Introduction: Challenges in wireless networks
Efficient allocation and use of spectrum
Efficient modulation
Efficient data coding and compression
Resistance against interference, multipath, bursts,
absorption, etc.
Power consumption (mobile devices)
Spatial separation of transmitters
Cellular network
Reuse of frequencies
Handoff
Social aspects
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Multiplexing - FDMA
Frequency Division Multiple Access
Channels divided by frequency
Uplink / Downlink separated by frequency offset
Advantages
Symmetric uplink / downlink (bandwidth and power efficient, no channel
switching)
Easy to implement
Disadvantages
Interference problems in shared radio spectrums
Inefficient usage of spectrum (each full duplex channel needs two
frequencies)
Examples: Radio, TV
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Multiplexing - TDMA
Time Division Multiple Access
Channels divided by time
Uplink / Downlink separated by time slot
Usually asymmetric uplink / downlink with dynamic reallocation
Advantages
Efficient usage of spectrum
Easy handoff, device can measure during idle slots
Disadvantages
Interference problems in shared radio spectrums
Time synchronization challenging
Low frequency interference (time slot frequency)
NB:
TDMA often combined with
FDMA / frequency hopping
Examples: Bluetooth, GSM
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Multiplexing CDMA
Code Division Multiple Access
Channels divided by code
Narrow band signal sent over a wide spectrum channel
Codes are usually pseudo-random sequences (signal appears as noise)
Advantages
Supports Cell frequency reuse (shared frequency band)
Support Soft handoff
Disadvantages
Near / far problem
Interference requires power control
Example: UMTS
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Wireless Network Evolution
1933 First police radios
1938 First Walkie Talkie
1946 Wireless Phone by AT&T
Invention of dynamic channel allocation
(manual)
Invention of frequency reuse by cells
Cell handover still too complex to handle
automatically
1948 Invention of the transistor
1959 Invention of the integrated circuit
1964 First system with automatic channel allocation,
duplex, no automatic handover
1969 First cell-based system by Bell with automatic
handover (in a train)
Structure of basic mobile communication system
1G Networks Analogue, 1980s
Based on analogue modulation (AM/FM) of radio carrier
(no coding, no compression)
Limited number of simultaneous calls due to limited
frequency range frequency division
Circuit switched
In the beginning: no handover, no roaming
Data or voice
1G networks were planned to achieve maximum coverage
with the use of very few antennas
Examples;
Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS) USA (1978)
Total Access Communications System (TACS) UK
C-Netz Germany
Radiocom 2000- France
NMT- Scandinavia
Shortcomings of 1G (analog) systems
Limited capacity- could not cope with increase in the number of
subscribers
Bulky equipment
Lack of security- Analog signals could be intercepted
Poor reliability
Incompatibility between systems in different countries- Could not
support roaming
To improve on 1G systems, the European Conference of Posts and
Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) established the Groupe
Speciale Mobile (GSM) to set up a new standard
Second Generation (2G) systems-Digital systems
Europe, Asia:
GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication)
Full digital system (1987: Standard, 1990 first networks)
FDMA + TDMA
America:
D-AMPS (Digital AMPS, 1990 first networks)
Combined analogue / digital system
FDMA + TDMA
cdmaOne (CDMA, 1994 first networks)
Full digital system
CDMA
Japan:
PDC (Personal Digital Cellular, 1993, first networks)
FDMA + TDMA
Second Generation (2G) systems-Digital systems Contd
Based on digital coding and compression (mainly voice)
Efficient modulation to symbol / time rate
Circuit switched = end-to-end resource allocation
Different techniques to increase number of simultaneous circuits
(TDMA, FDMA, CDMA)
Text service: SMS
Handover and international roaming
Additional services beside voice
Advantages of 2G systems
Efficient use of radio resources
Security for voice transmission
Possibility for data transmission
Supports use of Very Large Scale Integrated (VLSI) components
allowing use of smaller and cheaper handsets
Compatible with ISDN land based networks
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Second Generation (2G) systems-Digital systems Contd
1997: WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) Forum created
Data traffic in wireless telephony networks
Handle characteristics of wireless network better than
TCP/IP
WML (Wireless Markup Language) vs. HTML/HTTP
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2.5G Networks
Involved packet based add-on to 2G networks
GSM:
GPRS (use free timeslots for data)
EDGE (use free timeslots for data, with more efficient modulation)
CDMA
CDMA2000 1x-RTT (Single Carrier Radio Transmission
Technology)
CDMA2000 air interface, also allows data transport
