3rd Generation WCDMA / UMTS Wireless Network

Outline

Evolution from 2G to 3G

WCDMA / UMTS Architecture

Air Interface (WCDMA) Radio Access Network (UTRAN) Core Network Admission Control, Load Control, Packet Scheduler Handover Control and Power Control

Radio Resources Management

Additional Briefs

Radio Network Planning Issues High Speed Data Packet Access WCDMA vs Ccdma2000
2

Outline

What will not be covered

Antenna, RF Propagation and Fading Added Services, e.g. Location Services Certain Technical Aspects, e.g. WCDMA TDD Mode, Base Station Synchronization Detailed Protocol Structures Detailed Design Issues, Optimizations Performance Evaluation cdma2000
3

Evolution : From 2G to 3G

Source : Northstream, Operator Options for 3G Evolution, Feb 2003.

Evolution : From 2G to 3G
Primary Requirements of a 3G Network

Fully specified and world-widely valid, Major interfaces should be standardized and open. Supports multimedia and all of its components. Wideband radio access. Services must be independent from radio access technology and is not limited by the network infrastructure.

Standardization of WCDMA / UMTS

The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP)
Role: Create 3G Specifications and Reports
3G is standardized based on the evolved GSM core networks and the supporting Radio Access Technology

GSM

Source : Overview of UMTS, Guoyou He, Telecommunication Software and Multimedia Laboratory, Helsinki University of Technology

Standardization of WCDMA / UMTS

Introduction of GPRS / E-GPRS

3GPP Release 99

Source : Overview of UMTS, Guoyou He, Telecommunication Software and Multimedia Laboratory, Helsinki University of Technology

Standardization of WCDMA / UMTS

3GPP Release 4

3GPP Release 5-6 All IP Vision

Source : Overview of UMTS, Guoyou He, Telecommunication Software and Multimedia Laboratory, Helsinki University of Technology

Standardization of WCDMA / UMTS

WCDMA Air Interface, Main Parameters

Multiple Access Method

Duplexing Method Base Station Synchronization Channel Separation

DS-CDMA
FDD/TDD Asychronous Operation 5MHz

Chip Rate
Frame Length Service Multiplexing

3.84 Mcps
10 ms Multiple Services with different QoS Requirements Multiplexed on one Connection Variable Spreading Factor and Multicode Coherent, using Pilot Symbols or Common Pilot

Multirate Concept Detection

Multiuser Detection, Smart Antennas

Supported by Standard, Optional in Implementation

9

Outline

Evolution from 2G to 3G

WCDMA / UMTS Architecture

Air Interface (WCDMA) Radio Access Network (UTRAN) Core Network Admission Control, Load Control, Packet Scheduler Handover Control and Power Control

Radio Resources Management

Additional Briefs

Radio Network Planning Issues High Speed Data Packet Access WCDMA vs Ccdma2000
10

UMTS System Architecture

Uu

Iu

Node B RNC USIM

Cu

MSC/ VLR

GMSC
External Networks CN
11

Node B
Iub Iur

HLR

ME

Node B RNC Node B

UE UTRAN

SGSN

GGSN

UMTS Bearer Services

UMTS
TE MT UTRAN CN Iu EDGE NODE CN Gateway TE

End-to-End Service

TE/MT Local Bearer Sevice

UMTS Bearer Service

External Bearer Service

Radio Access Bearer Service

CN Bearer Service

Radio Bearer Service UTRA FDD/TDD Service

Iu Bearer Service

Backbone Network Service

Physical Bearer Service

12

UMTS QoS Classes

Traffic class Conversational class Preserve time relation between information entities of the stream Streaming class Preserve time relation between information entities of the stream Interactive class Request response pattern Preserve data integrity Background

Fundamental characteristics

Destination is not expecting the data within a certain time Preserve data integrity

Conversational pattern (stringent and low delay)

Example of the Voice, application videotelephony, video games

Streaming multimedia

Web browsing, network games

Background download of emails

13

UMTS In Detail

Uu

Iu

Node B RNC USIM

Cu

MSC/ VLR

GMSC
External Networks CN
14

Node B
Iub Iur

HLR

ME

Node B RNC Node B

UE UTRAN

SGSN

GGSN

WCDMA Air Interface

Wideband CDMA, Overview

UE

UTRAN

CN

DS-CDMA, 5 MHz Carrier Spacing, CDMA Gives Frequency Reuse Factor = 1 5 MHz Bandwidth allows Multipath Diversity using Rake Receiver Variable Spreading Factor (VSF) to offer Bandwidth on Demand (BoD) up to 2MHz Fast (1.5kHz) Power Control for Optimal Interference Reduction

