WCDMA Air Interface Training

Part 5
WCDMA Acquisition,
Synchronization,
and Handover

5/038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5306 Rev B Part 5: 1 of 34 WCDMA Air Interface

1
 WCDMA Physical Layer Procedures
• Physical Layer Timing and procedures
Ø BS Downlink timing

Ø Fast Synchronization Codes

Synchronization Code 1 (PSC)
Synchronization Code 2 (SSCi )

Ø Downlink Scrambling Codes

Used by UE to distinguish desired Base Station
8192 possible codes, 64 Scrambling Code Groups

Ø Slot Synchronization
Ø Frame Synchronization

Ø System Timing Synchronization

Ø Soft Handover
Ø Random Access protocol

Ø Packet Access protocol

Ø Inter-Frequency Handover

5/038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5306 Rev B Part 5: 2 of 34 WCDMA Air Interface

2
 Downlink Transmission Timing
3GPP TS 25.211 ¶ 7.0
10 ms Frame 3GPP TS 25.211 ¶ 7.0

Primary SCH SCH (PSC+SSC)

P-CCPCH
Secondary SCH S-CCPCH
PICH
AICH
PDSCH
Common Pilot CPICH (Common Pilot Channel) DPCH
Channel

P-CCPCH, (SFN modulo 2 = 0) P-CCPCH, (SFN modulo 2 = 1)

Primary CCPCH
(Broadcast Data)

Secondary CCPCH ττ S-CCPCH,k k:th S-CCPCH

(Paging, Signaling) ττ PICH

Paging Indicator Channel PICH for n:th S-CCPCH

Dedicated Physical ττ DPCH,n

n:th DPCCH/DCDPH
Control/Data Channel

Downlink Shared Channel Any PDSCH

AICH access slots #0 #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8 #9 #10 #11 #12 #13 #14 ττ S-CCPCH,k = N x 256 chips
ττ DPCH,n = N x 256 chips

ττ PICH = 7680 chips (3 slots)

5/038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5306 Rev B Part 5: 3 of 34 WCDMA Air Interface

The above diagram shows very clearly the timing transmission of the various
downlink channels. The 256 chip gaps in the beginning of the P-CCPCH is to
allow transmission of the synchronization channels. This channel is
continuously transmitted from the base station and it is transmitted at the same
timing reference with the CPICH. Meanwhile, the secondary CCPCH is only
transmitted when there is data available. Therefore, it has its own transmission
timing. This timing offset is a multiple of one tenth of a slot in another words a
multiple of 256 chips. A time offset is allowed for the DPCCH and DCDCH to
perform the handover process, where two or more sources of DCDCH from
different base station should be aligned together. In the case of S-CCPCH the
PICH will inform the mobile for its coming channel.

3
 Downlink Scrambling Codes
3GPP TS 25.213 ¶ 5.2.2

• Downlink Scrambling Codes

3GPP TS 25.213 ¶ 5.2.2

Ø Used to distinguish Base Station transmissions on Downlink

Each Cell is assigned one and only one Primary Scrambling Code
The Cell always uses the assigned Primary Scrambling Code for the Primary and Secondary CCPCH’s
Secondary Scrambling Codes may be used over part of a cell, or for other data channels

8192 Downlink Scrambling Codes

Each code is 38,400 chips of a 2 18 - 1 (262,143 chip) Gold Sequence

Code Group #1 Code Group #64

Primary SC0 Primary SC7 Primary SC504 Primary SC511

Secondary Secondary Secondary Secondary

Scrambling Scrambling Scrambling Scrambling
Codes Codes Codes Codes
(15) (15) (15) (15)

5/038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5306 Rev B Part 5: 4 of 34 WCDMA Air Interface

As previously stated there are 8192 downlink scrambling codes available.

These are divides up into 64 groups of 8192/64 = 128. Each group is further
divided into 8 blocks. Each block contains 128/18 = 16 codes. One of these
codes is used as a primary synchronization code and the other 15 used for
secondary scrambling codes. The downlink scrambling codes are used to
maintain cell or sector separation. The total number of available primary
scrambling codes is 512. The grouping is done to facilitate fast cell search by
the mobile. This structure is shown above.
Each cell is assigned one primary scrambling code which can be used for the
primary and secondary CCPCH’s. Secondary scrambling codes from the same
group may be used over part of the cell for other data channels to produce an
overlaid cell structure.

4
 Downlink Scrambling Codes 3GPP TS 25.213 ¶ 5.2.2
3GPP TS 25.213 ¶ 5.2.2

• Downlink Scrambling Code Generation

10 mSec Gold Code formed by Modulo-2 Addition of 38,400 chips from two m-sequences

Primary Scrambling code i (where i = 0,...,511) is generated

Primary Scrambling code i (where i = 0,...,511) is generated
by offsetting the X sequence by (16*i) clock cycles from the Y sequence
by offsetting the X sequence by (16*i) clock cycles from the Y sequence

X 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

Q
Y 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

Initial Conditions:

x(0) =1; X(1)... X(17) = 0

y(0) ... Y(17) = 1

5/038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5306 Rev B Part 5: 5 of 34 WCDMA Air Interface

The diagram above depicts how the 3GPP specify how these primary
scrambling codes should be generated. It should be noted the 10 mSec or
38,400 chips of two separate codes are combined to produce the required Gold
code. This Cold code consist of two binary sequences x and y which are
generated using the generator polynomials 1+ X7 + X18 and
1+ X5 + X7 + X10 + X18, respectively. The initial values stored in each flip/flop
are as follows:
x(0)=1;x(1),….x(17)=0
y(0)…….y(17)=1
The total number of codes available using 18 registers are 218-1, the length of
these codes it only taken to be 38,400 chips.

