Mobile Communications
Chapter 4: Wireless
Telecommunication Systems
Market
 GSM


Overview
 Services
 Sub-systems
 Components
DECT
 TETRA
 UMTS/IMT-2000

Mobile phone subscribers worldwide
1200
Subscribers [million]
1000
GSM total
800
TDMA total
CDMA total
600
PDC total
Analogue total
Total wireless
400
Prediction (1998)
200
0
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
year
CT0/1
AMPS
NMT
CT2
IMT-FT
DECT
IS-136
TDMA
D-AMPS
TDMA
FDMA
Development of mobile telecommunication systems
GSM
PDC
EDGE
GPRS
IMT-SC
IS-136HS
UWC-136
IMT-DS
UTRA FDD / W-CDMA
CDMA
IMT-TC
UTRA TDD / TD-CDMA
IMT-TC
TD-SCDMA
1G
IS-95
cdmaOne
cdma2000 1X
2G
2.5G
IMT-MC
cdma2000 1X EV-DO
1X EV-DV
(3X)
3G
GSM: Overview
GSM








formerly: Groupe Spéciale Mobile (founded 1982)
now: Global System for Mobile Communication
Pan-European standard (ETSI, European Telecommunications
Standardisation Institute)
simultaneous introduction of essential services in three phases (1991,
1994, 1996) by the European telecommunication administrations
(Germany: D1 and D2)
 seamless roaming within Europe possible
today many providers all over the world use GSM (more than 184
countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, Australia, America)
more than 747 million subscribers
more than 70% of all digital mobile phones use GSM
over 10 billion SMS per month in Germany, > 360 billion/year worldwide
Performance characteristics of GSM (wrt. analog sys.)
Communication

mobile, wireless communication; support for voice and data
services
Total mobility

international access, chip-card enables use of access points of
different providers
Worldwide connectivity

one number, the network handles localization
High capacity

better frequency efficiency, smaller cells, more customers per cell
High transmission quality

high audio quality and reliability for wireless, uninterrupted phone
calls at higher speeds (e.g., from cars, trains)
Security functions

access control, authentication via chip-card and PIN
Disadvantages of GSM
There is no perfect system!!
 no end-to-end encryption of user data
 no full ISDN bandwidth of 64 kbit/s to the user, no transparent Bchannel






reduced concentration while driving
electromagnetic radiation
abuse of private data possible
roaming profiles accessible
high complexity of the system
several incompatibilities within the GSM standards
GSM: Mobile Services
GSM offers

several types of connections


voice connections, data connections, short message service
multi-service options (combination of basic services)
Three service domains

Bearer Services
 Telematic Services
 Supplementary Services
bearer services
MS
TE
MT
R, S
GSM-PLMN
Um
transit
network
(PSTN, ISDN)
tele services
source/
destination
network
TE
(U, S, R)
Bearer Services



Telecommunication services to transfer data between access points
Specification of services up to the terminal interface (OSI layers 1-3)
Different data rates for voice and data (original standard)

data service (circuit switched)

synchronous: 2.4, 4.8 or 9.6 kbit/s
 asynchronous: 300 - 1200 bit/s

data service (packet switched)

synchronous: 2.4, 4.8 or 9.6 kbit/s
 asynchronous: 300 - 9600 bit/s
Today: data rates of approx. 50 kbit/s possible – will be covered later!
Tele Services I



Telecommunication services that enable voice communication
via mobile phones
All these basic services have to obey cellular functions, security
measurements etc.
Offered services

mobile telephony
primary goal of GSM was to enable mobile telephony offering the
traditional bandwidth of 3.1 kHz
 Emergency number
common number throughout Europe (112); mandatory for all
service providers; free of charge; connection with the highest
priority (preemption of other connections possible)
 Multinumbering
several ISDN phone numbers per user possible
Tele Services II
Additional services

Non-Voice-Teleservices

group 3 fax
 voice mailbox (implemented in the fixed network supporting the mobile
terminals)
 electronic mail (MHS, Message Handling System, implemented in the fixed
network)
 ...