Services multiplexing with different QoS

Real-time / Best-effort 10% Frame Error Rate to 10-6 Bit Error Rate
15

WCDMA Air Interface

Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum
Spreading

UE

UTRAN

CN

User 1

Wideband Spreading

f
Despreading

Code Gain

Received

Narrowband

User N

Wideband

Frequency Reuse Factor = 1

Variable Spreading Factor (VSF)
Spreading : 256

Multipath Delay Profile

Wideband

User 1

Wideband

Spreading : 16

Narrowband

User 2

Wideband

5 MHz Wideband Signal allows Multipath Diversity with Rake Receiver

VSF Allows Bandwidth on Demand. Lower Spreading Factor requires Higher SNR, causing Higher Interference in exchange.

16

WCDMA Air Interface

Broadcast Channel (BCH) Forward Access Channel (FACH) Paging Channel (PCH) Random Access Channel (RACH) Dedicated Channel (DCH)

UE

UTRAN

CN

Mapping of Transport Channels and Physical Channels

Primary Common Control Physical Channel (PCCPCH) Secondary Common Control Physical Channel (SCCPCH)

Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) Dedicated Physical Data Channel (DPDCH) Dedicated Physical Control Channel (DPCCH)

Downlink Shared Channel (DSCH) Common Packet Channel (CPCH)

Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) Physical Common Packet Channel (PCPCH) Synchronization Channel (SCH)

Common Pilot Channel (CPICH)

Acquisition Indication Channel (AICH)

Highly Differentiated Types of Channels enable best combination of Interference Reduction, QoS and Energy Efficiency,

Paging Indication Channel (PICH) CPCH Status Indication Channel (CSICH) Collision Detection/Channel Assignment Indicator Channel (CD/CA-ICH)

17

WCDMA Air Interface

Random Access, No Scheduling Low Setup Time

UE

UTRAN

CN

Common Channels - RACH (uplink) and FACH (downlink)

No Feedback Channel, No Fast Power Control, Use Fixed Transmission Power Poor Link-level Performance and Higher Interference Suitable for Short, Discontinuous Packet Data
FACH RACH 1
P 3

2 3

P 1

Common Channel - CPCH (uplink)

Extension for RACH Reservation across Multiple Frames Can Utilize Fast Power Control, Higher Bit Rate Suitable for Short to Medium Sized Packet Data
CPCH
P 1 P 2

2 18

WCDMA Air Interface

Dedicated Channel - DCH (uplink & downlink)
Dedicated, Requires Long Channel Setup Procedure Utilizes Fast Power Control Better Link Performance and Smaller Interference Suitable for Large and Continuous Blocks of Data, up to 2Mbps Variable Bitrate in a Frame-by-Frame Basis
DCH (User 1) DCH (User 2)

UE

UTRAN

CN

Shared Channel - DSCH (downlink)

Time Division Multiplexed, Fast Allocation Utilizes Fast Power Control Better Link Performance and Smaller Interference Suitable for Large and Bursty Data, up to 2Mbps Variable Bitrate in a Frame-by-Frame Basis
DSCH 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 19

WCDMA Air Interface

Summary

UE

UTRAN

CN

5 MHz Bandwidth -> High Capacity, Multipath Diversity

Variable Spreading Factor -> Bandwidth on Demand

FACH

RACH

P 3

P 1

CPCH

P 1

P 2

DCH (User 1) DCH (User 2)

DSCH

2 20

UTRAN

UE

UTRAN

CN

Uu

Iu

Node B RNC USIM

Cu

MSC/ VLR

GMSC
External Networks CN
21

Node B
Iub Iur

HLR

ME

Node B RNC Node B

UE UTRAN

SGSN

GGSN

UTRAN
UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network, Overview

UE

UTRAN

CN

Two Distinct Elements :

Base Stations (Node B) Radio Network Controllers (RNC)

1 RNC and 1+ Node Bs are group together to form a Radio Network Sub-system (RNS)

Node B RNC Node B

RNS Iub Iur

Handles all Radio-Related Functionality

Soft Handover Radio Resources Management Algorithms

Maximization of the commonalities of the PS and CS data handling

Node B RNC Node B

RNS

UTRAN
22

UTRAN
Protocol Model for UTRAN Terrestrial Interfaces
Radio Network Layer Control Plane Application Protocol User Plane Data Stream(s)

UE

UTRAN

CN

Transport Network Layer

Transport Network User Plane

Transport Network Control Plane

Transport Network User Plane

Derivatives : Iur1, Iur2, Iur3, Iur4

ALCAP(s) Signalling Bearer(s) Signalling Bearer(s) Data Bearer(s)

