Cell Phone Terms

2.5G

A generation of cellular technology (includes systems like GPRS and 1XRTT

Neighbor List

A list kept by the phone that captures the towers and sectors in the area, along with their signal strength, to identify the tower/sectors with the best signal for the phone at any given time. This list is constantly updated by the phone. A neighbor list is also maintained by a cell site that contains its other cell sites nearby.

Ec/Io

A measurement of the signal strength and signal quality ("quality/cleanliness" or "strength and clarity") of the signal from the tower to the phone. This indicates the signal-to-noise ratio (the ratio of the received/good energy to the interference/bad energy). It is measured in decibels (dB).

LTE CI

A numerical identifier for a eNodeB and the Cell ID, needs to be converted mathmatically to determine the eNodeB and Cell ID

Sector

A section of the coverage area of a cell tower.

Pilot Channel

A signal produced by each tower's antenna periodically to identify itself to the phones/devices in the area. This information will include, the network provider, the exact time based on GPS, the tower's number, scrambling codes, and other data used for synchronization with the network.

Network Element

A term Verizon uses to refer to a switch.

Network Handoff

A term for when a call or data session in handed off from one cell site to another.

CPN

A term in Verizion CDRs which means Calling Person Number - the phone that placed the call

SOU

A term in Verizon CDRs which means Seconds of Usage. Also known as duration.

Elasped Time (ET)

A term used in AT&T CDRS which is a measurement of the duration of the connection or call. Does not inlcude the setup time of the call.

Cell ID

A term used in the LTE network that defines a specific antenna on a Cell Tower (eNodeB), and identifies the sector (or antenna of a tower) that was used during the connection. (Can be confused with Cell Tower ID which only identfies the tower)

SWAT

A term used in the Sprint network referring to Soft Wireless Access Tandem. These provide the required extra space that helps Sprint maintain all of the calls. SWAT call time zones are based on the location, which can be identified by the NEID in the Sprint explanation form.

Cascade ID

A term used in the Sprint network to identify a specific cell tower, but is not specific enough to identify the sector

Azimuth

AKA orientation. The azimuth is the center direction point of a sector and is usually listed in degrees of a compass. For example, 90 degrees faces due East, 180 degrees is South, 270 degrees is West, and 0 or 360 degrees is North.

AGCH

Access Grant Channel

4G

Also known as LTE is known as the 4th generation of cellular technology

Seizure Time

An AT&T term that indicates the amount of time it took the network to setup and start the call.

ECI

An abbreviation of ECGI. Stands for Extended Cell identification

Repoll

An old term used in the Sprint network to identify the Switch in a 2G and 3G network. The new term in Sprint records is NEID (Network Element Identifier)

MAC address

An unique internal number for each device that identifies that device on the internet

Market ID

Another name for a switch in a celllar Network

A-GNSS

Assisted Global Navigation Satellite System

BSC

Base Station Controller. A term in the 2G and 3G network, which describes a computer that controls a group of Base Stations (aka Cell Towers)

BSS

Base Station Subsystem

BTS

Base Transceiver Station - another name for an antenna on a tower.

BSIC

Base station Identity Code

BCH

Broadcast Channel

CDR

Call Detail Record. Different from Toll record because CDRs have the cell site used during the connection also listed in the spread sheet.

CGI

Cell Global Identification. For the 2G and 3G networks the first 5 digits are always the MCC and MNC. In AT&T CDRs this is the labeled as ECGI.

CID

Cell ID. A term in the CDMA network that identifies the cell number and sometimes the sector used in a connection.

C-RNTI

Cell-Radio Network Temporary Identifier

CDMA

Code Division Multiple Access. A type of 2G and 3G cellular network used by Sprint, Verizon, US Cellular.

CCCH

Common Control Channel

DCCH

Dedicated Control Channel

ESN

Electronic Serial Number. Used to identify the phone on the network. A unique identification number embedded by manufacturers on a microchip in wireless phones. It is 8 hexadecimal digits long.

eHRPD

Enhanced High Rate Packet Data. An enhancement to the 3G network for data transmissions.

eNodeB

Enhanced NodeB. A term in the LTE cellular network that references a group of antennas on a cell tower. The eNodeB alone does not identify the sector.