Short Message Service (SMS)
alphanumeric data transmission to/from the mobile terminal using the
signaling channel, thus allowing simultaneous use of basic services and
SMS
Supplementary services




Services in addition to the basic services, cannot be offered
stand-alone
Similar to ISDN services besides lower bandwidth due to the
radio link
May differ between different service providers, countries and
protocol versions
Important services






identification: forwarding of caller number
suppression of number forwarding
automatic call-back
conferencing with up to 7 participants
locking of the mobile terminal (incoming or outgoing calls)
...
Architecture of the GSM system
GSM is a PLMN (Public Land Mobile Network)

several providers setup mobile networks following the GSM standard within
each country
 components

MS (mobile station)
 BS (base station)
 MSC (mobile switching center)
 LR (location register)

subsystems

RSS (radio subsystem): covers all radio aspects
 NSS (network and switching subsystem): call forwarding, handover, switching
 OSS (operation subsystem): management of the network
GSM: overview
OMC, EIR,
AUC
HLR
NSS
with OSS
VLR
MSC
GMSC
VLR
fixed network
MSC
BSC
BSC
RSS
GSM: elements and interfaces
radio cell
MS
BSS
MS
Um
radio cell
MS
BTS
RSS
BTS
Abis
BSC
BSC
A
MSC
NSS
MSC
VLR
signaling
VLR
GMSC
HLR
IWF
O
OSS
EIR
AUC
OMC
ISDN, PSTN
PDN
GSM: system architecture
radio
subsystem
MS
network and
switching subsystem
fixed
partner networks
MS
ISDN
PSTN
MSC
Um
BTS
Abis
BSC
EIR
SS7
BTS
VLR
BTS
BTS
BSS
HLR
BSC
A
MSC
IWF
ISDN
PSTN
PSPDN
CSPDN
System architecture: radio subsystem
radio
subsystem
MS
network and switching
subsystem
MS
Components

MS (Mobile Station)
 BSS (Base Station Subsystem):
consisting of
Um
BTS
Abis
BTS
BSC

MSC

BTS (Base Transceiver Station):
sender and receiver
BSC (Base Station Controller):
controlling several transceivers
Interfaces

A
BTS
BTS
BSS
BSC
MSC
Um : radio interface
 Abis : standardized, open interface with
16 kbit/s user channels
 A: standardized, open interface with
64 kbit/s user channels
System architecture: network and switching subsystem
network
subsystem
fixed partner
networks
ISDN
PSTN
MSC
 MSC (Mobile Services Switching Center):
 IWF (Interworking Functions)




EIR
SS7
Components
ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network)
PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network)
PSPDN (Packet Switched Public Data Net.)
CSPDN (Circuit Switched Public Data Net.)
HLR
Databases
VLR
MSC
IWF
ISDN
PSTN
PSPDN
CSPDN
 HLR (Home Location Register)
 VLR (Visitor Location Register)
 EIR (Equipment Identity Register)
Radio subsystem
The Radio Subsystem (RSS) comprises the cellular mobile network up to
the switching centers
 Components

Base Station Subsystem (BSS):

Base Transceiver Station (BTS): radio components including sender, receiver,
antenna - if directed antennas are used one BTS can cover several cells
 Base Station Controller (BSC): switching between BTSs, controlling BTSs,
managing of network resources, mapping of radio channels (Um) onto terrestrial
channels (A interface)


BSS = BSC + sum(BTS) + interconnection
Mobile Stations (MS)
GSM: cellular network
segmentation of the area into cells
possible radio coverage of the cell
cell





idealized shape of the cell
use of several carrier frequencies
not the same frequency in adjoining cells
cell sizes vary from some 100 m up to 35 km depending on user
density, geography, transceiver power etc.
hexagonal shape of cells is idealized (cells overlap, shapes depend on
geography)
if a mobile user changes cells
 handover of the connection to the neighbor cell
Example coverage of GSM networks (www.gsmworld.com)
T-Mobile (GSM-900/1800) Berlin
Vodafone (GSM-900/1800)
e-plus (GSM-1800)
O2 (GSM-1800)
Base Transceiver Station and Base Station Controller
Tasks of a BSS are distributed over BSC and BTS
 BTS comprises radio specific functions
 BSC is the switching center for radio channels
Functions
Management of radio channels
Frequency hopping (FH)
Management of terrestrial channels
Mapping of terrestrial onto radio channels
Channel coding and decoding
Rate adaptation
Encryption and decryption
Paging
Uplink signal measurements
Traffic measurement
Authentication
Location registry, location update
Handover management
BTS
X
X
X
X
X
X
BSC
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Mobile station
Terminal for the use of GSM services
 A mobile station (MS) comprises several functional groups

