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LTE Architecture and Protocols

The document discusses the evolution of 3G and 4G network system architectures. It describes key elements like the HSS which acts as a central subscriber database, storing mobility and service data for every subscriber. It also explains different traffic routing cases like home routed traffic where traffic is routed from the home network to the UE. The interworking of 4G with 3G and 2G networks is discussed along with interfaces like S3, S4, and S12. Non-3GPP access networks can connect to the 4G core using the S2a interface for trusted networks and S2b for untrusted networks.

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Suswanth
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125 views30 pages

LTE Architecture and Protocols

The document discusses the evolution of 3G and 4G network system architectures. It describes key elements like the HSS which acts as a central subscriber database, storing mobility and service data for every subscriber. It also explains different traffic routing cases like home routed traffic where traffic is routed from the home network to the UE. The interworking of 4G with 3G and 2G networks is discussed along with interfaces like S3, S4, and S12. Non-3GPP access networks can connect to the 4G core using the S2a interface for trusted networks and S2b for untrusted networks.

Uploaded by

Suswanth
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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System Architecture Evolution

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IP address allocation is done when the UE attaches the network and later on , every time the UE
requests a connection to a new PDN network. Therefore the P-GW has the
DHCP functionality or is able to query and external DHCP server.

A request for a bearer set-up may arrive to the P-GW either via the PCRF (external data network
originated) or via the S-GW (MME or UE originated)
At user registration the HSS is interrogated by the corresponding CN node as the user attempts to
register to the network in order to check the user subscription rights. This can be done by either the
MSC, the SGSN, I-CSCF or the MME, depending on the type of network and registration being
requested;
In the case of terminal location update as the terminal changes location areas, the HSS is kept
updated and maintains a reference of the last known are;
In the case of user-terminated session request the HSS is interrogated and provides a reference
of the CN node corresponding to
the current user location.
For each EU which is attached to the network, the HSS records are pointing to only one serving
MME at a time. If the UE moves to a new MME, the HSS will automatically cancel the information
on the previous MME.
Permanent and central subscriber database
Stores mobility and service data for every subscriber
Contains the Authentication Center (AuC) functionality.
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where traffic is routed from home network to UE by S8 interface,
Case 1:
Home Routed Traffic
By connecting Serving GW in vPLMN to PDN GW in hPLMN
GTP tunnel and MIPv6 options over the S8 interface
Also called Remote Breakout.

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When looking from the user point of view, E-UTRAN, UTRAN and GERAN, all provide similar
connectivity services. The difference may be appreciated by the user in term of the data rate
which is achieved and the improved performance in general.
But from the architecture point of view, those Access Networks (ANs) are quite different and many
things are carried out differently.
One example is the way how bearer are handled in the EPS network in comparison to GERAN and
UTRAN networks.
The EPC needs a few new interfaces and functions to inter-work with the UTRAN and the GERAN.
The new interfaces are S3,S4 and S12.
The interface from the SGSN to the HSS can be updated to S6d by introducing the Diameter
Protocol; but the used of the legacy Gr interface based on MAP is still possible.
Even if the inter-working interfaces do not run directly between the access networks, from the EPC
to the different AN, some new functions must be implement in the radio network: i.e UE to
measure and report different AN cell and the AN to decide on inter-system handovers.
In GSM/WCDMA inter-system handover to LTE, the anchor point is the SGSN.
In LTE inter-system handover to GSM/WCDMA , the anchor point is the S-GW.

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Generic inter-working solution is based on the S2 Interface. There are currently several variants of
this interface
No interfaces between the Access Networks (ANs)
Trusted non-3GPP AN: the network can run the 3GPP defined authentication procedure (AKA:
Authentication and Key Agreement). Otherwise it is considered an un-trusted non-3GPP AN.
The trusted non-3GPP AN is connected to EPC using S2a interface. Example of trusted non-3GPP
AN: cdma2000
Un-trusted non-3GPP AN is connected to EPC using S2b interface. Example of un-trusted non-3GPP
AN: WLAN (IEEE 802.11)
Both S2a & S2b use network controlled IP layer mobility with the PMIP protocol.
For networks that do not support PMIP, Client MIPv4 Foreign Agent Mode is available as an option
for S2a.
In addition to mobility functions, the architecture includes interfaces for authenticating the UE and
also Policy and Charging Control (PCC) functionalities via the Gxa and Gxb interfaces towards the
PCRF (Gxb no specified in Release 8).

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