Air Interface

After the module, the participants will be able to:

Explain the new GPRS logical channels in the air interface
Explain the new parameters in GPRS cells

1 NOKIA CTXX 4283/1.0en.PPT/ 29.6.2000 / Timo Vakkala

 GPRS Capacity
Circuit
CCCH TS TS TS TS TS TS TS
Switched
TRX 1 Territory

TRX 2 TS TS TS TS TS TS TS TS Packet
Switched
Territory
Additional Default Dedicated
GPRS GPRS GPRS
Capacity Capacity Capacity

Territory border moves based

on Circuit Switched traffic load

2 NOKIA CTXX 4283/1.0en.PPT/ 29.6.2000 / Timo Vakkala

 Parameters
Default GPRS capacity (CDEF)
This BTS level parameter determines the share of GPRS
channels in a cell. The value of this parameter must be greater
than or the same as the dedicated GPRS capacity (CDED)
parameter. The default GPRS capacity (CDEF) parameter can be
modified online when GPRS is disabled, otherwise it requires
BTS locking.

Dedicated GPRS capacity (CDED)

This BTS level parameter determines the share of GPRS
channels in a cell that can only be used for GPRS. These
dedicated channels are a part of the default GPRS capacity, and
thus the value of this parameter must be smaller than or the
same as the default GPRS capacity (CDEF) parameter. The
dedicated GPRS capacity (CDED) parameter can be modified
online when GPRS is disabled, otherwise it requires BTS locking.
3 NOKIA CTXX 4283/1.0en.PPT/ 29.6.2000 / Timo Vakkala
 Parameters
GPRS territory update guard time (GTUGT)
This BSC level parameter you use to set the time which must
elapse between two subsequent GPRS territory updates

Prefer BCCH frequency GPRS (BFG)

This BTS level parameter defines whether BCCH TRX is
preferred in GPRS channel allocation. The parameter can be
modified online when GPRS is disabled, otherwise it requires
BTS locking.

4 NOKIA CTXX 4283/1.0en.PPT/ 29.6.2000 / Timo Vakkala

 Arguments for Determination of GPRS
Territory
Amount of TSLs in GPRS Territory
defaultGPRScapacity
TRXs having GPRSenabledTRX = T
created resources (both working and blocked)
TSLs capable of full rate traffic
Location of GPRS Territory (TRX)
parameters
preferBCCHfreqGPRS
configuration
FR TSL > DR TSL > HR TSL > SDCCH TSL
resource situation
idle TSLs > busy TSLs > multislot HSCSD calls

5 NOKIA CTXX 4283/1.0en.PPT/ 29.6.2000 / Timo Vakkala

 GPRS Territory Example
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

TRX 1 B 4.

TRX 3 S 3.

TRX 4 2.

TRX 2 1.

GPRS territory starts here

B = BCCH TSL
S = SDCCH TSL
preferBCCHfreqGPRS = N = TSL in CS use

6 NOKIA CTXX 4283/1.0en.PPT/ 29.6.2000 / Timo Vakkala

 GPRS Territory Upgrade
TRX specific procedure
Requires continuous sets of successive TSLs
Reasons for starting the upgrade procedure
GPRS is set enabled in a BTS
GPRS-TRX is created => default GPRS territory increases
GPRS-TRX is deblocked, e.g. the first GPRS-TRX in a BTS
TSL inside the GPRS territory is deblocked
TCH/F is released from CS use
PCU request an Upgrade

7 NOKIA CTXX 4283/1.0en.PPT/ 29.6.2000 / Timo Vakkala

 Prerequisites for Starting the
Upgrade Procedure
Previous GPRS territory change in the BTS has been
completed and guard time has expired
(terrUpdateGuardTimeGPRS)
There is a sufficient margin of idle TCHs/F in the BTS
Idle GPRS capable resources available in the BTS
Available capacity in the PCU unit controlling the BTS

8 NOKIA CTXX 4283/1.0en.PPT/ 29.6.2000 / Timo Vakkala

 Intra Cell Handover
B = BCCH TSL
B C C C C C C S = SDCCH TSL
C = CS call
d = default type GPRS TSL
S C C C C C D = dedicated type GPRS TSL

