UMTS ...

3G Technology and Concepts

GSM/GPRS network architecture

Radio access network
BSS

GSM/GPRS core network

VLR

BTS
MS

GMSC

BSC

HLR

PCU

AuC

SGSN

EIR

BTS
IP
Backbone

GGSN

database

Internet

PSTN, ISDN

MSC

3GPP Rel.99 network architecture

Radio access network
UTRAN
RNC

Iu CS

BS
UE

MSC

GMSC

VLR
HLR

Iur

Uu
Iub

RNC

BS

Iu PS

AuC

SGSN

EIR
Gn

IP
Backbone

GGSN

database

Internet

PSTN

Iub

Core network (GSM/GPRSbased)

3GPP Rel.99 network architecture

Radio access network
UTRAN
Iub

RNC

BS
UE

Iur

Uu
Iub
BS

RNC

2G => 3G
MS => UE
(User Equipment), often
also called (user) terminal
New air (radio) interface
based on WCDMA access
technology
New RAN architecture
(Iur interface is available
for soft handover,
BSC => RNC)

3GPP Rel.99 network architecture

MSC is upgraded to
3G MSC

Core network (GSM/GPRSbased)

Iu CS

MSC

GMSC

VLR

SGSN is upgraded to
3G SGSN
GMSC and GGSN
remain the same
AuC is upgraded
(more security
features in 3G)

HLR

Iu PS

AuC

SGSN

EIR
Gn

IP
Backbone

GGSN

Internet

PSTN

Changes in the core

network:

3GPP Rel.4 network architecture

UTRAN
(UMTS Terrestrial
Radio Access
Network)

Circuit Switched (CS)

core network
MSC
Server

New option in Rel.4:

GERAN
(GSM and EDGE
Radio Access
Network)

MGW

SGW
MGW

PS core as in Rel.99

PSTN

SGW

GMSC
Server

3GPP Rel.4 network architecture

MSC Server takes care
of call control signalling

Circuit Switched (CS)

core network

The user connections

are set up via MGW
(Media GateWay)

MSC
Server

RANAP / ISUP

SS7
MTP

IP
Sigtran

MGW

SGW
MGW

PS core as in Rel.99

PSTN

Lower layer protocol

conversion in SGW
(Signalling GateWay)

SGW

GMSC
Server

3GPP Rel.5 network architecture

MGW

New core
network part:

IMS (IP
Multimedia
System)
SGSN

HSS

GGSN

PS core

Internet

GERAN
(GSM and EDGE
Radio Access
Network)

CS core
PSTN

UTRAN
(UMTS Terrestrial
Radio Access
Network)

3GPP Rel.5 network architecture

Interworking with the

PSTN may be required
for some time ...

MGW

IMS (IP
Multimedia
System)
SGSN

HSS

GGSN

PS core

Internet / other IMS

Call/session control
using SIP (Session
Initiating Protocol)

CS core
PSTN

The IMS can establish

multimedia sessions
(using IP transport)
via PS core between
UE and Internet (or
another IMS)

UMTS bearer service architecture

TE

MT

UTRAN

CN Iu
edge node

UE

CN
gateway

TE

Core network
End-to-end service

Local b.s.

UMTS bearer service

Radio access bearer service

Radio b.s.

Radio Bearer

Iu b.s.

Ext. b.s.
CN b.s.
Backbone

Radio Access Bearer

What is a bearer?
Bearer: a bearer capability of defined capacity, delay
and bit error rate, etc. (as defined in 3GPP specs.)
Bearer is a flexible concept designating some kind of
bit pipe
at a certain network level (see previous slide)
between certain network entities
with certain QoS attributes, capacity, and traffic
flow characteristics
Four UMTS QoS Classes

conversational, streaming, interactive, background

UMTS QoS (service) classes

Conversational

Streaming

Interactive

Background

low delay

reasonably low
delay

low round-trip
delay

delay is not
critical

low delay
variation

speech
video
telephony/
conferencing

basic QoS requirements

video streaming

audio streaming

www
applications
basic
applications

store-andforward
applications
(e-mail, SMS)
file transfer

Four UMTS QoS (service) classes

Conversational

Streaming

Interactive

Background

low delay (< 400 ms) and low delay variation

BER requirements not so stringent
in the radio network => real-time (RT) connections
speech (using AMR = Adaptive Multi-Rate speech coding)
video telephony / conferencing:
ITU-T Rec. H.324 (over circuit switched connections)
ITU-T Rec. H.323 or IETF SIP (over packet switched
connections)