5
 Synchronization Codes 3GPP TS 25.213 ¶ 5.2.3
3GPP TS 25.213 ¶ 5.2.3

• Synchronization Codes (PSC, SSC)

P-CCPCH

256 Chips 2304 Chips (PSC + SSC + BCH)

PSC
Broadcast Data (18 bits)
SSCi

Ø Broadcast by BS
First 256 chips of every SCH time slot

Ø Allows UE to achieve fast synchronization in an asynchronous system

Ø Primary Synchronization Code (PSC)

Fixed 256-chip sequence with base period of 16 chips
Provides fast positive indication of a WCDMA system
Allows fast asynchronous slot synchronization

Ø Secondary Synchronization Codes (SSC)

A set of 16 codes, each 256 bits long
Codes are arranged into one of 64 unique permutations
Specific arrangement of SSC codes provide UE with frame timing, BS “code group”

5/038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5306 Rev B Part 5: 6 of 34 WCDMA Air Interface

As previously stated the first 256 chips of the P-CCPCH is reserved for
transmission of the primary and secondary synchronization codes. These codes
are NOT scrambled with the primary scrambling code of the base station as
with all other channels. The reason for this is that all UEs use these codes to
firstly locate a WCDMA system and then locate a WCDMA CPICH.
These 256 chip codes are broadcast every SCH time slot which allows the UEs
to quickly synchronise to the the network.
The primary synchronization code (PSC) is used to notify the UEs that this is a
WCDMA system and also provides them with a reference to synchronize
themselves to the WCDMA slots. In other words after decoding the PSC the
UE know two things :-
• They have found a WCDMA system.
• They know when the slots start, so they know when to look for the secondary
sync codes.
The 16 secondary synchronization codes are arranged into one of 64 unique
combinations to signify the code group the BS common pilot physical channel
belongs to and what slot in the frame is presently being sent. In other words
after decoding the SSC the UE knows two more things:
• The code group used for the CPICH.
• When the next WCDMA frame is going to start.

6
 Primary Synchronization Code 3GPP TS 25.213 ¶ 5.2.3
3GPP TS 25.213 ¶ 5.2.3

• Primary Synchronization Code (PSC)

let a = <1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, -1, -1, 1, -1, 1, -1, 1, -1, -1, 1>
PSC(1...256) = < a, a, a, -a, -a, a, -a, -a, a, a, a, -a, a, -a, a, a >

Note: PSC is transmitted “Clear” (Without scrambling)

SCH BCH
256 Chips 2304 Chips

PSC
Broadcast Data (18 bits)
SSCi

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

1 Frame = 15 slots = 10 mSec

5/038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5306 Rev B Part 5: 7 of 34 WCDMA Air Interface

The diagram above shows how the PSC is transmitted to convey the slot
timing to the UEs. As can be seen the code and the inverse of the code is sent
according to a particular pattern. The PSC is chosen to have good aperiodic
auto correlation properties.
The SCH consist of two sub channels, the primary and secondary SCHs. The
SCH supplies short code to minimize the acquisition time of the long code.
The primary SCH is used to acquire the timing for the secondary SCH. It
consists of unmodulated code of length 256 chips, which is transmitted once
every slot. The primary synchronization code is the same for every base station
in the system and is transmitted time aligned with the slot boundary.

7
 Secondary Synchronization Code Group 3GPP TS 25.213 ¶ 5.2.3
3GPP TS 25.213 ¶ 5.2.3

• 16 Fixed 256-bit Codes; Codes arranged into one of 64 patterns

SSCi
Scrambling slot number
SSC 1 Code Group #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8 #9 #10 #11 #12 #13 #14 #15

SSC 2 Group 1 1 1 2 8 9 10 15 8 10 16 2 7 15 7 16
SSC 3 Group 2 1 1 5 16 7 3 14 16 3 10 5 12 14 12 10
SSC 4 Group 3 1 2 1 15 5 5 12 16 6 11 2 16 11 15 12
SSC 5 •• •• ••
SSC 6 SSC 1 SSC 15
•• •• ••
SSC 7 •• •• ••
SSC 8 Group 62 9 10 13 10 11 15 15 9 16 12 14 13 16 14 11

SSC 9 Group 63 9 11 12 15 12 9 13 13 11 14 10 16 15 14 16

SSC 10 Group 64 9 12 10 15 13 14 9 14 15 11 11 13 12 16 10

SSC 11
SSC 12
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
SSC 13
SSC 14 1 Frame = 15 slots = 10 mSec
SSC 15 Note:

SSC 16 The SSC patterns positively identify one and only one of the 64 Scrambling Code Groups.
This is possible because no cyclic shift of any SSC is equivalent to any cyclic shift of any other SSC.

5/038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5306 Rev B Part 5: 8 of 34 WCDMA Air Interface

The secondary SCH code carries information about the code group to which
the long PN code of the BS belongs. In this way, the search of long codes can
be limited to subset of all the codes.
The secondary SCH consists of one code of length 256 chips, which is
transmitted in parallel with the primary SCH. The secondary SCH is chosen
from a set of 16 different codes depending on which of the 32 different code
groups the base station down link scrambling code belongs.
The secondary SCH is modulated with a binary sequence of length 16 bits,
which is repeated for each frame.
This diagram shows clearly how the 16 SSCs are arranged into one of 64
unique patterns. The UEs can tell from the order in which the codes are
transmitted which scrambling code group the BS belongs to. Another benefit
of decoding these is that once 16 have been received the UE knows the BS
frame timing.

