11.2.0 Message format

3GPP44.060General Packet Radio Service (GPRS)Mobile Station (MS) - Base Station System (BSS) interfaceRadio Link Control / Medium Access Control (RLC/MAC) protocolRelease 17TS

Tools: ARFCN - Frequency Conversion for 5G NR/LTE/UMTS/GSM

All RLC/MAC control messages, with the exception of the PACKET CONTROL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT message in access burst format (11-bit and 8-bit contents), the HANDOVER ACCESS message in access burst format (8-bit content), the PS HANDOVER ACCESS message, the PACKET CHANNEL REQUEST message, EGPRS PACKET CHANNEL REQUEST message, MPRACH PACKET CHANNEL REQUEST message and the RLC/MAC control messages sent on the EC-PACCH follow the same non-standard format (see 3GPP TS 24.007).

The RLC/MAC control messages sent on the EC-PACCH follow the same non-standard format (see 3GPP TS 24.007).

11.2.0.1 Downlink RLC/MAC messages

Downlink RLC/MAC control messages are received in RLC/MAC control block format. The different types of messages are distinguished by the MESSAGE_TYPE field.

< Downlink RLC/MAC control message > ::=

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 1 00001 > < Packet Access Reject message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 0 00001 > < Packet Cell Change Order message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 0 00010 > < Packet Downlink Assignment message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 0 00011 > < Packet Measurement Order message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 1 00010 > < Packet Paging Request message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 1 00011 > < Packet PDCH Release message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 0 00100 > < Packet Polling Request message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 0 00101 > < Packet Power Control/Timing Advance message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 1 00100 > < Packet PRACH Parameters message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 0 00110 > < Packet Queueing Notification message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 0 00111 > < Packet Timeslot Reconfigure message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 0 01000 > < Packet TBF Release message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 0 01001 > < Packet Uplink Ack/Nack message content > | — PACCH only

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 0 01010 > < Packet Uplink Assignment message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 0 01011 > < Packet Cell Change Continue message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 0 01100 > < Packet Neighbour Cell Data message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 0 01101 > < Packet Serving Cell Data message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 0 01110 > < Packet DBPSCH Assignment message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 0 01111 > < Multiple TBF Downlink Assignment message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 0 10000 > < Multiple TBF Uplink Assignment message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 0 10001 > < Multiple TBF Timeslot Reconfigure message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 0 10011 > < MBMS MS_ID Assignment message content > | — PACCH only

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 0 10100 > < MBMS Assignment (Non-distribution) message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 0 10101 > < PS Handover Command message content > | — PACCH only

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 0 10110 > < Packet Physical Information message content > | — PACCH only

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 0 10111 > < DTM Handover Command message content > | — PACCH only

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 1 00101 > < Packet Downlink Dummy Control Block message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 1 10001 > < PSI1 message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 1 10010 > < PSI2 message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 1 10011 > < PSI3 message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 1 10100 > < PSI3 bis message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 1 10101 > reserved | — this value was allocated in an earlier
— version of the protocol and shall not be used

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 1 10110 > < PSI5 message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 1 10000 > < PSI6 message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 1 11000 > < PSI7 message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 1 11001 > < PSI8 message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 1 10111 > < PSI13 message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 1 11010 > < PSI14 message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 1 11100 > < PSI3 ter message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 1 11101 > < PSI3 quater message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 1 11110 > < PSI15 message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 1 01000 > < PSI16 message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 1 00000 > < Packet Serving Cell SI message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 1 00111 > < Packet CS Command message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 1 01001 > < Packet CS Release Indication message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 1 01010 > < MBMS Assignment (Distribution) message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 1 01011 > < MBMS Neighbouring Cell Information message content >|

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 1 01100 > < Packet MBMS Announcement message content >

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 1 01101 > < Packet Application Information message content >

! < Unknown message type : { bit (6) = < no string > } < Default downlink message content > > ;

NOTE: the MESSAGE_TYPE "010010" is reserved for the PHYSICAL INFORMATION message on DBPSCH only.

The ‘Default downlink message contents’, for messages that are not sent on the EC-PACCH, consists of the Page Mode information and an unspecified bit string that expands to the end of the message.