Adaptive Multi-Rate coding

Adaptive

<=>
During the call,
the AMR bit rate
can be changed,
using the values
at the right
<=>
Codec negotiation
between transcoders

kbit/s
12.2 (= GSM EFR)
10.2
7.95
7.40 (= US TDMA)
6.70 (= PDC EFR)
5.90
EFR = Enhanced
5.15
Full Rate
4.75

Transcoding
UE

MSC
TC

GMSC

User B
(e.g. in PSTN)

Transcoder (AMR/PCM) should be located as far as

possible to the right (transmission capacity savings)
TC

(possible only if same coding is used at both

ends of connection)

Transcoding should be avoided altogether (better signal

quality)
TFO = Tandem Free Operation (2G)
TrFO = Transcoder Free Operation (3G)

Four UMTS QoS (service) classes

Conversational

Streaming

Interactive

Background

reasonably low delay and delay variation

BER requirements quite stringent
traffic management important (variable bit rate)
in the radio network => real-time (RT) connections
video streaming
audio streaming

UE

Source
Buffer

video or audio information is buffered in the UE,

large delay => buffer is running out of content!

Four UMTS QoS (service) classes

Conversational

Streaming

Interactive

Background

low round-trip delay (< seconds)

delay variation is not important
BER requirements stringent
in the radio network => non-real-time (NRT) connections
web browsing
interactive games

location-based services (LCS)

Four UMTS QoS (service) classes

Conversational

Streaming

Interactive

Background

delay / delay variation is not an important issue

BER requirements stringent
in the radio network => non-real-time (NRT) connections
SMS (Short Message Service) and other more advanced
messaging services (EMS, MMS)
e-mail notification, e-mail download
file transfer

UMTS protocols
Different protocol stacks for user and control plane
User plane (for transport of user data):
Circuit switched domain: data within bit pipes
Packet switched domain: protocols for implementing
various QoS or traffic engineering mechanisms
Control plane (for signalling):
Circuit switched domain: SS7 based (in core network)
Packet switched domain: IP based (in core network)
Radio access network: UTRAN protocols

User plane protocol stacks (CS domain)

Uu

Iu

Data streams
RLC

RLC

MAC

MAC

Phys.

Phys.

Gn

Frame Protocol (FP)

AAL2

AAL2

ATM

ATM

Phys.

Phys.

TDM

TDM

WCDMA

UE

UTRAN

3G MSC

GMSC

User plane protocol stacks (PS domain)

IP

Uu

Iu

PDCP

PDCP

RLC

RLC

MAC

MAC

Phys.

Phys.

Gn

IP

GTP

GTP

GTP

GTP

UDP

UDP

UDP

UDP

IP

IP

IP

IP

AAL5

AAL5

ATM

ATM

L2

L2

Phys.

Phys.

L1

L1

WCDMA

UE

UTRAN

SGSN

GGSN

Uu (air, radio) interface protocols

e.g. MM, CC, SM
transparent to UTRAN

L3

RRC

PDCP

Signalling
radio bearers

L2

(User plane)
radio bearers

RLC
Logical channels
MAC

Transport channels

L1

PHY

Main tasks of Uu interface protocols

MAC (Medium Access Control):
Mapping between logical and transport channels
Segmentation of data into transport blocks
RLC (Radio Link Control):
Segmentation and reassembly
Link control (flow & error control)
RLC is often a transparent layer
PDCP (Packet Data Convergence Protocol):
IP packet header compression (user plane only)

Main tasks of RRC protocol

Over the air interface, Radio Resource Control (RRC)
messages carry all the relevant information required for
setting up a Signalling Radio Bearer (during the lifetime
of the RRC Connection) and setting up, modifying, and
releasing Radio Bearers between UE and UTRAN (all
being part of the RRC Connection).

RRC also participates in the co-ordination of other Radio

Resource Management (RRM) operations, such as
measurements and handovers.
In addition, RRC messages may carry in their payload
higher layer signalling information (MM, CC or SM) that
is not related to the air interface or UTRAN.

General protocol model for UTRAN

Radio
Network
Layer

Control Plane

User Plane

Application
Protocol

Data
Stream(s)

Transport
Network
Layer

Transport Netw.
User Plane

Transport Netw.
Control Plane

Transport Netw.
User Plane

Protocol
Signalling
Bearer(s)

Signalling
Bearer(s)
Physical Layer

Data
Bearer(s)

Control Plane (Iub, Iur and Iu interfaces)

Radio Network Layer: application protocols (NBAP,
RNSAP and RANAP) are used for the actual signalling
between base stations, RNC and core network.
Transport Network Layer: signalling bearer for the
transport of application protocol messages is set up by
O&M actions (i.e. on a permanent basis).

