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8630 RAN ScoutGSM & GPRS Optimization and Troubleshooting Software

A GSM network is a living entity in which a number of complicated technological and physical occurrences come together. This can lead to problems which must be resolved very quickly when they occur. RAN Scout helps to locate the source of a problem by generating immediately analysis and statistics which requires no great deal of technical expertise.

The RAN Scout GSM Application supports the fault finding process with its clear graphical user interface (GUI) and interpretation of analysis results. The auto configuration function automati-cally detects transceivers on Abis interfaces and cell areas on A interfaces for individual analysis with a single mouse click. This significantly accelerates the on site troubleshooting process.

The RAN Scout GPRS Application enables fast assessment of the individual signaling layers of the Gb interface. Moreover, all data are displayed with the source or destination cell, enabling assess-ment of problems down to the cell level.

Troubleshooting on A interfaces

A interface data offer an excellent way to get a look at the performance of a large radio coverage area. If problems are detected, you can easily determine the cause (i.e. coverage area or cell) based on the LAC/CI identifier. With a few mouse clicks, you can switch between the different analysis options and determine the error type. Then, you can isolate the error down to the individual transceiver on the respective Abis interface.

For analysis work on the A interface, the following predefined analyses can be selected:• Trace information: General information such as measurement times, etc.• General analysis: Statistical display of the entire signaling traffic, color coding schemes help to

immediately recognize critical areas.• Location update: For each cell (LAC/CI), all messages for the “Location Update” function are

evaluated that can point to radio hop problems (e.g. coverage problems).• Mobile originating/terminating call: Using cell-based signaling analyses, air interface errors

and undesirable influences can be detected and localized.

Key Features •Software enables fast on site fault finding•Analyzes Abis, Ater and Gb interfaces signaling

data•Generates tabular and graphical error

evaluations for typical GSM and GPRS problems•Simple operation makes for efficient field work•Good price-to-performance ratio•Runs under Microsoft® Windows™ 98 and NT•Integrated screenshot and report functions

simplify documentation of analysis results

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• Handover, incoming: Shows all external “Handover. Incoming” errors for a cell. Handover errors are displayed, evaluated and localized.

All of the display windows for the analysis options are synchronized so all you need to do is click on error messages to see the cause of the problem. For example, if there are several messages of type “Location Update Reject”, the causes are automatically broken down numeri-cally into “IMSI unknown in HLR”, “Location area not allowed”, “Protocol error” and so on. In addition, you can easily track how often and in what cell a specific error message occurred.

For details on the individual analysis types, see page 5.

Handover analysis

During handover analysis, Ater interface data are checked on cell-based manner for inter-nal, external and incoming external handover messages. Causes of failed handovers can be immediately assessed.

In the “Internal HO” analysis mode, the number of ping-pong and intra/incoming handovers is also displayed. In the analysis modes for external handovers, a distinction is made between “synchronized” and “non-syn-chronized”.

Signaling load analysis

For signaling load analysis (TL), three trigger messages for the most commonly occurring connection types (Location Update Request, CM Service Request and Paging Request) are selected. This makes it easy to track the signal-ing traffic for a given BSC. As a fourth criterion, the frequency of the “Assignment Failure” error message can be displayed graphically, making it possible to assess load-related call failures.

Troubleshooting on Abis interfaces

The GSM Troubleshooting Software is useful for getting a fast impression of BTS per-formance. As soon as a file captured from Abis is opened, a “Trace Info” overview appears with the average receive quality (RxQual) per trans-ceiver, broken down by uplink and downlink.

The Abis interface is ideal for evaluating the air interface parameters. This is due to the avail-

ability of detailed measurement results for the MS and BTS. (“Measurement Reports and Results”).

Based on these data, the following error analy-ses are performed:• Interference detection• Uplink/downlink measurements• Uplink/downlink quality analysis• L1/L3 information analysis• BS/MS power distributionIn addition, the signaling data for call setup, call clear down and handover procedures are investigated. In the following statistics, the transceivers are automatically detected and can be individually selected with a mouse click.• Message statistics: This counts all message

types that occurred and displays them by protocol with direction and PD/MT analy-sis. Quality-related error messages are high-lighted in color.

• Assignment statistics: SDCCH and TCH assignment procedures are contrasted to make it possible to detect ghost access pro-cedures. The radio range of the cell is also determined statistically.

• Handover analysis: Here, handover proce-dures can be checked based on the protocol messages. Handover errors and the destina-tion area can be read off directly.

• Interference analysis: In this analysis type, the interference level is shown graphically per user channel, sub-channel and trans-ceiver, based on the RF Resource Indications scut from the BTS to the BSC, Influences on the receive quality can easily be detected.

• Interference detection: Here, the depen-dence of the received levels on the quality of all transceiver channels is shown graphi-cally, broken down by uplink and downlink, resp. DTX on and DTX off. High receive levels and low quality are clear indications for transmission problems and can easily be detected.