MT (Mobile Terminal):

offers common functions used by all services the MS offers
 corresponds to the network termination (NT) of an ISDN access
 end-point of the radio interface (Um)

TA (Terminal Adapter):


terminal adaptation, hides radio specific characteristics
TE (Terminal Equipment):

peripheral device of the MS, offers services to a user
 does not contain GSM specific functions

SIM (Subscriber Identity Module):

personalization of the mobile terminal, stores user parameters
TE
TA
R
MT
S
Um
Network and switching subsystem
NSS is the main component of the public mobile network GSM


switching, mobility management, interconnection to other networks, system
control
Components

Mobile Services Switching Center (MSC)
controls all connections via a separated network to/from a mobile terminal
within the domain of the MSC - several BSC can belong to a MSC
 Databases (important: scalability, high capacity, low delay)

Home Location Register (HLR)
central master database containing user data, permanent and semi-permanent
data of all subscribers assigned to the HLR (one provider can have several
HLRs)
 Visitor Location Register (VLR)
local database for a subset of user data, including data about all user currently
in the domain of the VLR
Mobile Services Switching Center
The MSC (mobile switching center) plays a central role in GSM






switching functions
additional functions for mobility support
management of network resources
interworking functions via Gateway MSC (GMSC)
integration of several databases
Functions of a MSC







specific functions for paging and call forwarding
termination of SS7 (signaling system no. 7)
mobility specific signaling
location registration and forwarding of location information
provision of new services (fax, data calls)
support of short message service (SMS)
generation and forwarding of accounting and billing information
Operation subsystem
The OSS (Operation Subsystem) enables centralized operation,
management, and maintenance of all GSM subsystems
 Components

Authentication Center (AUC)

generates user specific authentication parameters on request of a VLR
 authentication parameters used for authentication of mobile terminals and
encryption of user data on the air interface within the GSM system

Equipment Identity Register (EIR)

registers GSM mobile stations and user rights
 stolen or malfunctioning mobile stations can be locked and sometimes even
localized

Operation and Maintenance Center (OMC)

different control capabilities for the radio subsystem and the network subsystem
GSM - TDMA/FDMA
935-960 MHz
124 channels (200 kHz)
downlink
890-915 MHz
124 channels (200 kHz)
uplink
higher GSM frame structures
time
GSM TDMA frame
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
4.615 ms
GSM time-slot (normal burst)
guard
space
tail
3 bits
user data
S Training S
user data
57 bits
1 26 bits 1
57 bits
guard
tail space
3
546.5 µs
577 µs
GSM hierarchy of frames
hyperframe
0
1
2
2045 2046 2047 3 h 28 min 53.76 s
...
superframe
0
1
0
2
...
1
48
...
49
24
50
6.12 s
25
multiframe
0
1
...
0
1
24
2
120 ms
25
...
48
49
50
235.4 ms
frame
0
1
...
6
7
4.615 ms
slot
burst
577 µs
GSM protocol layers for signaling
Um
Abis
MS
A
BTS
BSC
MSC
CM
CM
MM
MM
BSSAP
RR
RR’
BTSM
RR’
BTSM
LAPDm
LAPDm
LAPD
LAPD
radio
radio
PCM
PCM
16/64 kbit/s
BSSAP
SS7
SS7
PCM
PCM
64 kbit/s /
2.048 Mbit/s
Mobile Terminated Call
1: calling a GSM subscriber
2: forwarding call to GMSC
3: signal call setup to HLR
4, 5: request MSRN from VLR
6: forward responsible
MSC to GMSC
7: forward call to
current MSC
8, 9: get current status of MS
10, 11: paging of MS
12, 13: MS answers
14, 15: security checks
16, 17: set up connection
HLR
4
5
3 6
calling
station 1
PSTN
2
GMSC
10
7
VLR
8 9
14 15
MSC
10 13
16
10
BSS
BSS
BSS
11
11
11
11 12
17
MS
Mobile Originated Call
1, 2: connection request
3, 4: security check
5-8: check resources (free circuit)
9-10: set up call
VLR
3 4
6
PSTN
5
GMSC
7
MSC
8
2 9
MS
1
10
BSS
MTC/MOC
MS
MTC
BTS
MS
MOC
BTS
paging request
channel request
channel request
immediate assignment
immediate assignment
paging response
service request
authentication request
authentication request
authentication response
authentication response
ciphering command
ciphering command
ciphering complete
ciphering complete
setup
setup
call confirmed
call confirmed
assignment command
assignment command
assignment complete
assignment complete
alerting
alerting
connect
connect
connect acknowledge
connect acknowledge
data/speech exchange
data/speech exchange
4 types of handover
1
MS
BTS
2
3
4
MS
MS
MS
BTS
BTS
BTS
BSC
BSC
BSC
MSC
MSC
Handover decision
receive level
BTSold
receive level
BTSold
HO_MARGIN
MS
MS
BTSold
BTSnew
Handover procedure
MS
BTSold
BSCold
measurement
measurement
report
result
MSC
HO decision
HO required
BSCnew
BTSnew
HO request
resource allocation
ch. activation
HO command
HO command
HO command
HO request ack ch. activation ack
HO access
Link establishment
clear command clear command
clear complete
clear complete
HO complete
HO complete
Security in GSM
Security services

