GL Announces Enhanced GSM Protocol Test Suite

Welcome to another March 2015 issue of GL's Newsletter providing information and insight into our enhanced GSM Protocol Test Suite that comprises (GSM Protocol Analysis, & MAP, INAP, CAMEL, GSM A , and GSM Abis emulation tools).

GSM Protocol Test Suite

Overview

The Global System for Mobile (GSM) is the global standard for mobile voice and data communications. The handheld mobile and the BTS communicate across the radio link, or air interface (Um).  Subsequently, the BTS, BSC, and MSC communicate across Abis and A interfaces.  GL has solutions for the analysis and emulation of entire GSM network interfaces - A, Abis, MAP, INAP, and CAP interfaces.


GSM Protocol Test Suite

GL's GSM Protocol Test Suite comprises of GSM Protocol Analyzer that analyzes all GSM interfaces and Protocol Emulators that can emulate GSM A, Abis, MAP, CAP & INAP interfaces over both TDM & IP transport. And these products are briefly discussed below.


Mobile Application Part (MAP) Emulator (TDM, IP)

GL's MAPS™ MAPsupports emulation of all the GSM and UMTS MAP interfaces.  MAPS™ MAP currently supports the various procedures emulating MSC (VLR), HLR, EIR, and SMSC entities and H, C, D, E, F interfaces in the network.  Supported procedures include Location Update, Retrieve Roaming Number, Remote User Status, Check IMEI Service, and others.

The product also supports send/receive SMS (Short Message Service) simultaneously using signaling channel with the voice/data/fax service over GSM network.

For more information, user can visit MAP Emulator web page.


Intelligent Network Application Part (INAP) Emulator (TDM, IP)

GL's MAPS™ INAP tester supports testing network elements gsmSCF and gsmSSF.   MAPS™ INAP functionality covers the ITU and ANSI variants of SS7 implementing M3UA, M2PA, M2UA, MTP3 and ISUP protocols over TDM and IP transport protocols.  INAP can be transported using 'traditional' SS7 protocols carried by Message Transfer Protocol (MTP) in TDM (T1 and E1) or over IP using SIGTRAN.

For more information, user can visit INAP Emulator web page.


Camel Application Part (CAP) Protocol Emulator (TDM, IP)

GL's MAPS™ CAP Emulator can emulate CAP (CAMEL Application Part) supplementary services such as unified messaging, prepaid, and toll-free (Freephone). These services are available in TDM and IP based GSM networks.  CAP information flow is defined between functional entities such as Service Control Function (SCF)and Service Switching Function (SSF) distributed across network executing services.

MAPS™ CAP functionality covers the ITU and ANSI variants of M3UA, M2PA, MTP3 and ISUP protocols over TDM and IP.  CAP can be transported using 'traditional' protocols carried by Message Transfer Protocol (MTP) in TDM (T1 and E1) or over IP using SIGTRAN.

For more information, user can visit CAP Protocol Emulator web page.


GSM A Interface Emulation (TDM, IP)

GL's MAPS™ GSM A Emulator over IP and MAPS™ GSM A Emulator over TDM are used to simulate BSSMAP and DTAP messages over GSM A Interface and signaling specification as defined by 3GPP standards. The tester supports testing network elements MSC and BSC, Error tracking, Regression testing, Conformance testing, Load testing/Call generation and generation of high volumes of GSM traffic.  It is able to run pre-defined test scenarios against GSM A interface test objects in a controlled & deterministic manner. The tester supports TDM/RTP traffic such as sending/receiving of voice file, DTMF Digits and tone over TDM and IP respectively.

For more information, user can visit MAPS™ GSM A Emulator over IP and MAPS™ GSM A Emulator over TDM web pages.


