In radio communication, a control channel is a central channel that controls other constituent radios by handling data stream

Data stream

In telecommunications and computing, a data stream is a sequence of digitally encoded coherent signals used to transmit or receive information that is in the process of being transmitted....

s. It is most often used in the context of a trunked radio system

Trunked radio system

A trunked radio system is a complex type of computer-controlled radio system. Trunked systems use a few channels , and can have virtually unlimited talkgroups. The control channel computer sends packets of data to enable one talkgroup to talk together, regardless of frequency...

, where the control channel sends data which coordinates users in talkgroup

Talkgroup

A Talkgroup is the term given to assigned groups on a trunked radio system. Unlike a conventional radio which assigns users a certain frequency, a trunk systems takes a number of frequencies allocated to the system. Then the control channel coordinates the system so talkgroups can share these...

s.
In GSM networks, Control Channels can be broadly divided into 3 categories; Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH), Common Control Channel (CCCH), and Dedicated Control Channels (DCCH).

Broadcast Control Channel

The Broadcast Control Channel is transmitted by the BTS at all times. The RF carrier used to transmit the BCCH is referred to as the BCCH carrier. The MS monitors the information carried on the BCCH periodically (at least every 30 secs), when it is switched on and not in a call.

The BCCH Consists of:

a. Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH): Carries the following information:

• Location Area Identity
  Location Area Identity
  Each location area of a public land mobile network has its own unique identifier which is known as Location Area Identity . This internationally unique identifier is used for location updating of mobile subscribers...
  
  (LAI).

• List of neighboring cells that should be monitored by the MS.

• List of frequencies used in the cell.

• Cell identity.

• Power control indicator.

• DTX permitted.

• Access control (i.e., emergency calls, call barring ... etc.).

• CBCH description.

The BCCH is transmitted at constant power at all times, and all MS that may seek to use it measure its signal strength. “Dummy” bursts are transmitted to ensure continuity when there is no BCCH carrier traffic.

b. Frequency Correction Channel (FCCH):
This is transmitted frequently on the BCCH timeslot and allows the mobile to synchronize its own frequency to that of the transmitting base site. The FCCH may only be sent during timeslot 0 on the BCCH carrier frequency and therefore it acts as a flag to the mobile to identify Timeslot 0.

c. Synchronization Channel (SCH)
The SCH carries the information to enable the MS to synchronize to the TDMA frame structure and know the timing of the individual timeslots. The following parameters are sent:

• Frame number.

• Base Site Identity Code (BSIC).

The MS will monitor BCCH information from surrounding cells and store the information from the best six cells. The SCH information on these cells is also stored so that the MS may quickly resynchronize when it enters a new cell.

Common Control Channels

The Common Control Channel (CCCH) is responsible for transferring control information between all mobiles and the BTS. This is necessary for the implementation of “call origination” and “call paging” functions.
It consists of the following:

a. Random Access Channel (RACH)
Used by the mobile when it requires gaining access to the system. This occurs when the mobile initiates a call or responds to a page.

b. Paging Channel (PCH)
Used by the BTS to page MS, (paging can be performed by an IMSI, TMSI or IMEI).

c. Access Grant Control Channel (AGCH)
Used by the BTS to assign a dedicated control channel to a MS in response to an access message received on the Random Access Channel. The MS will move to the dedicated channel in order to proceed with either a call setup, response to a paging message, Location Area Update or Short Message Service.

d. Cell Broadcast Channel (CBCH)
This channel is used to transmit messages to be broadcast to all MS’s within a cell. The CBCH uses a dedicated control channel to send its messages, however it is considered a common channel because all mobiles in the cell can receive the messages.

Active MS’s must frequently monitor both BCCH and CCCH. The CCCH will be transmitted on the RF carrier with the BCCH.

Dedicated Control Channels

The DCCH is a single timeslot on an RF carrier that is used to convey eight Stand-alone Dedicated Control Channels (SDCCH). A single MS for call setup, authentication, location updating and SMS point to point use a SDCCH. As we will see later, SDCCH can also be found on a BCCH/CCCH timeslot, this configuration only allows four SDCCHs.

a. Associated Control Channels (ACCH)
These channels can be associated with either an SDCCH or a TCH. They are used for carrying information associated with the process being carried out on either the SDCCH or the TCH.

b. Slow Associated Control Channel (SACCH)
Conveys power control and timing information in the downlink direction (towards the MS) and Receive Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), and link quality reports in the uplink direction.

c. Fast Associated Control Channel (FACCH)
The FACCH is transmitted instead of a TCH. The FACCH ‘‘steals” the TCH burst and inserts its own information. The FACCH is used to carry out user
authentication, handovers and immediate assignment.

All of the control channels are required for system operation, however, in the same way that we allow different users to share the radio channel by using different timeslots to carry the conversation data, the control channels share timeslots on the radio channel at different times. This allows efficient passing of control information without wasting capacity that could be used for call traffic. To do this we must organize the timeslots between those, which will be used for traffic, and those, which will carry control signaling.

Channel Combination

The different logical channel types mentioned are grouped into what are called channel combination. The four most common channel combination are listed below:

1. Full Rate Traffic Channel Combination – TCH8/FACCH + SACCH

2. Broadcast Channel Combination – BCCH + CCCH

3. Dedicated Channel Combination – SDCCH8 + SACCH8

4. Combined Channel Combination – BCCH+CCCH+SDCCH4+SACCH4

5. Half Rate Traffic Channel Combination – TCH16/FACCH + SACCH

The Half Rate Channel Combination (when introduced) will be very similar to the Full Rate Traffic Combination.