2G/GSM

 

 

 

 

TBF

 

TBF is defined as follows in 44.160 -  5.2.1 Temporary Block Flow :

 

A TBF is a logical connection used by two MAC entities to support the unidirectional transfer of upper-layer PDUs on basic physical sub-channels.

 

It is a connection established between a Mobile Station (MS) and a Base Station (BS) to enable packet exchanges between the BS and MS entities in GPRS networks.

 

In a typical GPRS system, the network needs to establish a downlink (DL) TBF to transfer data in the DL direction and an uplink (UL) TBF to transfer data in the UL direction. TBFs are typically short-lived and are generally only active during data transfers. i.e. until there are no more RLC (Radio Link Control) / MAC (Medium Access Control) blocks to be transmitted

 

One example of TBFs in a protocol stack is illustrated below :

 

< 44.160 - Figure 4.2: Radio Interface Protocol architecture with FLO only >

 

TBF operation varies depending onto which channel it mapped as described below (based on 44.160-5.2.1 Temporary Block Flow) :

 

Channel

TBF Operation

PDTCH

operate in either GPRS TBF mode or EGPRS TBF mode

SBPSCH

the network sets the TBF mode in following messages

  • PACKET UPLINK ASSIGNMENT
  • MULTIPE TBF UPLINK ASSIGNMENT
  • PACKET DOWNLINK ASSIGNMENT
  • MUTLIPLE TBF DOWNLINK ASSIGNMENT
  • PACKET TIMESLOT RECONFIGURE
  • MULTIPLE TBF TIMESLOT RECONFIGURE

DBPSCH

the network sets the TBF mode using RRC procedures (see 3GPP TS 44.118)

FACCH

SACCH

SDCCH

operates implicitly in DCCH TBF mode

TCH

operates implicitly in TCH TBF mode.

UDCH

UDCH TBF mode is applicable only when FLO is used.

CDCH

CDCH TBF mode is applicable only when FLO is used.

URB

may operate in either GPRS TBF mode, EGPRS TBF mode, DCCH TBF mode, TCH TBF mode or UDCH TBF mode.

SRB

may operate in either GPRS TBF mode (CS-1 coding only), DCCH TBF mode or CDCH TBF mode. It shall not operate in EGPRS TBF mode