GSM Abis Interface Emulation (TDM, IP)

MAPS™ GSM Abis can simulate BTSM messages and signaling over GSM Abis interface as per 3GPP standards. The tester supports testing network elements BTS and BSC, Error tracking, Regression testing, Conformance testing, Load testing/Call generation, and generation of high volumes of GSM Abis traffic.  It is able to run pre-defined test scenarios against GSM Abis interface test objects in a controlled & deterministic manner. The tester supports TRAU/RTP traffic such as sending receiving of Voice file, DTMF Digits and tone over TDM and IP respectively.

For more information, user can visit MAPS™ GSM Abis Emulator over IP and MAPS™ GSM Abis Emulator over TDM web pages.


Important MAPS™ Platform Features


GSM Network Monitoring over TDM

GL's GSM Protocol Analyzer is used to analyze GSM protocols, a switching and signaling telecommunication protocol between MSC & BSC, BSC & BTS, MSC & SMLC, UMA & MS, and so on. It also supports decoding proprietary 'Mobis' Interface (Motorola equivalent of the GSM Abis interface) between BSC (Base Station Controller) - BTS (Base Transceiver Station) and BSC (Base Station Controller) - PCU (Packet Controller Unit).  The Analyzer monitors calls progressing through GSM networks from a central location via web interface, along with the powerful and customizable reporting tools.

GSM Protocol Analyzeralso supports GSM-R, a proven European Mobile Communications Standard for Railway Operations used to carry railway-specific voice and data services according to EIRENE (H 22 T 0001 2) and ETSI TS 102 610 specifications.

GSM-R Protocol Analyzeradds GSM-R features such as VGCS, VBS, eMLPP, Emergency numbering, and Functional numbering etc. A GSM-SS layer decode is also added to existing GSM protocol stack to support all the supplementary Services.

For more information, user can visit GSM Protocol Analyzer web page.

GL's  SS7 Analyzer supports decoding different SS7 layers like MTP2, MTP3, ISUP, TUP, SCCP, INAP (CS1, CS2), IUP, BICC, BISUP, BTUP and many application layer protocols from GSM/GPRS/UMTS network like MAP, CAMEL(CAP), and so on.  The SS7 Analyzer supports decoding of both Low Speed Links (LSL) of 56 kbps or 64 kbps DS0 links or high-speed 1.544 Mbps or 2 Mbps un-channelized T1 E1 High Speed Signaling Links (HSL).  Different SS7 layers like MTP2, MTP3, ISUP, TUP, SCCP, INAP (CS1, CS2), IUP, BICC, BISUP, BTUP and many application layer protocols from GSM/GPRS network like MAP, CAMEL(CAP), IS 41 etc are decoded according to ANSI/ITU/ETSI/CHINA/UK standards and displayed in an organized fashion.

For more information, user can visit SS7 Protocol Analyzer web page.

GL also provides an independent GUI based TRAU Protocol Analyzer (optional application) for online capture and decode of TRAU Traffic in real-time both during tests and as a stand-alone tracer for live systems.


GSM Network Monitoring over IP

GL's PacketScan™- All IP Protocol Analyzer supports monitoring all 2G, 3G and 4G wireless communication protocols such as GSM, GPRS, UMTS, SIGTRAN, LTE, and Diameter, in addition to IP protocols such as SIP, MGCP, MEGACO, Skinny, and H.323.  It monitors calls progressing through wireless networks from a central location via web interface, along with the powerful and customizable reporting tools.

GSM interfaces supported over IP by PacketScan™ are:  A (b/w BSC and MSC), and Abis (b/w BSC and BTS), BSSAP, DTAP, BSSMAP, GSM MAP, INAP, and CAMEL protocols over IP transport layer. It also supports decoding of almost all industry standard signaling protocols including MAP/CAMEL and INAP.  

For more information, user can visit Protocol Analysis for Wireless and IP Networks web page.


Centralized Web-based GSM Monitoring System

GL's NetSurveyorWeb™ is a web-based client that can connect to SS7 / ISDN / GSM / GPRS probes through a web server that facilitates display of call data records using a web interface. For more information, user can visit NetSurveyorWeb™page.


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