GPRS and EDGE Basics

Objective

At the end of this course, you will be able to

understand:
z GPRS network features and architecture
z EDGE technology features and specifications
z Advantages of EDGE over GPRS
z Evolution from GPRS to 3G
Content

GPRS Overview
GPRS Network Structure
GPRS Frame Structure and Radio Channels
GPRS Key Technologies
EDGE Technologies
Process of Evolution from GPRS to 3G
What is GPRS?
General Packet Radio Service

The GPRS Standard is formulated by ETSI.

GPRS
GPRS General
General Packet
Packet Radio
Radio Service
Service

GPRS
GPRS provides
provides subscribers
subscribers the
the end-to-end
end-to-end mobile
mobile data
data services
services based
based
on
on packet
packet switching
switching and
and transmission
transmission technology.
technology. ItIt fully
fully utilizes
utilizes
network
network resources
resources and
and especially
especially suits
suits long-time
long-time and
and small-volume
small-volume
burst
burst data
data services.
services.

GPRS
GPRS == mobile
mobile ++ IP,
IP, which
which is
is the
the integration
integration of
of GSM
GSM radio
radio access
access
technique
technique and
and internet
internet packet
packet switch
switch technique
technique

ItIt is
is an
an ISDN-based
ISDN-based general
general packet
packet radio
radio network
network that
that is
is deployed
deployed on
on
GSM
GSM network
network with
with smooth
smooth upgrade
upgrade and
and smallest
smallest changes.
changes.
Production & Evolution of GPRS

GPRS
GPRS is
is mobile
mobile packet
packet data
data service
service based
based on
on GSM
GSM mobile
mobile
Telecommunication
Telecommunication system.
system. GPRS
GPRS system
system is
is aa subsidiary
subsidiary of
of previous
previous
GSM
GSM circuit
circuit switch
switch system
system for
for fulfilling
fulfilling users
users demand
demand as
as to
to use
use MS
MS to
to
access
access internet
internet or
or other
other packet
packet data
data network.
network.

GPRS
GPRS realizes
realizes packet
packet data
data transmission
transmission by
by adding
adding series
series of
of functional
functional
entities
entities based
based on
on previous
previous GSM
GSM network.
network. Newly-added
Newly-added entities
entities and
and
existing
existing entities
entities after
after software
software upgrading
upgrading constitute
constitute GSM-GPRS
GSM-GPRS network
network
providing
providing GPRS
GPRS data
data service
service while
while existing
existing GSM
GSM network
network providing
providing circuit
circuit
service.
service.
GPRS Features
GPRS features
z adapted to aperiodic bursty data service
z uplink and downlink can be asymmetrical. Data rate is changeable.
z flexible resource management style
GSM voice and GPRS data service share RR dynamically.
MS has various mapping relationships with channels.
One MS can has multiple data sessions simultaneously.
z Coding mode: CS-1CS-4, data rate: 9.05171.2kbit/s
z Major interface protocols (Internet, X.25, and SMS) are supported.
z Shared GSM infrastructure to reduce network operation cost.
Charge fees based on data quantity.
GPRS Services

Bearing service
z WWW scanning, FTP, WAP and E-mail etc.
z PTP
Unconnected PTP service (PTP-CLNS) like IP
Connected PTP service (PTP-CONS) like X.25
z PTM: GPRS provide in the second phase
PTM-M (multicasting)
PTM-G (group calling)
IP-M (multicasting)
GPRS Services

Telecom Service
z PTP: E-mail, electronic monitoring, online games
z PTMweather forecast
z Mobile IP
Complementary service
z GSM phase2 supplementary service supported by
GPRS
z GPRS specified supplementary service
GPRS Specifications
Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3
02.60 Service 03.60 System Description
04.60 RLC/MAC Protocol
Description and Network Structure
03.64 Radio Interface
04.61 PTM-M Service
Description
03.61 Point to Multipoint -
04.62 PTM-G Service
Broadcast Service
03.62 Point to Multipoint-
04.64 LLC 04.65 SNDCP
Group Call
07.60 Subscriber Interworking
08.14 Gb Layer1
08.16 Gb Layer Network Services
08.18 BSSGP and Gb Interface
09.16 Gb Layer2
09.18 Gb Layer3
09.60 Gn & Gp Interface
09.61 Interworking of External
Networks
Content