8
 Slot Synchronization 3GPP TS 25.214 Annex C
3GPP TS 25.214 Annex C

• Slot Synchronization using Primary Synchronization Code

10 mSec Frame (15 slots x 666.666 uSec)

PSC BCH PSC BCH PSC BCH PSC BCH PSC BCH Matched Filter
[1] Data [2] Data [3] Data [4] Data [15] Data (Matched to PSC)

P-CCPCH
(PSC)

Matched
Filter
Output

time

5/038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5306 Rev B Part 5: 9 of 34 WCDMA Air Interface

This diagram shows how the PSC is used to provide the UE with the required
slot synchronization. In practice this is used to tune a matched filter to the
timing of each slot. The slot timing of the cell can be obtained by detecting
peaks in the matched filter output.

9
 Frame Synchronization, SCG ID 3GPP TS 25.214 Annex C
3GPP TS 25.214 Annex C

• Frame Synchronization using Secondary Synchronization Code

10 mSec Frame (15 slots x 666.666 uSec)

SSC BCH SSC BCH SSC BCH SSC BCH SSC BCH
[1] Data [2] Data [3] Data [4] Data [15] Data

Matched Filter
SSC SSC SSC SSC SSC SSC SSC SSC SSC SSC SSC SSC SSC SSC SSC
[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] Matched to SSC
code group pattern
SSC Code Group Pattern provides

Matched • Frame Synchronization

Filter
• Positive ID of Scrambling Code Group
Output
Remember, no cyclic shift of any SSC is equal to any other SSC

time

5/038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5306 Rev B Part 5: 10 of 34 WCDMA Air Interface

This diagram shows how the UE achieves frame synchronization after

receiving 16 secondary synchronization codes. This is done by correlating the
received signal with all possible secondary SCH code sequences and
identifying the maximum correlation value. Because the cyclic shifts of the
sequence are unique, the code group and the frame synchronization are
determined.

10
 Random Access 3GPP TS 25.211 ¶ 7.3
3GPP TS 25.211 ¶ 7.3

• Random Access Attempt and AICH Indication

RACH

AICH

4096 chips
(1.066 msec) Pre- RACH
Pre- amble
Pre- amble message part
UE amble (UE Identification)

BS No No Acq.
Ind. Ind. Ind.

5/038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5306 Rev B Part 5: 11 of 34 WCDMA Air Interface

Random access is a process where a mobile station request an access to the

system, and the network answers the request and allocates a traffic channel for
the mobile station. Random access happens when the mobile power is
switched on or the synchronization is lost for any reason. This process is
carried out for packet data transmission whenever there is something to
transmit. The speed of the access process and low transmission power is very
critical for the WCDMA system. The number of access channels depends on
the anticipated access load. Information transmitted during the random access
state will have an effect on the speed of the process. It is important to
minimize the transmitted power during the random access because excessive
power will degrade the CDMA system capacity. This is essential since the
random access transmission power can not be controlled by the fast inner loop
power control. Initial transmission with low power means a long time to
access. On the other hand, high power during the initial access causes high
interference to other users.
This diagram shows how the UE sends an access preamble to the BS until it
receives an access indicator channel before sending the RACH message.

11
 Random Access Procedure 3GPP TS 25.214 ¶ 6.1
3GPP TS 25.214 ¶ 6.1

• Prior to initiating a Random Access attempt,

the UE receives:

- The preamble scrambling code for this cell

- The available random access signatures and set of available RACH sub-channels

- The available spreading factors for the message part

- The message length (10 ms or 20 ms)

- Initial preamble power parameter

- The power-ramping factor Power Ramp Step [integer > 0]

- The parameter Preamble Retrans Max [integer > 0]

- The AICH transmission timing parameter [0 or 1]

- The power offset ∆P

∆ p-m between preamble and the message part.

- Transport Format parameters

5/038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5306 Rev B Part 5: 12 of 34 WCDMA Air Interface

This information can be read from the BCH once the correct primary common
control channel has been found, by searching for a pilot channel in the code
group worked out from the secondary synchronization channel.
The minimum information that needed to be transmitted during a random
access attempt is some kind of mobile identification. A typical random access
message consists of preamble, synchronization part, and data part. The data
part contains at least the mobile station identification, while the preamble is an
non modulated wide band spread signal.

12
 Random Access Preamble Signatures 3GPP TS 25.213 ¶ 4.3.3.3
3GPP TS 25.213 ¶ 4.3.3.3

Random Access Preamble Signature Symbols

Signature P0 P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8 P9 P 10 P 11 P 12 P 13 P 14 P15

0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
1 1 -1 1 -1 1 -1 1 -1 1 -1 1 -1 1 -1 1 -1
2 1 1 -1 -1 1 1 -1 -1 1 1 -1 -1 1 1 -1 -1
3 1 -1 -1 1 1 -1 -1 1 1 -1 -1 1 1 -1 -1 1
4 1 1 1 1 -1 -1 -1 -1 1 1 1 1 -1 -1 -1 -1
5 1 -1 1 -1 -1 1 -1 1 1 -1 1 -1 -1 1 -1 1
6 1 1 -1 -1 -1 -1 1 1 1 1 -1 -1 -1 -1 1 1
7 1 -1 -1 1 -1 1 1 -1 1 -1 -1 1 -1 1 1 -1
8 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1
9 1 -1 1 -1 1 -1 1 -1 -1 1 -1 1 -1 1 -1 1
10 1 1 -1 -1 1 1 -1 -1 -1 -1 1 1 -1 -1 1 1
11 1 -1 -1 1 1 -1 -1 1 -1 1 1 -1 -1 1 1 -1
12 1 1 1 1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 1 1 1 1
13 1 -1 1 -1 -1 1 -1 1 -1 1 -1 1 1 -1 1 -1
14 1 1 -1 -1 -1 -1 1 1 -1 -1 1 1 1 1 -1 -1
15 1 -1 -1 1 -1 1 1 -1 -1 1 1 -1 1 -1 -1 1

• Preamble codes are 16-long Orthogonal Codes.