Iub
Iu CS Iu PS

Physical Layer

Iu BC

Functions of Node B (Base Station)

Air Interface L1 Processing (Channel Coding, Interleaving, Rate Adaptation, Spreading, etc.) Basic RRM, e.g. Inner Loop Power Control
23

UTRAN
Logical Roles of the RNC
Controlling RNC (CRNC)
Responsible for the load and congestion control of its own cells

UE

UTRAN

CN

Node B Node B

CRNC

RNC

Serving RNC (SRNC) Terminates : Iu link of user data, Radio Resource Control Signalling
UE

Node B SRNC Node B Node B DRNC Node B

Iu Iur
Iu

Performs : L2 processing of data to/from the radio interface, RRM operations (Handover, Outer Loop Power Control) Drift RNC (DRNC)
Performs : Macrodiversity Combining and splitting
UE

Node B SRNC Node B Node B DRNC Node B

Iu Iur Iu

24

Core Network

UE

UTRAN

CN

Uu

Iu

Node B RNC USIM

Cu

MSC/ VLR

GMSC
External Networks CN
25

Node B
Iub Iur

HLR

ME

Node B RNC Node B

UE UTRAN

SGSN

GGSN

Core Network
Core Network, Overview

UE

UTRAN

CN

Changes From Release 99 to Release 5 A Seamless Transition from GSM to All-IP 3G Core Network Responsible for Switching and Routing Calls and Data Connections within, and to the External Networks

Divided into CS Network and PS Network

Iu

HLR

SGSN

GGSN
CN

External Networks
26

(e.g. PSTN, ISDN and Internet)

MSC/ VLR

GMSC

Core Network
Core Network, Release 99

UE

UTRAN

CN

CS Domain :

Iu-cs

MSC/ VLR

GMSC
External Networks
27

Mobile Switching Centre (MSC)

Switching CS transactions

Visitor Location Register (VLR)

Holds a copy of the visiting users service profile, and the precise info of the UEs location The switch that connects to external networks

HLR

Gateway MSC (GMSC)

Iu-ps

SGSN

GGSN

PS Domain :

Register :

Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN)

Home Location Register (HLR)

Similar function as MSC/VLR

Similar function as GMSC

Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN)

Stores master copies of users service profiles Stores UE location on the level of MSC/VLR/SGSN

Core Network
Core Network, R5

UE

UTRAN

CN

1st Phase of the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS)

Services & Applications

HSS

Enable standardized approach for IP based service provision Media Resource Function (MRF) Iu-cs Call Session Control Function (CSCF) Media Gateway Control Function (MGCF)
Iu-ps

Iu-cs

MSC MGW SGSN MRF

GMSC MGW GGSN CSCF

Services & Applications

External Networks

CS Domain :

MSC and GMSC

MSG

Control Function, can control multiple MGW, hence scalable Replaces MSC for the actual switching and routing

MGCF

IMS Function

PS Domain :

Very similar to R99 with some enhancements

28

Summary

System Architecture, Bearer Services, QoS Classes

WCDMA Air Interface : Spread Spectrum, Transport Channels UTRAN : Roles of RNCs and Node Bs Core Network : Roles of Different Components of R99 and R5
Uu Iu

Node B RNC USIM

Cu

MSC/ VLR

GMSC
External Networks CN
29

Node B
Iub Iur

HLR

ME

Node B

RNC
Node B
UE UTRAN

SGSN

GGSN

Radio Resources Management

Evolution from 2G to 3G

WCDMA / UMTS Architecture

Air Interface (WCDMA) Radio Access Network (UTRAN) Core Network Admission Control, Load Control, Packet Scheduler Handover Control and Power Control

Radio Resources Management

Additional Briefs

Radio Network Planning Issues High Speed Data Packet Access WCDMA vs cdma2000
30

Radio Resources Management

Network Based Functions

Admission Control (AC)

Handles all new incoming traffic. Check whether new connection can be admitted to the system and generates parameters for it.

Load Control (LC)

Manages situation when system load exceeds the threshold and some counter measures have to be taken to get system back to a feasible load.

Packet Scheduler (PS)

Handles all non real time traffic, (packet data users). It decides when a packet transmission is initiated and the bit rate to be used.

Connection Based Functions

Handover Control (HC)

Handles and makes the handover decisions. Controls the active set of Base Stations of MS.