GPRS Overview
GPRS Network Structure
GPRS Frame Structure and Radio Channels
GPRS Key Technologies
EDGE Technologies
Process of Evolution from GPRS to 3G
GPRS Logical Structure

MSC/VLR HLR

SS7
A
Gs
Gr
Gi IP Network
BTS BSC PCU SGSN GGSN
Gb
Abis
Gn Gn

Um
GPRS
Gn Backbone
MS BG
BG Gp

SGSN BG
BG
Gn
Other PLMN
GGSN
GPRS Logical Structure

The GPRS technology introduces two concepts,

packet switching and packet transfer.
System This
message 2
enhances the ability of supporting data service on
network level. Actually, the GPRS represents an
overlay network deployment to the existing GSM.
To support GPRS, the GSM needs to:
z Introduce two new devices: serving GPRS support node
(SGSN) and gateway GPRS support node (GGSN )
z Add packet control unit (PCU) to BSC and upgrade
related software of BSS
z Use the MSs supporting GPRS
PCU Function

RLC/MAC layer Radio resource

function: management function:
z DL: PDU at LLC z Channel access control
divided into RLC data function such as access
block request and access
z UL: RLC data block permission
recomposed into PDU z Radio channel
at LLC layer management function
z PDCH UL & DL ARQ such as power control,
protocol congestion control and
broadcasting control
z Allocate UL & DL
messages
radio resource
SGSN Function
Routing and transfer of packet data packages
within its SGSN area, providing services for all the
GPRS users within the area
Ciphering and authentication
Session management
Mobility management
Logical link management
Providing interface to GPRS BSS, GGSN, HLR,
MSC, SMS-GMSC, and SMS-IWMSC
Generating and outputting CDRs, for collecting
information about the usage of radio resources
GGSN Function

Interface to external IP packet networks (IP and

X.25)
GPRS session management, establishing the
communication between MSs and external
networks
Sending the packet data of mobile subscribers to
appropriate SGSN
Generating and outputting CDRs, for collecting
information about the usage of radio resources
HLR Function

GPRS subscriber subscription data

User authentication
GMM or router selection information upgrading
and manipulation
z Save and upgrade SGSN number and address of user
service
z GPRS user location deleting indication
z MS availability
z user tracing (optional)
MSC/VLR additional function

SGSN connection with MSC by Gs interface (Gs

interface is optional
z United IMSI/GPRS attachment & detachment
z United location area & router area upgrading
z Circuit paging coordination function
Enhance radio resource utilizing rate
GPRS Support SMS

SGSN connects with SMSC via Gd interface to

send SMS through GPRS. This reduces SDCCH
occupancy and thus minimizes the impact of SMS
service on voice service.
z SMS resource can be shared
z operator can choose to transmit SMS either by MSC or
SGSN
Major GPRS Interfaces
Um interface
z Through which MS communicate with GPRS network supporting
functions such as packet data transferring, SMS, SM and RRM.
Gb interface
z SGSN communicates with BSS and MS via Gb interface which
supports the function of packet data transferring, GMS and SM.
This interface is a must in GPRS network.
Gi interface
z Gi interface connects GPRS with exterior packet data network.
GPRS connects with PDN including internet or ISDN via Gi
interface. Operations such as Encapsulation, decapsulation,
address conversion, user authentication are needed on this
interface.
Major GPRS Interfaces