• Preamble = [ P 0, P1, … P15 ] repeated 256 times (4096 chips total).

• Preamble codes help the BS distinguish between UE making simultaneous Random Access Attempts.

5/038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5306 Rev B Part 5: 13 of 34 WCDMA Air Interface

The table above shows the 16 available random access signatures.

The UE will use one of these when sending the preamble to the BS. When the
BS replies with the access indication it will use the same signature to
distinguish which UE it is responding to. It must be remembered that
numerous UEs could be sending preambles at the same time. These preamble
signatures are orthogonal codes. Therefore, the BS can identify each user
making random access.
You could think of this in terms of call signs used in amateur radio, that is you
broadcast your message using your call sign. In response your call sign will be
used by the other party.

13
 Random Access Scrambling Codes 3GPP TS 25.213 ¶ 4.3.3
3GPP TS 25.213 ¶ 4.3.3

• Random Access Preamble Scrambling Codes

Ø Preamble Scrambling Code is a 4096-chip segment of a 225 -long Gold Code

Ø The UE targets one BS by using the BS’s indicated preamble scrambling

code

“All UE accessing this cell “All UE accessing this cell

shall use Random Access shall use Random Access
Preamble Spreading Code n1 ” Preamble Spreading Code n2 ”

5/038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5306 Rev B Part 5: 14 of 34 WCDMA Air Interface

Also included in the BCH is the scrambling code that should be used by UEs
accessing the cell.
The preamble scrambling sequence are constructed of two binary m-sequences
generated by means of two generator polynomials x, and y of degree 25. The x
sequence polynomial is x25 + x3 + 1. The y sequence polynomial is x25 + x3 +
x2 + x + 1.
The example above shows that BS 1 is transmitting a message like “All UE
accessing this cell shall use random access preamble spreading code n1”. BS 2
would be transmitting a message like “All UE accessing this cell shall use
random access preamble spreading code n2”.

14
 Acquisition Indicator Channel 3GPP TS 25.211¶ 5.3.3.6
3GPP TS 25.211¶ 5.3.3.6

• Acquisition Indicator Channel (AICH)

Ø Transmits Acquisition Indicators in response to UE Access Attempts
Ø AI’s are derived from the UE’s Access Preamble Signature
Identifies the UE which is the target of the AICH response

AI part 1024 chips

15
a j = ∑ AIsbs , j a0 a1 a2 a30 a31 (Transmission Off)
s =0

AS #14 AS #0 AS #1 AS #i AS #14 AS #0

20 ms

5/038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5306 Rev B Part 5: 15 of 34 WCDMA Air Interface

The acquisition indicator channel (AICH) is a physical channel used to carry

acquisition indicators, which corresponds to a certain signature that the UE
selected randomly on the PRACH. AICH is a fixed rate (SF=256) and it
consists of a repeated sequence of 15 consecutive access slots each of length
5120 chips. Each access slot consists of two parts, an Acquisition Indicator
(AI) part consisting of 32 symbols and a part of duration 1024 chip. The AI
part takes the values +1, -1, and 0. The bs,j is the signature pattern.
The higher layers inform the UE about the relative transmit power of the
AICH.
This diagram shows the structure of the access indicator channel as specified
by the 3GPP. The access indication part is derived from the UE’s access
preamble signature. It should be noticed that there is a period of 1024 chips
where there is no transmission in this channel.

15
 Random Access Message 3GPP TS 25.211¶ 5.2.2
3GPP TS 25.211¶ 5.2.2

• Random Access Message

Ø Sent only after positive AICH indication

RACH Data Slot (0.666 mSec)

Random Access Message (10, 20, 40, or 80 bits per slot) I

RACH Message Slot (0.666 mSec)

Pilot (8 bits) TFCI (2 bits) Q

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

1 Frame = 15 slots = 10 mSec

5/038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5306 Rev B Part 5: 16 of 34 WCDMA Air Interface

The 10 ms message part radio frame is split into 15 slots, each of length
T=2560 chips. Each slot consists of two parts, a data part that carries layer 2
information and a control part that carries layer 1 control information. The data
and control parts are transmitted in parallel. The data part consists of 10·b2k
bits, where k=0, 1, 2, 3. This corresponds to a spreading factors of 256, 128,
64, and 32, respectively, for the data message part.
The control part consists of eight known pilot bits to support channel
estimation for coherent detection and two TFCI bits. This corresponds to a
spreading factor of 256 for the message control part.
The random access message which is sent by the UE after it has received the
acquisition indicator channel is shown above. The RACH data slot is sent to
the I input and the message slot is sent to the Q input of the RF modulator.

