

Operational Subsystem OSS

Authentication Center AuC Equipment identity Register EIR Operation and maintenance center OMC

Interfacing between different subsystems of the GSM architecture

MSC (Mobile Services Switching Centre): A switching centre connecting to a number of BSCs using the A interface and to other MSCs and GMSCs (Gateway MSCs). The MSC is also associated to a home location register and a visitor location register.

Interfaces

The interfaces are between the three subsystems in a GSM network. If the number of BSCs in the RSS is k and there are l MSCs in the NSS, then k >l and each MSC connects to a number of BSCs. The detailed architecture of GSM network subsystems and the functions of various components in a GSM network are discussed in the following subsections. An example of the operation of various subsystems and their intercommunication is as follows: When a mobile station MSx communicates to another mobile station MSy, a switching center MSCi establishes (switches) a connection (channel) between MSx interfaced to the BTSp, then to the BSCq, then to MSCr and MSy interfaced to the BTSu, BSCv, and MSCw.

The RSS and NSS provide a radio subsystem for the communication. MSCs must have locations registries to enable the NSS to discover a path (route or channel) between MSx and MSy. The OSS facilitates the operations of MSCs..
Page references:

GSM system architecture: Pages 106 and 107; Interfaces: Pages 103 and 104

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Q5.

Raj Kamal: Mobile Computing (2/e) Chapter 3: GSM and Similar architectures Question Bank

(a) Describe Radio access SDMA, TDMA and FDMA in a GSM system. (b) What do we mean by traffic channel in GSM? (c) What do we mean by control channel in GSM?

Radio Access in GSM system

SDMA in GSM Cells A BTS with n directed antennae covers mobile stations in n cells. Each cell defines a space. A given BTSj covers the ith cell and the cell covers k mobile stations, MS1, MS2,, MSk (k can vary with time as an MS can always change its location and move into another cell) at an instant. There is space division multiplexing of the signals from the MSs (mobile systems) in a cell. FDMA in a GSM Channel A set of maximum 8 MSs out of l MSs can be assigned a radio carrier channel by a BTSj using FDMA (Section 3.2.3). An MS uses that radio carrier channel and communicates with BTSj using the user interface Um (Fig. 3.2). The Um access is such that each MS in the set (of presently communicating k mobile stations within the cell) uses a distinct time slot. An MS can use on of the 8 distinct time slots, SL0, SL1, , SL7, each of 577 s. A set of data bits in an SL is known as a burst. A set of 8 data bursts defines a data frame. One data frame takes 577 s 8 = 4.615 ms. Find details in Section 3.2.2. Frequency Division Multiplexing Access (FDMA) of the GSM Channels Frequency division multiple access (FDMA) means dividing the allotted or available bandwidth into different frequency channels for communication by multiple sources (sets of MTs). A set of maximum 124 radio-carrier channels each of 200 kHz can be used in GSM 900 downlink channel (MSC to BSC, BSC to BTS, and BTS to MS) and 124 in the uplink channel (MS to BTS, BTS to BSC, and BSC to MSC). Each channel transmits data frames of 4.615 ms (8 timeslots) each. The frequency-slot for each channel is 200 kHz. A set of maximum 8 MSs (out of l MSs) can be assigned (by BTSj) a radio carrier channel frequency for uplink. Downlink frequency is greater than the uplink frequency of a radio-carrier channel by 45 MHz. Figure 3.10 shows Celli with two FDMA radio-carrier channels chm and chn. FDMA transmission in GSM systems is explained as follows: The 124 slots in GSM 900 in the uplink frequency range are ch1: 890.1 MHz 100 kHz, ch2: 890.3 MHz 100 kHz, Mobile Station Mobile Station Mobile Station Mobile Station MSk
Um 1 8 FDMA Radio carrier channel chm Radio carrier channel chn Um

577 s time-slot bursts

TDMA

577 s time-slot bursts

Base Station Controller BTSj

Celli Celli with two radio-carrier channels chm and chn using FDMA and each MS in each channel transmitting bursts in 577 s each time-slots using TDMA