Gn interface
z Gn interface is interface between GPRS service
supporting nodes, i.e. interfaces between SGSN,
between SGSN and GGSN, and works based on GTP.
Gs interfaces
z Via Gs interface , SGSN together with MSC realizes the
function of GMM including united Attach & Detach,
upgrading of united router area & location area. SGSN
will also receive CS paging info from MSC and transmit
to MS through PCU..
Major GPRS Interfaces
Gr interface
z The interface between the SGSN and the HLR. It uses the MAP+
protocol borne on SS7. Through it interface, the SGSN obtains MS
data from the HLR. The HLR stores GPRS user data and routing
information. When routing area is updated among SGSNs, the
SGSN updates the related location information on the HLR. When
data is changed on the HLR, the HLR informs the SGSN to handle
accordingly. .
Gp interface
z The interface between GPRS networks. It is used between SGSNs
in different PLMNs. It adopts the same protocol with the Gn
interface except that Border Gateway (BG) and firewall are added.
The BG provides the border gateway routing protocol to implement
the communication between GPRS support nodes in different
PLMNs.
GPRS Data Transferring Platform

Appli- Appli-
cation Relay cation

IP IP
Relay

SNDCP SNDCP GTP GTP

IP IP
UDP/ UDP/
LLC LLC
Relay TCP TCP

RLC RLC BSSGP BSSGP IP IP

Network Network
MAC MAC Service Service L2 L2 L2 L2
L1
GSM RF GSM RF
L1 L1 L1

MS Um BSS SGSN GGSN ISP

Gb Gn Gi
GPRS Data Transferring Platform

Physical layer
z Its categorized into radio frequency layer and physical
layer
Protocol of L1bis, L1, L2
z There are no fixed regulations on that. Different
manufacturers may have different solutions.
RLC/MAC
z RLC provides reliable RL for upper service and MAC is
responsible for channel positioning and reuse. RLC and
MAC constitute OSI layer protocol with Um interface,
and use service provided by physical link layer.
GPRS Data Transferring Platform
NS
z NS realizes transferring function based on BSSGP which lays on
the basis of flame layer connection between BSS and SGSN and
passes through switch nodes of frame layer.
BSSGP
z In DL, SGSN provides BSS with radio information to realize
RLC&MAC function; In UL, BSS provides SGSN with radio
information gotten from RLC&MAC. BSSGP enables function of
BSS and SGSN management. This layer transmits router and Qos
information between BSS and SGSN without error correction
function.
Relay
z Relay in BSS is relay LLC PDU between Um and Gb while Relay in
SGSN is to relay PDP PDU between Gb and Gn.
GPRS Data Transferring Platform

LLC
z LLC is reliable and protective logical link between MS
and SGSN and is dependent of lower layer radio
interface protocol. It has two transferring mode:
acknowledgement and non-acknowledgement.

SNDCP
z Its network protocol which is responsible for mapping,
compression, subsection, sequence and reuse. Main
function include reuse multiple PDP, compress or
decompress user data and protocol control information,
partition N-PDU into LL-PDU or encapsulate reversely.
GPRS Data Transferring Platform
GTP
z This protocol encourages data and signaling transferring between
supporting nodes of GPRS key network. PTP PDU PD should be
encapsulated with GTP.
UDP/TCP
z They belongs to transmit layer protocol , providing end-to-end
reliable link. TCP (connection protocol) provides with flow
protection and control function and guarantee the correctness of
data transferring while UDP (non-connection) is just the transceiver
of datagram without error correcting capability and not caring about
whether the datagram has been correctly received.
IP
z GPRS backbone network protocol is used for router selection and
signaling control. GPRS backbone network preliminarily use IP V4,
later will use IP V6.
GPRS Signaling Platform
GMM/SM GMM/SM MAP MAP
BSSAP+ BSSAP+
LLC LLC TCAP TCAP
SCCP SCCP
Relay SCCP SCCP
RLC RLC BSSGP BSSGP MTP3 MTP3
MTP3 MTP3
MTP2 MTP2
MAC MAC Network Network MTP2 MTP2
Service Service L1 L1
L1 L1
GSM RF GSM RF L1bis L1bis Gs
Gr/Gf/Gd SGSN MSC/VLR
Um Gb SGSN HLR
MS BSS SGSN
MS-SGSN SGSN-HLR/EIR/SMS SGSN-MSC/VLR