Transport Network Control Plane

A signalling bearer (set up by O&M actions) carries a
protocol which is used only for the task of setting up
data bearers (e.g. AAL 2 connections).

User Plane (Iub, Iur and Iu interfaces)

The User Plane is employed for transport of
user information (speech, video, IP packets ...)
RRC signalling messages (Iub, Iur)
higher-layer protocol information at Iu interface
(if not carried by RANAP).

User plane data is carried by data bearers which use

AAL 5 in case of Iu PS and AAL 2 in all other cases.
User data streams are packed in frame protocols (FP)
which are used for framing, error & flow control, and
carrying of parallel data flows that form the user data
signal (e.g. AMR encoded speech).

Protocol structure at Iub interface

Radio
Network
Layer

Control Plane

RRC

Data

RLC

NBAP

MAC
Frame Protocol

Transport
Network
Layer

Transport Netw.
User Plane
Convergence
Protocols

AAL 5

Transport Netw.
Control Plane

Transport Netw.
User Plane

Q.2630.1
Conv. Pr.

AAL 5

ATM
Physical Layer

AAL 2

Protocol structure at Iur interface

Radio
Network
Layer

Control Plane

RRC

Data

RLC

RNSAP

MAC
Frame Protocol

Transport
Network
Layer

Transport Netw.
User Plane
Convergence
Protocols

AAL 5

Transport Netw.
Control Plane

Transport Netw.
User Plane

Q.2630.1
Conv. Pr.

AAL 5

ATM
Physical Layer

AAL 2

Protocol structure at Iu CS interface

Radio
Network
Layer

Control Plane

User Plane

RANAP

CS Channel

Iu UP
Transport
Network
Layer

Transport Netw.
User Plane
Convergence
Protocols

AAL 5

Transport Netw.
Control Plane

Transport Netw.
User Plane

Q.2630.1
Conv. Pr.

AAL 5

ATM
Physical Layer

AAL 2

Protocol structure at Iu PS interface

Radio
Network
Layer

Control Plane

User Plane

RANAP

IP Application

Iu UP
Transport
Network
Layer

Transport Netw.
User Plane

Transport Netw.
Control Plane

GTP
UDP

Convergence
Protocols

IP

AAL 5

AAL 5

ATM
Physical Layer

Application protocols in UTRAN

Iub interface (between RNC and base station)
NBAP (Node B Application Part)
Iur interface (between Serving RNC and Drift RNC)
RNSAP (Radio Network Subsystem Application Part)
- Link management for inter-RNC soft handover
Iu interface (between RNC and core network)
RANAP (Radio Access Network Application Part)
- Radio Access Bearer (RAB) management
- SRNS Relocation
- Transfer of higher-level signalling messages

Serving RNC and Drift RNC in UTRAN

SRNC
BS

Iub

UE

RNC

Iur

BS

Iub

Iu
Core
network

RNC
DRNC

Concept needed for:

Soft handover between base stations belonging to different RNCs

Serving RNS (SRNS) Relocation

RNS = Radio Network Sub-system =
RNC + all base stations controlled by this RNC
SRNS Relocation means that the Serving RNC
functionality is transferred from one RNC (the old
SRNC) to another (the new SRNC, previously a
DRNC) without changing the radio resources and
without interrupting the user data flow.
RANAP provides the signalling facilities over the
two Iu interfaces involved (Iu interfaces to old
and new SNRC) for performing SRNC Relocation
in a co-ordinated manner.

SRNS Relocation (cont.)

SRNC
BS

Iub

UE

RNC

Iu
Core
network

Iur

BS

Iub

RNC

Iu

DRNC
SRNC

SRNC provides: 1) connection to core network

2) macrodiversity combining point

Soft handover concept

SRNC

Leg 1
UE

Leg 3

BS

Iub

BS

Leg 2

BS

Iub

RNC

Iur
RNC
DRNC

Iu

Core
network

Signal
combining
point is in
SRNC
(downlink:
in UE)

Legs 1 and 2: Iur interface is not needed

Leg 3 is added: Iur interface is needed!