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Raj Kamal: Mobile Computing (2/e) Chapter 3: GSM and Similar architectures Question Bank

and so on till ch124: 914.9 100 kHz. Similarly, the down link frequency slots are ch1: 935.1 MHz 100 kHz, ch2: 935.3 MHz 100 kHz and the last frequency is ch124: 959.9 MHz 100 kHz. GSM 900 system permits a guard band of 50 kHz at the lowest frequency end and a guard band of 50 kHz at highest frequency band. This means that actual frequency band for the 890.1 MHz 100 kHz ch1 is 890.1 50 kHz. The guard bands guard against frequency drifts in radio carriers. Total number of channels assigned to a BTS is 11. A BTS is permitted to use up to 10 subscriber channels and 1 channel is reserved for organizational data. A GSM system station is permitted use the ch2 to ch123 only. Therefore, 122 channels are available in GSM900. All the BTSs taken together can be communicate over 90 channels Ch0, , Ch.89 available in GSM band. Maximum number of channels, which can be allotted at a given instance to a BTS which connects many MSs is 10. The mobile service provider can reserve one channel per BTS for transmission to MS or BSC. Total number of reserve channels can be 32 for the data transmission of mobile service provider in GSM band. .
Traffic Channel

Voice is coded using a codec. Codec is short for coder-decoder which is a circuit that codes analog signals into digital signals and decodes digital signals into analog according to various coding and decoding algorithms. Then the error correction bits [cycle redundancy check (CRC) and redundant bits] are appended and data interleaving is performed. Three type of voice traffic can be sent voice at full 13 kbps, half data-rate speech, and enhanced full-rate speech. User data or subscriber data is also called traffic data. The different types of voice traffic as follows: TCH/FS (traffic channel/full rate set for transmission) Voice is coded with a codec (coder-decoder) at 13 kbps. As the additional bits are appended after coding, the data rate is enhanced to 22.8 kbps when transmitting at full speed. TCH/HS (traffic channel/half rate set for transmission) Voice is coded with a codec at 5.6 kbps and after the error correction bits the data rate is enhanced to 11.4 kbps and transmission takes place at half speed. The available data rate is 22.8 kbps. The advantage of this sort of transmission is that double voice signals can now be transmitted. However this sort of voice data results in degradation of voice quality. TCH/EFR (traffic channel/enhanced full rate set for transmission) Voice is coded with another enhanced coding technique employing a codec. EFR gives at enhanced voice quality but has limited error correction bits because the data rate is limited to 12.8 kbps. It is advantageous in that that the voice quality is upgraded in those cases where the transmission error rate is small. A codec may function in automatic mode and code the voice as TCH/FS or TCH/EFR depending on the transmission error rate detected in the bursts. TCH/F14.4, TCH/F9.6, and TCH/F4.8 (traffic channel/full rate at 14.4. 9.6, and 4.8 kbps) Due to large number of subscribers at a base station, the GSM specifications provide for the traffic rates of 14.4 kbps, 9.6 kbps and 4.8 kbps also.

Control Channel

There are control data bursts. There are four formats for the control data bursts in the data frames. The control data bursts can also be formatted as 456-bit packets with different coding procedure than in a traffic multiframe (Section 3.2.4 Page 113). The various types of control data channels (CCH) are as follows: DCCH (dedicated control channel) An MS sends TCH traffic only after a call setup. A bi-directional communication channel is present between the BTS and MS before the TCH traffic starts. It is called standalone DCCH (SDCCH). It is used for the registration, authentication, and other requirements. Total 782 bits are sent as dedicated control channel data in 1 s in case of slow associated standalone DCCH (SADCCH). [950 bps can be sent as a control data slot in a traffic multiframe.] When more than 782 bits are to be sent per second, then the TCH part of the data bursts can be used. Then DCCH is called FACCH (fast associated control channel). Only FACCH and SACCH (slow associated control channel) data is transmitted in a