Interworking
MAP MAP MAP MAP
GTP GTP
TCAP TCAP GTP GTP
UDP UDP TCAP TCAP
SCCP SCCP
IP IP UDP UDP SCCP SCCP
MTP3 MTP3
L2 L2 IP IP MTP3 MTP3
MTP2 MTP2
L1 L1 L2 L2 MTP2 MTP2
L1 L1
Gn L1 L1 L1 L1
GSN GSN Gc
GGSN HLR Gn Gc
GGSN GSN HLR

GSN-GSN
Content

GPRS Network Overview

GPRS Network Structure
GPRS Frame Structure and Radio Channels
GPRS Key Technologies
EDGE Technologies
Process of Evolution from GPRS to 3G
GPRS Frame Structure

52 TDMA Frames

B0 B1 B2 T B3 B4 B5 I B6 B7 B8 T B9 B10 B11 I

RLC Block
T = Frame used for PTCCH,

I= Idle frame
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
B0 - B11 = Radio blocks

TDMA frame

Except PRACH and PTCCH/U, the unit of logical channels is Block with the
occupancy sequence is B0, B6, B3, B9, B1, B7, B4, B10, B2, B8, B5, B11.
52 Multiframe Description
PDCH frame organization
z One 52 multi-frame includes 12 radio blocks
z In circuit domain, one TDMA frame is divided into 8 TSL
z TSL assigned to GPRS is PDCH
z Multiple TSL can constitute one PDCH group, each
including 8 TSL at most.
z Basic unit of radio resource allocation and radio
transferring is BLOCK.
z One BLOCK includes 4 TDMA frame which is the
smallest unit of user occupancy.
z Surplus 4 burst is used for measuring and reporting TA
z Multiple users scramble for these blocks, in this way the
goal of packet share is achieved.
GPRS Physical Channels
GPRS inherits GSMs frequency band use mode and
wireless transmission mode.
GPRS system divides a carrier into eight timeslots as in
GSM, which constitute eight basic time division channels.
Therefore, a physical channel can be uniquely determined
by a TDMA frame sequence, a timeslot No. (module 8),
and a definite hopping sequence.
Some physical channels in a GSM cell supporting GPRS
may transfer voice, and other physical channels may
transfer GPRS packet data. In addition, some GPRS
signaling flows, such as packet system message
broadcasting, packet access and resource allocation, are
conducted on CS channels.
GPRS Logical Channel Type

CS
PDTCH/CS1
PDTCH/CS2
Traffic CH
PDTCH/CS3
Logical CH
PDTCH/CS4

PS
PBCCH
PRACH
PAGCH
PCCCH
Control CH PPCH
PNCH
PACCH
PDCCH PTCCH/D
PTCCH/U
GPRS Logical Channel Type
Packet Common Control Channel (PCCCH)
z Include PPCH, PRACH, PAGCH, PNCH
Packet Broadcast Control Channel (PBCCH)
z PBCCH broadcasts packet data system messages. Parameters
carried in these messages determine channels mapping on
multiframes.
Packet dedicated control channel
z Include PACCH, PTCCH/U, PTCCH/D
Packet transport channel
z PDTCH bears subscriber data in packet switching mode. MS uses
PDTCH/U to send packet data to the network and uses PDTCH/D
to receive packet data from network.
Packet Logical Channel Combining mode
Combination of logical channels
z Mode 1PBCCHPCCCHPDTCHPACCHPTCCH
z Mode 2PCCCHPDTCHPACCHPTCCH
z Mode 3PDTCHPACCHPTCCH
z PCCCH = PPCH + PRACH + PAGCH + PNCH
Service Volume
z When GPRS traffic is not intense, GPRS and circuit traffic
generally share BCCH and CCCH in cells. In this case, mode 3 is
needed.
With the accumulation of traffic
z Packet common channel is needed to be configured in the cell.
Channel combination is either mode 1 or mode 2.
MS Multi-slot Class
Concept of MS multi-slot class
z Element: maximum receiving TSL number (DL TS), maximum
transmission TSL number (UL TS), and maximum TSL number
z Definitionlevel 1-33. multi-slot class get boosted as level
mounts
Factors affecting MS multi-slot class
z Whether transmit and receive can be done simultaneously
z Time for MS to make adjacent measurement, transceiver
transmission and reception preparation
z Frequency hopping affecting time range
z Target market thinning
BSS should make best resource allocation according to
MS multi-slot class, Qos requested and current resource
allocation condition.
MS Mobile Capability Classes