• Uplink/downlink measurements: In these graphics, you can determine the average receive level per transceiver and user chan-nel.

• Uplink/downlink quality: The average receive quality per transceiver and user channel is displayed by these graphics.

Figure 1: Handover problems are displayed and the cell area determined

Figure 2: The signaling load can be displayed for 4 differ-ent message types

Figure 3: Sample Ater

analyses (“Mobile Originating Call”)

Change analysis mode

Error causes for certain selected messages

Number of (all) mes-sages per cell (CI)

Number of (all) messages per scenario

Distribution of a speci-fied message among all cells present

Figure 4: Abis

analysis

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• Cell range: In these graphics, the number of measurements is shown vs. the timing advance. This makes it possible to estimate the cell size.

• BS-MS power distribution: The BS or MS power level recorded in the measurements is displayed graphically vs. traffic. This makes it easy to detect problems with the power control in the uplink or downlink.

• Island detection: This graphical display gives an overview (uplink/downlink) of the relationship between timing advance and Rx quality. This allows you to immediately detect island problems (good quality with high timing advance or poor quality in im-mediate vicinity of the base station).

Troubleshooting on Gb interfaces

Analysis of the signaling data or user data blocks on the Gb interface enables a fast assess-ment of the operation of individual network elements. The GPRS troubleshooting software breaks down the signaling data or user data blocks into the different layers and arranges the individual messages according to their source or destination cell (identified with BVC/DLCI). This sallows you to immediately identi-fy layer-specific problems or problems relating to certain cells. The results are available in the Gb analysis.

The THROUGHPUT analysis shows the actu-al data throughput on the LLC level (logical link control) for the entire Gb interface during the entire recording interval. The throughput is displayed in bit/s and broken down by uplink and downlink. Load problems in the Frame Relay network can be detected in this manner.

The TLLI trace function is useful for TLLI-based LLC throughput analysis. The desired TLLI can be chosen from a list. The graphics simultaneously show the data throughput, the bucket size (Bmax) and leak rate obtained from the FLOW CONTROL MS, as well as the BVCI of the respective cell. Cell reselections accom-panied by data losses are easily recognizable.

Figure 5: Clear display of the RX level helps detect problems in the uplink/downlink balance

Figure 6: This graphical contrasting of RxLev and RxQual helps detect radio holes or interference problems, for example

Figure 7: Troubleshooting on Gb interfaces

Figure 8: THROUGHPUT analysis of the Gb interface

Figure 9: The TLLI trace function for LLC throughput analysis

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Specifications

8630 RAN Scout Software

Analysis modes on Abis interfacesSource file *.sig (MA-10), *.pdx (86530/8631), *.rec (K1103)

Trace information

Name of file to load, start/stop time, average RxQual value per transceiver for uplink and downlink.

All of the following analysis results are available per transceiver. Each transceiver is analyzed by following characteristics: TEI, ARFCN, TSC, TRUNK (physical port of protocol tester), TS (time slot of recorded sig-naling layer).

Message statistics

• L2 messages: Evaluation of L2 messages by TX direction, count and message type

• DTAP messages: Evaluation of DTAP messages by TX direction, PD, MT, count and message type

• DTAP messages: Evaluation of RSL messages by TX direction, PD, MT, count and message type

Assignment analysis

Contrasting of assignment messages in the SDCCH and TCH for RX direction, number of messages and message type. Statistical display of distance of individual connection requirements.

Handover analysis

Display of handover-related messages for incoming and outgoing han-dovers. In case of an intracell handover: Additional evaluation by number or messages, target cell identity (ARFCN), BCC, NCC and TX direction.

Statistical display of MS distance at switch to the new serving cell.

Uplink measurements

Graphical or tabular display of RxLev distribution (uplink) per transceiv-er for DTX on and off.

Uplink quality

Graphical or tabular display of RxQual distribution (uplink) per trans-ceiver for DTX on and off.

Downlink measurements

Graphical or tabular display of RxLev distribution (downlink) per trans-ceiver for DTX on and off.

Downlink quality

Graphical or tabular display of RxQual distribution (downlink) per transceiver for DTX on and off.

Interference analysis

Graphical or tabular display of interference class (0-4, from RF resource

indication) per transceiver for SDCCH and TCH.

Interference detection

Graphical or tabular display of BER (uplink/downlink) per tansceiver for DTX on or off.

Cell range

Graphical processing of number of measurements vs. timing advance.

BS-MS power distribution

Graphical processing of BS power or MS power level distribution.

Island detection

Graphical processing of timing advance vs. Rx quality.

Analysis modes on Ater interfaces

Source file *.sig (MA-10), *.rec (K1103), *.pdx (8630/8631)

Signaling traffic load analysis (TL)

Graphical line or bar graph display of SCCP resources Location Update Request (LUDREQ), CM Service Request, Paging Request (PAGRES) or Assignment Failure (ASSFAIL) messages.