16
 3GPP TS 25.211 ¶ 5.2.2.1.1

Random Access Offset Timing 3GPP TS 25.211 ¶ 5.2.2.1.1

• Random Access Procedure

Set of available RACH sub-channels determined by upper layers, sent over BCH.
UE derive available access slots in the next full access slot set and selects slot based
on pseudo-random algorithm

radio frame: 10 ms radio frame: 10 ms

SFN mod 2 = 0 SFN mod 2 = 1

AICH access slot

RX at UE
#0 #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8 #9 #10 #11 #12 #13 #14

PRACH access slot

TX at UE #0 #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8 #9 #10 #11 #12 #13 #14

{
Access slot set 1 Access slot set 2

#0 P P + every 12th access slot

#1 P P + every 12th access slot

RACH sub-channel P P + every 12th access slot

#2
number
#3 P + every 12th access slot
•
•
# 10 P + every 12th access slot

+ every 12th access slot

# 11 P

5/038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5306 Rev B Part 5: 17 of 34 WCDMA Air Interface

The above figure shows the access slots of AICH and PRACH and their
relative spacing. There are 15 access slots per two frames and they are spaced
5120 chips apart. These are used to coordinate the timing of the RACHs. The
figure also shows the 12 sub-channels of RACH.
P = preamble

17
 Acquisition and Synchronization

• Physical Layer Procedures P-CCPCH

1) UE Acquisition and Synchronization (PSC + SSC + BCH)

Initiate Cell Synchronization

UE Monitors Primary SCH code, detects peak in matched filter output

Slot Synchronization Determined ------>

UE Monitors Secondary SCH code, detects SCG and frame start time offset

Frame Synchronization and Code Group Determined ------>

UE Determines Scrambling Code by correlating all possible codes in group

Scrambling Code Determined ------>

UE Monitors and decodes BCH data

BCH data, Super-frame synchronization determined ------>

UE adjusts transmit timing to match timing of BS + 1.5 Chips

Cell Synchronization Complete

5/038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5306 Rev B Part 5: 18 of 34 WCDMA Air Interface

This diagram displays how all these steps are performed by the mobile to
achieve synchronization.
Slot synchronization: during the first step of the cell search procedure, the
mobile station uses the SCH’s primary synchronization code to acquire slot
synchronization to a cell. This can be done with a single matched filter to
match the primary SCH code that is common to all cells. The slot timing of the
cell can be obtained by detecting peaks in the matched filter output.
Frame synchronization and code-group identification: the mobile station uses
the SCH’s secondary synchronization code to find the frame synchronization
and identify the code group of the cell.
The mobile station determines the exact primary scrambling code used by the
cell. The primary scrambling code typically identified through symbol by
symbol correlation over the CPICH with all codes within the code group. After
the primary scrambling code are identified, the primary CCPCH can be
detected. And the system and cell specific BCH can be read.

18
 Random Access
P-CCPCH
• Physical Layer Procedures (PSC + SSC + BCH)

2) UE Requests System Access and Registration

Cell Synchronization Complete

UE Reads Random Access parameters from BS;

Calculates Random Access probe power

Initiate Random Access Attempt;

Respond to Authentication challenge

When system Registration is complete,

UE enters Idle mode

5/038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5306 Rev B Part 5: 19 of 34 WCDMA Air Interface

The second stage is to send the RACH. When cell synchronization is complete
the UE reads the random access parameters scrambling code, slots available
etc and used the measured power from the BS to calculate the power required
to access the system. This is the power that will be used for the RACH. From
this point it will initiate the RACH and respond to authentication challenge
from the BS. When this is complete the UE will enter idle mode.

19
 Establishing a Dedicated Channel 3GPP TS 25.214 ¶ 4.3.2
3GPP TS 25.214 ¶ 4.3.2

• Physical Layer Procedures

3) Establishing a Dedicated Channel

UE in Idle Mode

BS Begins transmission of downlink DPCCH/DPDCH

UE Establishes chip and frame sync to UTRAN

UE begins transmission of Reverse Link Channel,

Responds to TPC bits from BS

UTRAN establishes Reverse Link chip and frame sync,

Responds to TPC bits from UE

UE and BS notify upper layers

that synchronization is complete

Dedicated Channel Established

5/038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5306 Rev B Part 5: 20 of 34 WCDMA Air Interface

From the idle mode the UE may require a dedicated channel following the
process above. We can see the various stages performed as part of the closed
loop power control process.

20
 Packet Channel Access 3GPP TS 25.211 ¶ 7.4
3GPP TS 25.211 ¶ 7.4
CSICH
AP-AICH
CD/CA-ICH
DPCCH CCC (CPCH Control Commands)
e.g., Start-of-Message , Emergency-Stop
AP
CDP
PCPCH
PCPCH control part DL-DPCCH Slot (SF=256)

TPC TFCI CCC Pilot

CSICH AP-AICH CD/CA-ICH

PCPCH PC-Preamble Slot (SF=256) PCPCH Control part (SF=256)

Pilot TFCI FBI TPC Pilot TFCI FBI TPC

PCPCH (Data); SF 4 to 256

AP CDP
AP

PCPCH
Power Control Uplink Data Packet
Preamble ‘N’ x 10 msec Frames
(0 or 8 slots)

5/038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5306 Rev B Part 5: 21 of 34 WCDMA Air Interface

The above diagram depicts the stages that the UE and BS go through when
establishing a packet channel.
The BS transmits the common packet channel status indicator channel
(CSICH) informing the UE about the availability of the common packet
channels. This channel is sent in the unused 1024 chips of the acquisition
indicator channel.
The UE will send an access preamble in the same way as explained for the
RACH, however this time the BS responds using the access preamble
acquisition indicator channel (AP-AICH). Upon receiving this the UE will
send the collision detection preamble. The BS will respond to the UE with a
collision detection and channel assignment indicator channel in parallel, using
the preamble signature sent by the UE.
The UE will then send 0 or 8 slots of PCPCH control part that contains pilot,
TFCI, FBI and TPC bits that are used as part of the closed loop power control
function.
Once under power control the UE will begin to send the packet using SF 4 top
256. This channel will be controlled by the downlink dedicated physical
control channels (DPCCH).
It should be noticed that the UE is sending the PCPCH on the I branch and the
PCPCH control part on the Q branch of the I/Q modulator and the the BS is
only sending a control channel.