Class A
z Can attach GPRS network and GSM network
simultaneously and PS and CS traffic can be conducted
simultaneously.
Class B
z Can attach GPRS network and GSM network
simultaneously and PS and CS traffic can be conducted
simultaneously.
Class C
z Cant attach GPRS network and GSM network
simultaneously. Select either PS traffic or CS traffic to
conduct and unselected traffic is in disconnected state.
Content

GPRS Network Overview

GPRS Network Structure
GPRS Frame Structure and Radio Channels
GPRS Key Technologies
EDGE Technologies
Process of Evolution from GPRS to 3G
GPRS Key Technologies

GPRS has the following key technologies:

z QoS implementation
z Radio block structure
z Channel coding, channel allocation, package
transmission
z Flow control
z Cell selection and reselection
QoS Implementation
GPRS provides subscribers five negotiable QoS attributes:
z Peak throughput class
z Mean throughput class
z Reliability class
z Delay class
z Precedence class
Each attribute consists of multiple level options, and
combination of attributes of different levels constitutes the
support of various applications requiring different QoS.
GPRS standard defines many QoS combinations. GPRS
only supports some QoS configuration currently.
Radio Block Structure
Channel Coding
RLC / MAC layer RLC / MAC header RLC Data BCS
Radio block
Convolutional coding

Puncturing

456 bits

Physical layer
4 bursts

Coding scheme Code rate Radio block excl. BCS BCS Tail Coded bits Punctured bits Bit rate
CS-1 1/2 184 40 4 456 0 9.05 kbit/s
CS-2 ~ 2/3 274 16 4 588 132 13,4 kbit/s
CS-3 ~ 3/4 318 16 4 676 220 15,6 kbit/s
CS-4 1 440 16 - 456 0 21,4 kbit/s
Channel Coding
GPRS defines four channel coding mode from CS-1 to CS-
4
z Data rate is 9.05 Kbps, 13.4 Kbps, 15.6 Kbps21.4 Kbps
accordingly.
z Channel coding of CS-1 is the same with that of SDCCH. C/I of
CS-1 and CS-2 is the same with that of voice service with the
coverage of 90100C/I of CS-3 is higherC/I of CS-4 is
much higher and favorable radio environment are required.
Network will adjust channel coding mode based on real-
time monitoring of radio transmission
z Different TSL can select different channel coding mode
z When the quality radio transmission is good, its necessary to use
more efficient coding mode.
PDTCH Allocation
Concepts
USF
z Control different MS to reuse Blocks on PDCH UL. USF is used in
dynamic and extensible media access mode. On PCCCH, one
USF is used to mark PRACH(USF equals to idle) , the remaining is
left to 7 MS. (USF = R1/R2 R7
TBF
z TBF is physical link used by RR identity to transmit LLC PDU
unidirectionally on PDCH. Its RR allocated on one or more PDCH
on which RLC & MAC blocks carrying one or more LLC PDU are
transmitted.
TFI
z Each TBF is assigned one TFI, and its possible to use one TFI in
different directions. TFI assignment before LLC frame transmission.
RLC & MAC related to one specified TBF must include one TFI.
PDTCH Assignment

GPRS and GSM share the same air interface

channel
Three modes of RR assignment are:
z static assignment
z dynamic assignment
z extend dynamic assignment mode
PDTCH Assignment