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Raj Kamal: Mobile Computing (2/e) Chapter 3: GSM and Similar architectures Question Bank

traffic multiframe. The traffic channels transmit only after the call set up and transmit the user/subscriber data through the BTS. A separate multiframe is required for the control channels (other than FACCH and SACCH). That multiframe is called control multiframe. The latter has 51 data frames. One data frame is of 4.615 ms each (Section 3.2.2), Therefore, a control multiframe transmits for 51 4.615 ms = 235.4 ms. BCCH (broadcast control channel) A BTS needs to broadcast the frequency and cell identity. BCCH is used for that. A BTS needs to broadcast the information regarding frequencies and sequence options for hopping that can be assigned to the MSs in the cell to all the MSs. This enables an MS to get an available radio-carrier frequency channel and transmit with different frequencies on different hops and synchronize with the BTS. The synchronization and frequency correction bursts (Section 3.2.4) also use the BCCH. CCCH (common control channel) A BTS when grant access to an MS so that MS can use either SDCCH or TCH, uses a channel called AGCH (access grant channel). After the access is granted, the call set-up or call forwarding can take place. The control channel used for such purposes is called a CCCH. When call setup requirements are transmitted from the MS, the CCCH is called RACH (random access channel). RACH data burst format is as follows: during 577s in place of the [H, user data, S, TR, S, user data and T] sequence, a 145-bit sequence is modified as 8 H bits, 41 synchronization bits, 36 bits user data and 3 T bits (total 88 bits). The guard-space time intervals are now equal to (68.25 3.692)/2= 126 s before H and after T bits. When call-forwarding information is transmitted from the BTS, the CCCH is called PCH (paging channel). An example of paging is transmission of information to a select target MS for example, the identity of the caller of an incoming call to the MS to which the call is to be forwarded. When access granting information is transmitted from the BTS, the CCCH is called AGCH (access grant channel). .
Page references:

Radio Access using SDMA: Page 108; Radio Access using TDMA: Pages 108 and 109; Radio Access using FDMA: Pages 110 and 111; Traffic data channels: Page 116; Control data channels: Pages 116 and 117. Q6. (a) What does localisation mean in a GSM system? (b) Discuss the ways a SIM is used?
Localisation

Localisation is a process by which a mobile station is identified, authenticated, and provided service by a mobile switching centre (MSC) through the base station controller (BSC) and base transceiver (BTS) either at the home location of the MS or at a visiting location. Users want instantaneous connection setup for a call and want service on demand even while they are on the move. The mobile service providers, on the other hand, will provide service(s) to the user only after identifying the mobile station (MS) of the user and verifying the services subscribed to by the user or the services presently allowed to that MS. Localization mechanism of the GSM system fulfils both the requirements. The NSS (network subsystem) of GSM architecture periodically updates the location of those mobile stations (MSs) which not switched off and are not struck off (or blocked) from the list of subscribers to the given mobile service. LAI is location information which is updated by the MSC which covers the MSs current location area.
SIM (Subscriber Identity Module)

The SIM in a mobile station MSi stores location-area identification (LAI). Each MSC is associated to a VLR (visitor location register) and an HLR (home location register). The SIM also saves a temporary mobile subscriber identity (TMSI) assigned by the VLR associated to the current MSC. The location update is recorded at the VLR (visitor location register) and the LAI is updated at the SIM card in MSi via the MSC, BSC, and BTS covering its current location (interfaces j, 7b, 7a and 8a in Figs 3.5 and 3.8).

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Page references:

Raj Kamal: Mobile Computing (2/e) Chapter 3: GSM and Similar architectures Question Bank

Localisation: Pages 124 and 125; SIM Pages 99 and 100.

Q7. What are the protocols used in a GSM system?