< Default downlink message content > ::=

< PAGE_MODE : bit (2) >

bit (*) = < no string > ;

The encoding of the Page Mode information is defined in sub-clause 12.20.

Downlink RLC/MAC control messages sent on EC-PACCH are received in RLC/MAC control block format. The different types of messages on the EC-PACCH are distinguished by the MESSAGE_TYPE field.

< Downlink RLC/MAC control message on EC-PACCH > ::=

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (5) == 1 0001 > < EC Packet Access Reject message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (5) == 0 0001 > < EC Packet Downlink Assignment message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (5) == 0 0010 > < EC Packet Polling Request message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (5) == 0 0011 > < EC Packet Power Control/Timing Advance message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (5) == 0 0100 > < EC Packet TBF Release message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (5) == 0 0101 > < EC Packet Uplink Ack/Nack message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (5) == 0 0110 > < EC Packet Uplink Assignment message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (5) == 0 0111 > < EC Packet Uplink Ack/Nack and Contention Resolution message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (5) == 1 0010 > < EC Packet Downlink Dummy Control Block message content >

! < Unknown message type : { bit (5) = < no string > } < Default downlink message content > > ;

The ‘Default downlink message contents’ for messages that are sent on the EC-PACCH consists of the Used DL Coverage Class information and an unspecified bit string that expands to the end of the message.

< Default downlink message content > ::=

< USED_DL_COVERAGE_CLASS : bit (2) >

bit (*) = < no string > ;

The encoding of the Used DL Coverage Class information element is defined in sub-clause 12.71.

11.2.0.2 Uplink RLC/MAC messages

Uplink RLC/MAC control messages, except those using the access burst formats, are received in the RLC/MAC control block format. The different types of messages are distinguished by the MESSAGE_TYPE field.

< Uplink RLC/MAC control message > ::=

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 000000 > < Packet Cell Change Failure message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 000001 > < Packet Control Acknowledgement message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 000010 > < Packet Downlink Ack/Nack message content > | — PACCH only

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 000011 > < Packet Uplink Dummy Control Block message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 000100 > < Packet Measurement Report message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 001010 > < Packet Enhanced Measurement Report message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 000101 > < Packet Resource Request message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 000110 > < Packet Mobile TBF Status message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 000111 > < Packet PSI Status message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 001000 > < EGPRS Packet Downlink Ack/Nack message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 010001 > < EGPRS Packet Downlink Ack/Nack Type 2 message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 010010 > < EGPRS Packet Downlink Ack/Nack Type 3 message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 001001 > < Packet Pause message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 001011 > < Additional MS Radio Access Capabilities message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 001100 > < Packet Cell Change Notification message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 001101 > < Packet SI Status message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 001110 > < Packet CS Request message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 001111 > < MBMS Service Request message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 010000 > < MBMS Downlink Ack/Nack message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (6) == 010011 > < EGPRS Packet Downlink Ack/Nack DLMC message content >;

Messages using the access burst formats (11-bit and 8-bit formats) are defined in sub-clauses 11.2.2 11.2.5, 11.2.5a, 11.2.5c, 11.2.33 and 11.2.44.

Uplink RLC/MAC control messages sent on EC-PACCH, except those using the access burst formats, are received in the RLC/MAC control block format.

The different types of messages on the EC-PACCH when one of the coverage classes CC1 to CC4 for uplink is selected are distinguished by the MESSAGE_TYPE field as follows.

< Uplink RLC/MAC control message on EC-PACCH > ::=

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (5) == 00001 > < EC Packet Control Acknowledgement message content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (5) == 00010 > < EC Packet Downlink Ack/Nack message content >;

The different types of messages on the EC-PACCH, when coverage class CC5 for uplink is selected are distinguished by the MESSAGE_TYPE field as follows:

< Uplink RLC/MAC control message on EC-PACCH CC5 > ::=

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (3) == 001 > < EC Packet Control Acknowledgement message Higher CC content > |

< MESSAGE_TYPE : bit (3) == 010 > < EC Packet Downlink Ack/Nack Higher CC message content >;

The EC Packet Control Acknowledgement message or EC Packet Control Acknowledgement Higher CC message can be sent both using the normal burst format and the access burst format (11-bit format). The access burst format is defined in sub-clause 11.2.50.