BKUNDPCS.RVW   20000227

"Understanding Digital PCS", Cameron Kelly Coursey, 1999,
0-89006-362-1, U$79.00
%A   Cameron Kelly Coursey
%C   685 Canton St., Norwood, MA   02062
%D   1999
%G   0-89006-362-1
%I   Artech House/Horizon
%O   U$79.00 617-769-9750 fax: 617-769-6334 artech@artech-house.com
%P   382 p.
%T   "Understanding Digital PCS: The TDMA Standard"

PCS (Personal Communications Service) is generally known in North
America as the "digital" type of cellular telephone.  It would be more
accurate to refer to the service as TIA (Telecommunications Industry
Association) or EIA (Electronics Industry Association) standard 136,
which grew out of IS (Interim Standard) 136.  Chapter one of the book
shows the relation of PCS and T/EIA-136 to the analogue AMPS (Advanced
Mobile Phone Service), the European GSM (Global System for Mobile
Communication), and coming enhancements.  Despite the alphabet soup,
the material is quite readable.

Chapter two outlines the advantages of PCS, although most of these
accrue to the service provider.  The TIA and EIA standards bodies are
described in chapter three, as well as a rough outline of standards
130, 135, 136, 137, 138, and 641.  The physical layer (air interface)
is reviewed in chapter four.  There is also some detail of the data
structures, and an oddly mathematical intensity to the discussion of
keying.  Chapter five looks at the data link layer, concentrating on
the related protocols.  Management messages are the major emphasis in
chapter six's presentation of the network layer.

Chapter seven outlines the basic components and division of functions
as the basis of network architecture.  Function and the operations of
mobile units are described in chapter eight.  Chapter nine examines
the issues and algorithms involved in changing from cell to cell while
moving, as well as the hierarchy of cells and microcells.  There is a
look at sleep mode in chapter ten.  Speech processing and call setup
are the topic of chapter eleven.  Chapter twelve looks at teleservice
and roaming.  Circuit switched data is examined in chapter thirteen,
non-public services (private connections such as cordless phones) in
fourteen, and special 1900 MHz functions in fifteen.  Authentication
and encryption, network parameters, and testing equipment are covered
in chapters sixteen through eighteen.  Chapters nineteen and twenty
cover the near term future of TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access),
looking at global standardization and other developments.  Oddly, no
mention is made of competing technologies, such as the very strong
CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) contender.

copyright Robert M. Slade, 2000   BKUNDPCS.RVW   20000227