DefaultGPRScapacity = 20%
C C C C C C
DedicatedGPRScapacity = 10%
FreeTSLsforCS_U = 3
C C d d D D D
= GSM territory

existing procedure = GPRS territory

new handover cause values

9 NOKIA CTXX 4283/1.0en.PPT/ 29.6.2000 / Timo Vakkala

 Value of Free TSLs for CS_U parameter

Number of TRXs 1-3 4-7 8-13 14-16

margin 1 2 3 4

10 NOKIA CTXX 4283/1.0en.PPT/ 29.6.2000 / Timo Vakkala

 GPRS Territory Downgrade

Reasons for starting the downgrade procedure

GPRS is set disabled in a BTS
TRX carrying GPRS traffic is blocked
TSL carrying GPRS traffic is blocked
CS resources are blocked => idle resources <
FreeTSLsforCS_d
TCH is allocated for CS use => idle resources <
FreeTSLsforCS_d
PCU requests for a downgrade

Prerequisites for starting the downgrade procedure

previous GPRS territory change in the BTS has been
completed

11 NOKIA CTXX 4283/1.0en.PPT/ 29.6.2000 / Timo Vakkala

 Logical Channels
DL Broadcast of packet data
PBCCH
specific information

DL Paging MSs for packet data

PPCH
and circuit switched services
UP
PRACH MS initiates uplink transfer
Signalling PCCCH
and Control DL
PAGCH Resource assignment to an MS

DL
PNCH NotifyingPtM Packet Transfer

PDTCH Packet Data Transfer; ( multislot )

Packet PTCH
Traffic Channels DL & UP Signalling: resource
PACCH
(re- )allocation, PC, TA, etc.

12 NOKIA CTXX 4283/1.0en.PPT/ 29.6.2000 / Timo Vakkala

 Channel Descriptions
PBCCH
The Packet Broadcast Control Channel is a downlink only
channel for broadcasting packet data specific system
information messages.
If the PBCCH is not allocated, the packet data specific
system information is broadcast on the BCCH.
PCCCH
The Packet Common Control Channel (PCCCH) consists
of logical channels used for common control signalling for
packet data.
If PCCCH is not allocated, information is broadcast on the
CCCH.

13 NOKIA CTXX 4283/1.0en.PPT/ 29.6.2000 / Timo Vakkala

 Channel Descriptions
PRACH
The Packet Random Access Channel is an uplink only
channel, which the MSs use for uplink traffic channel
reservation and for obtaining the timing advance.
The normal GSM RACH can also be used for this.
PPCH
The Packet Paging Channel is a downlink only paging
channel used to page the MS prior to downlink packet
transfer. The PPCH can be used for paging of both CS
& PS data services.
The normal GSM PCH can be used for GPRS in case
there is no PCCCH allocated in the cell.

14 NOKIA CTXX 4283/1.0en.PPT/ 29.6.2000 / Timo Vakkala

 Channel Descriptions
PAGCH
The Packet Access Grant Channel is a downlink only
channel used for resource assignment during the packet
transfer establishment phase.
The normal GSM AGCH can be used in case there is no
PCCCH allocated in the cell.
PNCH
The Packet Notification Channel (only in GPRS Phase2) is
a downlink only channel used for the PTM-M notifications
to a group of MSs before PTM-M packet transfer.

15 NOKIA CTXX 4283/1.0en.PPT/ 29.6.2000 / Timo Vakkala

 Channel Descriptions
PDTCH
The Packet Data Traffic Channel is reserved for the actual
GPRS data transfer.
A PDTCH corresponds to the resource allocated to a single
MS on one physical channel for user data transmission.
In multislot operation, one MS may use multiple PDTCHs in
parallel for individual packet transfer.
PACCH
The Packet Associated Control Channel (bi-directional) is a
signalling channel dedicated for a certain MS.
The signalling information could include acknowledgements,
power control, resource assignments or reassignment
messages.

16 NOKIA CTXX 4283/1.0en.PPT/ 29.6.2000 / Timo Vakkala

 Channel Descriptions
PTCCH
The Packet Timing advance Control Channel is used in uplink
direction for the transmission of random access bursts to
estimate the timing advance for one mobile.
In the downlink direction one PTCCH is used to transmit
timing advance information to several MSs.