access control/authentication
user  SIM (Subscriber Identity Module): secret PIN (personal
identification number)
 SIM  network: challenge response method


confidentiality


voice and signaling encrypted on the wireless link (after successful
authentication)
anonymity

temporary identity TMSI
(Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity)
 newly assigned at each new location update (LUP)
 encrypted transmission
3 algorithms specified in GSM



A3 for authentication (“secret”, open interface)
A5 for encryption (standardized)
A8 for key generation (“secret”, open interface)
“secret”:
• A3 and A8
available via the
Internet
• network providers
can use stronger
mechanisms
GSM - authentication
SIM
mobile network
Ki
RAND
128 bit
AC
RAND
128 bit
RAND
Ki
128 bit
128 bit
A3
A3
SIM
SRES* 32 bit
MSC
SRES* =? SRES
SRES
SRES
32 bit
Ki: individual subscriber authentication key
32 bit
SRES
SRES: signed response
GSM - key generation and encryption
MS with SIM
mobile network (BTS)
Ki
AC
RAND
128 bit
RAND
128 bit
RAND
128 bit
A8
cipher
key
BSS
Ki
128 bit
SIM
A8
Kc
64 bit
Kc
64 bit
data
A5
encrypted
data
SRES
data
MS
A5
Data services in GSM I
Data transmission standardized with only 9.6 kbit/s

advanced coding allows 14,4 kbit/s
 not enough for Internet and multimedia applications
HSCSD (High-Speed Circuit Switched Data)

mainly software update
 bundling of several time-slots to get higher
AIUR (Air Interface User Rate)
(e.g., 115.2 kbit/s using 8 slots, 14.4 each)
 advantage: ready to use, constant quality, simple
 disadvantage: channels blocked for voice transmission
AIUR [kbit/s]
4.8
9.6
14.4
19.2
28.8
38.4
43.2
57.6
TCH/F4.8
1
2
3
4
TCH/F9.6
TCH/F14.4
1
1
2
3
4
2
3
4
Data services in GSM II
GPRS (General Packet Radio Service)





packet switching
using free slots only if data packets ready to send
(e.g., 115 kbit/s using 8 slots temporarily)
standardization 1998, introduction 2001
advantage: one step towards UMTS, more flexible
disadvantage: more investment needed (new hardware)
GPRS network elements


GSN (GPRS Support Nodes): GGSN and SGSN
GGSN (Gateway GSN)