21
 Packet Channel Access 3GPP TS 25.211 ¶ 7.4
3GPP TS 25.211 ¶ 7.4

• Prior to Packet Access, the UE receives from the UTRAN:

+ UL Access Preamble (AP) scrambling code.

+ UL Access Preamble signature set.

+ The Access Preamble slot sub-channels group.

+ AP- AICH Preamble channelization code.

+ UL Collision Detection(CD) preamble scrambling code.

+ CD Preamble signature set.

+ CD Preamble slot sub-channels group.

+ CD-AICH Preamble channelization code.

+ CPCH UL scrambling code.

+ DPCCH DL channelization code.([512] chip).

+ CSICH/CA message indicating channel availability

5/038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5306 Rev B Part 5: 22 of 34 WCDMA Air Interface

22
 CPCH Status Indicator Channel 3GPP TS 25.211¶ 5.3.3.6
3GPP TS 25.211¶ 5.3.3.6

• CPCH Status Indicator Channel (CSICH)

Ø Transmits Indicators to convey PCPH Channel Availability

1024 chips
8 bits/slot
4096 chips
SF = 256
Higher layers provide
mapping of status
(Transmission Off) b0 b1 b2 b3 b4 b5 b6 b7
indicators to availability
of CPCH resources

AS #14 AS #0 AS #1 AS #i AS #14 AS #0

20 ms

5/038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5306 Rev B Part 5: 23 of 34 WCDMA Air Interface

The diagram above shows the structure of the common packet channel status
indicator channel (CSICH) that is used to indicate the availability of physical
common packet channels. The CSICH is a fixed rate (SF=256) and it is always
associated with a physical channel used for transmission of CPCH AP-AICH
and uses the same channelization and scrambling codes.
It should be noted that 15 of these channels are transmitted in 20 ms. It should
be noted that the first 4096 chips are not used, which allows time for the access
preamble indicator channel (AP-AICH).

23
 Access Preamble Indicator Channel 3GPP TS 25.211¶ 5.3.3.6
3GPP TS 25.211¶ 5.3.3.6

• Access Preamble Indicator Channel (AP-AICH)

Ø Transmits Indicators in response to UE CPCH Access Attempt
Ø API’s are derived from the UE’s CPCH Access Preamble Signature
Identifies the UE which is the target of the AP-AICH response

15
a j = ∑ API sbs, j
s =0 1024 chips

a0 a1 a2 a30 a31 (Transmission Off)

AS #14 AS #0 AS #1 AS #i AS #14 AS #0

20 ms

5/038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5306 Rev B Part 5: 24 of 34 WCDMA Air Interface

The diagram above shows the structure of the access preamble indicator
channel (AP-AICH). 4096 chips derived from the UE's access preamble
signature are used to identify which UE is being responded to. The last 1024
chips are not used as the CPCH status indicator channel is transmitted in this
time.

24
 CD/CA Indicator Channel 3GPP TS 25.211¶ 5.3.3.6
3GPP TS 25.211¶ 5.3.3.6

• Collision Detection/Channel Assignment Indicator Channel

Ø Transmits Acquisition Indicators in response to UE CD preambles

Ø CDI’s are derived from the UE’s CD Preamble Signature

Ø Optionally may transmit CPCH Channel Assignment Indicators

15 15
a j = ∑ CDI sbs, j + ∑ CAIs bs , j
s =0 s= 0 1024 chips

a0 a1 a2 a30 a31 (Transmission Off)

AS #14 AS #0 AS #1 AS #i AS #14 AS #0

20 ms

5/038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5306 Rev B Part 5: 25 of 34 WCDMA Air Interface

The collision detection channel assignment indicator channel (CD/CA-ICH) is

a fixed rate (SF=256) physical channel used to carry CDI or/and CA. The
CD/CA-ICH has a part of duration of 4096 chips followed by a part of duration
1024 chips with no transmission. This part is reserved for possible use by
CSICH or possible future use by other physical channels.
This diagram shows the structure of the collision detection and channel
assignment indicator channel. These channels are sent in response to the UE’s
collision detection preamble. The collision detection indication is derived
from the collision detection preamble sent by the UE. The system has the
option to send common packet channel assignment indicators. The channel
assignment indicator channel is sent in parallel with the collision indicator
channel, each channel having a sixteen bit pattern.