GPRS
user 2
GPRS GPRS GPRS GPRS
user 1 user 3 user 5 user 6

GPRS
Speech user 4 Speech Speech
call 1 Idle call 2 call 3

TS0 TS1 TS2 TS3 TS4 TS5 TS6 TS7

CS PS PS PS CS CS PS CS
PDTCH Assignment

7 P2 P1 P3 P3 P3 P3 P3 P3 P3
6 P2 P1 P3 P4 P4 P5 C8 C8 C8
5 P1 P1 P1 P4 P4 P5 C9 C9 C9
4 P1 P1 P1 P1 P5 P5 P5 P5 P5
3 C4 P1 P1 P1 P1 P1 P1 C10 C10
2 C3 C3 C3 C3 C3 C3 C3 C3 C3
1 C2 C2 C2 C6 C6 C6 C6 C6 P1
0 C1 C1 C5 C5 C5 P5 C7 C7 C7

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Time

P : packet channel C: voice channel

PDTCH Assignment

Reason to use static PDCH

z Ensure that GPRS MS in the cell is on line
z Ensure QoS of GPRS service
Reason to use dynamic PDCH
z GPRS and GSM share radio resource
z consider the best utility of radio resource with voice
traffic as the top priority
z The ratio of PS traffic and Cs traffic in one cell always
changes
z Dynamic PDCH is unusable
Packet Data Transmission

25

Typical urban area with moving speed at 3 kil per hour

20

15 CS1
CS2
CS3
10 CS4

0
0 4 8 12 16 20 24

C/I(dB)
Packet Data Transmission

B0 B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 B8 B9 B10 B11

B0 B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 B8 B9 B10 B11

B0 B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 B8 B9 B10 B11

MS1 MS2 MS3

One PDCH can be used by multiple MS While one MS can

use multiple PDCHs.
Packet Data Transmission
IP
N-PDU

SNDCP SN-DATA PDUs

LLC
LLC Frames
RLC
RLC Blocks
MAC RLC/MAC Blocks

GSM RF TDMA Bursts

Each IP package can be divided into blocks on one or more SNDCP layer.
each SNDCP PDU is mapped to one LLC layer.
LLC Frame shall be transferred into many RLC Block.
RLC Block together with MAC header are sent into air by 4 bursts.
Packet Data Transmission

RLC Blocks

RLC/MAC Blocks

TDMA Bursts

0 7 0 7 0 7 0 7

TDMA frame = 4.615 ms

= BURST PERIOD

4 x TDMA Frames = 4 Bursts = 1RLC block ~ 20 ms

Flow Control

It controls the QoS delay queue load between

SGSN and BSS to optimize the use of buffer area.
SSGP layer PCU manages two buffers
z MS buffer
z BSSGP Virtual Connection (BVC) buffer
SGSN can perform flow control on specific MS
and cell. PCU sends SGSN a Flow Control
BVC/MS message containing flow control
parameter. Thus, SGSN knows how to control
throughput to PCU and adjusts BSSGP
UNITDATA PDU flow cached from SGSN to PCU.
Flow Control

BSSGP layer buffer

Cell Selection and Reselection
GPRS Cell selection and reselection are independent from
GSM.
Cell selection
z MS searches 124 RF channels, reads strength of signal received
on each RF channel, and calculates average level.
z Then, the MS tunes to carrier with maximum incoming level. If it
can correctly decode BCCH data, it goes to next step. Otherwise, it
tunes to next most signification carrier till it finds the cell available.
z The MS listens to system messages type 1 to type 4 and SI13 (in
case of GPRS cell) on BCCH of that cell, and decodes all
information.
Cell reselection
z GPRS network or MS controls cell reselection process.
z Network-controlled cell reselection module consists of two layers:
BRP and Pn.
Cell Reselection Process
Content