17 NOKIA CTXX 4283/1.0en.PPT/ 29.6.2000 / Timo Vakkala

 Channel Combinations
Allowed PDCH Combinations are:
PBCCH + PCCCH
PBCCH + PCCCH + PDTCH + PACCH + PTCCH
PCCCH + PDTCH + PACCH + PTCCH
PDTCH + PACCH + PTCCH
Where PCCCH = PPCH+PRACH+PAGCH+PNCH

18 NOKIA CTXX 4283/1.0en.PPT/ 29.6.2000 / Timo Vakkala

 Channel Allocation
GPRS channels are allocated according to the following
rules:
Downlink and uplink are separate resources
Multiple mobiles can share one traffic channel, but the
traffic channel is dedicated to one MS at a time.
Channels allocated to a TBF must be allocated from
the same TRX
Those traffic channels which give the maximum
possible capacity for the TBF are allocated within the
limits of the multislot class of the mobile; exceptions
are TBFs for which only one channel is allocated.

19 NOKIA CTXX 4283/1.0en.PPT/ 29.6.2000 / Timo Vakkala

 Channel Allocation
Uplink and downlink scheduling are independent, the PCU can
assign multiple MSs to the same uplink traffic channels.
ETSI specifications allow the scheduling of uplink transmission
turns to be done by three different Medium Access modes
(MAC):
dynamic allocation
extended dynamic allocation
fixed allocation
The BSC S9 release supports dynamic allocation.

20 NOKIA CTXX 4283/1.0en.PPT/ 29.6.2000 / Timo Vakkala

 In Dynamic Allocation
The BSC gives the MS a USF value for each assigned
traffic channel in the assignment message.
The MS monitors the downlink Radio Link Control (RLC)
blocks on the traffic channels it has been assigned.
Whenever the MS finds the USF value in the downlink
RLC block, it may send an uplink RLC block in the
corresponding uplink frame.
The scheduling of RLC data block in each time slot is
independent of other time slots.

21 NOKIA CTXX 4283/1.0en.PPT/ 29.6.2000 / Timo Vakkala

 USF
B11
B10
B9
=3
B8 USF
B7
B6
B5 =2
USF
B4

B0
B3
B2 B5

B1
B1 B6

B2
B0 =1
USF B7

B3
B8
B9

B4
USF=2: USF=1:
B5- B9 B0- B4

22 NOKIA CTXX 4283/1.0en.PPT/ 29.6.2000 / Timo Vakkala

 Multiframe
GSM Signalling timeslot GSM Traffic TS GPRS traffic TS
TDMA frame
TS 0 TS 1 TS 2 TS 3 TS 4 TS 5 TS 6 TS 7
0 FCCH TCH
1 SCH TCH
2 BCCH TCH Radio Block 0
3 BCCH TCH
4 BCCH TCH
5 BCCH TCH
6 PCH+AGCH TCH Radio block 1
7 PCH+AGCH TCH
8 PCH+AGCH TCH
9 PCH+AGCH TCH
10 FCCH TCH Radio Block 2
11 SCH TCH
12 PCH+AGCH SACCH PTCCH
13 PCH+AGCH TCH
14 PCH+AGCH TCH
15 PCH+AGCH TCH Radio Block 3
16 PCH+AGCH TCH
17 PCH+AGCH TCH
18 PCH+AGCH TCH
19 PCH+AGCH TCH Radio Block 4
20 FCCH TCH
21 SCH TCH
22 PCH+AGCH TCH
23 PCH+AGCH TCH Radio Block 5
24 PCH+AGCH TCH
25 PCH+AGCH IDLE IDLE
26 PCH+AGCH
27 PCH+AGCH
28 PCH+AGCH Radio Block 6
29 PCH+AGCH
30 FCCH
31 SCH
32 PCH+AGCH Radio Block 7
33 PCH+AGCH
34 PCH+AGCH
35 PCH+AGCH
36 PCH+AGCH Radio Block 8
37 PCH+AGCH
38 PCH+AGCH PTCCH
39 PCH+AGCH
40 FCCH
41 SCH Radio Block 9
42 PCH+AGCH
43 PCH+AGCH
44 PCH+AGCH
45 PCH+AGCH Radio Block 10
46 PCH+AGCH
47 PCH+AGCH
48 PCH+AGCH
49 PCH+AGCH Radio Block 11
50 IDLE
51 IDLE

