GSM Mobile Station (MS) Classes for Multislot Capability

Finding even the most basic information for telecommunications standards can sometimes be a real challenge, even with a good search engine, so here is information on Multisolt Channels pulled from Table B.1 of the Digital Cellular Telecommunications System (Phase 2+); Multiplexing and multiple access on the radio path (3GPP TS 45.002 version 6.12.0 Release 6) document.

Caveat: If you are performing critical work, be sure to obtain the latest version of the specification an confirm all data presented here, since these things can change without notice. See abbreviation definitions at bottom of page.

Multislot

Class

Maximum Number of Slots Minimum Number of Slots Type
Rx Tx Sum Tta Ttb Tra Trb
1 1 1 2 3 2 4 2 1
2 2 1 3 3 2 3 1 1
3 2 2 3 3 2 3 1 1
4 3 1 4 3 1 3 1 1
5 2 2 4 3 1 3 1 1
6 3 2 4 3 1 3 1 1
7 3 3 4 3 1 3 1 1
8 4 1 5 3 1 2 1 1
9 3 2 5 3 1 2 1 1
10 4 2 5 3 1 2 1 1
11 4 3 5 3 1 2 1 1
12 4 4 5 2 1 2 1 1
13 3 3 NA NA a) 3 a) 2
14 4 4 NA NA a) 3 a) 2
15 5 5 NA NA a) 3 a) 2
16 6 6 NA NA a) 2 a) 2
17 7 7 NA NA a) 1 0 2
18 8 8 NA NA 0 0 0 2
19 6 2 NA 3 b) 2 c) 1
20 6 3 NA 3 b) 2 c) 1
21 6 4 NA 3 b) 2 c) 1
22 6 4 NA 2 b) 2 c) 1
23 6 6 NA 2 b) 2 c) 1
24 8 2 NA 3 b) 2 c) 1
25 8 3 NA 3 b) 2 c) 1
26 8 4 NA 3 b) 2 c) 1
27 8 4 NA 2 b) 2 c) 1
28 8 6 NA 2 b) 2 c) 1
29 8 8 NA 2 b) 2 c) 1
30 5 1 6 2 1 1 1 1
31 5 2 6 2 1 1 1 1
32 5 3 6 2 1 1 1 1
33 5 4 6 2 1 1 1 1
34 5 5 6 2 1 1 1 1
35 5 1 6 2 1 1+to 1 1
36 5 2 6 2 1 1+to 1 1
37 5 3 6 2 1 1+to 1 1
38 5 4 6 2 1 1+to 1 1
39 5 5 6 2 1 1+to 1 1
40 6 1 7 1 1 1 to 1
41 6 2 7 1 1 1 to 1
42 6 3 7 1 1 1 to 1
43 6 4 7 1 1 1 to 1
44 6 5 7 1 1 1 to 1
45 6 6 7 1 1 1 to 1

a) = 1 with frequency hopping

    = 0 without frequency hopping.

b) = 1 with frequency hopping or change from Rx to Tx.

    = 0 without frequency hopping and no change from Rx to Tx.

c) = 1 with frequency hopping or change from Tx to Rx.

    = 0 without frequency hopping and no change from Tx to Rx.

to = 31 symbol periods (this can be provided by a TA offset, i.e. a minimum TA value).

  • Rx:  Rx describes the maximum number of receive timeslots that the MS can use per TDMA frame. The MS must be able to support all integer values of receive TS from 0 to Rx (depending on the services supported by the MS). The receive TS need not be contiguous. For type 1 MS, the receive TS shall be allocated within window of size Rx, and no transmit TS shall occur between receive TS within a TDMA frame.
  • Tx:  Tx describes the maximum number of transmit timeslots that the MS can use per TDMA frame. The MS must be able to support all integer values of transmit TS from 0 to Tx (depending on the services supported by the MS). The transmit TS need not be contiguous. For type 1 MS, the transmit TS shall be allocated within window of size Tx, and no receive TS shall occur between transmit TS within a TDMA frame.
  • Sum:  Sum is the total number of uplink and downlink TS that can actually be used by the MS per TDMA frame. The MS must be able to support all combinations of integer values of Rx and Tx TS where 1 <= Rx + Tx <= Sum (depending on the services supported by the MS). Sum is not applicable to all classes.
  • Tta:Tta relates to the time needed for the MS to perform adjacent cell signal level measurement and get ready to transmit.

    For type 1 MS it is the minimum number of timeslots that will be allowed between the end of the previous transmit or receive TS and the next transmit TS when measurement is to be performed between. It should be noted that, in practice, the minimum time allowed may be reduced by amount of timing advance.

    For type 1 MS that supports extended TA, the parameter Tta is increased by 1 if TA > 63 and there is a change from RX to TX.

    For type 2 MS it is not applicable.

    For circuit switched multislot configurations as defined in subclause 6.4.2.1, Tta is not applicable.

  • Ttb:Ttb relates to the time needed for the MS to get ready to transmit. This minimum requirement will only be used when adjacent cell power measurements are not required by the service selected.

    For type 1 MS it is the minimum number of timeslots that will be allowed between the end of the last previous receive TS and the first next transmit TS or between the previous transmit TS and the next transmit TS when the frequency is changed in between. It should be noted that, in practice, the minimum time allowed may be reduced by the amount of the timing advance.

    For type 1 MS that supports extended TA, the parameter Ttb = 2 if TA > 63 and there is a change from RX to TX.

    For type 2 MS it is the minimum number of timeslots that will be allowed between the end of the last transmit burst in a TDMA frame and the first transmit burst in the next TDMA frame.

  • Tra:  Tra relates to the time needed for the MS to perform adjacent cell signal level measurement and get ready to receive.

    For type 1 MS it is the minimum number of timeslots that will be allowed between the previous transmit or receive TS and the next receive TS when measurement is to be performed between.

    For type 2 MS it is the minimum number of timeslots that will be allowed between the end of the last receive burst in a TDMA frame and the first receive burst in the next TDMA frame.

    An MS, except for multislot class 30 – 45, shall be able to decode SCH from a neighbor cell, independent of its relative timing, using an idle frame in combination with Tra from the preceding frame.

  • Trb:  Trb relates to the time needed for the MS to get ready to receive. This minimum requirement will only be used when adjacent cell power measurements are not required by the service selected.

    For type 1 MS it is the minimum number of timeslots that will be allowed between the previous transmit TS and the next receive TS or between the previous receive TS and the next receive TS when the frequency is changed in between.

    For type 2 MS it is the minimum number of timeslots that will be allowed between the end of the last receive burst in a TDMA frame and the first receive burst in the next TDMA frame.