SGSN (Serving GSN)


interworking unit between GPRS and PDN (Packet Data Network)
supports the MS (location, billing, security)
GR (GPRS Register)

user addresses
GPRS quality of service
Reliability
class
Lost SDU
probability
Duplicate
SDU
probability
1
2
3
10-9
10-4
10-2
10-9
10-5
10-5
Delay
class
1
2
3
4
Out of
sequence
SDU
probability
10-9
10-5
10-5
Corrupt SDU
probability
10-9
10-6
10-2
SDU size 128 byte
SDU size 1024 byte
mean
95 percentile
mean
95 percentile
< 0.5 s
< 1.5 s
<2s
<7s
<5s
< 25 s
< 15 s
< 75 s
< 50 s
< 250 s
< 75 s
< 375 s
unspecified
GPRS architecture and interfaces
SGSN
Gn
BSS
MS
Um
SGSN
Gb
Gn
HLR/
GR
MSC
VLR
EIR
PDN
GGSN
Gi
GPRS protocol architecture
MS
BSS
Um
SGSN
Gb
Gn GGSN
apps.
IP/X.25
IP/X.25
SNDCP
LLC
RLC
MAC
RLC
MAC
BSSGP
FR
radio
radio
GTP
LLC
GTP
UDP/TCP
UDP/TCP
BSSGP
IP
IP
FR
L1/L2
L1/L2
SNDCP
Gi
DECT
DECT (Digital European Cordless Telephone) standardized by
ETSI (ETS 300.175-x) for cordless telephones
 standard describes air interface between base-station and
mobile phone
 DECT has been renamed for international marketing reasons
into „Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunication“
 Characteristics







frequency: 1880-1990 MHz
channels: 120 full duplex
duplex mechanism: TDD (Time Division Duplex) with 10 ms frame
length
multplexing scheme: FDMA with 10 carrier frequencies,
TDMA with 2x 12 slots
modulation: digital, Gaußian Minimum Shift Key (GMSK)
power: 10 mW average (max. 250 mW)
range: approx. 50 m in buildings, 300 m open space
DECT system architecture reference model
D4
D3
VDB
D2
PA
PA
PT
FT
local
network
PT
HDB
D1
global
network
FT
local
network
DECT reference model
C-Plane
U-Plane
signaling,
interworking

application
processes

network
layer
data link
control
management

OSI layer 3
data link
control
OSI layer 2
medium access control
physical layer
OSI layer 1
close to the OSI reference
model
management plane over
all layers
several services in
C(ontrol)- and U(ser)plane
DECT layers I

Physical layer

modulation/demodulation
 generation of the physical channel structure with a guaranteed
throughput
 controlling of radio transmission

channel assignment on request of the MAC layer
 detection of incoming signals
 sender/receiver synchronization
 collecting status information for the management plane

MAC layer

maintaining basic services, activating/deactivating physical
channels
 multiplexing of logical channels


e.g., C: signaling, I: user data, P: paging, Q: broadcast
segmentation/reassembly
 error control/error correction
DECT time multiplex frame
1 frame = 10 ms
12 down slots
slot
0
0
sync
A: network control
B: user data
X: transmission quality
25.6 kbit/s
simplex bearer
32 kbit/s
31 0
0
419
guard 420 bit + 52 µs guard time („60 bit“)
in 0.4167 ms
D field
A field
12 up slots
387
B field
63 0
protected
mode
unprotected
mode
319 0
X field
3
DATA
C
DATA
C
DATA
C
DATA
C
64
16
64
16
64
16
64
16
DATA
DECT layers II

Data link control layer

creation and keeping up reliable connections between the mobile terminal
and basestation
 two DLC protocols for the control plane (C-Plane)

connectionless broadcast service:
paging functionality
 Lc+LAPC protocol:
in-call signaling (similar to LAPD within ISDN), adapted to the underlying MAC
service

several services specified for the user plane (U-Plane)






null-service: offers unmodified MAC services
frame relay: simple packet transmission
frame switching: time-bounded packet transmission
error correcting transmission: uses FEC, for delay critical, time-bounded
services
bandwidth adaptive transmission
„Escape“ service: for further enhancements of the standard
DECT layers III

Network layer

similar to ISDN (Q.931) and GSM (04.08)
 offers services to request, check, reserve, control, and release resources
at the basestation and mobile terminal
 resources

necessary for a wireless connection
 necessary for the connection of the DECT system to the fixed network

main tasks

call control: setup, release, negotiation, control
 call independent services: call forwarding, accounting, call redirecting
 mobility management: identity management, authentication, management of the
location register
Enhancements of the standard
Several „DECT Application Profiles“ in addition to the DECT
specification

GAP (Generic Access Profile) standardized by ETSI in 1997

assures interoperability between DECT equipment of different
manufacturers (minimal requirements for voice communication)
 enhanced management capabilities through the fixed network: Cordless
Terminal Mobility (CTM)
DECT
DECT
DECT
basestation
Common
Portable Part
Air Interface
fixed network
GAP