Micro- / macrodiversity combining

(uplink)
SRNC
BS

Iub

RNC

Iu

Core
network

Iur

UE

Rake
receiver

Multipath
propagation

Iub

RNC
DRNC

Macrodiversity
combining point
in SRNC

BS

Microdiversity combining point in base station

Micro- / macrodiversity combining

(uplink)
Microdiversity combining: multipath signal
components are processed in Rake fingers and
combined (= summed) using MRC
(MRC = Maximum Ratio Combining)
Macrodiversity combining: the same bit sequences
(with different bit error positions) are combined at
the SRNC (usually: selection combining).
Hard handover: slow (a lot of signalling)

Soft handover: fast selection in SRNC

Radio Access Bearer (RAB) establishment

UE

BS

RNC

Core network

(RANAP signaling)
RAB assignment request

RAB is configured to be used

over existing Radio Link(s)

(RRC signaling)
RAB assignment complete

Signalling between UE and core network

NAS signalling messages (NAS = Non Access Stratum =
not related to UTRAN) are sent transparently through
UTRAN in the payload of RRC/RANAP protocol messages

RANAP

RRC

UE

BS

RNC

MSC or
SGSN

Security in UMTS
GSM

UMTS

SIM authentication
(PIN code)

USIM authentication
(PIN code)

User authentication

User authentication
Network authentication

Ciphering (air interface)

Ciphering (air interface)

KASUMI algorithm (known)

Signalling data integrity

UMTS: larger key lengths

than in GSM

IP security (e.g. IPSEC)

WCDMA Technology
just some basic issues

Logical / Transport / Physical channels

:

RLC

RLC

Logical channels

MAC

MAC
Transport channels

Phy

WCDMA

Phy

Physical channels

UE

FP

FP

AAL 2

AAL 2

Base station

RNC

Logical / Transport channels

Uplink
CCCH

Downlink
DCCH

PCCH

DTCH

BCCH

CCCH

CTCH

Logical channels

DCCH
DTCH

Transport channels
RACH

CPCH

DCH

PCH

BCH

FACH

DSCH

DCH

Transport / Physical channels

Uplink
RACH

CPCH

Downlink
PCH

FACH

BCH

DSCH

DCH

Transport channels

PRACH

PCPCH

AICH

CSICH

PICH

CD/CAICH

SCCPCH

PCCPCH

Physical channels
CPICH

SCH

DCH

PDSCH

DPDCH
DPCCH
DPCH

Physical channels in WCDMA

Bit sequences from different physical channels are
multiplied with a channelization code (spreading)
multiplied with a scrambling code (scrambling)
multiplexed in code domain
modulated using QPSK.
Downlink channels: conventional QPSK modulation
DPCH = Dedicated physical channel
Uplink channels: Dual-channel QPSK moduation
DPDCH = Dedicated physical data channel
DPCCH = Dedicated physical control channel

DPCH structure in downlink

(DPCH = Dedicated Physical Channel)

QPSK modulation,
time multiplexed data and control information:
2560 chips
TFCI

Data

TPC

Data

Pilot

14
10 ms radio frame

DPDCH / DPCCH structure in uplink

(Dedicated Physical Data/Control Channel)
Dual-channel QPSK modulation:
2560 chips
DPDCH (I-branch)

Data

Pilot

TFCI

FBI

TPC

DPCCH (Q-branch)
0

14
10 ms radio frame (38400 chips)

Spreading in WCDMA
Channelization
code
Channel
data

Channel
bit rate

Usage of code

Chip rate
Chip rate
(always 3.84 million chips/s)

Uplink

Channelization code
Scrambling code

Scrambling
code

Downlink
User separation

User separation

Cell separation

Spreading in WCDMA
Chip rate after spreading = 3.84 Mchips/s
Spreading factor (SF) is important in WCDMA
Chip rate = SF x channel bit rate
Uplink: DPCCH SF = 256, DPDCH SF = 4 - 256
Downlink: DPCH SF = 4 - 256 (512)
One bit consists
of 4 chips

One bit consists

of 256 chips

Uplink DPDCH bit rates

SF

Channel bit rate

(kb/s)

User data rate

(kb/s)

256

15

approx. 7.5

128

30

approx. 15

64

60

approx. 30

32

120

approx. 60

16

240

approx. 120

480

approx. 240

960

approx. 480

Downlink DPDCH bit rates

SF

Channel bit rate

(kb/s)

User data rate

(kb/s)

512

15

approx. 1-3

256

30

approx. 6-12

128

60

approx. 20-24

64

120

approx. 45

32

240

approx. 105

16

480

approx. 215

960

approx. 456

1920

approx. 936

User data rate vs. channel bit rate

User data rate (kb/s)

Interesting
for user

Channel coding
Interleaving
Bit rate matching
Channel bit rate (kb/s)

Important
for system