GSM Protocol Test Solutions

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The Global System for Mobile (GSM) is the first global standard for mobile voice and data. The 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. GSM/3G supports additional mobile services (such as roaming, voice messaging, SMS, subscriber authentication) between the network entities using MAP, CAP, and INAP protocols.

For GSM/3G system, GL has solutions for analysis and emulation of entire GSM network interfaces - A, Abis, MAP, INAP, CAP, and GPRS Gb interfaces. 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, INA, and Gb interfaces over both TDM & IP transport. And these products are briefly discussed below.

GSM GPRS Communications Network Lab

GL offers an End-to-End 2G and 2.5G GSM GPRS Communications Network Lab (CNL) with all network elements: Base Transceiver Station (BTS), GSM core network elements such as BSC, MSC, and GPRS core elements such as SGSN, HLR, and GGSN to support mobile call and traffic emulation.

The lab system can operate with real mobiles and can simulate multiple instances of nodes in network such as MSC, BSS, SGSN, and GGSN to perform functional and load/stress testing.

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 for 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 traffic such as sending/receiving of voice files, DTMF digits and tone over IP and TDM respectively.

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 for 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 files, DTMF digits and tone over IP and TDM respectively.

GPRS Gb Interface Emulation over (IP)

MAPS™ is designed to simulate GPRS Gb interface messages and signaling specification as defined by 3GPP standards. MAPS™ GPRS Gb currently supports Gb interface between the BSS (Base Station Subsystem) and the SGSN (Serving GPRS Support Node) over IP transmission protocol. Emulation over Frame Relay transmission protocol will be supported in future. Besides testing network elements (SGSN and BSS), the tester also involves error tracking, regression testing, and load testing/call generation.

MAPS™ GPRS Gb interface Emulator supports various procedures including Network Service Control, Identity Check, Combined GPRS / IMSI Attach, and Routing Area Update.

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

GL's MAPS™ MAP supports emulation of all the GSM and UMTS MAP interfaces. MAPS™ MAP currently supports the various procedures emulating MSC (VLR), HLR, EIR, and SMSC entities over H, C, D, E, F interfaces in the TDM and IP networks. Supported procedures include Location Update, Retrieve Roaming Number, Remote User Status, Check IMEI Service, and others. It also supports send/receive SMS (Short Message Service) over the signaling channel.

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

GL's MAPS™ INAP tester supports testing network elements gsmSCF (Service Control Function) and gsmSSF (Service Switching Function). 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.

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). CAP information flow is defined between functional entities such as SCF and 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.

GSM Network Monitoring (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- BTS and BSC - PCU (Packet Controller Unit).

The analyzer monitors calls progressing through GSM networks and feeds the CDRs, frame summary information to centralized database.

GSM Network Monitoring (IP)

GL's PacketScan™- All IP Protocol Analyzer supports monitoring GSM/GPRS over IP network. Additionally, it can support all other IP protocols such as SIP, MGCP, MEGACO, Skinny, H.323, and 3G and 4G Wireless networks.