23 NOKIA CTXX 4283/1.0en.PPT/ 29.6.2000 / Timo Vakkala

 Temporary Block Flow (TBF)

APP

TCP/UDP

IP

SNDCP SNDCP
LLC LLC
RLC RLC BSSGP BSSGP
MAC MAC NW sr NW sr
GSM RF GSM RF L1bis L1bis

MS BSS SGSN
Um Gb

24 NOKIA CTXX 4283/1.0en.PPT/ 29.6.2000 / Timo Vakkala

 Uplink TBF Start-Up
MS BSS SGSN

CHANNEL
REQUEST RACH

IMMEDIATE
ASSIGNMENT AGCH

PACKET RESOURCE
One phase REQUEST PACCH
access

PACKET UPLINK PACCH

Two phase ASSIGNMENT
access

25 NOKIA CTXX 4283/1.0en.PPT/ 29.6.2000 / Timo Vakkala

 TBF Flow
MS Netw ork

Access and Assignment

Data Block
PDTCH
Data Block
PDTCH
Data Block
PDTCH
Data Block (polling)
PDTCH
temporary Packet Ack/Nack
PACCH
Data Block
PDTCH
Data Block
PDTCH
Data Block
PDTCH
Packet Resource Reassignment
PACCH
Packet Resource Reassignment Ack
PACCH
Data Block
PDTCH
Data Block
PDTCH
Data Block (last, polling)
PACCH
final Packet Ack/Nack
PACCH

26 NOKIA CTXX 4283/1.0en.PPT/ 29.6.2000 / Timo Vakkala

 TBF Downlink Start-Up
MS BSS SGSN

Packet Paging Request

Packet Paging Request

PCH

CHANNEL REQUEST
RACH

IMMEDIATE ASSIGNMENT
AGCH

DATA BLOCK (last) PDTCH

PACKET UPLINK ACK/NACK

PACCH

PACKET CONTROL ACK

PACCH
LLC PDU

27 NOKIA CTXX 4283/1.0en.PPT/ 29.6.2000 / Timo Vakkala

 Suspend and Resume
Used when a circuit switched call interrupts a GPRS packet flow.
The MS initiates the GPRS suspension procedure by sending a GPRS
SUSPENSION REQUEST message to the SGSN via BSC.
The SGSN acknowledges message with a SUSPEND-ACK.
At the same time the SGSN typically stops paging for a suspended mobile.
BSC is not able to send any resume message to SGSN because the BSC
does not maintain a link between the circuit switched and GPRS
connections.
After the MS has released the circuit switched call, the resuming GPRS
services relies on the Routing Area Update Requests sent by the MS.

28 NOKIA CTXX 4283/1.0en.PPT/ 29.6.2000 / Timo Vakkala

 Flush
The flush procedure is used, for example, when the MS has
stopped data sending in a given cell and has moved to
another cell.
The SGSN sends a FLUSH message to the BSC to ensure
that data packets queued for transmission in a cell for that
MS are either deleted or transferred to the new cell.
The BSC deletes all buffered data packets in the cell and all
contexts for the MS.
If an optional new cell, is given, the BSC transfers all
buffered data packets to the new cell.
That can be done only if both cells are served by the same
PCU and they belong the same Routing Area.

29 NOKIA CTXX 4283/1.0en.PPT/ 29.6.2000 / Timo Vakkala

 Mobility Management State
GPRS
Attach/ Detach

Idle Ready
READY
Timer Expiry

Packet
STANDBY Standby TX/RX
Timer Expiry

MS location known to
MS location SGSN level.
not known. MS is capable of recieving
Subscriber is not Point-to-Multipoint data
reachable by the and being paged for
GPRS NW. Point-to-Point data
MS location known to
cell level.
MS is transmitting or has
just been transmitting.
MS is capable of receiving
Point-to-Point data and
Point-to-Multipoint data.