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3G Networks
Europe
UMTS (Universal Mobile Telephone System) (W-CDMA)
America, Japan, Korea
cdma2000 (Code Division Multiple Access)
China
TD-SCDMA (Time Division-Synchronous Code Division Multiple
Access)
Based on digital coding and compression
All based on code division multiple access to increase number of
simultaneous calls
Circuit switched and packet data
Handover and international roaming
Many additional services besides voice
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Mesh Networks
A network of interconnected (wireless) nodes (full or partial
mesh)
The network handles many-to-many connections and is
capable of dynamically updating and optimizing these
connections
Mostly based on WLAN (802.11) technology, frequency
bands without license + IP backbone (xDSL)
Various multiplexing techniques, high data rate (up to 100
Mb/s), short range (< 100 m)
Several trials in larger cities, sometimes grass root
approaches
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WiMAX
WiMAX- Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access
Fixed / Nomadic WiMAX
IEEE 802.16d or 802.16-2004
for covering the last mile
OFDM, high data rate (up to 70 Mb/s), wide range (up to 48
km)
Devices: outdoor and indoor installed CPE (Customer
Premises Equipment)
Frequencies: 2.5 GHz, 3.5 GHz and 5.8 GHz (licensed and
license free)
Mobile WiMAX Mobile
IEEE 802.16e
Usage: Long-distance mobile wireless broadband
Devices: PC Cards, Notebooks and future handsets
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Beyond 3G Networks
HSPA (High Speed Packet Access)
3.5G: HSDPA (High-Speed Downlink Packet Access
3.75G: HSUPA (High-Speed Uplink Packet Access)
4G
New Technologies: HSPA+, LTE, WiMAX+
Pure packet switched IP-based networks
Increased data rates (beyond 100 Mb/s)
Transparent vertical handovers between different network
technologies (including WLAN, WiMAX, etc.)
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GSM Cellular Structure
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GSM Architecture- Overview
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Abbreviations
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GSM Sub-systems
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Mobile station (MS)
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Mobile Station (MS) Contd
The two parts of the MS allows a distinction the actual equipment and
the subscriber using it
The IMSI identifies the subscriber within the GSM network
The MS ISDN is the actual telephone number a caller uses to call
another party/person
The IMEI maybe used to block certain types of equipment from
accessing the network if they are unsuitable. It can also be used to
check for stolen equipment
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Base Station Subsystem (BSS)
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Handover (Hand-off)
Refers to the process of transferring an on-going mobile phone call or
data session from one cell and/or base station to another geographically
adjacent cell and/or base station as the user is in motion.
In properly functioning networks, the process occurs smoothly without
gaps in communication and is usually unnoticeable to the cellular
network user
Types of handover;
Hard Handover: Allows active connection to one base station at a time. It requires
the connection to the original base station to be broken before establishing
connection with the new base station. It is used in GSM and analog cellular
networks
Soft Handover: Allows simultaneous active connections to multiple base stations
and does not require the original connection to be broken down. It offers smoother
caller transition with lesser chances of break down in communication. It is
commonly used in single frequency systems such as CDMA, WCDMA
Softer Handover: Allows mobile stations to communicate with more than one
sector managed by the same base station especially in UMTS networks
Inter RAT Handover: Allows MS to communicate between different Radio Access
Technologies(RAT) e.g GSM and WCDMA
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BSS Network Topologies
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Network Switching Subsystem (NSS)
NSS combines call routing switches (MSC and GMSC) with database
registers required to keep track of the subscriber movement and use of
the system
The call routing between MSCs is taken between existing PSTN or
ISDN networks
Signalling between the registers uses Signalling System Number 7
(SS7) protocol
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NSS Contd
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Functions of MSC
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Visitors Location Register (VLR)
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Home Location Register (HLR)
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Equipment Identity Register (EIR)
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Gateway MSC (GMSC)
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