The MS, BTS, BSC, and MSC, for example, have just 3 layers physical, data link, and network. Transport and session layer functions are taken care of by network layer protocols. The tasks of the presentation layer are performed by other layers. TE (user) application at either end (caller and connected ends) controls the application layer protocols. Physical layer between the MS and the BTS is called radio and performs the following functions. Radio - Full or half duplex access, - SDMA, TDMA, and FDMA - Bursting and Framing, - Synchronizing the MSs and an MS path delays corrections, - Frequency correction, - Coding, FEC, CRC, data interleaving, and encryption, - Error detection, correction and blocking the data not correctable, - GMSK digital Modulation and transmission, - Demodulation and Reception, - Decryption and Decoding Data link layer controls the flow of packets to and from the network layer and provides access to the various services. The data link layer protocol between an MS and a BTS is LAPDm (link access protocol D-channel modified) for Um. The protocol prescribes the standard procedure in GSM for accessing the D-channel link. The protocol is a modified version of the LAPD protocol for the D-channel of ISDN (integrated services digital network). The functions of LAPDm are as follows: LAPDm -Data flow control -Acknowledged/ Unacknowledged data transmission - Address and sequence number checks - Access point for the multiple services - Re-sequencing of data -Segmentation -Data Reassembly Network layer has three sub layers call (connection) management (CM), mobility management (MM), and radio resource management (RRM). Fig. 3.20 shows the operations in the CM, MM, and RRM sub layers. The CM sub layer protocol supports call establishment, maintenance, and termination. The CM sub layer also controls and supports the functioning of the SMS and supplementary services. The CM also supports DTMF (dual tone multiple frequency) signalling.

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Raj Kamal: Mobile Computing (2/e) Chapter 3: GSM and Similar architectures Question Bank

The MM layer controls issues regarding mobility management when an MS moves into another cell (location area). The RRM manages the radio resources. The BTS implements only RRM (a part of RRM) as the BSC handles the handover. Find the details in Section 3.3.
Page references:

Protocols: Pages 119 to 124; Q8. (a) How do the handovers occur in mobile systems? (b) How does a handover occur in GSM mobile system?

Handover in Mobile Systems

Handover (also called handoff as handover to one is handoff from another) to the neighbouring cell) is defined as mechanism to handover the control of a mobile device to the neighbouring cell (Section 1.7). Handover is technically the process of transferring a call (or data transfer) in progress from one channel to another. The core network may perform handovers at various levels of the system architecture or it may handover the call to another network altogether. Mobile Station 1
8a Inter cell Intra BSC Handover

Mobile Station 1

Inter cell Intra BSC Handover

Mobile Station 1

Mobile Station 1

Base transceiver BTS 1

BTS 2
Inter BSC Handover

BTS j 1

BTS base transceiver BTS j

Base Station Controller BSC 1

BSC 2

BSC k 1

BSC base controller BSC k

Mobile Services Switching Center MSC 1 to the number of BSCs

Inter BSC Intra MSC Handover

Mobile Services Switching Center MSC l to the number of BSCs

Inter MSC Handover

Different kinds of handovers when a mobile station moves from one cell to another or when the traffic to a specific stage becomes high

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There are two main reasons for handover in cellular networks: (a) if the mobile device moves out of the range of one cell (base station) and a different base station can provide it with a stronger signal or (b) if all channels of one base station are busy then a nearby base station can provide service to the device. The handover process is an important one in any cellular network. Also, the handover must be completed efficiently and without inconvenience to the user. Different networks use different types of handover techniques. Two main types of handover are hard handover and soft handover. GSM mobile systems follow hard handover.

Handover in GSM mobile system Hard Handover

A hard handover is one where the existing radio link must be dropped for a small period of time before it can be taken over by another base station. In this type of handover, a call in progress is redirected not only from a base station to another base station but also from its current transmit-receive frequency pair to another frequency pair. An ongoing call cannot exchange data or voice for this duration. This break in call transmission is called call drop or call cut-off. Handover takes place in a few ms (at best in 60 ms) and the interruption is hardly discernible by the user. Handover to another cell is required when the signal strength is low and error rate is high. GSM systems perform hard handovers. Handover process details are given in Section 3.6
Page references:

Handover: Pages 125 to 128.

Q9. Describe GPRS.