Ater analysis

Trace information

Name of loaded file, start/stop time, routing label, overall talk time, MOC/MTC/HOIN talk time, max. number of simultaneous SCCP con-nections, statistical overview of MS power class values that occurred (by Location Update, MOC, MTC, HO Incoming).

General analysis

Tabular evaluation of all message types that occurred by DTAP, SCCP, BSSMAP, Non Call Related MSG and Unterminated Scenarios.

Location update (LUD) analysis

• Tabular evaluation of all Location Update-related events by radio cell (CI) and area

• Display of how often a selected LUD message occurred in what cell (LAC/CI)

Mobile originated call (MOC) analysis

• Tabular evaluation of all MOC-related events by radio cell (CI) and area

• Display of how often a selected MOC message occurred in what cell (LAC/CI)

Mobile terminating call (MTC) analysis

• Tabular evaluation of all MTC-related events by radio cell (CI) and area

• Overview of (error) causes for messages that occurred

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Specifications

8630 RAN Scout Software

• Display of how often a selected MTC message occurred in what cell (LAC/CI)

Incoming handover analysis

• Tabular evaluation of all Incoming Handover-related events by radio cell (CI) and area

• Display of how often a selected Incoming Handover message oc-curred in what cell (LAC/CI)

Supplementary services (SS) analysis

• Tabular evaluation of all SS-related events by radio cell (CI) and area• Display of how often a selected SS message occurred in what cell

(LAC/CI)

Analysis mode on Gb interfacesSource file *.sig (MA-10), *.mlx (MA-10), *.pdx (8630/8631)

Trace info

Name of loaded file, start/stop time, number of transmitted FR, LLC and IP data, graphical display of forward/backward congestion and the dis-card eligibility bit.

General analysis

Tabular evaluation of all messages that occurred by FR, NS, BSSGP, LLC, SNDCP, GMM/GSM, IP-791.

IP_791 function

• All higher layer protocols addressed in the IP header• Number of segmented IP blocks• Divided among the respective BVCs

SNDCP function

• All SNDCP messages with the NSAPI used• Type of SNDCP message (first, middle, last segment)• Divided among the respective BVCs

GMM/GDSM function

• Attach/Detach/Security/Location Management/PDP Context func-tions, all scenarios and messages divided among the respective BVCs

• Additional information on certain messages such as access technol-ogy, RF power capability, GPRS multi-slot class, NSAPI, LLC-SAPI, causes

LLC function

• All LLC messages with SAPI, command, response• Divided among the respective BVCs

BSSGP function/BSSGP signaling function

• All BSSGP messages• Additional information available for certain messages such as causes• Divided among the respective BVCs

NS function

• All NS messages• Additional information available for certain messages such as NSEI,

NSVCI, causes

FR function

• All FR messages• Additional information available for certain messages such as full

status, link integrity, PVC available status

Gb interfaces THROUGHPUT analysis

Actual LLC data throughput for the entire Gb interface, displayed in bit/s and broken down by uplink/downlink.

Gb interfaces TLLI trace analysis

TLLI-based data throughput, simultaneous graphical display of LLC data throughput, bucket size (Bmax), leak rate, number of octets affected and BVCI.

Handover analysis

• Statistical evaluation of handover messages for internal, outgoing external and incoming external HO per radio cell and area

• Selection of scenarios: LUD, MOC, MTC, handover (incoming) or SS• Overview of (error) causes for the handover messages that occurred• Display of how often a selected SS message occurred in what cell

(LAC/CI)• Ping-pong and intra/incoming HO detection

All statements, technical information and recommendations related to the products herein are based upon infor-mation believed to be reliable or accurate. However, the accuracy or completeness thereof is not guaranteed, and no responsibility is assumed for any inaccuracies. The user assumes all risks and liability whatsoever in connec-tion with the use of a product or its applications. JDSU reserves the right to change at any time without notice the design, specifications, function, fit or form of its products described herein, including withdrawal at any time of a product offered for sale herein. JDSU makes no representations that the products herein are free from any intellectual property claims of others. Please contact JDSU for more information. JDSU and the JDSU logo are trademarks of JDS Uniphase Corporation. Other trademarks are the property of their respective holders. © 2006 JDS Uniphase Corporation. All rights reserved. 30137530 500 0707 RANSCOUT.DS.CPO.TM.AE

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WEBSITE: www.jdsu.com

8630 RAN Scout Software

Ordering informationBN 3032/94.31 RAN Scout (GPRS/GSM troubleshooting software)

GSMrequires *.sig (MA-10), *.mlx (MA-10), *.pdx (8630), *.rec (K1103) file formatGPRS requires *.sig (MA-10), *.mlx (MA-10), *.pdx (8630/8631) file formatSystem requirements

Pentium PC with 32 MB RAM and Microsoft® Windows™ 98/NT