25
 WCDMA Soft Handover
• Each cell uses a different Scrambling Code

• Each cell has an independent time reference

• CPICH and System Frame timing between cells is arbitrary

Originating BS SC5 Destination BS

SC6

SC1

SC7 SC8 SC4

5/038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5306 Rev B Part 5: 26 of 34 WCDMA Air Interface

The handover procedure can be divided into three phases: measurement,

decision, and execution phase. In the handover measurement phase, the typical
downlink measurements performed by the mobile station are signal quality and
signal strengths of its cell and neighboring cells. In the uplink, the base station
measures signal quality. The measurement results are signaled to relevant
network elements, to mobile stations, and BSC. In the handover decision
phase, sometimes also called the evaluation phase, the measurement results are
compared against predefined thresholds and it is decided whether handover
should be initiated ore not. In addition, admission control is performed to
verify that the new user can be accommodated into the new base station
without degrading the quality of the existing users. In the execution phase, the
mobile station enters the soft Handover state, a new base station is added or
released.
Soft handover is an important feature of CDMA to avoid excessive
interference from neighboring cells also it brings increased performance by
increasing diversity.
If we now have a closer look at the WCDMA soft handover process we can
clearly see that each cell will have a different scrambling code and a different
timing reference. This will mean that there will be an arbitrary timing
difference between the frames and common pilot channel (CPICH) form each
base station.

26
 The WCDMA Soft Handover Problem...

• WCDMA Base Stations have Asynchronous timing references

IS-95/cdma2000 BS’s are synchronized to GPS!
0.666 msec DPCCH/DPDCH slot
Data 1 TPC TFCI Data 2 Pilot

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

10 msec DPCCH/DPDCH frame

BS 2
CPICH 2 CPICH 2 CPICH 2 CPICH 2
BS 1 DPCCH/DPDCH DPCCH/DPDCH DPCCH/DPDCH DPCCH/DPDCH
10 msec
frame

CPICH 1 CPICH 1 CPICH 1 CPICH 1

DPCCH/DPDCH DPCCH/DPDCH DPCCH/DPDCH DPCCH/DPDCH

Toffset

5/038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5306 Rev B Part 5: 27 of 34 WCDMA Air Interface

Before entering soft hand over, the mobile station measures the observed
timing difference of the downlink SCH from the two base station. The mobile
station reports the timing references back to the serving base station. The
timing of a new downlink hand over connection is adjusted with a resolution of
one symbol. This is done for the dedicated downlink signals from the two base
station. This enables the mobile Rake receiver to collect the macro diversity
from the two base stations.
This problem can be clearly seen in the above diagram. The time difference
(Toffset ) can clearly be seen. This problem is not present in IS-95 or
CDMA2000 networks as all base stations are synchronized to GPS. One
downside of this system is that micro sites are difficult to install especially
indoors as the GPS antenna may need to be installed outside.

27
 WCDMA Handover Scenarios 3GPP TS 25.832
3GPP TS 25.832

Core Network

Iu Iu

RNS RNS
Iur
RNC RNC

←UTRAN → Iub
Iub Iub Iub

Node B Node B Node B Node B

Inter-Node Inter-RNS Intra-Node

(Hard or Soft) (Soft with Iur; (Softer)
Hard with no Iur)

5/038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5306 Rev B Part 5: 28 of 34 WCDMA Air Interface

Before we look at how this problem is solved it is useful to look at the different
handover scenarios that can occur. Handovers between sectors on cells that are
connected to the same are referred to as “inter-Node” handovers, these can be
either hard or soft.
When the target sector is controlled by another RNC the handover is termed
“inter-RNS”. It should be noted that if this is a soft handover the Iur interface
is used to pass information between the RNSs. This interface is not used if a
hard handover is performed.
The last scenario that needs to be considered is when the handover is occurring
between sectors on the same base station or node B. This type of handover is
called “intra-Node” or softer.
As is shown in the above figure, it is composed of core network, wireless
access net and users terminals. For the core network, it is mainly based on two
kinds of networks in the 2nd generation of mobile communication GSM
network based on MAP and CDMA based on IS-41.

28
 WCDMA Soft Handover 3GPP TS 25.401 ¶ 9.0
3GPP TS 25.401 ¶ 9.0

• To facilitate asynchronous handover, timing adjustments are made

by the UE, the RNC, and the Core Network
Core Network

Vocoder

Time
Alignment
UTRAN

RNS RNS
RNC RNC

Transport Channel
Frame Alignment
Node B Node B Node B Node B Node B Node B

Radio
Synchronization
UE

5/038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5306 Rev B Part 5: 29 of 34 WCDMA Air Interface

In WCDMA for third generation systems with asymmetric traffic, many

decision parameters are needed. At least the following parameters can be
identified:
•Distance attenuation;
•Uplink interference;
•Downlink interference.
In reality, there are delays associated with adding and removing the pilots from
the active set.
For the handover process to function in the WCDMA asynchronous network
timing adjustments must be made in the core network at the Vocoder stage.
The UTRAN must also adjust the transport channel frame alignment and also
synchronize the radio interface.

29
 WCDMA Soft Handover
• Soft Handover Initiation
(1) (2) (3) (4)

UTRAN informs UE of UE measures UE Reports measurements to UTRAN decides

neighboring cell CPICH power and time delay UTRAN the handover
information from adjacent cells strategy

BS 2
CPICH 2 CPICH 2 CPICH 2 CPICH 2
BS 1
10 msec
frame

CPICH 1 CPICH 1 CPICH 1 CPICH 1

DPCCH/DPDCH DPCCH/DPDCH DPCCH/DPDCH DPCCH/DPDCH

UE Reports Toffset Toffset

to UTRAN

UTRAN

5/038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5306 Rev B Part 5: 30 of 34 WCDMA Air Interface

The flowchart shows the first 4 stages of WCDMA soft handover. In stage 1
the UTRAN informs the UE of the neighboring cell information, scrambling
code, power etc using the broadcast channel, this is similar to the BA list
transmitted by base stations in GSM networks. In stage 2 the UE measures the
Common pilot channel (CPICH) power and time delay from the cells in the list
of neighbors that is Toffset . Stage 3 is when the UE sends these measurements
back to the UTRAN. The UTRAN will then decide if a handover should be
performed based on these measurements.