The GSM system provides data rates of TCH/13.4, TCH/HS11.4, TCH/12.8, TCH/F14.4, TCH/F9.6, and TCH/F4.8. These rates are good for transmission of voice data but too low for high-speed data transfer. Speed enhancement is required for a GSM system to be able to provide data services such as transfer of large files and Internet access. New data services such as GPRS and HSCSD use different coding and multiplexing techniques to provide high transfer speeds to GSM users. GPRS (general packet radio service) is an example this type of speed enhancement by combining several slots in a packet switched network. GPRS is a speed enhanced data transmission service designed for GSM systems. Speed enhanced data transmission takes place by packetizing data and simultaneous transmission of packets over different channels. The GPRS standard is defined by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI). Packet switching in which packets of data at any given instant can take multiple (time slots or channels or paths or routes) depending on the idle slots at that instant and the receiver assembles the packets into the original sequence in the data. GPRS is a packet-oriented service for mobile stations data transmission and their access to the Internet. It uses the unused slots and channels in TDMA mode of a GSM network for packetized transmission from a mobile station. Data-packets of a single mobile station are transmitted through a number of time slots. GPRS deploys SGSNs (serving GPRS support nodes). A SGSN interfaces to BSCs (base station controllers) on one hand and to other SGSNs on the other hand. GPRS also uses GGSN (gateway GPRS support nodes) to interface to the SGSN on one hand and to a packet data network like the Internet on other hand. The BSCs also connect to the MSCs (mobile services switching centres) as in

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case of the GSM system. The GSM system described earlier can, therefore, be considered as a subsystem of a GPRS system. Mobile Station 1
1a 8a Um

Mobile Station 2
Radio Subsystem RSS G

EIR

SGSN

Gateway Subsystem GSS

Base transceiver BTS 1

G Serving GPRS Support Node SGSN to the number of BSCs and SGSN connects to the SGSNs and GGSNs

BTS 2

2a

7a Abis G

Base Station Controller BSC 1

BSC 2
Network Subsystem NSS

HLR or GR
Gateway GPRS Support Node GGSN to the packet data network, for example, TCP/IP

A 7b Mobile Services Switching Center MSC to the number of BSCs and to number of MSCs

VL

GPRS system architecture RSS (radio subsystem), BSS (base subsystem), NSS (network subsystem), and GSS (gateway subsystem)

GPRS employs the GSM physical layer (Section 3.3) so that it connects the mobile stations to the Internet and packet data networks at higher data rates and also connects mobile stations for voice-data transmission. Find details in Section 3.9.
Page references:

GPRS: Pages 133 to 138.

Q10. Describe HSCSD. The GSM system provides data rates of TCH/13.4, TCH/HS11.4, TCH/12.8, TCH/F14.4, TCH/F9.6, and TCH/F4.8. These rates are good for transmission of voice data but too low for high-speed data transfer. Speed enhancement is required for a GSM system to be able to provide data services such as transfer of large files and Internet access. New data service HSCSD use a coding and multiplexing technique to provide high transfer speeds to GSM users. It combines several slots in a circuit switched network. For example, HSCSD (high speed circuit switched data) is an improvement on GSM in that that it combines several time slots for high speed transmission of circuit switched data. High-speed circuit switched data (HSCSD) is an innovation to use multiple time slots at the same time. HSCSD is a 2.5G, GSM phase 2 standard defined by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI).

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Raj Kamal: Mobile Computing (2/e) Chapter 3: GSM and Similar architectures Question Bank

It is an enhancement of circuit switched data (CSD), which is the original data transmission mechanism in GSM systems. Large parts of GSM transmission capacity were used up by error correction codes in the original CSD transmission. HSCSD, however, offers various levels of error correction that can be used in accordance with the quality of the radio link. So where CSD could transmit at only 9.6 kbps, the HSCSD data rates go up to 14.4 kbps. HSCSD can also use multiple time slots at the same time. Several GSM traffic channels (TCHs) can join to transmit the data at high speed. Several TDMA slots are allotted to a source TE. A single user gets the time slots, except at call set up. HSCSD is, therefore, a high speed service for image or video transfers which are timing sensitive. Using a maximum of 4 time slots, it can provide a maximum transfer rate of up to 57.6 kbps. For example, if four TCH/F14.4 (Section 3.2.5) channels transmit together. Then AUR (air interface user rate) is 57.6 kbps per duplex. In transmission of normal voice data traffic, HSCSD gives smaller latency to data as compared to GPRS. HSCSD offers better quality of service than GPRS due to the dedicated circuit-switched communication channels.

However, HSCSD is less bandwidth efficient than GPRS which is packet-switched and, thus, proves to be expensive over wireless links.
Page reference:

HSCSD: Page 138.

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