GPRS Network Overview

GPRS Network Structure
GPRS Frame Structure and Radio Channels
GPRS Key Technologies
EDGE Technologies
Process of Evolution from GPRS to 3G
EDGE Definition
EDGE = Enhanced Data rates for Global Evolution

Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution (EDGE) includes

Enhanced General Packet Radio Service (EGPRS) and
Enhanced Circuit Switched Data (ECSD). EDGE is a
method used to improve the data transmission rate
during GSM radio connection.
Essentially, EDGE is only a new modulating and
channel encoding technology, which can be used to
transmit Packet switching (PS) and Circuit Switching
(CS) data/voice.
As an evolved GPRS-to-UMTS solution, EDGE enables
the network operator to use current radio network
equipments to the maximum extent.
EDGE Features
Access service
z The bandwidth is increased greatly. The peak transmission rate of
mobile data service is up to 384 kbps.
z It provides more precise network-layer positioning service.
Network establishment
z As a modulating and encoding technology, EDGE changes the
transmission rate at the air interface.
z EDGEs air interface features, including the air channel allocation
mode and TDMA frame structure, are the same as those of GSM.
z EDGE does not change the architecture of GSM network or GPRS
network, and does not have new NEs. It only updates BSS
EDGE Specifications
The EDGE standardization involves the following three
aspects:
z Standardizes the relevant change in physical layer (the definition of
modulation and coding method
z Standardizes the change in ECSD protocol
z Standardize the change in EGPRS protocol
Two jobs are done in the above aspects:
z EDGE NSS, which is related to the change in network subsystem
z EDGE BSS, which is related to the change in base station
subsystem
EDGE is realized in two phases:
z Phase 1: provides the single/multiple-timeslot packet switching
service with a rate of less than 64 kbps and the single/multiple-
timeslot circuit switching service.
z Phase 2: provides real-time services not included in phase 1 and
adopts the new modulating technology.
Advantages of EGPRS over GPRS
(Modulation Mode)
GPRS adopts GMSK as its modulation mode.
EDGE adopts 8-PSK as its modulation mode.

GMSK modulation 8PSK modulation

Advantages of EGPRS over GPRS
(Modulation Mode)

Performance 8-PSK GMSK

Symbol rate 270.833 ksym/s 270.833 ksym/s

Number of bits per
3bit/symbol 1bit/symbol
symbol
Valid payload per pulse 342bit 114bit

Total rate per timeslot 68.4kbps 22.8kbps

User data rate at RLC

59.2 kbps 20 kbps
layer in each timeslot

GMSK vs. 8-PSK

Advantages of EGPRS over GPRS
(Radio Block Structure)

GPRS Radio Block Structure

RLC/MA HCS RLC DATA BCS RLC DATA BCS

C header

EGPRS Radio Block Structure

Advantages of EGPRS over GPRS
(Radio Block Structure)
The radio blocks of GPRS and EGPRS are interleaved by four burst pulses
and the time length is 20 ms. The structures of the radio blocks transferring
control messages are the same, but those of the radio blocks transferring data
blocks are different.
z In GPRS, a radio data block is composed of one MAC header, one RLC header,
one RLC data block.
z In EGPRS, the radio block transmitting data is composed of one MAC/RLC header,
one or two RLC data blocks.
Compared with GPRS, EGPRS radio data block has the following features:
z Provides single-slot and multi-slot packet-switched services and circuit-switched
services with the rate below 64 kbps.
z The data part can be one or two blocks, which is specified in the block header.
z The RLC header and MAC header are combined into one.
Compared with GPRS, the following fields are added to the EGPRS block
head
z Coding and Puncturing Scheme Indication (CPS): indicates the coding scheme and
deleting scheme of the data part.
z Split Block Indicator (SPB): This field is used only in header type 3. It indicates
whether the user data block is retransmitted using two block re-segmentation.
Advantages of EGPRS over GPRS
(Channel Coding)