DECT/GSM Interworking Profile (GIP): connection to GSM
 ISDN Interworking Profiles (IAP, IIP): connection to ISDN
 Radio Local Loop Access Profile (RAP): public telephone service
 CTM Access Profile (CAP): support for user mobility
TETRA - Terrestrial Trunked Radio
Trunked radio systems





many different radio carriers
assign single carrier for a short period to one user/group of users
taxi service, fleet management, rescue teams
interfaces to public networks, voice and data services
very reliable, fast call setup, local operation
TETRA - ETSI standard







formerly: Trans European Trunked Radio
offers Voice+Data and Packet Data Optimized service
point-to-point and point-to-multipoint
ad-hoc and infrastructure networks
several frequencies: 380-400 MHz, 410-430 MHz
FDD, DQPSK
group call, broadcast, sub-second group-call setup
TDMA structure of the voice+data system
hyperframe
0
1
2
...
57
58
59
61.2 s
15
16
17
1.02 s
multiframe
0
1
2
...
CF
frame
0
0
1
slot
2
3
509
56.67 ms
14.17 ms
Control Frame
UMTS and IMT-2000
Proposals for IMT-2000 (International Mobile Telecommunications)

UWC-136, cdma2000, WP-CDMA
 UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) from ETSI
UMTS

UTRA (was: UMTS, now: Universal Terrestrial Radio Access)
 enhancements of GSM

EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution): GSM up to 384 kbit/s
 CAMEL (Customized Application for Mobile Enhanced Logic)
 VHE (virtual Home Environment)

fits into GMM (Global Multimedia Mobility) initiative from ETSI
 requirements

min. 144 kbit/s rural (goal: 384 kbit/s)
 min. 384 kbit/s suburban (goal: 512 kbit/s)
 up to 2 Mbit/s urban
Frequencies for IMT-2000
1850
1900
ITU allocation
(WRC 1992)
Europe
China
1950
IMT-2000
GSM DE
1800 CT
GSM
1800
Japan
T
D
D
North
America
1900
T
D
D
MSS

2000
2200
MHz
MSS

UTRA MSS
FDD  
IMT-2000
MSS

cdma2000 MSS
W-CDMA 
MSS

1950
2100 2150
IMT-2000
cdma2000 MSS
W-CDMA 
PCS
1850
2050
MSS

UTRA MSS
FDD  
IMT-2000
PHS
2000
rsv.
2050
2100 2150
MSS

2200
MHz
IMT-2000 family
Interface
for Internetworking
IMT-2000
Core Network
ITU-T
GSM
(MAP)
Initial UMTS
(R99 w/ FDD)
IMT-2000
Radio Access
ITU-R
ANSI-41
(IS-634)
IP-Network
Flexible assignment of
Core Network and Radio Access
IMT-DS
IMT-TC
IMT-MC
IMT-SC
IMT-FT
(Direct Spread)
(Time Code)
(Multi Carrier)
(Single Carrier)
(Freq. Time)
UTRA FDD
(W-CDMA)
3GPP
UTRA TDD
(TD-CDMA);
TD-SCDMA
3GPP
cdma2000
UWC-136
(EDGE)
UWCC/3GPP
DECT
3GPP2
ETSI
Licensing Example: UMTS in Germany, 18. August 2000

UTRA-FDD:
 Uplink 1920-1980 MHz
 Downlink 2110-2170 MHz
 duplex spacing 190 MHz
 12 channels, each 5 MHz
 UTRA-TDD:
 1900-1920 MHz,
 2010-2025 MHz;
 5 MHz channels
 Coverage: 25% of the
population until 12/2003,
50% until 12/2005
Sum: 50.81 billion €
UMTS architecture (Release 99 used here!)
UTRAN (UTRA Network)

Cell level mobility
 Radio Network Subsystem (RNS)
 Encapsulation of all radio specific tasks
UE (User Equipment)
CN (Core Network)

Inter system handover
 Location management if there is no dedicated connection between UE and
UTRAN
Uu
UE
Iu
UTRAN
CN
UMTS domains and interfaces I
Home
Network
Domain
Zu
Cu
USIM
Domain
Mobile
Equipment
Domain
Uu
Access
Network
Domain
Iu
Serving
Network
Domain
Yu
Transit
Network
Domain
Core Network Domain
User Equipment Domain
Infrastructure Domain
User Equipment Domain