Power Control (PC)

Maintains radio link quality. Minimize and control the power used in radio interface, thus maximizing the call capacity.
31

Source : Lecture Notes of S-72.238 Wideband CDMA systems, Communications Laboratory, Helsinki University of Technology

Network Based Functions

RT / NRT : Real-time / Non-Real-time

RAB : Radio Access Bearer 32

Source : Lecture Notes of S-72.238 Wideband CDMA systems, Communications Laboratory, Helsinki University of Technology

Connection Based Function

Power Control

Outer Loop Power Control If quality < target, increases SIRTARGET

Prevent Excessive Interference and Near-far Effect Open-Loop Power Control

Rough estimation of path loss from receiving signal Initial power setting, or when no feedback channel is exist

Fast Close-Loop Power Control

Feedback loop with 1.5kHz cycle to adjust uplink / downlink power to its minimum Even faster than the speed of Rayleigh fading for moderate mobile speeds

Fast Power Control If SIR < SIRTARGET, send power up command to MS

Outer Loop Power Control

Adjust the target SIR setpoint in base station according to the target BER Commanded by RNC
33

Connection Based Function

Handover

Softer Handover

A MS is in the overlapping coverage of 2 sectors of a base station Concurrent communication via 2 air interface channels 2 channels are maximally combined with rake receiver

Soft Handover

A MS is in the overlapping coverage of 2 different base stations Concurrent communication via 2 air interface channels Downlink: Maximal combining with rake receiver Uplink: Routed to RNC for selection combining, according to a frame reliability indicator by the base station

A Kind of Macrodiversity
34

Additional Briefs

Evolution from 2G to 3G

WCDMA / UMTS Architecture

Air Interface (WCDMA) Radio Access Network (UTRAN) Core Network Admission Control, Load Control, Packet Scheduler Handover Control and Power Control

Radio Resources Management

Additional Briefs

Radio Network Planning Issues High Speed Data Packet Access WCDMA vs cdma2000
35

Radio Network Planning Issues

Radio Link Power Budgets

Interference margin (loading) + Fast fading margin (power control headroom) + Soft handover gain (macrodiversity) Cell Coverage is obtained

Load Factor

Estimation of Supported Traffic per Base Station Required SNR, Intracell Interference, Intercell Interference Orthogonality of Channels One of the example:
Capacity forward Capacity reverse W R p 1 j Eb N 0 dv 1 s j f g 1 h m W R p 1 j 1 h m Eb N 0 dv j f g 1 h

Soft Capacity

CDMA has no definite capacity limit Can always borrow capacity from other cell or decrease QoS

Other Issues

Network Sharing Co-planning Inter-operator Interference

36

HSDPA
High Speed Downlink Packet Access

Standardized in 3GPP Release 5 Improves System Capacity and User Data Rates in the Downlink Direction to 10Mbps in a 5MHz Channel Adaptive Modulation and Coding (AMC)

Replaces Fast Power Control : User farer from Base Station utilizes a coding and modulation that requires lower Bit Energy to Interference Ratio, leading to a lower throughput Replaces Variable Spreading Factor : Use of more robust coding and fast Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ, retransmit occurs only between MS and BS)

HARQ provides Fast Retransmission with Soft Combining and Incremental Redundancy

Soft Combining : Identical Retransmissions Incremental Redundancy : Retransmits Parity Bits only

Fast Scheduling Function

which is Controlled in the Base Station rather than by the RNC

37

WCDMA vs cdma2000
Adopted by Telecommunications Industry Association, backward compatible with IS-95, lately moved to 3GPP2 (in contrast to 3GPP for WCDMA) as the CDMA MultiCarrier member of the IMT-2000 family of standard
Some of the Major Differences
Spread Sprectrum Technique

WCDMA
5Mhz Wideband DS-SS

cmda2000
Multicarrier, 3x1.25MHz Narrowband DS-SS, 250kHz Guard Band

Remarks
Multicarrier does not requires a contiguous spectral band. Both scheme can achieve similar performance

Chip Rates

3.84Mcps

3.6864Mcps (1.2288 per carrier)

20ms for data, 5ms for control 800Hz

Chip Rate alone does not determine system capacity

Response and efficiency tradeoff

Frame Lengths

10ms

Power Control Rate

1.5kHz

Higher gives better link performance

Base Station Synchronization

Asynchronous

Synchronized

Asynchronous requires not timing reference which is usually hard to acquire. Synchronized operation usually gives better performance 38

Wrap Up and Key References

What we have been talked about

2G to 3G Evolution WCDMA Air Interface UTRAN Core Network Radio Resources Management

Network Planning Issues High Speed Data Packet Access WCDMA vs cdma2000

Key References

WCDMA for UMTS, Radio Access for Third Generation Mobile Communications, 2nd Ed., Edited by Harri Holma and Antti Toskala Overview of UMTS, Guoyou He, Telecommunication Software and Multimedia Laboratory, Helsinki University of Technology Course materials from Course S-72.238 : Wideband CDMA systems, Communications Laboratory, Helsinki University of Technology
39