Glossary
Glossary for Critical Communications
In the world of critical communications, understanding the myriad of acronyms is essential. Our glossary provides definitions and explanations for the most commonly used acronyms in the field, helping you navigate this complex and vital industry with ease. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or new to the world of critical communications, our glossary is here to help you decode the language of this dynamic sector.
Glossary
| 3GPP | The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) specifications cover cellular telecommunications technologies, including radio access, core network and service capabilities, which provide a complete system description for mobile telecommunications. |
| API | An Application Programming Interface (API) is a way for two or more computer programs or components to communicate with each other |
| Bearer | Bearer’ means “Carrier” or “Porter” which carries something from a point to another point. Under the context of communication technology, I would define the ‘Bearer’ as a ‘pipe line’ connecting two or more points in the communication system in which data traffic follow through |
| BM-SC | Broadcast Multicast Service Center (BM-SC) manages the interface with content providers, scheduling and configuration of broadcast/multicast data flow to the Radio Access Network. It performs Service Announcement. |
| CubeAgent | ENENSYS product supporting the functionalities of an MBMS client |
| E-UTRA | E-UTRA is the air interface of 3GPP LTE for mobile networks. It is an acronym for Evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access |
| E-UTRAN | E-UTRAN is the combination of E-UTRA, user equipment (UE), and a Node B (E-UTRAN Node B or Evolved Node B, eNodeB). |
| eMBMS | Evolved Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Services (eMBMS) is the point-to-multipoint specification for LTE networks developed by 3GPP. eMBMS is a good solution for video distribution in scenarios where the same content is transmitted at the same time to many devices in the same geographical area. Using eMBMS radio resources can be greatly saved because mobile receivers can share the same resources. |
| eMBMS client | Middleware between user application and LTE modem in the UE that enables access and control of eMBMS services |
| eNodeB | eNobeB is the name of the LTE base station |
| EPC | The Evolved Packet Core (EPC) represents the Core of an LTE network. It is formed by multiple nodes that offer multiple functionalities like mobility management, authentication, session management, setting up bearers and application of different Quality of Services |
| ETSI | European Telecommunications Standards Institute |
| GCCH | The Group Communication Control Handler (GCCH) is a MediaCast mobile module responsible for managing the control interface with the GCS-AS |
| GCS-AS | The GCS-AS (Group Communication Service Application Server) transfers the application signalling for delivering application data to a group of UEs either over MBMS Bearer Services or over EPS Bearers. |
| Group Communication Service | Group communication service (GCS) is intended to provide a fast and efficient mechanism to distribute the same content to multiple users in a controlled manner. It is expected to support voice, video or, more generally, data communication. |
| GSM | The Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) is a standard developed by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) to describe the protocols for second-generation (2G) digital cellular networks used by mobile devices such as mobile phones and tablets |
| HSS | The Home Subscriber Server (HSS) is the entity containing the subscription-related information to support the network entities handling calls/sessions |
| M1 | M1 is the interface between MBMS-GW and eNodeB for MBMS data delivery, providing an interconnection point between the EPC and the EUTRAN |
| MB2 | Reference point between GCS-AS and BM-SC (MediaCast mobile). Is is composed of MB2-C for the control plane and MB2-U for the user plane |
| MBMS Bearer | It is a bearer used for the transmission of MBMS content |
| MBMS Service Area | The MBMS Service Area designates the area within which same content is transmitted. The MBMS Service Area can be comprised of several cells or a single cell. |
| MBMS-GW | The MBMS gateway delivers MBMS traffic using IP-multicast to all eNodeBs. It also handles MBMS session control signaling (start, stop, update) via MME |
| MBSFN | Multicast-Broadcast Single-Frequency-Network (MBSFN) is a broadcast technique in which a group of synchronized cells transmit the same waveform at the same time |
| MBSFN Areas | All cells in a MBSFN area transmit the same eMBMS content, accurately synchronized in time as a Single frequency network (SFN), so that the transmission from different eNodeBs appears to the receiving UE as a multipath from a single eNodeB |
| MBSFN Synchronization Area | MBSFN synchronization area is defined by 3GPP as an area of the network where all eNodeBs are synchronized and capable of supporting one or more MBSFN areas |
| MCData | Mission Critical Data provides a set of generic capabilities: group messaging, data streaming, file distribution, database enquiries, internet access, among others. |
| MCE | The Multicell/Multicast Coordination Entity (MCE) allocates radio resources to multi-cell MBMS transmission using the MBSFN technique. It decides about establishing the radio bearer of a new MBMS Service as per the availability of radio resources |
| MCPTT | Mission Critical Push-to-Talk service provides an arbitrated method by which two or more users may engage in communication. Users can request permission to transmit (e.g., traditionally by pressing a button). |
| MCVideo | Mission Critical Video service ensures high service availability and reliability, low latency, real-time operation capabilities, highly secure operations, inter-operability with other services and systems |
| MediaCast Mobile | ENENSYS product supporting the functionalities of the BM-SC and the MBMS-GW. It enables multicast/broadcast data delivery over private and public safety networks |
| Mission Critical Communications (MCC) | MCC refers to the need to provide first responders with fast, reliable and secure communication at all times. This requires networks that allow first responders to share real-time updates and coordinate strategies without worrying about network disruptions |
| MME | The Mobility Management Entity (MME) supports session control of MBMS bearers (Session Start/Session Stop to E-UTRAN) |
| OAM | Operation and Maintenance |
| Public Safety | From police officers to firefighters, public safety professionals protect the lives and property of people in their communities. Carrying out their missions, especially in emergency situations, requires careful coordination and constant communication. |
| SC-PTM | Single-Cell Point-to-Multipoint is a Multicast/Broadcast transmission technique in which each cell transmit individually |
| Sm | Sm is the reference point for the control plane between MME and MBMS-GW |
| SYNC protocol | The SYNC protocol ensures that the same content is transmitted by all the cells of the MBSFN area at the same time. It takes place between BM-SC and eNodeB |
| TMGI | The Temporary Mobile Group Identity (TMGI) is a mechanism for identifying an MBMS Bearer Service. Initially allocated by the BM-SC (Broadcast Multicast Service Center), the TMGI for a specific MBMS multicast service is provided to the mobile during the MBMS Multicast Service Activation procedure |
| UE | User Equipment is a term used in LTE and 4G wireless communications to describe a mobile device, such as a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or other type of wireless device that is used to access the network |
| UMTS | The Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) is a third generation (3G) mobile cellular system for networks based on the GSM standard. |