30 NOKIA CTXX 4283/1.0en.PPT/ 29.6.2000 / Timo Vakkala

 Ciphering
In GSM networks ciphering is done between MS and BTS.
In GPRS both user data and signalling are ciphered between
the MS and the SGSN.
A special algorithm, GPRS Encryption Algorithm (GEA, i.e.
GPRS-A5), has been developed for this purpose.
This algorithm is implemented with a hardware-based solution
for capacity and security reasons.

31 NOKIA CTXX 4283/1.0en.PPT/ 29.6.2000 / Timo Vakkala

 Ciphering

32 NOKIA CTXX 4283/1.0en.PPT/ 29.6.2000 / Timo Vakkala

 GPRS Channel Coding Schemes

33 NOKIA CTXX 4283/1.0en.PPT/ 29.6.2000 / Timo Vakkala

 CS-1 Coding

USF=Uplink State Flag

BCS=Block Check Sequence

34 NOKIA CTXX 4283/1.0en.PPT/ 29.6.2000 / Timo Vakkala

 CS-2 Coding

USF=Uplink State Flag

BCS=Block Check Sequence

35 NOKIA CTXX 4283/1.0en.PPT/ 29.6.2000 / Timo Vakkala

 Data Rates vs. C/I
1 Timeslot 3 Timeslots

Typical NW C/I Typical NW C/I

Minimum Average Minimum Average
16 50
CS-3
14 CS-3
CS-2 40
12 CS-2
CS-4
10 CS-4
Kbit/s

Kbit/s
30
8
CS-1 CS-1
6 20
4
10
2
0 0
0 5 10 15 20 25 0 5 10 15 20 25
C/I C/I

36 NOKIA CTXX 4283/1.0en.PPT/ 29.6.2000 / Timo Vakkala

 Coding Scheme Selection
Stealing bits in the channel coding are used to indicate the
actual coding scheme (CS) which is used for each sent
block.
In downlink packet transfer the PCU selects the CS.
In uplink data transfer, the PCU informs the MS with the
IMMEDIATE ASSIGNMENT or PACKET UPLINK
ASSIGNMENT messages what CS MS should use.
In a case MS is using different CS that network requires, the
PCU can command the MS to change the CS by sending the
PACKET UPLINK ACK/NACK message using the Channel
Coding Command field.
In retransmission the same CS has to be used as in the initial
block transmission.

37 NOKIA CTXX 4283/1.0en.PPT/ 29.6.2000 / Timo Vakkala

 CS Change
CS1
LLC All Blocks OK CS2

CS2
LLC
All Blocks OK

CS2
LLC Required CS1
Retransmissions

LLC
CS1
All Blocks OK

38 NOKIA CTXX 4283/1.0en.PPT/ 29.6.2000 / Timo Vakkala

 MS Class
CLASS A:
Supports simultaneous attach, simultaneous activation,
simultaneous monitor, simultaneous invocation and
simultaneous traffic.
CLASS B:
Simultaneous traffic shall is not supported. The mobile user
can make and/or receive calls on either of the two services
sequentially but not simultaneously. The selection of the
appropriate service is performed automatically
CLASS C:
Supports only non-simultaneous attach. Alternate use only.
The status of the service which has not been selected is detached,
i.e. not reachable.

39 NOKIA CTXX 4283/1.0en.PPT/ 29.6.2000 / Timo Vakkala

 Uplink Power Control

GPRS Uplink Power Control

35
MS Output Power

30
25
(dBm)

20 gamma_ch = 30 alfa = 0.8

15 gamma_ch = 20, alfa = 0.3
10
5
0
-45
-50
-55
-60
-65
-70
-75
-80
-85
-90
-95
-100
-105
-110
Signal Strength (dBm)

40 NOKIA CTXX 4283/1.0en.PPT/ 29.6.2000 / Timo Vakkala

 Downlink Power Control
The standardisation of downlink power control is still ongoing
and is not supported by S9 software.
The usage of downlink power control will require measurement
from MS to the network like GSM MSs are doing now.
This could increase signalling load on Abis interface.

41 NOKIA CTXX 4283/1.0en.PPT/ 29.6.2000 / Timo Vakkala