Assigned to a single user in order to access UMTS services
Infrastructure Domain

Shared among all users
 Offers UMTS services to all accepted users
UMTS domains and interfaces II
Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM)

Functions for encryption and authentication of users
 Located on a SIM inserted into a mobile device
Mobile Equipment Domain

Functions for radio transmission
 User interface for establishing/maintaining end-to-end connections
Access Network Domain

Access network dependent functions
Core Network Domain

Access network independent functions
 Serving Network Domain


Network currently responsible for communication
Home Network Domain

Location and access network independent functions
Spreading and scrambling of user data
Constant chipping rate of 3.84 Mchip/s
Different user data rates supported via different spreading factors

higher data rate: less chips per bit and vice versa
User separation via unique, quasi orthogonal scrambling codes

users are not separated via orthogonal spreading codes
 much simpler management of codes: each station can use the same orthogonal
spreading codes
 precise synchronisation not necessary as the scrambling codes stay quasiorthogonal
data1
data2
data3
data4
data5
spr.
code1
spr.
code2
spr.
code3
spr.
code1
spr.
code4
scrambling
code1
sender1
scrambling
code2
sender2
OSVF coding
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,-1,-1,-1,1,1
1
X
...
1,1,-1,-1
X,X
1,-1,1,-1,1,-1,1,-1
X,-X
...
1,-1,1,-1
1,-1,1,-1,-1,1,-1,1
SF=n
SF=2n
1,-1
1,-1,-1,1,1,-1,-1,1
...
1,-1,-1,1
1,-1,-1,1,-1,1,1,-1
SF=1 SF=2
SF=4
SF=8
UMTS FDD frame structure
Radio frame
10 ms
0
1
2
...
12
13
14
Time slot
666.7 µs
Pilot
TFCI
FBI
TPC
uplink DPCCH
2560 chips, 10 bits
666.7 µs
uplink DPDCH
Data
W-CDMA
• 1920-1980 MHz uplink
• 2110-2170 MHz downlink
• chipping rate:
3.840 Mchip/s
• soft handover
• QPSK
• complex power control
(1500 power control
cycles/s)
• spreading: UL: 4-256;
DL:4-512
2560 chips, 10*2k bits (k = 0...6)
666.7 µs
Data1 TPC TFCI Data2
Pilot
downlink DPCH
DPDCH DPCCH DPDCH DPCCH
2560 chips, 10*2k bits (k = 0...7)
Slot structure NOT for user separation
but synchronisation for periodic functions!
FBI: Feedback Information
TPC: Transmit Power Control
TFCI: Transport Format Combination Indicator
DPCCH: Dedicated Physical Control Channel
DPDCH: Dedicated Physical Data Channel
DPCH: Dedicated Physical Channel
UMTS TDD frame structure (burst type 2)
Radio frame
10 ms
666.7 µs
0
1
2
Time slot
Data
Midample
1104 chips 256 chips
2560 chips
...
Data
GP
1104 chips
12
13
14
Traffic burst
GP: guard period
96 chips
TD-CDMA
• 2560 chips per slot
• spreading: 1-16
• symmetric or asymmetric slot assignment to UL/DL (min. 1 per direction)
• tight synchronisation needed
• simpler power control (100-800 power control cycles/s)
UTRAN architecture
RNS
UE1
Node B
Iub
RNC: Radio Network Controller
RNS: Radio Network Subsystem
Iu
RNC
CN
UE2
Node B
UE3
Iur
Node B
Iub
Node B
RNC
Node B
RNS
UTRAN comprises several
RNSs
Node B can support FDD or
TDD or both
RNC is responsible for handover
decisions requiring
signalingto the UE
Cell offers FDD or TDD
UTRAN architecture
RNS
UE
Node B
RNC: Radio Network Controller
RNS: Radio Network Subsystem
Iub
RNC
Iu
UTRAN comprises several RNSs
Node B can support FDD or TDD
or both
Node B
CN
Iur
Node B
Iub
Node B
RNC
Node B
RNS
RNC is responsible for handover
decisions requiring signaling
to the UE
Cell offers FDD or TDD
UTRAN functions
Admission control
Congestion control
System information broadcasting
Radio channel encryption
Handover
SRNS moving
Radio network configuration
Channel quality measurements
Macro diversity
Radio carrier control
Radio resource control
Data transmission over the radio interface
Outer loop power control (FDD and TDD)
Channel coding
Access control
Core network: protocols
VLR
MSC
GSM-CS
backbone
RNS
GMSC
PSTN/
ISDN
GGSN
PDN (X.25),
Internet (IP)
HLR
RNS
Layer 3: IP
Layer 2: ATM
Layer 1: PDH,
SDH, SONET
UTRAN
SGSN
GPRS backbone (IP)
SS 7
CN
Core network: architecture
VLR
BTS
Abis
BSS
BSC
Iu
MSC
GMSC
PSTN
Node
BTSB
IuCS
AuC
EIR
HLR
GR
Node B
Iub
Node B
RNC
SGSN
GGSN
Gn
Node B
RNS
IuPS
Gi
CN
Core network
The Core Network (CN) and thus the Interface Iu, too, are separated into
two logical domains:
 Circuit Switched Domain (CSD)