30
 WCDMA Soft Handover
• Soft Handover Execution
(5) (6) (7) (8)
UTRAN Commands BS2 to UE Rake Receiver UE in soft handover When BS2 sufficiently strong
adjust DPCH timing by Synchronizes to BS2 with BS1 and BS2 compared to BS1, drop BS1.
Toffset DPCCH/DPDCH DPCCH/DPDCH’s (Handover complete)

BS 2
CPICH 2 CPICH 2 CPICH 2 CPICH 2
BS 1 DPCCH/DPDCH DPCCH/DPDCH DPCCH/DPDCH DPCCH/DPDCH
10 msec
frame

CPICH 1 CPICH 1 CPICH 1 CPICH 1

DPCCH/DPDCH DPCCH/DPDCH DPCCH/DPDCH DPCCH/DPDCH

Toffset

UE Reports Toffset Toffset

to UTRAN

UTRAN Commands BS2

UTRAN to adjust DPCH timing
by Toffset

5/038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5306 Rev B Part 5: 31 of 34 WCDMA Air Interface

Stage five shows the UTRAN commanding BS2 to adjust the DPCH timing by
Toffset. The rake receiver in the UE will then synchronize to the dedicated
physical data and control channels (DPDCH & DPCCH) of BS2. Once
complete the UE is then said to be in soft handover with BS 2. The final stage
8 shown here is when the signal form BS2 is sufficiently strong to allow the
connection to BS 1 to be dropped. The handover is then complete.
It should be noted that the timing of the dedicated channels on BS2 is adjusted,
the pilot channel is not as this is being used by other UEs.

31
 Inter-Frequency Handover
• Inter-frequency Handover

Ø To allow inter-frequency measurements, data is compressed in time so that

some of the 10 mSec frame is available for measurements.

8 to 14 slots per frame may be used

Ø Data compression can be accomplished by:

Decreasing the Spreading Factor by 2:1

– Increases Data Rate so bits get through twice as fast!

Puncturing bits
– weakens FEC coding

Higher layer scheduling

– Reduces available timeslots for user traffic

5/038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5306 Rev B Part 5: 32 of 34 WCDMA Air Interface

Another type of handover supported by the WCDMA network is inter-

frequency handover. This type of handover could occur in networks that have
more than one WCDMA channel available. That is in areas of traffic hot spots
base stations may extra transceivers on different carriers. The UE’s must be
given time to make the necessary measurements on the different WCDMA
carrier frequency. To allow this time some of the slots in the 10 ms frame are
unused. When this is employed only 8 to 14 slots per frame are used.
This compressed mode operation can be achieved in three different methods;
• Decreasing the spreading factor by 2:1. This will increase the data rate so bits
will get through twice as fast.
• Puncturing bits. This will remove various bits from the original data and
hence reduce the amount of information that needs to be transmitted. At the
receiver logic “1s” will be inserted into the positions where the data was
removed and the receiver error correcting used to recreate the original data.
• The higher layer scheduling could also be changed to use less timeslots for
user traffic.

32
 Compressed Mode Operation 3GPP TS 25.212 ¶ 4.4.3
3GPP TS 25.212 ¶ 4.4.3

• 1 to 7 slots per frame diverted for hard handover processes

The complete TFCI word must be transmitted every frame, even in Compressed Mode.
Compressed Mode Slot formats (A,B) contain higher proportion of TFCI bits per slot compared with normal slots.

10 mSec Frames (15 slots)

Normal Operation
11 12 13 14 15 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
1 2 3 4 5 6

Compressed-Mode; single-frame method

11 12 13 14 15 1 2 3 4 5 11 12 13 14 15
1 2 3 4 5 6

Transmission Gap

Compressed-Mode; double-frame method

11 12 13 14 15 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 4 5 6

Transmission Gap

5/038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5306 Rev B Part 5: 33 of 34 WCDMA Air Interface

The diagram shows how 1 to 7 slots per frame are diverted to allow this time
for the UE to perform this intra frequency (hard handover). As can be seen
these slots can either be in the middle of the frame (single frame) or spread
over two frames as is the case in the double frame method.
It should be noted that the transmit format combination indicator which
informs the receiver as to the makeup of the DPDCH frame must be sent in
every frame. For this reason timeslots in compressed mode will contain a
higher proportion of TFCI bits.

33
 Handover to/from GSM
• Handover to/from GSM
Ø GSM handover is an explicit requirement in WCDMA
Ø Facilitated by commonality of multi-frame structures

12 WCDMA 10 mSec Frames (120 ms)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

GSM 26-frame TCH multiframe (120 ms)

T T T T T T T T T T T T S T T T T T T T T T T T T I

T = Traffic Frame
S = SACCH Frame
I = Idle Frame

5/038 13 - EN/LZU 108 5306 Rev B Part 5: 34 of 34 WCDMA Air Interface

The last type of handover supported by the WCDMA is that to the GSM
network. Since this was an explicit requirement of the WCDMA network it
explains why the 10 mSec frame length was chosen. 12 WCDMA frames will
correspond to 26 GSM TCH multi frames as shown.
It should also be remembered that the WCDMA air interface channel is
specified to have a 200 kHz raster, that is WCDMA channels will separated
from each other by multiples of 200 kHz which is the width of a GSM carrier.
This simplifies the process of handing over between the two systems.

34