EVDO

Evolution-Data Optimized. A term used in the CDMA 2.5G network, which enhanced the speed of data transmissions.

eCGI

Extended Cell Global Identification. A term used in the LTE network for a cell tower (a group of antennas at one location). This number is combination of the PLMN (MCC (Mobile Country Code) + MNC (Mobile Network Code) and Cell Identity (CI). When converted mathematically, it can identify a specific LTE cell tower in the world, the eNodeB and Cell ID.

CDR Mediations

File name term used by T-Mobile to identify their Voice and SMS CDR

FDMA

Frequency Division Multiple Access. One of the ways that cellular companies allow more users on a specific frequency.

GPRS

General Packet Radio Service. A term used in the 2.5G and 3G networks and is related to data transmission packets over the cellular network. It provided moderate-speed data transfer by using unused time division multiple access (TDMA) channels.

GPS

Global Position System. Location on Earth based on measurements from satellites in space.

GSM

Global System for Mobile Communications. This was the initial type of 2G and 2.5G network used by AT&T and T-Mobile.

GMT

Greenwich Mean Time - same as UTC

HSPA

High Speed Packet Access. A term used in the evolution between 3G and 4G. This technology was able to produce speed transfers almost as fast as 4G.

HLR

Home Location Registry. A database on the network where the information about the subscriber is stored. This information includes account status, where the phone was first established and services allowed by the phone, determined by the make and model of the phone and services paid for.

IMEI

International Mobile Equipment Identifier. A term used in the LTE and GSM networks that identifies a number assigned by the manufacturer for each cellular device. This number contains information on the manufacturer, model number and the serial number of the device.

IMSI

International Mobile Subscriber Identity. A number assigned by the cellular service provider to each subscriber. This number includes the MCC (Mobile Country Code), the MNC (Mobile Network Code), and the subscriber number assigned by the providers. For example, 31041072296571 is deciphered as: MCC = 310 (United States) MNC = 410 (AT&T) Subscriber # = 72296571 (subscriber # in AT&T's system)

IPDR

Internet Protocol Data Record. Type of Verizon data return.

IP

Internet Protocol address. The communications protocol that provides an identification and location system for computers on networks and routes traffic across the Internet. An Internet Protocol address is a numerical label assigned to each device connected to a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. An IP address serves two main functions: host or network interface identification and location addressing.

IPV4

Internet protocal version 4

IPV6

Internet protocal version 6

LAC

Location Area Code

LTE

Long-Term Evolution

MCC

Mobile Country Code. A code at the beginning of a IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity) that identifies the country where the device was setup. For example, MCC 310 is represents the United States.

MDN

Mobile Dialing Number. Also known as the phone number.

MEID

Mobile Equipment Identifier. A term used in CDMA technology that identifies a number assigned by the manufacturer for each cellular device. This number is made up of the manufacturer, the model number and the serial number of the device. Sometimes displayed in Hexadecimal format.

MIN

Mobile Identification Number - is a serial number that uniquely identifies a cell phone subscriber within a mobile carrier network. MIN is similar to standard phone/mobile numbers but is not the same.

MNC

Mobile Network Code. A code in the IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity) that indicates which cellular network the phone has service with. For example 410 is AT&T.

MSISDN

Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number. Refers to the phone number of a device.

MSC

Mobile Switching Center. Also known as a Switch in the 2.5G and 3G networks. It is a section of the network that controls a group of BSCs and BTSs (cell towers).

MVNO

Mobile Virtual Network Operator. Cellular companies that don't have their own networks and have an agreement with other carriers to roam on their networks, like Straight Talk and Consumer Cellular.

MME

Mobility Management Entity . A term in LTE network for base station controller.

MMS

Multimedia Message Service. A term referring to messages containing more than 160 characters or include data other than text, like a picture.

NEID

Network Element Identifier. A newer term used in the Sprint 2G and 3G network to identify the switch that handles a call or connection.

