1999 Apr 12
54
Philips Semiconductors
Product specification
FLEX
roaming decoder II
PCD5013
8.8.2
FLEX
ROAMING STRUCTURE
The FLEX
paging protocol defines two methods for
supporting roaming pagers:
Simulcast System identification (SSID) roaming, where
pagers scan a pre-programmed set of channels and
identify each simulcast area which is to be included in
the desired roaming area
Network identification (NID) roaming where pagers
examine all frequencies within the subscriber units’s
range for the presence of a marker (NID). The NID
indicates whether the channel is affiliated with the
desired roaming network.
A Simulcast System Identifier (SSID) is carried in the Block
Identification Field. A SSID is composed of a Local
Identifier (LID), a Coverage Zone, a Country Code and
Traffic Management Flags. These components define a
simulcast area which is unique worldwide. An LID is
unique within a Country Code and cannot be reassigned to
another operator in any paging RF band.
A Network Identifier (NID) is carried in the address and
vector fields. NIDs are unique within an RF band and are
composed of a Network Address, a Service Area Identifier,
a Multiplier and Traffic Management Flags. An RF channel
may combine roaming traffic from several different Service
Providers by carrying their respective NIDs.
NIDs and SSIDs are referred to as Roaming IDs.
In addition pagers may be programmed to search for calls
on a channel without finding an SSID or an NID in order to
receive calls on that RF channel. In this case the Roaming
ID associated with the channel is programmed within the
pager as having ANY ID.
8.8.2.1
Example Roaming System
Figure 17 shows six RF frequencies servicing three cities.
NID1 is used to identify a network covering all three cities
and SSIDs A, B and C identify the specific simulcast areas
covering cities A, B and C. In city C, the large amount of
traffic has resulted in the service provider activating
additional RF channels identified as a, b, d, e and f. In this
example, the pager is assigned Roaming IDs as follows:
SSID
C
NID
1
traffic management group 2 (0100)
Thus the pager will monitor frequencies as follows:
f
b
when in the area of city A
f
c
when in the area of city B
f
d
when in the area of city C.
For further information on FLEX
Roaming, see the
“FLEX specification G1.9”.
Fig.17 Roaming system example.
handbook, full pagewidth
NID1 - 0011 SSIDC - 0000
ff
fe
fd
fb
fc
fa
MGL555
NID1 - 0000 SSIDC - 1000
NID1 - 0000 SSIDC - 0100
NID1 - 0000 SSIDC - 0010
NID1 - 1100 SSIDC - 0001
City C
City B
Pager is assigned SSIDC as Home with NID1 active away from Home.
Pager is assigned to TMG 2 (0100 - 3rd flag from right).
Frequency list contains fa, fb, fc, fd, fe and ff.
NID1 - 1111 SSIDA - 1111
City A
NID1 - 1111 SSIDB - 1111