Circuit switched service incl. signaling
Resource reservation at connection setup
GSM components (MSC, GMSC, VLR)
IuCS
Packet Switched Domain (PSD)


GPRS components (SGSN, GGSN)
IuPS
Release 99 uses the GSM/GPRS network and adds a new radio access!



Helps to save a lot of money …
Much faster deployment
Not as flexible as newer releases (5, 6)
UMTS protocol stacks (user plane)
UE
Uu
UTRAN
IuCS
3G
MSC
apps. &
protocols
Circuit
switched
RLC
MAC
RLC
MAC
radio
radio
UE
Packet
switched
apps. &
protocols
IP, PPP,
…
PDCP
Uu
SAR
SAR
AAL2
AAL2
ATM
ATM
UTRAN
IuPS
3G
SGSN
Gn
IP tunnel
3G
GGSN
IP, PPP,
…
GTP
RLC
RLC
GTP
UDP/IP
MAC
MAC
AAL5
AAL5
L2
L2
radio
radio
ATM
ATM
L1
L1
PDCP
GTP
UDP/IP UDP/IP
GTP
UDP/IP
Support of mobility: macro diversity
Multicasting of data via several
physical channels

Enables soft handover
 FDD mode only
Uplink
UE
Node B

simultaneous reception of UE
data at several Node Bs
 Reconstruction of data at Node
B, SRNC or DRNC
Node B
RNC
CN
Downlink

Simultaneous transmission of
data via different cells
 Different spreading codes in
different cells
Support of mobility: handover
From and to other systems (e.g., UMTS to GSM)

This is a must as UMTS coverage will be poor in the beginning
RNS controlling the connection is called SRNS (Serving RNS)
RNS offering additional resources (e.g., for soft handover) is called Drift
RNS (DRNS)
End-to-end connections between UE and CN only via Iu at the SRNS

Change of SRNS requires change of Iu
 Initiated by the SRNS
 Controlled by the RNC and CN
Node B
Iub
UE
CN
SRNC
Node B
Iur
DRNC
Iub
Iu
Example handover types in UMTS/GSM
UE1
Node B1
UE2
UE3
UE4
RNC1
3G MSC1
Iu
Node B2
Iur
Iub
Node B3
RNC2
3G MSC2
BTS
BSC
2G MSC3
Abis
A
UMTS services (originally)
Data transmission service profiles
Service Profile
High Interactive MM
High MM
Bandwidth
Transport mode
128 kbit/s Circuit switched
2 Mbit/s Packet switched
Medium MM
384 kbit/s Circuit switched
Switched Data
14.4 kbit/s Circuit switched
Simple Messaging
14.4 kbit/s Packet switched
Voice
Bidirectional, video telephone
Low coverage, max. 6 km/h
asymmetrical, MM, downloads
SMS successor, E-Mail
16 kbit/s Circuit switched
Virtual Home Environment (VHE)

Enables access to personalized data independent of location, access
network, and device
 Network operators may offer new services without changing the network
 Service providers may offer services based on components which allow the
automatic adaptation to new networks and devices
 Integration of existing IN services