NELOS

Network Event Location System - AT&T 's version of PCMD which provides an estimated location (latitude and longitude) of the phone/device and an estimate of accuracy of that locaiton. The data used to detemine this location is not explained by AT&T but it is believed it takes into account informaiton like distance from towers, triangulation and othewr measures. But that information is not provided to law enforcment.

NID

Network Identification Number

PCMD

Per Call Measurement Data. Specialized location information containing measurements made by the network that can included the distance the phone is away from the cell tower as well an estimated latitude and longitude (not always based on GPS) of the device.

PLMN

Public Land Mobile Network. A combination of the MCC and MNC.

RF

Radio Frequency

SID

Refers to a cellular System Identification number. These are 15-bit numeric identifiers used in cellular systems to identify the home system and roaming status for a mobile phone, as well as for billing purposes.

RTT

Round Trip Time or Real Time Tracking tool. This is Verizon's term for PCMD information.

Cell Name

Same as Cell ID. A term used in the LTE network that defines a specific antenna on a Cell Tower (eNodeB), and identifies the sector of a tower. Can be confused with Cell Tower ID which only identifies the tower.

pseudo-ESN, or pESN

Same as ESN. An 8-digit hexadecimal number that can be calculated using the MEID.

S-GW

Serving Gateway. The main function of the Serving Gateway is to route and forward user data packets. This term is used in the LTE network.

SMS

Short Message Service. Also known as a text message. These are limited to 160 characters. These are transmitted of the voice netork in 2.5 and 3G systems.

Radiation Pattern

Specifications on how an antenna radiates its signal in a vacuum. There are numerous types of radiation patterns and they are measured in decibels. It does not indicate coverage or even best coverage in real life.

Longitude

Specifies the east-west position on the Earth's surface based on Greenwich Meridan

Latitude

Specifies the north-south position on the Earth's surface based on the Equator

Sync Channel

Synchronization Channel or SCH. This helps a phone synchronize with the cell sites and network. The Synchronization Channel is a downlink only control channel used in GSM cellular telephone systems. The purpose of the SCH is to allow the mobile station (handset) to quickly identify a nearby cell (a BTS) and synchronize to that BTS's TDMA structures.

Orientation

Term depicting the direction of the center point of a sector. Also referred to as azimuth.

Call Plus

Term used by Sprint for a newer type of call (not further defined)

1xRTT

Term used in the CDMA 3G networks and specifies a single (1x) 1.25 MHz channel for data transfer. Also referred to as CDMA2000. This number can bee seen on phone's signal strenght when LTE is not avaiable.

Access Channel

The access channel is a specific channel within specific a frequency in a cellualr network system that is used when the phone (or cellular device) wants to access the network and request resources. The phone uses this channel to signal the cell tower for assistance.

Beam Width

The amount of distance from the center point of the sector where the signal strength is half the amount. Does not directly relate to sector coverage width.

Paging Channel

The paging channel is a channel within a frequency that is used by the network to send a signal to cellular devices in the area of that tower. For example, when the network has a call coming in for a specific phone, the network uses the paging channel to see if the phone is in the area and will answer the page.

Antenna

The physical device on the tower that transmits and receives information (also called a Base Transceiver Station (BTS))

3GPP

Third Generation Partnership Project

3G

Third generation of cellular technology (includes systems like UMTS)

Reveal Data

This is Sprint's term for PCMD information.

TAC

Tracking Area Code. An LTE term for a group of cell towers within the network, similar to LAC in the 2G and 3G networks.

Lucent

Type of manufacturer of a BTS (cell tower). Sector numbering convention 2,3 and 4 instead of the traditional sector number of 1, 2 and 3.

Nortel

Type of manufacturer of a BTS (cell tower). Sector numbering convention is 1, 2 and 3.

FDR

Verizon term for LTE Data session (not further defined)

BDR

Verizon term for LTE Data session report (not further defined)

De-registation

When a phone signs off the network. This occurs when the phone powers down, battery dies, placed in airplane mode, or leaving the coverage area.

eNB

an abbreviation for eNodeB

eNB ID

an abbriviation for eNodeB ID