The 9 EGPRS
coding schemes are
divided into 3
families according to
PAYLOAD,
z Family A3734
octets
z Family B28 octets
z Family C22 octets
Different modulation
modes:
z 8PSKMCS9-MCS5
z GMSKMCS1-MCS4
Advantages of EGPRS over GPRS
(Channel Coding)
EDGE

8.8 MCS-1
11.2 MCS-2
GMSK
14.8 MCS-3
17.6 MCS-4
22.4 MCS-5
29.6 MCS-6
8-PSK 44.8 MCS-7
54.4 MCS-8
59.2 MCS-9

GPRS

8 8.8 CS-1 overhead + protection

12 12.8 CS-2 payload of user
GMSK
14.4 15.2 CS-3
20 20.8 CS-4

EDGE VS
GPRS
Advantages of EGPRS over GPRS
(Link Quality Control)
Disadvantage of GPRS retransmission: low
efficiency
Two retransmission modes are added to EGPRS:
z Segmentation and Reassembly (Link Adaptation)
z Incremental Redundancy (IR)
Segmentation and Reassembly
(Link Adaptation)
EGPRS allows re-segmentation, which implies that
packets with less bit error protection are used in priority.
When required by new radio environment, packets can be
re-transmitted by using more bit error protection algorithms.
The reason why the EDGE can adopt the segmentation
and re-assembly mode is that it introduces Family to the
nine coding schemes. They belong to the same Family.
The packet data carried by each radio block have a
relation of integral multiple.
Segmentation and reassembly is based on link quality
measurement (LQM). The BSS implements downlink LQM
and the MS implements uplink LQM. The LQM provides
the -C/I and C/N, which represents the radio environment
quality. Based on this, MSC self-adaptation is triggered.
Incremental Redundancy (IR)
IR avoids the problem of rate and accuracy involved in feedback
control system, for example, LA.
The IR does not need to evolve to optimized coding scheme. It uses
the same coding scheme all along, enabling the receiver to synthesize
the information for convenience of successful radio block decoding.
Coding Process
z Perform 1/3 convolutional coding of valid payload, and during this step, 2/3
pre-defined guard codes are added.
z The next step is puncturing, i.e., delete guard codes from the convolutional
codes. Different puncturing methods result in different code groups.
Different code groups carry the same valid payload but different redundant
information.
z The receive end reserves the code streaming that has not been decoded,
so as to decode the code streaming with the retransmitted code streaming
together in a combination way. In this way, the redundant code streaming
in two different code groups supplements each other, which thus improves
the probability of successful decoding.
Advantages of EGPRS over GPRS
(Dynamic Window Size)
In GPRS with four-burst radio data blocks (20ms), the RLC window
size of 64 is defined. With the high coding schemes of EDGE, MCS-7
to MCS-9, there are two RLC blocks per 20 ms radio block, which
makes the RLC window size 4 too small and RLC protocol subject to
stalling. Therefore, the EDGE enlarges the RLC window and defines a
compression method for the acknowledgement bitmap of the RLC data
blocks.
That the window size can change with the multi-slot capability is
another improvement from EGRPS to GPRS .As the system relay is
comparatively fixed, MSs with higher multi-slot capacity are prone to
encounter stale window. In GPRS, the window size is fixed, and thus
this problem often occurs. The EGPRS brings a more complicated
coding/decoding process, which increases the system delay. Therefore,
a changeable window size with the multi-slot capacity is a must.
Content

GPRS Network Overview

GPRS Network Structure
GPRS Frame Structure and Radio Channels
GPRS Key Technologies
EDGE Technologies
Evolution from GPRS to 3G
GPRS Evolution

According to tradition, GSM-GPRS-EDGE-

WCDMA is the right path from GSM to 3G. But in
GSA case, EDGE parallels WCDMA. i.e the roll of
EDGE changes in evolution from one stop to the
destination. According to the definition of 3G set
by ITU, 384kbps is the criterion of 3G.
Theoretically EDGE rate reaches 473.6kbps, So
for small or middle sized operators without 3G
license, EDGE is their destination.
GPRS Evolution